Debating the American Conservative Movement

Donald T. Critchlow is professor of history at St. Louis University and the author of numerous scholarly articles and books, including The Conservative Ascendency: How the GOP Right Made Political History and Phyllis Schlafly and Grassroots Conservatism. Nancy MacLean is professor of history and African-American studies at Northwestern University, and the author of Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Ku Klux Klan; Freedom is Not Enough: The Opening of the American Workplace and The American Women's Movement: A Brief History with Documents.

Debating the American Conservative Movement presents a lively, passionate argument about the rise of the New Right and its far-reaching consequences for American politics since World War II. Two distinguished historians, Donald Critchlow and Nancy MacLean, concur that the conservative movement came to power because 'ideas have consequences' but disagree on almost everything else that they discuss in this volume. Their competing perspectives on modern conservatism will help students understand the high stakes of historical debates over the legacy of the New Deal, the fate of the civil rights movement, the emergence of the Religious Right, and the meaning of the 'Reagan Revolution.'

• PrefaceChapter 1: The Conservative AscendancyChapter 2: Conservatives Debate the Cold War: Excerpt from "Conservatism and the National Review: Criticism and Reply," Ronald Hamowy and William F. Buckley, Jr. (November 1961)Chapter 3: Young Conservatives Organize: The Sharon Statement (September 11, 1960)Chapter 4: A Conservative Speaks in Favor of Civil Rights: Senator Everett Dirksen, Congressional Record (June 1964)Chapter 5: A Conservative Opposes the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Senator Barry Goldwater, Congressional Record (June 1964)Chapter 6: The Cold War and the Arms Race: Excerpt from Memorandum to Donald Rumsfeld, from Paul H. Nitze (December 19, 1974)Chapter 7: Conservative Values: Ronald Reagan, "Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Association of the Evangelicals" (March 8, 1983)Chapter 8: Ronald Reagan, "Creators of the Future" (March 1, 1985)Chapter 9: Conservatives on Religious Freedom: Mitt Romney, "Religious Liberty" (2008)Chapter 10: Guardians of PrivilegeChapter 11: Frank Meyer, "What Is Conservatism?" (1966)Chapter 12: Barry Goldwater, "I sense here a realignment of Southern conservative Democrats" (1953)Chapter 13: Richard M. Weaver, "Integration Is Communization" (1957)Chapter 14: "Our Position on States' Rights Is the Same as Your Own" Letter from William F. Buckley, Jr. to W. K. Simmons (September 10, 1958) and letter from W. J. Simmons to J. P. McFadden, (September 5, 1958)Chapter 15: Young Americans for Freedom, "King Was a Collectivist" (1968)Chapter 16: William F. Buckley, Jr., "Linda's Crusade" (May 21, 1968)Chapter 17: Phyllis Schlafly, "What's Wrong with 'Equal Rights' for Women?" (February 1972)Chapter 18: Southern Partisan Interview with Trent Lott, "Jefferson Davis's Descendents . . . Are Becoming Involved with the Republican Party" (1984)Chapter 19: Elizabeth Birch, "Out of Sheer Humanity Comes Common Ground" (1995)Selected Readings