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Mallory Factor
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Big Tent: The Story of the Conservative Revolution—As Told by the Thinkers and Doers Who Made It Happen Kindle Edition

by Mallory Factor (Author, Editor), Elizabeth Factor (Author), Hayley Barbour (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Drawing from his comprehensive, star-studded course at the Citadel, Mallory Factor, the New York Times bestselling author of Shadowbosses, brings together a fascinating and diverse range of essays from leading figures and activists which explore and illuminate the conservative intellectual tradition in American politics.

Ambitious in its breadth and depth, The Big Tent is a panoramic portrait of the intellectual history of the conservative movement. Some of the leading lights of the right offer an unparalleled introduction to conservative figures and ideas, from the Revolution to William F. Buckley; Barry Goldwater to the Reagan Revolution; Libertarianism to the War on Terror.

Insightful and stimulating, The Big Tent is an outstanding survey of the movement over three centuries.

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  1. Print length
    469 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Broadside e-books
  4. Publication date
    April 8, 2014
  5. File size
    3.3 MB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

''[A] useful handbook for those looking to understand the roots of conservatism and the contours of the contemporary movement.'' --Kirkus Reviews

''Big Tent is the definitive book on what it means to be conservative. An essential read for everyone who cares about the future of America. Covering all the angles and arguments, Big Tent is stunning and accessible. You will be surprised, as I was, by all you didn't know about the conservative movement.'' --Sean Hannity

From the Back Cover

Bestselling author, professor, and pundit Mallory Factor illuminates the conservative tradition in American politics with essays from leading figures in the conservative movement.

Ambitious in its breadth and depth, Big Tent provides a fresh and surprising treatment of the conservative movement as told by the leaders themselves. In this unique collection, which is based on his star-studded course at The Citadel, conservative leaders explain how the movement developed as a powerful force in American politics, how it functions now with a wide range of viewpoints, and where it is going in the future. The origin of conservative ideas—from their ancient roots to their English origins, from the American Revolution to William F. Buckley, Alexis de Tocqueville to Barry Goldwater, and libertarianism to neo-conservatism—are revealed and examined in this compelling volume.

These illuminating essays include

  • Newt Gingrich on the political ideas surrounding the American Revolution
  • Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute on the emergence of libertarianism
  • Ed Meese on the Reagan Revolution
  • David Keene of the NRA on Buckley-style "fusionism"
  • Phyllis Schlafly on the rise of the religious right
  • Donald Rumsfeld on the Bush administration's "War on Terror"
  • Rand Paul on the future of the conservative movement.

Insightful and stimulating, Big Tent is an outstanding survey of the conservative movement from its most significant living figures.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DB3D6ZY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Broadside e-books (April 8, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 8, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 469 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Mallory Factor

Mallory Factor

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Mallory Factor is the John C. West Professor of International Politics and American Government at The Citadel and is a FOX News contributor. He is a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University's Department of Political Science and International Studies for the 2014-15 academic year.

Mallory Factor is the editor of Big Tent: The Story of the Conservative Revolution--As Told by the Thinkers and Doers Who Made It Happen, based on his highly successful C-Span lecture series which was broadcast from The Citadel.

Mallory is also the author of the New York Times Bestseller SHADOWBOSSES, the shocking new exposé of government employee union power in America today. SHADOWBOSSES tells a story of intrigue, drama, and corruption and reads like an organized crime novel. But it is a true story of how unions are infiltrating our government and corrupting our political process.

Mallory is the host and co-founder of The New York Meeting (www.thenewyorkmeeting.com), a nationally-recognized gathering of elected officials, journalists, business leaders and conservative authors in New York City, the largest meeting of its type in the country. He is also the host and co-founder of The Charleston Meeting, a similar meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.

Mallory is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and served as Vice-Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on Terrorism Financing. He has frequently testified in front of the U.S. House and the Senate on terror financing, regulation of the financial services industry and other economic issues.

Previously, he served as chairman of the Free Enterprise Fund, a free market "do" tank advocating economic growth, lower taxes and limited government, and brought the Constitutional challenge to the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to the Supreme Court.

