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The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy

Location:

Upland, CA
Tax ID:

95-3443202
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $5,736,563
Expenses: $5,482,292
Assets: $10,491,049
Founded:

1979 1

References

  1. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/

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The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy is a conservative-leaning think tank founded in 1979 by students of Harry Jaffa, a professor at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University, based on Jaffa’s political philosophy. 1 2  The Claremont Institute publishes the Claremont Review of Books and the website American Mind. 3

The Claremont Institute gained increased prominence after it made an intellectual case for the candidacy of Donald Trump early in his 2016 campaign when some other conservative organizations were skeptical. 4

Background

The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy is a California-based conservative-leaning think tank founded in 1979 by students of Harry Jaffa, a professor at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University, based on Jaffa’s philosophy. 5 6

The Claremont Institute contends that while most think tanks focus on policy, Claremont focuses on principles, philosophy, and scholarship. The group says it writes, teaches, and litigates. 7

It was among the earliest organization on the right to make an intellectual case for the campaign of Donald Trump in the 2016 election cycle, and one of the institute’s senior fellows, Glenn Ellmers, has argued that MAGA voters (an acronym for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan) are also “Claremont conservatives.” 8

The institute provides educational fellowships for both students and young professionals. These include the Lincoln Fellowship and the John Marshall Fellowship. 9

The Claremont Institute holds regular panels at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. 10

The think tank established a Washington-based Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life. 11

In 2019, the National Institute of Humanities awarded The Claremont Institute with a National Humanities Medal. 12

Publications

The organization’s flagship publication is the Claremont Review of Books, a quarterly publication. 13

During the lead-up to the 2016 election, when many conservatives and Republicans were skeptical of Donald Trump, the Claremont Review of Books published an essay by Michael Anton (under the pseudonym Publius Decius Mus) titled, “The Flight 93 Election,” that made the case for backing Trump against Hillary Clinton. 14

The institute also publishes the political commentary website the American Mind. 15

In March 2021, Glenn Ellmers, a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, wrote an essay for the American Mind with the headline “‘Conservatism’ Is No Longer Enough.” Instead, the piece argued that those who believe in America’s founding principles must view themselves as “counter revolutionaries” against left-of-center interests that oppose constitutional principles; thus, “conserving” the legacy of the Founders is a dead end. 16

Leadership

Ryan Williams is the president of the Claremont Institute. He became president in 2017. Before that, he held the positions of CFO, director of programs, and director of special projects. He is an adjunct professor at California State University, San Bernadino. 17

Charles Kesler is editor of the Claremont Review of Books and a Claremont Institute senior fellow. From 1989 to 2008, Kesler was director of the Henry Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom in the Modern World. In 2018, he won the Bradley Prize for influencing American scholarship.  From September 2000 to March 2001, Kessler was the vice chairman of the Advisory Committee of the U.S. Congress’s James Madison Commemoration Commission. 18

Arthur Milikh is the executive director of the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life. He previously worked for the Heritage Foundation, the House Armed Services Committee, and the Hudson Institute. 19

Matthew Peterson is the vice president of education for the Claremont Institute and editor-at-large of the American Mind. 20 He has taught political philosophy, American government, rhetoric, and media at Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, and Claremont McKenna College. From 2008 to 2011, Peterson assisted in the design, implementation, and evaluation of U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History initiatives. 21

James Poulos is the executive editor of the American Mind. He is the author of the 2017 book The Art of Being Free.22

John Eastman is a senior fellow for the Claremont Institute. 23 Eastman is a former law professor at Chapman University Law School. During his role on the legal team of former President Donald Trump during disputes concerning the 2020 election, Eastman provided the legal theory that then-Vice President Mike Pence could reject Electoral College votes and overturn the election. 24

