American Conservative Union

THE AMERICAN Conservative Union (ACU) organization began its career as the conservative watchdog for the nation in 1964 in response to the conservatives' widespread loss of power in the national political arena. Founded in December 1964 by such figures as Frank S. Meyer, William F. Buckley, Jr., and Robert E. Bauman (organizer of the first meeting), the ACU sought to create a vehicle for the ideas and concepts of the conservative right. The mission of the new organization was (and is) threefold: “Consolidate the overall strength of the American conservative movement through unified leadership and action, mold public opinion, and stimulate and direct responsible political action.” During the first several meetings, the new group appointed a 50-member board of directors, including those from the first organizational meeting as well as Lammot Copeland, Peter O'Donnell, John A. Howard, Congressman Donald C. Bruce of Indiana (elected as the first chairman), and John Dos Passos.

Within the month, the group had raised $350,000 as operating capital, decided on its first political actions, and announced itself to the media. Within nine months, the membership reached 7,000, and the new lobby group removed itself from other, more militant conservative groups such as the John Birch Society. Wanting the support of the conservative majority, the ACU stipulated in its bylaws that it welcomed the support of those willing to participate in only “responsible political action.”

Over the next seven years, membership in ACU fluctuated but finally reached 45,000 by the end of 1972, and its political activity and affiliations were often front-page news. Among its affiliations, the ACU began establishing a network of local groups under the program Action Now. These groups, or clubs, promoted conservative political action by the members and soon led to state affiliates. This program and the state clubs are still a strong part of the ACU. Another affiliation the organization undertook in its first years, the merger with Public Action Incorporated, provided the impetus for its registration with the government as a lobbyist.

Other landmark events at this time included the launch of the ACU's first publication, the Republican Report, which covered the internal affairs of the Republican Party. By 1971, the Report had changed its name to Battleline, published in 2004 in electronic format. Once it had established its basic foundation and garnered national support, the ACU started making forays in the national political picture: passing resolutions to reject federal government nominees who did not follow their conservative platforms, sending representatives to the national Republican conventions where they influenced the party votes, and endorsing those political nominees who proposed a conservative agenda. These types of activities firmly established the ACU's political influence [Page 509]and enabled it to create the Conservative Victory Fund, a fund used in contributing to the campaigns of many conservative electoral candidates.

From these successful beginnings, the American Conservative Union has grown into one of the the most influential lobbying groups in the national government. ACU has worked diligently to fulfill its purpose to promote capitalism, educate the public on what it believes to be the founding fathers' intent in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, instill confidence in the conservative ideal of moral values, and support a strong national defense. The ACU has worked to influence major national policy, including battling the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, opposing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties, supporting anti-Marxist revolutionaries in foreign countries, and promoting the need for American deployment of its strategic defenses.

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