Mallory was a senior fellow at the House Republican Study Committee from 2007 to 2011, and he chaired the Economic Roundtable for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2009.

He has written widely on economic and financial issues for publications including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, and newspapers nationwide. He has also appeared on numerous networks and cable stations including Fox News and CNBC to discuss finance and politics.

You can learn more about Mallory Factor and read his articles at www.malloryfactor.com.

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and thought-provoking. They describe it as an excellent introduction to various strands of conservative thought. The book is described as a great read, well organized, and presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

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7 customers mention "Thought provoking"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They say it presents a wealth of information for conservatives and provides an excellent introduction to various strands of conservative thought. Readers describe it as an essential resource for serious conservatives, especially updating on modern conservatism.

"...book might be so I was glad to find it a very educational and interesting read. I would recommend it to both conservatives and independents." Read more

"...But there is enough solid stuff here to make this book a good resource for those who want to soak in the origins, history, and many aims of the..." Read more

"...William F. Buckley, Jr.'s impact is not a lot new but interesting to read his perspective and journey within the conservative movement...." Read more

"EXCELLENTE as a resource for the serious conservative, especially updating on 'modern conservatism' in the coming decade...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and recommend it. They say it's a good primer on political conservatism.

"...Why might this be a good read for 2016?..." Read more

"Awesome . . . contains one of the most easy to understand chapters on how radical Liberals gamed the system to dominate the political process...." Read more

"...Revival, and the Agrarian Tradition" by Burton W. Folsom is a real gem and my favorite so far...." Read more

"This is a great book - highly recommended. Well organized, and nicely presented...." Read more

4 customers mention "Ease of reading"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They say it provides a concise and helpful review of American political history. The chapters on how radical Liberals gamed the system are well-organized and presented.

"Awesome . . . contains one of the most easy to understand chapters on how radical Liberals gamed the system to dominate the political process...." Read more

"...Easy to read as each essay more or less stands alone. Some essays stood out from the others as being more insightful...." Read more

"This is a great book - highly recommended. Well organized, and nicely presented...." Read more

"The most succinct and helpful review of American political history." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • R. B. MacHatton
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I wasn't sure what this book might be so I was glad to find it a very educational and interesting read. I would recommend it to both conservatives and independents.
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  • Dave Todaro
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Case for the intellectual legitimacy and the multifaceted nature of American conservatism
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Mallory Factor’s compendium of essays – actually lectures, some without much editorial polish – delivered by leading Conservative minds to students at The Citadel in South Carolina – contains a few clunkers. But there is enough solid stuff here to make this book a good resource for those who want to soak in the origins, history, and many aims of the Conservative movement in the U.S.

    Why might this be a good read for 2016? Cut straight to the afterword, delivered by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (the cover art of the Kindle edition says Barbour supplies the forward; that’s a misprint). Suspend any judgment of Barbour’s political record: here is 2-Party Politics 101. He examines the record to show why Republicans (or Democrats, if you prefer) must avoid creating litmus tests of ideological purity in order to win state and national elections. You can choose to read Barbour first, but his offering may resonate more deeply if you’ve considered some of the best essays that come before.

    Barbour, teasing out a theme other contributors hint at, explains why it is important for the Conservative movement to be a “big tent” in order to win at the polls. But there’s a “big tent” irony: Barbour, who prepared his remarks well before the 2016 campaign, may have you re-thinking Donald Trump’s candidacy (Is he really working for the Clintons? Well, turns out there’s historical precedent for those sort of shenanigans…)

    Make no mistake; the Conservative “big tent” is not for everyone. So who is it for? Contributor Edward J. Feulner takes us back to William F. Buckley’s efforts, when the National Review was brand new, to rally various strands of political theory that stood against New Dealism and other left-leaning philosophies, into a viable political and governing force. There were free market conservatives, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, national defense conservatives, and constitutional conservatives whose overlapping yet unique objectives needed a common rallying point to develop into the unified movement that Buckley envisioned. Factor presents the essays in rough chronological order to highlight the progression of thought and historical events through time: eighteenth-century Irishman Edmund Burke; George Washington and the framers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; Friedrich Hayek, Russell Kirk and Ayn Rand; all paving the way for the patron saints of the modern U.S. Conservative movement: Buckley. Goldwater. Reagan.

