Edwin J. Feulner, a Giant in the Modern Conservative Movement dies at 83

The conservative movement and the nation have lost a political giant with the passing of Edwin J. Feulner Jr., founder and longtime president of The Heritage Foundation. And I lost a long time personal friend and colleague.  Though not a household name, Ed’s influence on American public policy and conservative thought was profound, enduring, and quietly revolutionary.

Born on August 12, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, Ed Feulner was raised in a devout Roman Catholic German American family. His intellectual journey began at Regis University in Denver, where he earned degrees in English and business. He later received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Edinburgh. But it was during his college years, after reading Barry Goldwater’s The Conscience of a Conservative and Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind, that Ed found his calling: to build a principled, intellectually rigorous conservative movement rooted in America’s founding ideals.

At that time, I was honored to be among a group of principled conservatives who produced the movement that resulted in the election of President Ronald Reagan.  In addition to Ed, the group included David Keene, who was the longtime head of the American Conservative Union and CPAC, Paul Weyrich, who founded the Free Congress Foundation, publisher Jameson Campaign, Richard Viguarie, who developed the most successful political direct mail fundraising operation, William Buckley and others.

Ed co-founded The Heritage Foundation in 1973—then a modest policy shop with a handful of staff and a bold vision. He became its president in 1977, and over the next 37 years, transformed it into one of the most influential think tanks in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, Heritage pioneered a new model of policy advocacy: concise, actionable research delivered ahead of legislation, designed to fit in a lawmaker’s briefcase. This “briefcase test” revolutionized how ideas shaped policy.

Heritage’s impact was immediate and lasting. Its Mandate for Leadership series helped shape the Reagan administration’s agenda in the 1980s, and its influence extended through successive Republican presidencies. Ed’s vision was not merely institutional, it was philosophical. He championed what he called “big-tent conservatism,” believing that unity and inclusion were essential to the movement’s strength. “You win through multiplication and addition, not through division and subtraction,” he often said.

Despite his towering legacy, Ed never sought the spotlight. He was less known publicly than many who contributed far less. But among those who worked with him, he was revered—not just for his intellect and strategic acumen, but for his kindness, humility, and unwavering optimism. He mentored generations of conservative leaders, always reminding them that “people are policy” and that “in Washington, there are no permanent victories and no permanent defeats”.

Ed’s leadership extended beyond Heritage. He served as executive director of the Republican Study Committee, advised multiple presidential administrations, and helped found Townhall.com and the Philadelphia Society. He authored nine books and received the Presidential Citizens Medal from Ronald Reagan in 1989. Even in his later years, Ed remained active in shaping conservative policy, contributing to Project 2025 and meeting with President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 election.

Yet for all his accomplishments, Ed remained a gentle soul. He was a devoted husband to Linda Claire Leventhal Feulner, a loving father and grandfather, and a faithful Catholic. He lived in Alexandria, Virginia, and maintained close relationships with colleagues and supporters across the country. His daily sign-off—“Onward. Always.”—was more than a catchphrase; it was a reflection of his spirit: resilient, hopeful, and committed to the cause of liberty.

Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. House Speaker Mike Johnson called him “a singular influence upon the conservative movement.” Senator Mike Lee described him as “a giant,” and former Vice President Mike Pence remembered him as “a mentor and cherished friend.” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts summed it up best: “Thank you for showing us what one faithful, fearless man can do when he refuses to cede ground in the fight for self-governance”.

In a city often seduced by power, Ed planted a flag for truth. He built not just an institution, but a movement—one rooted in faith, family, freedom, and the founding. His legacy lives on in the ideas he championed, the leaders he mentored, and the institution he built from scratch into a battleship of conservative thought.

Ed Feulner passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 83. His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Ed was an inspiration, a mentor, a resource and wonderful company.  I will miss him.