Richard Viguerie - Biography
Richard A. Viguerie
Richard Viguerie transformed American politics in the 1960’s and 70’s by pioneering the use of direct mail fundraising in the political and ideological spheres, which allowed conservatives to go around the liberal media blockage, right into people’s homes. Viguerie used direct mail marketing/fundraising to help build the conservative movement, which then elected Ronald Reagan as the first conservative president of the modern era.
Considered the “Funding Father of the conservative movement,” Viguerie has motivated and activated millions of Americans to participate in politics for the first time, greatly expanding the base of active citizenship. Rather than a pamphlet like Thomas Paine, Viguerie uses direct mail to deliver his clients’ call to action. George Magazine credited his work as one of the defining political moments of the 20th Century.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said about Viguerie, “He is one of the genuine pioneers of modern American politics. He really invented the use of direct mail by Republicans and by conservatives.” Former Congressman Barry Goldwater, Jr. said, “He is the catalyst that allowed conservatism to reach the pinnacles that it has over these past many years…to raise the money that has allowed conservatism to be such a powerful force in today’s politics.”
Viguerie is the Chairman of American Target Advertising™, Inc., a 80-person direct marketing agency located in Northern Virginia. His firm has mailed more than 4.6 billion letters and raised over $7.6 billion dollars over the past 57 years. The company mailed over 100 million postal letters on behalf of its clients in 2019 and expect to mail many more this Presidential Election year. Viguerie is also Chairman of FedUp PAC, an independent expenditure political action committee, and publisher of the conservative website, ConservativeHQ.com. He is the author of seven books including his latest “Go Right, Go Big” and “How Conservatives Can Outlive Liberals.”
The AFL-CIO has said that Viguerie “made it all possible” for conservatives, and The Washington Post called him “the conservatives’ Voice of America.” People magazine named him one of the 25 most intriguing people of the year in 1981. In December 1999 he was named by Dr. Lee Edwards in The Washington Times as one of 13 “Conservatives of the Century.”
Now in his 9th decade, his role model is Moses. According to Deuteronomy 34:7: “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” Viguerie’s typical workday is 13-14 hours, 5 ½ days a week and his enthusiasm has never waned.
Viguerie is also involved in numerous community activities including St. Peter Catholic Church, the Front Porch—a Sunday morning get together of locals on the front porch of a local restaurant and a weekly get together with residents at an assisted living facility. He participates in and is a patron of local theater and numerous political activities in Rappahannock County, Virginia.
Viguerie and his wife, Elaine, are natives of Houston, Texas, and have been married for more than 57 years. They have three children and six grandchildren and live in the Virginia countryside on 230 acres of conservative-friendly environment.