'The First Lady of the Conservative Movement' Phyllis Schlafly Dies at 92

After a long and fruitful political career, the conservative activist and American constitutional lawyer Phyllis Schlafly passed away Monday at age 92.

This conservative hero was the ultimate multi-tasker. She was a wife, mother, prolific writer, activist, devoted catholic and the founder and leader of the Eagle Forum. 

The Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group founded in 1972 that supports pro-family political agendas, including pro-life. Along with her loyal Eagles, Schlafly changed the world for the better.

“Throughout her energetic life, she took on many adversaries and vanquished them time after time.  The list included: NEA radicals in the schools, politically-correct speech silencers, judicial supremacists, illegal immigration advocates, globalists pushing flawed international treaties and trade deals, anti-American foreign dictators, environmental extremists, anyone who would weaken the U.S. Constitution, ice-in-their veins abortionists, and, of course, doctrinaire feminists who never understood the true power of the positive woman,” wrote Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness and close friend of Schlafly. “Phyllis was one of only a few conservative leaders who stand out as pillars of the movement.  She defended the family, our military, entrepreneurs, inventors, crime fighters, parents and students fighting political correctness, principles of the Constitution, and guardians of justice for all.  On a daily basis she proved that dedicated Americans can do amazing things.’

Schlafly is often criticized for her opposition to modern feminism and for orchestrating a successful campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. “I simply didn’t believe we needed a constitutional amendment to protect women’s rights,” said Schlafly to the New York Times in 2006. “I knew of only one law that was discriminatory toward women, a law in North Dakota stipulating that a wife had to have her husband’s permission to make wine.” 

Even though Schlafly faced hostility from super feminists, she always remained professional and had courage while under fire.  

Because of this and her dedication to her beliefs, Schlafly inspired thousands of women and men.  

“She went down swinging! May she rest in peace. Iconic. Heroic. No one can fill her sensible high heeled shoes. She opened my eyes to the rights and wrongs in worldly government back in my college days as she spoke about the Reagan era and all that Reagan’s pro-American effort were doing for our great country. Many of us owe our political awakening to Phyllis Schlafly. Our friend is now in the arms of her Lord, rooting for all of us — and expecting us! — to do the right thing,” wrote Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor in a Facebook post.

Even at her age, Schlafly was still trying to make a difference. She endorsed the Republican candidate Donald Trump this March and said he had “the courage and the energy” to do “what the grass-roots want him to do.”  

“Phyllis Schlafly is a conservative icon who led millions to action, reshaped the conservative movement, and fearlessly battled globalism and the ‘kingmakers’ on behalf of America’s workers and families. I was honored to spend time with her during this campaign as she waged one more great battle for national sovereignty. I was able to speak with her by phone only a few weeks ago, and she sounded as resilient as ever. Our deepest prayers go out to her family and all her loved ones. She was a patriot, a champion for women, and a symbol of strength. She fought every day right to the end for America First. Her legacy will live on in the movement she led and the millions she inspired,” said Trump in a statement Monday.

 Trump’s running mate Mike Pence has properly coined Schlafly as the “The First Lady of the Conservative Movement” and although she is no longer with us, her morals and ideals will live on forever.