American conservatism is a broad system of political beliefs in the United States characterized by respect forAmerican traditions,republicanism, support forJudeo-Christian values,[1]moral absolutism,[2]free markets andfree trade,[3][4]anti-communism,[4][5]individualism,[4] advocacy ofAmerican exceptionalism,[6] and a defense ofWestern culture from the threats, whether real or perceived, posed byanarchism,communism,socialism,Islamism,liberalism,progressivism,authoritarianism, andmoral relativism.[7] The recent movement is based in theRepublican Party, though someDemocrats were also important figures early in the movement's history.[8][9]
The following list is made up of prominent American conservatives from the public and private sectors. The list also includes political parties, organizations and media outlets which have made a notable impact on conservatism in the United States. Entries on the list must have achieved notability after 1932, the beginning of theFifth Party System. Before 1932, terminology was different. Positions that are called conservative after 1932, were typically called "liberal" (i.e.classical liberal) before then. Likewise European liberals, such asFriedrich Hayek, were called conservatives when they came to America, which puzzled Hayek.[10]



| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Repplier | 1855-1950 | essayist, literary critic, and author | [11] |
| George Santayana | 1863–1952 | philosopher and author | [12] |
| Ralph Adams Cram | 1863–1942 | architect and writer | [13] |
| Irving Babbitt | 1865–1933 | literary critic | [14] |
| Garet Garrett | 1878–1954 | financial journalist | [15] |
| H. L. Mencken | 1880–1956 | essayist and cultural critic | |
| Joseph Schumpeter | 1883–1950 | political economist | [16] |
| Frank Knight | 1885–1972 | economist | [17][18] |
| Pitirim Sorokin | 1889-1968 | sociologist | [19] |
| Walter Lippmann | 1889–1974 | reporter and public intellectual | [20] |
| Ernst Kantorowicz | 1895–1963 | historian | [21] |
| George Schuyler | 1895–1977 | writer, journalist, and social critic | [22] |
| Clarence Manion | 1896–1979 | direct-mailer | [23] |
| Leo Strauss | 1899–1973 | political philosopher | [24] |
| Whittaker Chambers | 1901–1961 | author ofWitness | [25][26] |
| Will Herberg | 1901–1977 | sociologist | [27] |
| Francis Wilson | 1901–1976 | political scientist | |
| Eliseo Vivas | 1901–1991 | philosopher and literary theorist | [28] |
| Ross J. S. Hoffman | 1902–1979 | historian, writer, and educator | [29] |
| Eric Hoffer | 1902–1983 | philosopher | [30] |
| Sidney Hook | 1902–1989 | philosopher | [31] |
| George F. Kennan | 1904–2005 | historian and foreign policy advisor | [32] |
| James Burnham | 1905–1987 | political philosopher and co-founder and editor ofNational Review | [33] |
| Willard Van Orman Quine | 1908–2000 | philosopher and logician | [34][35] |
| C. Vann Woodward | 1908–1999 | historian | [36] |
| Willmoore Kendall | 1909–1967 | political philosopher | [37] |
| Frank Meyer | 1909–1972 | editor of the Books, Arts and Manners section ofNational Review | [38] |
| Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn | 1909–1999 | journalist and political philosopher | [39] |
| Peter Drucker | 1909–2005 | sociologist, management consultant, and author | [40] |
| Richard M. Weaver | 1910–1963 | author ofIdeas Have Consequences | [41][42] |
| Nathaniel Weyl | 1910–2005 | economist and author | [43] |
| George J. Stigler | 1911–1991 | economist | [44] |
| Henry B. Veatch | 1911-1999 | philosopher | [45] |
| Robert Nisbet | 1913–1996 | sociologist | [46] |
| Ernest van den Haag | 1914–2002 | sociologist | [47] |
| Daniel J. Boorstin | 1914–2004 | historian | [48] |
| Edward C. Banfield | 1916-1999 | political scientist | [49] |
| Robert Conquest | 1917–2015 | historian | |
| Russell Kirk | 1918–1994 | author ofThe Conservative Mind | [41][50] |
| Harry V. Jaffa | 1918-2015 | historian and political philosopher | [51] |
| Peter J. Stanlis | 1919-2011 | literacy scholar and councilman | [52] |
| Daniel Bell | 1919-2011 | sociologist | [53] |
| Edmund Pellegrino | 1920-2013 | bioethicist | [54] |
| Thomas Molnar | 1921–2010 | political philosopher and historian | [55] |
| Gaetano L. Vincitorio | 1921 2007 | historian | |
| Philip Rieff | 1922-2006 | sociologist and cultural critic | [56] |
| Robert Goldwin | 1922-2010 | political scientist | [57] |
| Gertrude Himmelfarb | 1922-2019 | historian | [58] |
| William A. Rusher | 1923–2011 | publisher ofNational Review | [59] |
| James E. Bunce | 1924-2015 | historian | |
| Stanley Jaki | 1924–2009 | philosopher of science and historian | [60] |
| Phyllis Schlafly | 1924–2016 | activist | [61] |
| John Lukacs | 1924–2019 | historian | [62] |
| William F. Buckley Jr. | 1925–2008 | author, television host, and founder ofNational Review | [63][64] |
| L. Brent Bozell Jr. | 1926–1997 | speechwriter for SenatorJoseph McCarthy | [64] |
| Tim LaHaye | 1926–2016 | author and political activist | [65] |
| Forrest McDonald | 1927–2016 | historian | [66] |
| Paul W. Schroeder | 1927–2020 | historian | [67] |
| Hilton Kramer | 1928–2012 | art critic | [68] |
| Nicholas Rescher | 1928–2024 | philosopher and polymath | [69] |
| Beverly LaHaye | 1929–2024 | activist and founder ofConcerned Women for America | [70][71][72][73] |
| Irving Kristol | 1920–2009 | Neoconservative author and writer | |
| Eva Brann | 1927-2024 | classicist | [74] |
| Paul M. Bator | 1929–1989 | legal scholar and former government official | |
| Allan Bloom | 1930–1992 | classicist and philosopher | |
| Seth Benardete | 1930-2001 | classicist and philosopher | |
| Eugene Genovese | 1930–2012 | historian | [75] |
| Thomas Sowell | 1930– | author, columnist, professor, and economist at theHoover Institution | [76] |
| Norman Podhoretz | 1930– | political commentator | |
| James Q. Wilson | 1931–2012 | social scientist | [77] |
| Christopher Lasch | 1932–1994 | historian and social critic | [78] |
| Harvey Mansfield | 1932– | political philosopher | [79] |
| Ben Wattenberg | 1933-2015 | political commentator and demographer | [80] |
| Richard Viguerie | 1933– | media pioneer | [81][82] |
| Mel Bradford | 1934–1993 | literary critic and legal scholar | [83] |
| Richard E. Morgan | 1934–2014 | political scientist and constitutional theorist | |
| Charles A. Fried | 1935–2024 | legal scholar and former jurist | |
| Richard John Neuhaus | 1936–2009 | founder ofFirst Things | [84] |
| James Kurth | 1938– | political scientist | [85] |
| John Kekes | 1936– | philosopher | [86] |
| Daniel N. Robinson | 1937-2018 | philosopher and psychologist | [87] |
| Peter Kreeft | 1937– | philosopher | |
| Walter E. Williams | 1938–2020 | author, columnist, and economics professor | [88][89][90] |
| Leon Kass | 1939- | philosopher and bioethicist | [91] |
| Nicholas Capaldi | 1939- | philosopher | [92] |
| Arthur Laffer | 1940– | economist | [93] |
| Hadley Arkes | 1940– | political scientist | |
| Virgil Nemoianu | 1940–2025 | literary critic, essayist, and philosopher | |
| George Will | 1941– | columnist for theWashington Post | [94][95] |
| Elizabeth Fox-Genovese | 1941–2007 | historian | [96] |
| Edwin Feulner | 1941–2025 | founder ofThe Heritage Foundation | [97] |
| Paul Gottfried | 1941– | political philosopher and historian | [98] |
| Paul Weyrich | 1942–2008 | president of The Heritage Foundation | [99] |
| Angelo Codevilla | 1943-2021 | international relations theorist and philosopher | [100] |
| Claes G. Ryn | 1943– | political philosopher | [101] |
| Charles Murray | 1943– | political scientist | [102][103] |
| Scott Soames | 1945– | philosopher | [92] |
| George H. Nash | 1945– | historian | [104] |
| Joseph Sobran | 1946–2010 | writer forNational Review | [105] |
| William S. Lind | 1947- | military author | [106] |
| Donald T. Critchlow | 1948- | historian | |
| Vigen Guroian | 1948- | theologian | |
| Glenn Loury | 1948- | economist | [107] |
| Charles Krauthammer | 1950–2018 | public intellectual | [108] |
| Peggy Noonan | 1950– | columnist forThe Wall Street Journal | [76] |
| Larry Schweikart | 1951– | historian | [109] |
| Wilfred M. McClay | 1951– | historian | |
| Peter Augustine Lawler | 1952-2017 | political scientist and philosopher | |
| Bill Kristol | 1952– | former editor ofThe Weekly Standard | [110] |
| Jennifer Roback Morse | 1953- | economist, writer, and activist | |
| Roger Kimball | 1953- | art critic and editor ofThe New Criterion | [111] |
| Victor Davis Hanson | 1953- | classicist and military historian | |
| Carol Swain | 1954– | Former political science professor atVanderbilt University | |
| Daniel Bonevac | 1955– | philosopher | [112] |
| Terry Teachout | 1956–2022 | drama critic, biographer, and playwright | [113] |
| Grover Norquist | 1956– | president ofAmericans for Tax Reform | [110] |
| Robert C. Koons | 1957– | philosopher | [92] |
| Robert P. George | 1969– | legal scholar and political philosopher | [114] |
| James Hankins | 1955– | historian | |
| Patrick Allitt | 1956– | historian | |
| Heather Mac Donald | 1956– | political commentator | [115] |
| John J. DiIulio Jr. | 1958– | political scientist | |
| Andrew Stuttaford | 1958– | journalist and editor | [115] |
| Mark Bauerlein | 1959– | literary critic and senior editor ofFirst Things | [116] |
| R. R. Reno | 1959– | theologian, political philosopher, and the editor ofFirst Things | |
| Dinesh D'Souza | 1961– | author and filmmaker | [117][118] |
| Jonathan Turley | 1961– | legal scholar and writer | |
| Frank Luntz | 1962– | political consultant and pollster | |
| Kevin R. C. Gutzman | 1963– | historian and constitutional scholar | |
| David Tse-Chien Pan | 1963– | literary scholar | [119] |
| Patrick Deneen | 1964– | political theorist | [120] |
| Yoram Hazony | 1964– | political theorist and philosopher | [121] |
| Elizabeth Price Foley | 1965– | legal scholar and bioethicist | |
| John Yoo | 1967– | legal scholar and former government official | [122] |
| Keith E. Whittington | 1968– | political scientist and legal scholar | |
| Christopher Tollefsen | 1968– | philosopher | |
| Edward Feser | 1968– | political philosopher | |
| Adrian Vermeule | 1968– | legal scholar | [123] |
| W. Bradford Wilcox | 1970– | sociologist | [124] |
| Mark Regnerus | 1970– | sociologist | |
| Leigh-Allyn Baker | 1972– | actress and pro-life activist | [125] |
| Yuval Levin | 1977 – | political scientist and journalist | |
| Razib Khan | 1977 – | geneticist and science writer | [115] |
| Ross Douthat | 1979– | columnist forthe New York Times | [126] |
| Stephen E. Sachs | 1980– | legal scholar | |
| William Baude | 1982– | legal scholar | [127] |
| Gladden Pappin | 1982– | political theorist | [128] |
| Rob K. Henderson | 1990– | psychologist and writer | |
| Charlie Kirk | 1993–2025 | Founder and President ofTurning Point USA, author and political commentator | [129] |
| Yeonmi Park | 1993– | North Korean defector and conservative activist | [130] |






| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SenatorArthur H. Vandenberg | 1884–1951 | Known for his opposition to theNew Deal | [131] |
| SenatorRobert A. Taft | 1889–1953 | First chairman of theSenate Republican Policy Committee | [132] |
