Lee Edwards

Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Former Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought, B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies

Lee Edwards is a leading historian of American conservatism and the author or editor of 25 books.

This expert is no longer a staff member at The Heritage Foundation.

Lee Edwards, former distinguished fellow in conservative thought at The Heritage Foundation, is a leading historian of American conservatism, who has published more than 25 books.

Edwards also is adjunct professor of politics at the Catholic University of America, where he was named Distinguished Lecturer.

Edwards is co-founder of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.

His books include biographies of Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Edwin Meese III as well as histories of The Heritage Foundation and the American conservative movement. His works have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, French, Hungarian, Polish, and Swedish.

His most recent works include “A Brief History of the Cold War” (2016), written with Elizabeth Edwards Spalding, and his autobiography, “Just Right: A Life in Pursuit of Liberty” (2017).

Edwards was the founding director of the Institute of Political Journalism at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a past president of the Philadelphia Society and a media fellow at the Hoover Institution.

He has appeared frequently on broadcast and cable outlets and has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, National Review, Human Events, Claremont Review of Books and The American Spectator.

His awards and honors include the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, the Millennium Star of Lithuania, the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia, the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy from the Republic of China (Taiwan), the John Ashbrook Award, the Reed Irvine Media in Accuracy Award, Legend of YAF from Young America’s Foundation, and the Walter Judd Freedom Award.

Edwards received a doctorate in world politics from Catholic University as well as a doctor of humane letters degree from Grove City College. He did graduate work at the Sorbonne in Paris. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Duke University. 

He lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife Anne, who assists him in all his writing.

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Is Life Worth Living? Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Jan 12, 2015 6 min read

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The Man who Ignited a Revolution Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Nov 21, 2014 2 min read

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Another Time for Choosing Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Oct 28, 2014 4 min read

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The Conservative Mind of Russell Kirk Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Oct 23, 2014 16 min read

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The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Aug 25, 2014 5 min read

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Barry M. Goldwater: The Most Consequential Loser in American Politics Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Jul 3, 2014 17 min read

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The Collapse of Communism Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Jun 27, 2014 3 min read

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The People Want Rights as Much as Rice Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Jun 4, 2014 2 min read

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Roaring Along Conservatism's Rocky Road Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Apr 5, 2013 3 min read

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William F. Buckley Jr.: Conservative Icon Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Dec 18, 2012 17 min read