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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What Bernie Sanders Missed on His Soviet Honeymoon Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

May 10, 2019 4 min read

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THESE Are the Most Telling Failures of Socialism Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Apr 24, 2019 4 min read

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At the NRI Ideas Summit, William F. Buckley Jr. Loomed Large Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Apr 5, 2019 3 min read

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The God That Failed…Over and Over Again Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Mar 18, 2019 4 min read

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The True Meaning of That Green New Deal Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Feb 13, 2019 2 min read

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What Bill Buckley Would Say to Conservatives Today Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Dec 17, 2018 3 min read

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An Epic American Life Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Dec 7, 2018 5 min read

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What Americans Must Know About Socialism Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Dec 3, 2018 23 min read

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Why the Berlin Wall Finally Came Down 29 Years Ago Lee Edwards, Ph.D.

Nov 12, 2018 2 min read