| SenatorJohn W. Bricker | 1893–1986 | Thomas E. Dewey's running mate in the1944 presidential election | [133] |
| SenatorEverett Dirksen | 1896–1969 | Republican senator who helped get theCivil Rights Act passed | [134] |
| AmbassadorClare Boothe Luce | 1903–1987 | Politician, writer, and ambassador | [135] |
| SenatorJoseph McCarthy | 1908–1957 | Known for his principal role in theRed Scare of the 1950s | [136][137] |
| SenatorBarry Goldwater | 1909–1998 | 1964 Republican presidential nominee | [41] |
| PresidentRonald Reagan | 1911–2004 | 40th President of the United States | [138][139] |
| MayorCharles Evers | 1922–2020 | Civil rights activist, businessman, and Mayor ofFayette | [140] |
| Secretary of StateHenry Kissinger | 1923–2023 | Secretary of State during theRichard Nixon andGerald Ford administrations | [141] |
| Chief JusticeWilliam Rehnquist | 1924–2005 | Chief Justice of the Supreme Court | [142] |
| CongressmanJames Edmund Jeffries | 1925 - 1997 | Member, United States House of Representatives from Kansas (1979 - 1983) | |
| UN AmbassadorJeane Kirkpatrick | 1926–2006 | Ambassador to theUnited Nations underRonald Reagan | [143] |
| AmbassadorShirley Temple | 1928–2014 | Ambassador to theCzechoslovakia | [144] |
| Attorney GeneralEdwin Meese | 1931– | Attorney General during theReagan Administration | [145] |
| CongressmanJack Kemp | 1935–2009 | 1996 Republican vice presidential nominee known for his support ofsupply-side economics and urban renewal | [146] |
| CongressmanLarry McDonald | 1935–1983 | Served as president of theJohn Birch Society | [147] |
| CongressmanRon Paul | 1935– | Presidential candidate (1988 Libertarian Party nominee, 2008 Republican candidate, 2012 Republican candidate) who promoted a libertarian agenda within the Republican Party | [110] |
| JusticeAntonin Scalia | 1936–2016 | Supreme Court justice known as a leading exponent of originalism andtextualism | [148] |
| White House Communications DirectorPat Buchanan | 1938– | White House communications director under President Ronald Reagan, paleoconservative advisor to multiple presidents; prominent commentator and co-founder ofThe American Conservative; Republican presidential candidate in 1992 and 1996; Reform Party nominee for president in 2000 | [149][150][151] |
| House Majority LeaderDick Armey | 1940– | One of the chief authors of theContract with America | [152] |
| Vice PresidentDick Cheney | 1941–2025 | Known for his hawkish views on national security | [153] |
| SenatorMitch McConnell | 1942– | Senate Minority Leader | [154] |
| Speaker of the HouseNewt Gingrich | 1943– | Chief author of the Contract with America, 2012 presidential candidate known for his criticism of theClinton,G. W. Bush, andObama administrations | [153] |
| PresidentDonald Trump | 1946– | 45th and 47th President of the United States | [155][156][157][158][159][160][161] |
| PresidentGeorge W. Bush | 1946– | 43rd President of the United States | [162][153] |
| SenatorMitt Romney | 1947– | Senator from Utah since 2019, 2012 Republican presidential nominee, 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), | [153] |
| UN AmbassadorJohn R. Bolton | 1948– | National Security Advisor, U.N. ambassador, and foreign policy hawk | [163] |
| JusticeClarence Thomas | 1948– | Supreme Court Justice, most prominent African-American conservative jurist in American history | [110] |
| Deputy Chief of StaffKarl Rove | 1950– | Political strategist toGeorge W. Bush | [164] |
| SenatorJim DeMint | 1951– | Tea Party-affiliated U.S. Senator, president of theHeritage Foundation | [165] |
| Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice | 1954– | Secretary of State during theGeorge W. Bush administration | [166] |
| CongresswomanMichele Bachmann | 1956– | Sought the2012 Republican nomination for president | [167] |
| Vice PresidentMike Pence | 1959– | Vice President under Donald Trump, governor of Indiana, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana | [168][153] |
| SenatorRand Paul | 1963– | U.S. Senator from Kentucky, libertarian-leaning conservative, 2016 GOP presidential candidate and son ofRon Paul | [169] |
| GovernorSarah Palin | 1964– | Governor ofAlaska, 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee| | |
| SenatorTim Scott | 1965– | Senator from South Carolina, only African-American Republican senator | [170] |
| Attorney GeneralKris Kobach | 1966– | Secretary of State andAttorney General of Kansas | [171][172][173] |
| SenatorTed Cruz | 1970– | Tea Party-affiliated U.S. senator who finished second in the2016 Republican presidential primaries | [174][175] |
| Speaker of the HousePaul Ryan | 1970– | Speaker of the House, 2012 Republican vice-presidential nominee | [176][153] |
| Secretary of StateMarco Rubio | 1971– | Former U.S. Senator from Florida, 2016 GOP presidential candidate | [177][76][175] |
| Vice PresidentJD Vance | 1984- | Former U.S. Senator from Ohio, The first Millennial was sworn in as vice president | [178] |
| RepresentativeBill Hardwick | 1985- | Missouri State Legislator |

| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Vincent Peale | 1898-1993 | author,minister, chairman of theNational Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government | |
| Roger Milliken | 1915–2010 | businessman | [179] |
| Joseph Coors | 1917–2003 | businessman | [180] |
| Billy Graham | 1918–2018 | evangelist known for his support of capitalism | [181] |
| Sun Myung Moon | 1920–2012 | founder of theUnification Church | [182] |
| Richard DeVos | 1926–2018 | co-founder ofAmway | [183] |
| Rupert Murdoch | 1931– | CEO ofNews Corp and21st Century Fox | [184] |