References

  1. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  2. Ellmers, Glenn. “‘Conservatism’ is no Longer Enough.” American Mind. March 24, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://americanmind.org/salvo/why-the-claremont-institute-is-not-conservative-and-you-shouldnt-be-either/
  3. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  4.  [1] Ellmers, Glenn. “‘Conservatism’ is no Longer Enough.” American Mind. March 24, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://americanmind.org/salvo/why-the-claremont-institute-is-not-conservative-and-you-shouldnt-be-either/
  5. Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  6. Ellmers, Glenn. “‘Conservatism’ is no Longer Enough.” American Mind. March 24, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://americanmind.org/salvo/why-the-claremont-institute-is-not-conservative-and-you-shouldnt-be-either/
  7. “Mission and Overview.” Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.claremont.org/page/claremonts-mission/
  8. Ellmers, Glenn. “‘Conservatism’ is no Longer Enough.” American Mind. March 24, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://americanmind.org/salvo/why-the-claremont-institute-is-not-conservative-and-you-shouldnt-be-either/
  9. Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  10. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Nonprofit Light. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://nonprofitlight.com/ca/upland/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship-and-political-philosophy
  11. Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://dc.claremont.org/about/
  12.  “The Claremont Institute.” National Humanities Medal. National Endowment for the Humanities. 2019. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://www.neh.gov/award/claremont-institute
  13.  “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  14.  Publius Decius Mus. “The Flight 93 Election.” Claremont Review of Books. September 5, 2016. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/digital/the-flight-93-election/
  15. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Cause IQ.  Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship,953443202/
  16.  Ellmers, Glenn. “‘Conservatism’ is no Longer Enough.” American Mind. March 24, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://americanmind.org/salvo/why-the-claremont-institute-is-not-conservative-and-you-shouldnt-be-either/
  17. “Leadership and Staff.” Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.claremont.org/leadership/
  18. “Leadership and Staff.” Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.claremont.org/leadership/
  19. “Arthur Milikh” Claremont Institute Center for the American Way. Accessed April 2, 2022. https://dc.claremont.org/scholars/?scholar=milikh
  20. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Nonprofit Light. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://nonprofitlight.com/ca/upland/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship-and-political-philosophy
  21.  “Leadership and Staff.” Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.claremont.org/leadership/
  22. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Nonprofit Light. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://nonprofitlight.com/ca/upland/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship-and-political-philosophy
  23. “Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Policy Philosophy.” Nonprofit Light. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://nonprofitlight.com/ca/upland/claremont-institute-for-the-study-of-statesmanship-and-political-philosophy
  24. [1] Gangel, Jamie and Herb, Jeremy. “Memo shows Trump lawyer’s six-step plan for Pence to overturn the election.” CNN. September 21, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/20/politics/trump-pence-election-memo/index.html
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1980

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Jun Form 990 $5,736,563 $5,482,292 $10,491,049 $327,382 Y $5,021,126 $550,237 $196,785 $1,120,778 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $4,778,250 $4,558,364 $9,811,559 $327,570 Y $4,277,426 $352,856 $137,053 $1,047,410 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $5,696,048 $5,093,063 $9,414,931 $433,951 Y $5,181,826 $386,788 $105,779 $1,104,609 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $5,588,691 $4,972,703 $8,198,902 $182,443 Y $5,231,338 $257,359 $105,916 $1,295,421 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $8,280,774 $5,533,681 $7,407,729 $153,372 Y $7,636,015 $529,257 $79,739 $1,280,301 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $6,104,170 $4,898,449 $4,660,124 $144,939 Y $5,552,446 $437,188 $109,081 $1,213,159 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $4,959,275 $4,572,996 $3,309,421 $133,066 Y $4,603,053 $235,029 $80,105 $1,348,742 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $4,423,507 $4,163,205 $3,532,990 $719,686 Y $3,966,997 $364,051 $65,341 $415,027 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $2,792,262 $3,183,208 $2,683,194 $117,487 N $2,599,136 $126,004 $56,033 $404,562 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy

    1317 W Foothill Blvd No 120
    Upland, CA