Center for American Greatness

Background

The Center for American Greatness is a conservative-leaning research institute for public policy analysis. The organization says it advocates for limited constitutional government. ⁴ It was founded in 2016, the year that Donald Trump won the Republican presidential nomination. ⁵

The center publishes papers and articles on public policy. It also sponsors events for the public, for journalists, academics, and scholars about civil rights, civil society, and political philosophy. CAG also provided a fellowship program for young people to learn about American history. ⁵

The center says it supports the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and good citizenship. It contends that America is exceptional and that every generation should be taught the American story and that a nation-state is the best vehicle to secure natural rights. ⁶

Funders to the Center for American Greatness include DonorsTrust, a conservative donor-advised fund, which contributed $700,000 in 2018; the Bradley Foundation, which gave $150,000; and the Thomas W. Smith Foundation, which gave $50,000. ^{1 2}

Journalism and Commentary

The center says its articles and commentary target readers who tend not to be ideological but look for practical solutions to current problems. It identifies its audience as “average Americans” who support freedom, individualism, entrepreneurship, patriotism, faith, and family, helping others, and respect for religion. ⁶

The online news and opinion outlet American Greatness is published by the Center for American Greatness and many of the top leaders of the center are also editors for the website. ^6 7 The publication accuses the conservative movement of losing its way on issues such as immigration, trade, and foreign policy. ³

Leadership

Chris Buskirk is the president of the Center for American Greatness and publisher of the news and opinion website American Greatness. Buskirk is also the host of “The Seth & Chris Show” on 960 KKNT. He is the author of Trump vs. The Leviathan and co-author of American Greatness: How Conservatism, Inc. Missed the 2016 Election & What the Establishment Needs to Learn. Buskirk is also a member of the CAG board of directors. ^8 9

Seth Leibsohn is a member of the board of directors of CAG. He is a conservative talk radio show host who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018 in Arizona. ^8 10

Eric Wise is a member of the board of directors of CAG. He is a New York attorney. ^8 11

Julie Ponzi is the vice president of the Center for American Greatness. Ponzi was a contributor to the Ashbrook Center’s blog, “No Left Turns.” She is a senior editor for American Greatness. She was previously director of academic programs at the Claremont Institute and taught American politics at Azusa Pacific University. She has written for the Claremont Review of Books, the Online Library of Law and Liberty, Columbus Dispatch, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Washington Times. ^8 9

Victor Davis Hanson is a member of the board of advisors for the Center for American Greatness. He is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College since 2004. Hanson was previously a professor of classics at California State University, Fresno. Hanson was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush. ¹²

Roger Kimball is a member of the board of advisors for the Center for American Greatness. Kimball is editor and publisher of The New Criterion and president and publisher of Encounter Books. ¹²