| Richard Mellon Scaife | 1932–2014 | billionaire donor to conservative organizations | [185] |
| Sheldon Adelson | 1933–2021 | billionaire donor to conservative political candidates | [186] |
| Jerry Falwell | 1933–2007 | televangelist | [187][188] |
| Charles G. Koch | 1935– | billionaire industrialist and donor to conservative organizations and candidates | [183][189] |
| Foster Friess | 1940–2021 | billionaire donor to conservative organizations | [190] |
| David H. Koch | 1940–2019 | billionaire industrialist and donor to conservative organizations and candidates | [183][189] |
| Richard Land | 1946– | former lobbyist for theSouthern Baptist Convention | [191] |
| Robert Mercer | 1946– | donor to conservative organizations such asBreitbart News | [192] |
| Franklin Graham | 1952– | evangelist and political activist | [193] |
| Tony Perkins | 1963– | chairman of theFamily Research Council | [76] |
| Peter Thiel | 1967– | venture capitalist and political activist | [194] |
| Elon Musk | 1971– | Founder, CEO, and chief engineer ofSpaceX, CEO and product architect ofTesla Inc, co-founder ofNeuralink, founder of theBoring Company, and chairman ofX Corp | |
| Russell Moore | 1971– | president of theEthics & Religious Liberty Commission of theSouthern Baptist Convention | [195] |

| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond Moley | 1886–1975 | columnist | [196] |
| David Lawrence | 1888–1973 | author ofBeyond the New Deal | [197] |
| Clarence Manion | 1896–1979 | talk radio host | [198] |
| Henry Luce | 1898–1967 | founder ofTime | [199] |
| Fulton Lewis | 1903–1966 | radio host | [200] |
| Henry Regnery | 1912–1996 | activist | [201] |
| Paul Harvey | 1918–2009 | radio commentator | [202] |
| Bob Grant | 1929–2013 | talk show host | [203] |
| William Safire | 1929–2009 | commentator forThe New York Times | [95][204] |
| Roger Ailes | 1940–2017 | president ofFox News | [153] |
| Michael Savage | 1942– | talk radio host | [110] |
| Morton Downey Jr. | 1932–2001 | radio and talk show host | |
| Herman Cain | 1945–2020 | radio host, syndicated columnist, andcandidate in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries | [205] |
| Lou Dobbs | 1945–2024 | television newscaster | [206] |
| Sam Francis | 1947–2005 | columnist | |
| Michael Medved | 1948– | talk radio host | [207] |
| Dennis Prager | 1948– | talk radio host | [208][209] |
| Bill O'Reilly | 1949– | television and radio host | [210][76] |
| Rush Limbaugh | 1951–2021 | talk radio host | [153] |
| Roger Stone | 1952– | activist, commentator, consultant, and lobbyist | |
| Larry Elder | 1952– | filmmaker | [211] |
| Charlie Sykes | 1954– | talk-show host | [212] |
| Hugh Hewitt | 1956– | talk radio host | [208][213] |
| Sean Hannity | 1961– | host ofHannity andThe Sean Hannity Show | [214] |
| Ann Coulter | 1961– | political commentator | [215][216] |
| Laura Ingraham | 1963– | Fox News and talk radio commentator | [94][217] |
| Adam Carolla | 1964– | co-host ofLoveline and host ofThe Adam Carolla Show | [218] |
| Matt Drudge | 1966– | creator, and editor of the Drudge Report | [219][220] |
| Andrew Breitbart | 1969–2012 | blogger, author, journalist, and creator of Breitbart News | [41][221] |
| Tucker Carlson | 1969– | talk show host | [154][222] |
| Michelle Malkin | 1970– | newspaper columnist, author, and blogger | [223] |
| Ben Shapiro | 1984– | commentator and media host | [224] |
| Christopher F. Rufo | 1984- | journalist, activist, and commentator | |
| Matt Walsh | 1986- | political commentator and author | |
| Lucian Wintrich | 1988- | artist and media personality | |
| Blaire White | 1993- | political commentator and YouTuber | [225] |
| Brett Cooper | 2001- | political commentator and actress | [226] |

| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Hopper | 1882–1967 | Renowned American Realist painter and printmaker known for his oil-on-canvas paintings includingNighthawks | [227] |
| Wheeler Williams | 1887–1972 | Americansculptor | |
| Minerva Teichert | 1888–1976 | 20th-century artist who painted Western andMormon subjects | |
| Sam Hyde Harris | 1889-1977 | American painter associated with theCalifornia Impressionism movement | [228] |
| Henriette Wyeth | 1907–1997 | American artist noted for her portraits andstill life paintings | [229] |
| Andrew Wyeth | 1917–2009 | Americanregionalist painter and one of the best-known U.S. artists of the middle 20th century | [230] |
| Patricia Hill Burnett | 1920–2014 | Portrait artist and women's rights activist | [231] |
| Brigid Berlin | 1939–2020 | American artist andWarhol superstar | [232] |

| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Ives | 1874-1954 | Influentialmodernist composer | [234] |
| Emma Lucy Gates Bowen | 1882-1951 | American operaticsoprano singer | [235] |
| Igor Stravinsky | 1882-1971 | Russian-American composer of ballets includingThe Firebird,Petrushka, andThe Rite of Spring | [236] |
| Irving Berlin | 1888-1989 | Russian-born American composer and songwriter | |
| William Grant Still | 1895-1978 | American composer of nearly two hundred works, including five symphonies, four ballets, nine operas, over thirty choral works, art songs,chamber music, and solo works | [237] |
| Duke Ellington | 1899-1974 | Americanjazz pianist and composer | [238] |
| Hoagy Carmichael | 1899-1981 | One of the most successfulTin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s | [239] |
| Lionel Hampton | 1908-2002 | Jazz musician and bandleader | [240] |
| Bernard Herrmann | 1911-1975 | American composer andconductor best known for his work infilm scoring | [241] |
| Tony Martin | 1913-2012 | Americanbig band,traditional pop singer | [242] |
