WASHINGTON— The Heritage Foundation honored the legacy of Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, Heritage’s longest-serving president and one of the architects of the modern conservative movement, at the 2026 Edwin J. Feulner Lecture on August 12.  

The Edwin J. Feulner Lecture is a tribute to Dr. Feulner’s leadership in founding The Heritage Foundation and his enduring influence as one of the architects of the modern conservative movement. The Lecture Series recognizes distinguished leaders and thinkers whose work reflects Feulner’s commitment to principled ideas, strategic leadership, and the American ideal.

This year's lecture featured keynote speaker Charles R. Kesler, the Dengler-Dykema Distinguished Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College, a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, and editor of the Claremont Review of Books. A leading scholar of American political thought and constitutionalism, he teaches in the Claremont Institute’s Publius and Lincoln Fellows programs and previously directed CMC’s Henry Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom.

The recipient of the 2018 Bradley Prize, Kesler is the author, editor, and co-editor of numerous influential works on American politics and conservatism, including Crisis of Two Constitutions: The Rise, Decline & Recovery of American Greatness and the nation’s best-selling edition of The Federalist Papers.

Charles Kesler said:  

“Look around you and confirm what a storied Washington institution Heritage has become in more than half a century. But in looking at the splendor of The Heritage Foundation today, don't forget its original ambitions, which were modest, maybe even desperate, radical, and determined somehow to give rise to a new kind of conservative politics in America... [Heritage] succeeded in changing America, in reviving America.”

Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, said:

“Dr. Feulner understood that to have a great country, you need great institutions. Through this lecture series, by recognizing institution builders and movement leaders like Ed, we hope to inspire other conservatives to persevere in the permanent battles necessary to secure American liberty for future generations.”

BACKGROUND:  

As Heritage’s longest-serving president, Dr. Feulner helped pioneer the model of a policy-oriented think tank—one grounded in principled ideas and dedicated to shaping the public debate. Throughout his life, he embodied a steady, strategic optimism, often reminding us that “In Washington, there are no permanent victories or defeats—only permanent battles that every generation must wage to preserve the free society.”  

Feulner’s reach extended far beyond Heritage. He cultivated deep ties with academic and policy communities, both in the United States and abroad, helping to found and lead institutions that shaped public policy, strengthened civil society, and connected leaders committed to advancing the free society. His vision continues to guide our work: building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish.