Americans for Constitutional Liberty
"Americans for Constitutional Liberty (ACL) was founded in 1974 as The Conservative Caucus (TCC) in the belief that conservatives could win in Washington only by mobilizing conservative strength at the state and Congressional district level. The name was changed to ACL in 2014." [1]
- President - Peter J. Thomas
History
"These excerpts review some of the highlights of ACL/TCC’s unique leadership in defense of America’s Constitutional liberty.
"1974 TCC Founder and Chairman, Howard Phillips, hosted meetings in every U.S. Congressional District to recruit and mobilize grass-roots activists to hold their elected legislators accountable to Constitutional principles...
"1977 TCC formed a Citizen’s Cabinet, a form of Shadow Government, to respond to the misbegotten policies of the Carter Administration. In the same year, we led the fight against the surrender of the U.S. Canal and Zone at Panama, with Chairman Howard Phillips traveling to all 50 states for rallies, news conferences, and organizational meetings. In the same year, TCC worked closely with Phyllis Schlafly in state-by-state campaigns to defeat the dangerous Equal Rights Amendment. We also helped lead the fight against Postcard Voter Registration and participated in the defeat of Ted Sorensen’s nomination to be Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency...
"1980 TCC’s important documentary, Can Soviet Imperialism be Halted, starring top defense and foreign policy experts, was broadcast on TV stations throughout America. TCC continued its program of national and regional Leadership Conferences.
"1981 TCC helped facilitate the Kemp-Roth tax cuts signed into law by President Reagan. Together with Tim LaHaye, Howard Phillips participated in the founding of Concerned Women for America (CWA) and the Council for National Policy (CNP). Phillips opposed the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor, a pro-abortion legislator from Arizona, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Defunding the Left, TCC’s efforts to block taxpayer subsidies to left of center activist groups, made some limited progress during the Reagan Administration...
"1983 Beginning in 1980, TCC took the lead in promoting global ballistic missile defense, which came to be known as SDI. Ultimately, on March 23, 1983, with the help of leaders recruited by TCC, especially Lt. General Dan Graham, President Reagan rhetorically embraced the concept of protecting America from missile attacks. That same year, TCC organized a memorial service attended by nearly 4,000 anti-Communist patriots at Constitution Hall for Congressman Lawrence P. McDonald who was a passenger on KAL007, a plane shot down by the Soviet Union...
"1986 TCC helped persuade Congress to repeal the Clark Amendment, which blocked U.S. aid to anti-Soviet freedom fighters in Angola. That same year, with TCC’s help, tax reforms were enacted eliminating all tax brackets above 28 percent. TCC also pushed for confirmation of William Rehnquist and Antonio Scalia to the U.S. Supreme Court. Backed by TCC, President Reagan agreed to end voluntary U.S. compliance with a SALT II Agreement which was beneficial to the Soviet Union. TCC Chairman Howard Phillips and White House Communications Director Pat Buchanan helped draft President Reagan’s veto message concerning sanctions on South Africa..." [2]