| Sun Ra | 1914-1993 | Avant-garde jazz composer and bandleader | [243] |
| Frank Sinatra | 1915-1998 | One of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century | [244][245] |
| Milton Babbitt | 1916-2011 | Pioneering composer ofelectronic music andmusic theorist | [246] |
| Dean Martin | 1917-1995 | One of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century | [245] |
| Liberace | 1919-1987 | Pianist, singer and performer known for his flamboyant stage persona | [247] |
| Hank Williams | 1923-1953 | Influential singer-songwriter ofcountry music | [248] |
| Marty Robbins | 1925-1982 | Earlyoutlaw country pioneer | [249] |
| Andy Williams | 1927-2012 | Traditional pop singer | [250] |
| Tom Wilson | 1931-1978 | American record producer | [251] |
| Tiny Tim | 1932-1996 | Outsider artist and musicalarchivist | [252] |
| Loretta Lynn | 1932-2022 | Country music singer and songwriter | [253] |
| James Brown | 1933-2006 | Centralprogenitor offunk music often referred as theGodfather of Soul | [254][255] |
| Frankie Valli | 1934 - | Known as the frontman ofThe Four Seasons | [256] |
| Pat Boone | 1934 - | American pop singer | [257] |
| Elvis Presley | 1935-1977 | American singer and cultural figure known as theKing of Rock and Roll | [258] |
| Sonny Bono | 1935-1998 | One half of the pop duoSonny & Cher | [259] |
| Jerry Lee Lewis | 1935-2022 | Piano-based singer-songwriter and pioneer ofrock and roll androckabilly music | [260] |
| Charlie Daniels | 1936-2020 | Southern rock pioneer andcountry rock musician | [261] |
| Jerry Reed | 1937-2008 | Country music composer and an early influence on theswamp rock genre[262] | [263] |
| Dick Dale | 1937-2019 | Influential guitarist andsurf music pioneer | [264] |
| Charles Wuorinen | 1938-2020 | Academic teacher and composer ofcontemporary classical music | [265] |
| Kenny Rogers | 1938-2020 | Country music singer and songwriter | [266] |
| Phil Everly | 1939-2014 | One half of the country rock duoThe Everly Brothers | [267] |
| Ray Stevens | 1939 - | Novelty country pop singer-songwriter | [268] |
| Dion DiMucci | 1939 - | Prominentrock and roll musician | [269] |
| Frank Zappa | 1940-1993 | Composer, musician, founding member of theavant-garde bandThe Mothers Of Invention | [270] |
| Bruce Johnston | 1942 - | Member ofThe Beach Boys | [271] |
| Roger McGuinn | 1942 - | Leader and only consistent member of thefolk andpsychedelic rock bandThe Byrds | [272] |
| Lee Greenwood | 1942 - | American patriotic music singer | [273] |
| Tommy Hall | 1943 - | Electric jug player and founding member of thepsychedelic rock band13th Floor Elevators | |
| Richie Furay | 1944 - | Vocalist, guitarist and writer offolk rock bandBuffalo Springfield | [274] |
| Moe Tucker | 1944 - | Drummer and singer-songwriter for theexperimental rock bandThe Velvet Underground | [275][276] |
| Iggy Pop | 1947 - | Vocalist and lyricist ofproto-punk propagatorsThe Stooges and often calledthe Godfather of Punk | [277][276] |
| Rick Derringer | 1947 - | Hard rock musician, producer, and songwriter | [278] |
| Meat Loaf | 1947-2022 | Rock opera singer | [279][280] |
| Alice Cooper | 1948- | Shock rock singer | [281][282] |
| Billy Zoom | 1948 - | Guitarist for the punk rock bandX | [283] |
| Mark Farner | 1948 - | Original singer and guitarist of the hard rock bandGrand Funk Railroad | [284] |
| Johnny Ramone | 1948-2004 | Founding member and guitarist of the influentialpunk rock bandRamones | [258][285] |
| Ted Nugent | 1948 - | American guitarist and rock musician | [258] |
| Hank Williams Jr. | 1949 - | Country rock musician | [281] |
| Eric Carmen | 1949-2024 | Lead vocalist of thepower pop bandRaspberries | [286] |
| Gene Simmons | 1949 - | Bassist and founding member of hard rock bandKiss | [287][281] |
| Rickey Medlocke | 1950 - | Frontman/guitarist for thesouthern rock bandBlackfoot and member ofLynyrd Skynyrd | [288] |
| Jonathan Cain | 1950 - | Keyboardist and rhythm guitarist forJourney | [289] |
| Lee Ving | 1950 - | Frontman of the LA-basedhardcore punk bandFear | [290] |
| Joey Kramer | 1950 - | Drummer ofAerosmith | [291] |
| Joe Perry | 1950 - | Founding member and lead guitarist ofAerosmith | [292] |
| Ace Frehley | 1951 - | Lead guitarist and founding member of hard rock bandKiss | [293] |
| Joe Lynn Turner | 1951 - | Known for his work in hard rock bandsRainbow andDeep Purple | [294] |
| Dee Dee Ramone | 1951-2002 | Founding member and bassist of the influentialpunk rock bandRamones | [295] |
| Billy Sheehan | 1953 - | Bassist inglam metal bandMr. Big and hard rocksupergroupThe Winery Dogs | |
| Don Dokken | 1953 - | Lead singer and founder of glam metal bandDokken | [296] |
| Ross the Boss | 1954 - | Founding member ofproto-punk bandThe Dictators and heavy metal bandManowar | [297] |
| Martin O'Donnell | 1955 - | Video game composer for games includingHalo andDestiny | [298] |
| Glenn Danzig | 1955 - | Founder ofhorror punk innovatorsThe Misfits and frontman of heavy metal bandDanzig | [299][300] |
| Exene Cervenka | 1956 - | Singer and songwriter for the punk rock bandX | [301] |
| Bobby Steele | 1956 - | Guitarist for horror punk innovatorsThe Misfits and frontman forThe Undead | [302] |
| Blackie Lawless | 1956 - | Frontman ofheavy metal bandW.A.S.P. | [303] |
| Leonard Graves Phillips | 1957 - | Frontman of the comedicpunk rock bandThe Dickies | [290][304] |
| Prince | 1958-2016 | American singer, songwriter and record producer | [305][233] |
| John Kezdy | 1959-2023 | Lead singer of theChicago hardcore bandThe Effigies | [306] |
| Bobby Ellsworth | 1959 - | Lead vocalist ofthrash metal bandOverkill | [307] |
