Letters to a Young Conservative Read Online Free PDF

Eventually, the Dartmouth Review ’s influence spread to other campuses: Inspired by our example, conservative students at some fifty other colleges started alternative newspapers, many of which are still around. The spark we kindled has become an enduring flame.
    Now that I can look back at the Dartmouth Review with some perspective, I see that it accomplished four major objectives. First, it trained a whole group of young conservatives in journalism and activism. Some of these have gone on to distinguished careers in politics. One of our editors, Peter Robinson, wrote Ronald Reagan’s Berlin Wall speech, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Another, Laura Ingraham, is a regular pundit on radio and television. Ben Hart published a successful book about his Dartmouth exploits and now runs a large direct-mail company that raises funds for political candidates. Greg Fossedal wrote editorials for the Wall Street Journal before joining a money market research firm and settling down to father six kids. Keeney Jones wrote speeches for Bill Bennett and is now a Catholic priest.
None of these people would have taken these pathways if they had not worked for the Dartmouth Review.
    Second, the Review was, and remains, a valuable check on the excesses of the Dartmouth faculty and administration. Over the years, the newspaper’s exposés have forced the administration to abandon many a cherished liberal program. Who knows what other outrages the administration might have perpetrated had the Review not been around? As Professor Hart has said, thanks to the Review, “Dartmouth is no longer a place where the liberal sheep can graze unmolested.”
    Third, the newspaper generated lively discussion at Dartmouth about a whole slate of issues that would not otherwise have been talked about. Even the paper’s critics admitted this. As the New Republic editorialized, “The Dartmouth Review has succeeded where countless tenured professors have failed” in fostering ongoing debates on campus about free speech, affirmative action, the liberal arts, and politics.
    Finally, the Review moved the political center at Dartmouth decisively to the right. When I return to Dartmouth now and ask a typical student, “What are your politics?” the reply is, “Well, I’m a moderate conservative. I voted for Bush, but I am not as right-wing as those guys on the Dartmouth Review. ” What this student does not recognize is that it is the influence of the Dartmouth Review over the years that has enabled him to say that. Moderate conservatism was totally outside the pale when the newspaper was founded. But by staking out a
kind of far-right position, the Review has legitimized a wide range of positions in the middle.
    I learned a lot at Dartmouth, and I consider my tenure at the Dartmouth Review to be central to my learning experience. In fact, the last time I got a call from my class agent reminding me of how much my Dartmouth education had benefited my career and asking me to contribute to my alma mater, I told him, “Mike, I already have. I sent a check last week to the Dartmouth Review. ”

5
    Fighting Political Correctness
    Dear Chris,
    In your reaction to my Dartmouth stories, I detect a hint of envy. You complain that the conservatives on your campus are a sorry bunch: Many don’t want to be publicly identified as conservative, some are too busy with academic work, others shy away from controversy. We had these same problems, but we overcame them by developing a guerilla strategy that was as effective as it was fun. Do the same, Chris, and you, too, will have people tracking you down to find out how they can get involved.
    Where to start? I don’t know. Conduct a survey to find out how many professors in the religion department believe in God. Distribute a pamphlet titled “Feminist Thought” that is made up of blank pages. Establish a Society for Creative Homophobia. Prepare a freshmen course guide that lists your college’s best, and