Conservative Leadership Conference

The 2008 Conservative Leadership Conference (CLC) announced today that author and Wall Street Journal editorial page writer John Fund has been chosen to receive the annual Lyn Nofziger Award this year. The award will be presented at the conference luncheon on Saturday, September 20.

Franklyn C. “Lyn” Nofziger was was a journalist, a political consultant, and, in his final years, a world-class blogger. The Lyn Nofziger Award is presented each year to a political writer or strategist for excellence in promoting the limited-government agenda which was so near and dear to Lyn’s heart.

Lyn served as press secretary and political adviser for Ronald Reagan’s gubernatorial campaign in 1966, and then as Gov. Reagan’s Director of Communications. He later served as a congressional liaison in the Nixon White House and deputy chairman for communications at the Republican National Committee.

Nofziger again worked on Ronald Reagan’s 1976 and 1980 campaigns for president and was named Assistant to the President for Political Affairs following Reagan’s election. He is best remembered by many for handling the press following the shooting President Reagan and Press Secretary Jim Brady in 1981.

Lyn was a proud conservative with a strong libertarian streak. His definition of conservatism was “believing in a minimum amount of government and a maximum amount of freedom - and keeping government out of people’s lives and business - and leaving people alone.” His bottom line: “I don’t like government, it’s just that simple.”

“Like Lyn Nofziger, John Fund is a writer with an impressive and persuasive command of the English language, a shrewd political analyst, an author, a blogger and an unrepentent advocate for limited government,” said conference co-host Chuck Muth. “If only he’d wear some Mickey Mouse ties, you’d swear they were related. We’re extremely happy to name John Fund this year’s recipient of the Lyn Nofziger Award.”