| Cherie Currie | 1959 - | Lead vocalist of theall-female bandThe Runaways | [308] |
| Johnny Van Zant | 1960 - | Current lead vocalist ofsouthern rock bandLynyrd Skynyrd | [309] |
| Jack Russell | 1960-2024 | Lead vocalist of the glam metal bandGreat White | [310] |
| Tom Araya | 1961 - | Vocalist and bassist ofthrash metal bandSlayer | [282] |
| Duane Peters | 1961 | Leading member ofstreet punk bandU.S. Bombs | |
| Dave Mustaine | 1961 - | Frontman and primary songwriter ofMegadeth | [281][282] |
| Peter Steele | 1962-2010 | Founding member ofcrossover trash bandCarnivore and lead singer, bassist and main composer ofgothic metal bandType O Negative | [311][312] |
| Trace Adkins | 1962 - | Americancountry musician | [313] |
| John Joseph | 1962 - | Lead singer and lyricist of thehardcore punk bandCro-Mags | [314][315] |
| James Kottak | 1962-2024 | Drummer in thehard rock bandScorpions | [316] |
| Joe Escalante | 1963 - | Bassist and songwriter of the comedicpunk rock bandThe Vandals | [317] |
| Michael Sweet | 1963 - | Frontman ofChristian metal bandStryper | [318] |
| Dave Smalley | 1963 - | Lead singer ofhardcore punk bandsDYS andDag Nasty | [319][290] |
| Jeff Hanneman | 1964-2013 | Guitarist and founding member ofthrash metal bandSlayer | [320][321] |
| Vinnie Paul | 1964-2018 | Drummer ofgroove metal bandsPantera andDamageplan | [322] |
| Steve Souza | 1964 - | Lead vocalist for the thrash metal bandExodus | [323] |
| Roger Miret | 1964 - | Lead singer of thehardcore punk bandAgnostic Front | [324][315] |
| Eazy-E | 1964-1995 | AmericanWest Coastgangsta rapper | [325][326] |
| Dimebag Darrell | 1966-2004 | Guitarist ofgroove metal bandsPantera andDamageplan | [327] |
| Billy Corgan | 1967 - | Frontman and primary songwriter ofThe Smashing Pumpkins | [328] |
| John Petrucci | 1967 - | Guitarist ofprogressive metal bandDream Theater | [329] |
| Terry Butler | 1967 - | Bassist for thedeath metal bandObituary | [330] |
| Sully Erna | 1968 - | Vocalist and rhythm guitarist ofalternative metal bandGodsmack | [282][317] |
| Cowboy Troy | 1970 - | Country rap artist | [331] |
| Kid Rock | 1971 - | American singer and rapper | [281][332] |
| Sara Evans | 1971 - | American country music singer and songwriter | [333] |
| Aaron Lewis | 1972 - | Frontman ofalternative metal bandStaind | [334] |
| John Dolmayan | 1972 - | Drummer ofSystem of a Down | [335] |
| Jesse Hughes | 1972 - | Frontman of the rock bandEagles of Death Metal | [336] |
| Gretchen Wilson | 1973 - | American country singer and songwriter | [337] |
| Pete Parada | 1973 - | Drummer of severalpunk rock andmetal bands | |
| John Rich | 1974 - | American country singer | [338] |
| Philip Labonte | 1975 - | Lead singer ofmetalcore bandAll That Remains | [339] |
| Ariel Pink | 1978 - | Lo-fi musician andhypnagogic pop originator | [340] |
| Kaya Jones | 1984 - | Canadian-American pop singer | [341] |
| Azealia Banks | 1991 - | Rapper andhip hop artist | [342][343] |
| Lil Pump | 2000 - | Soundcloud rap artist | [344][345] |






| Name | Lifetime | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Ditko | 1927-2018 | Co-creator ofSpider-Man andDoctor Strange | [531] |
| Chuck Dixon | 1954- | Writer for series and stories includingBatman,Batman: Knightfall, andThe Punisher (1987) | |
| Bill Willingham | 1956- | Writer and artist for series includingElementals andFables | [532] |
| Scott Adams | 1957- | Creator ofDilbert | [533] |
| Ethan Van Sciver | 1974- | Artist for series includingThe Flash: Rebirth,Green Lantern: Rebirth, andSinestro Corps War |

| Name | Founded/defunct | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acton Institute | 1990– | promotes "individual liberty ... sustained by religious principles" | [534] |
| American Enterprise Institute | 1938– | promotesfiscal conservatism | [534] |
| Claremont Institute | 1979– | promotesStraussianism | [534] |
| Competitive Enterprise Institute | 1984– | promoteslimited government | [534] |
| Discovery Institute | 1990– | promotes teaching religious viewpoints in science classes | [534] |
| The Heartland Institute | 1984– | promoteslibertarian conservatism andclimate change denial | [535][536] |
| The Heritage Foundation | 1973– | promotes "[c]onservative social values" | [534] |
| Hoover Institution | 1919– | promotes "a free and peaceful society" | [534] |
| Hudson Institute | 1961– | promotesneoconservatism | [537] |
| Manhattan Institute for Policy Research | 1977– | promotes privatization and limited government | [535][538] |
| Mercatus Center | 1980– | promotes libertarian and free-market ideas | [535] |
| Mises Institute | 1982– | promotesAustrian school economics andanarcho-capitalism | [535] |
| Name | Founded/defunct | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Foundation | founded in 1942 | financially supports Republican-leaning think tanks | [539][540] |
| John Templeton Foundation | founded in 1987 | [539] | |
| Koch family foundations | founded in 1953 | gives millions of dollars to a variety of organizations | [539][541] |
| Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation | founded in 1994 | [542] | |
| Mercer Family Foundation | gives millions of dollars to conservative organizations | [543] | |
| Olin Foundation | defunct in 2005 | financially supports Republican-leaning think tanks | [544][540] |
| Pacific Legal Foundation | Founded in 1973 | Public interest law firm that defends Americans’ liberties when threatened by government overreach and abuse. | [545] |
| Prager University Foundation (PragerU) | 2009 | publishes weekly conservative videos which have garnered over 2 billion total views | [546] |
| Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation | founded in 1970 | gives millions of dollars to conservative organizations | [183] |
| Scaife Foundations | founded in 2014 | financially supports Republican-leaning think tanks | [547][540] |
| Searle Freedom Trust | founded in 1998 | financially supports Republican-leaning think tanks | [540][547] |
| Smith Richardson Foundation | founded in 1935 | financially supports Republican-leaning think tanks | [539][540] |


| Name | Founded/defunct | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Defending Freedom | 1994– | Christian legal organization | [548] |
| American Conservative Union | 1964– | organization "with the aim of coordinating and guiding American conservatism" | [549] |
| American Family Association | 1977– | lobbying organization | [550] |
| American Legislative Exchange Council | 1973– | organization that helps state legislators write bills | [551][552] |
| Americans for Prosperity | 2004– | Tea Party movement organization | [553] |
| Club for Growth | 1999– | political action committee | [554] |
| Concerned Women for America | 1978– | conservative women's organization formed byBeverly LaHaye | [555][556] |
| Council for National Policy | 1981– | elite organization that meets three times a year | [557] |
| Faith and Freedom Coalition | 2009– | Republican fundraising organization | [558] |
| Family Research Council | 1983- | conservative Christian organization | [559] |
| Federalist Society | 1982– | legal organization | [560] |
| Focus on the Family | 1977– | Christian organization | [183] |
| FreedomWorks | 2004–2024 | grassroots organization | [561] |
| Independent Women's Forum | 1992– | conservative women's organization | [562] |
| John Birch Society | 1958– | ultraconservative organization | [563] |
| Judicial Watch | 1994– | educational foundation | [564] |
| State Policy Network | 1992– | organization of state-based groups | [565][566] |
| Turning Point Action | 2019 | political advocacy group | [567][568] |
| Turning Point USA | 2012– | grassroots organization based on College, High School and Church Campuses | [569][570] |
| US Chamber of Commerce | 1912– | pro-business lobbying organization | [571] |
| Young Americans for Freedom | 1960– | organization formed byWilliam F. Buckley Jr. | [150] |

| Name | Founded/defunct | Notability | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The American Conservative | 2002– | Paleoconservative magazine founded byPatrick J. Buchanan | [572] |
| The American Spectator | 1967– | publication known for its investigations ofBill Clinton during his presidency | [573] |
| Blaze Media | 2018– | news outlet from 2018 merger ofGlenn Beck's TheBlaze andMark Levin's CRTV | [574] |
| Breitbart News | 2007– | website formerly headed bySteve Bannon | [575][576][577][578][579] |
| Chronicles | monthly magazine that promotes "Western civilization" | [572] | |
| CNSNews | 1998– | website founded byL. Brent Bozell III | [580] |
| Commentary | 1945– | neoconservative monthly magazine edited byJohn Podhoretz | [581] |
| The Daily Caller | 2010– | website founded byTucker Carlson | [582] |
| The Daily Wire | 2015– | website and media company founded byBen Shapiro andJeremy Boreing | |
| The Detroit News | 1873– | one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city ofDetroit, Michigan | [583] |
| Drudge Report | 1995– | website founded by Matt Drudge | [584][219][585] |
| Fox News | 1996– | cable outlet | [586] |
| Free Republic | 1997– | website that promotes "front-line conservative activism" | [587][588] |
| FrontPage | website edited byDavid Horowitz | [589] | |
| Human Events | 1944– | weekly news magazine | [572] |
| National Review | 1955– | magazine founded byWilliam F. Buckley | [581] |
| New Hampshire Union Leader | 1863– | daily newspaper ofManchester, New Hampshire | [590] |
| New York Post | 1801– | daily newspaper owned byNews Corp | [572] |
| Newsmax Media | 1998– | media firm headed byChristopher Ruddy | [591] |
| One America News Network | 2013– | cable channel | [592] |
| Reader's Digest | 1922– | magazine founded by George and Lila Acheson Wallace | [593] |
| RedState | 2004– | website owned bySalem Media | [594] |
| Regnery Publishing | 1947– | publishing house | [595] |
| Sinclair Broadcast Group | 1971– | telecommunications company founded byJulian Sinclair Smith | [596] |
| Townhall.com | 1995– | website that hosts conservative commentary | [597] |
| The Bulwark | 2018– | founded by Charlie Sykes and Bill Kristol | |
| The Epoch Times | 2000- | newspaper and news website | |
| The Wall Street Journal | 1889– | daily newspaper owned byRupert Murdoch | [572] |
| The Washington Free Beacon | 2012– | news website | [598] |
| The Washington Times | 1982– | daily newspaper that covers politics | [572] |
| The Weekly Standard | 1995–2018 | weekly magazine that covered politics | [572] |
| WorldNetDaily | 1997– | news website | [599][600] |
Conservatives have not liked what they see as the 'mushy' and 'confused' morals and the political, sexual and social mores of the American Nation of the last 50 years. They want clarity. They want guidelines based on Judeo-Christian values. They trust God. Most Conservatives believe any sexual activity outside of the marriage contract is wrong. They believe that abortion is equivalent to murder, and they oppose assisted suicide.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)To traditional conservatives, there most definitely are moral absolutes and they can most definitely and definitively identify those moral absolutes.