    The list of contributors combine the well-known: Newt Gingrich, Michael Barone, Phyllis Schlafly, Ed Meese, Ralph Reed, Rand Paul; with quieter scholars whose contributions drive home the power of America’s conservative zen. But put the lineup in a room with wine and cheese, and you’ll hear some substantial disagreements. It is a big tent.

    Among the most thought-provoking nuggets: Donald Rumsfeld’s defense of George W. Bush’s war on terror. It’s fashionable for Americans of all political stripes to give “Bush II” low marks on his presidency; Rumsfeld’s argument in defense of George W.’s military and foreign policy initiatives are the most cogent you’ll find. Those who think the military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan were mistakes will find a healthy challenge to their thought process here.

    The writer in me wishes a few of the essays were better edited to be presented as essays in a book. And a couple of the essays are just not up to snuff. But think of “Big Tent” as an old vinyl LP: You don’t have to like every song on the album to make it a good addition to your collection.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Klaus Seaquist
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Easy to Read Primer on Why Conservatism Is The Only Solution To Prosperity!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Awesome . . . contains one of the most easy to understand chapters on how radical Liberals gamed the system to dominate the political process. Explains why capitalism, free enterprise, and conservative principles lead to success and why Liberals just don't have a clue as they seek to destroy America!
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  • Gene Wisdom
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, not great, some gems.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent introduction to various strands of conservative thought. Note: still reading it...
    Highlights:
    --Alfred Regnery's "The Pillars of Conservatism". While much of it is quite familiar to those familiary with George Nash's definitive The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945, Regnery goes into some historical detail on the ancient/classical roots.
    --David Norcross's "Edmund Burke and the Origins of Modern Conservatism.
    --Michael Barone's essay on Alexis de Tocqueville.
    --"New Deal Progressivism, the Jeffersonian Revival, and the Agrarian Tradition" by Burton W. Folsom is a real gem and my favorite so far.
    --David Keene's essay on William F. Buckley, Jr.'s impact is not a lot new but interesting to read his perspective and journey within the conservative movement.
    --Douglas Feith’s “The Cold War, Anti-Communism, and Neoconservatism” is some pretty good background on the emergence of neo-conservatism and its influence on the foreign policy debate.

    The downside:
    --"The Emergence of Libertarianism" by Yaron Brook is nothing but an Ayn Randian argument with some primer material on Hayek, Mises, and Friedman thrown in.
    --Phyllis Schlafly’s “Cultural Conservatism and the Religious Right” is, sad to say, little more than a lot of “This is what I did.” Sad to say, for me, because I’m a fan of Schlafly and her contributions but her perspective is very limited to the movement as a whole.
    --Ed Meese’s “The Reagan Revolution” offers very little, except the occasional tidbit, that would be new to any halfway knowledgeable conservative.

    I’ve only gotten as far as Feith’s essay so far. From a perusal of the rest of the book, though, it appears there are some more gems here.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • johnathon
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very informative. Interesting learning resource. I find many ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2014
    Very informative. Interesting learning resource. I find many of the essays herein a little too biased/opinionated for entry level political science study. A slow read, but worth the time.
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  • Norm's Opinion
    5.0 out of 5 stars I liked the format of this book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2014
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    I liked the format of this book. The fifteen chapters plus the Afterword were individual essays each writing about different aspects of what is conservative thinking. If they would read it, Ibelieve it would open some minds that are liberal, The question is will they read it, probably not! Haley Barbour's Afterword helped to bring it all together. The only essay I had a problem with was by James Woolsey glib with unwarented humor. But even with that I rate the book, five star.
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  • Robert Janicki
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good primer on the many elements of political conservativism
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2014
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    A nice anthology of essays on what it means to be a political conservative from multiple perspectives of people I respect for the most part. Easy to read as each essay more or less stands alone. Some essays stood out from the others as being more insightful. I will refer back to these particular essays over time.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paul Libke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2014
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    This is a great book - highly recommended. Well organized, and nicely presented. I only wish that all citizens would read it - they might understand what makes a free society so incredibly prosperous.
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