Conservatism generally is associated with pro-business, anti-labor, and strong-national-defense stances, all of which lead to support for free trade principles.
The American conservative system of rugged individualism, free markets, economic competition and deep respect for tradition...
Conservatives had a fear of Communism shared by most Americans. During this time a popular anti-Communist culture emerged in America, evident in movies, television programs, community activities, and grassroots organizations. This popular anti-Communist culture generated patriotic rallies, parades, city resolutions, and an array of anti—Communist groups concerned about Communist influence in the schools, textbooks, churches, labor unions, industry, and universities.
For most conservatives, if there is a common culprit in explaining society's descent into moral chaos, then it is relativism – the notion that there are no absolute values or standards, merely different interpretations and perspectives.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)American radio commentator Paul Harvey spent a long life delivering conservative broadcasts on current events, reaching, at his peak, 24 million people daily.Watson, Carlos (October 9, 2014)."The Rest Of The Story: Paul Harvey, Conservative Talk Radio Pioneer".NPR. RetrievedMay 27, 2017.
A lifelong Republican — "She was willing to wait for the party to come around," son Barry said — she helped organize the Michigan Women's Republican Caucus
From the time he turned away from the self-consciously "modern" in the interests of his creative integrity as an African American, Still characterized himself as "conservative," although his urge to work the various aspects of his life and his music into a coherent strand made him an innovator in spite of himself.
If anything, his politics increasingly skewed conservative and libertarian. Communism's anti-religious bent were an affront to Duke's faith. So was its anti-capitalism, because, said Mercer, his father "liked the idea of one day becoming rich." He was for prayer in schools and against abortion on demand. In 1956 he recorded an ad for the US propaganda network Radio Free Europe proclaiming, "Jazz leaves lots of room for individual expression, and in the Communist-dominated countries, jazz and individual expression are two things that are not wanted."
Johnny and Dee Dee were staunch, avid right wing conservative fanatics.
Miret and his bandmates also voiced support for President Ronald Reagan's foreign policy. "We have to stop Communist aggression," guitarist Vinnie Stigma told the zine Guillotine in 1984. "I think [Reagan] has guts," Miret later added.
Victor Fleming, a macho right-winger who gained fame for films such as Captain Courageous (1937), Wizard of Oz (1939), and Gone with the Wind (1939)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)To some critics, Campbell, whose politics were unabashedly conservative, sounded like a Cold Warrior. He was a staunch supporter of the U.S. role in the Vietnam War and, ironically, an equally staunch opponent of the counterculture movement, which took his Hero as its inspiration.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Yet if I were to compare him to someone, I'd look not to another f/sf author but to Edward Gibbon, another author who combined reactionary politics with a dash of iconoclasm. I can't help but think that Vance had read Gibbon and been shaped by him.
Herbert himself, however, rejected this collectivist politics in favor of a macho and conservative individualism. In his thirties, he worked for a series of Republican politicians and candidates and became increasingly anti-government.
My father and my mother and my sister and I have always voted Republican, always." This had nothing to do with party planks and everything to do with family identity, with holding onto something, no matter how arbitrary, in an otherwise disorienting world. We're Kerouacs and this is what we do
The gentle Catholic-Buddhist Jack Kerouac, spontaneous-bop prosody prince of the Old Right, has the strongest claim. In 1952, shortly after finishing the novel that would be published five years later as On the Road, he argued for Robert Taft, "Mr. Republican," for president, while his pal Allen Ginsberg was puffing up Cold Warrior and son of a robber baron Averell Harriman.
HisNew York Times obituary recalls a man who had "no use for the radical politics that came to preoccupy many of his friends and readers." "I'm not a beatnik. I'm a Catholic," he mused as he directed the interviewer to a picture of Pope Paul VI. "You know who painted that?" Kerouac asked. "Me." Perhaps we've misunderstood him all along.
Bill O'Reilly is joining Glenn Beck's conservative news outlet TheBlaze for a weekly spot on Beck's radio show.https://deadline.com/2018/12/theblaze-crtv-merge-blaze-media-glenn-beck-mark-levin-1202512715/Sutton, Kelsey (July 1, 2015)."Glenn Beck's TheBlaze downsizes in New York".Politico. Washington, D.C. RetrievedMay 25, 2017.
Over the past year, most of the New-York-based shows appearing on Beck's conservative television network, like "Real News" and "Liberty Treehouse", were shuttered.
Widely characterized as a conservative answer to Arianna Huffington's hugely successful, left-leaning Huffington Post, the Daily Caller combines aggregated news from across the web with original reporting, video clips, and guest contributors.Stein, Ken (November 23, 2016)."My Descent into the Right-Wing Media Vortex".Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. RetrievedMay 25, 2017.
The Daily Caller, the conservative Web site that Carlson himself co-founded and still runs, would later praise the show for its "epic ratings premiere", but Tucker Carlson Tonight wasn't doing it for me.Maeres, Joel (July–August 2011)."The Great Right Hype".Columbia Journalism Review. New York: Columbia University. RetrievedMay 25, 2017.
With its conservative tone and story list, The Daily Caller reads more like a twenty-sixth Fox News than New York's storied gray lady.
After the 9/11 attacks, he went on a crusade against what he later described on the conservative website FrontPage Magazine as "anti-Americanism [that] had spread over the school like a rash."
Regnery books — which marks its 70th anniversary this year — is the grand old dame of conservative publishing.Milliot, Jim (March 17, 2017)."Regnery Publishing: More Than Just Politics".Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC. RetrievedMay 26, 2017.
As a publisher of conservative books, Regnery faced the prospect of its readership losing some interest in its titles now that Republicans are back in power.