About The Conservative Caucus

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) was founded in 1974 in the belief that conservatives could win in Washington only by mobilizing conservative strength at the state and Congressional district level.

The key to success is still to let people know what is happening in government, and to tell them how they can have an impact on the decisions to be made.

TCC uses many methods to make conservative opinion felt in Congress and the White House.

We encourage members and all citizens to call, visit, or write their elected representatives; and to alert other Americans by calling talk shows and writing letters to the editor. Often petitions are collected and delivered to key decision-makers. Testimony before Congressional committees, a weekly conservative cable TV show, a monthly audio tape (Visions of Victory), and Member's Message all help make sure that elected officials hear what conservatives have to say.

Howard Phillips is the Chairman and Founder of TCC and is a 1962 graduate of Harvard College; a founding board member of Young Americans for Freedom; acting Executive Director, President's Council on Youth Opportunity, 1969 to 1970; Director, U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, 1973; and Chairman of TCC, 1974 to present.

About Howard Phillips

Since 1974, Howard Phillips has been Chairman of The Conservative Caucus (TCC), a non-partisan, nationwide grass-roots public policy advocacy group. TCC provided leadership in opposition to the Panama Canal and Carter-Brezhnev SALT II treaties during the 1970s. Since then TCC has led national campaigns to end judicial tyranny, restore a U.S. military presence at Panama, deploy SDI, eliminate the graduated income tax, and terminate Federal subsidies to ideological activist groups. Other TCC campaigns have involved opposition to NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO), passage of the Constitution Restoration Act (CRA), and withdrawal from all institutions of the New World Order, as well as continuing efforts to oppose President Obama's radical agenda, socialized medicine and abortion.

During the 1970s and '80s, Phillips coordinated efforts to build private sector support for anti-Communist freedom fighters in Central America and southern Africa. He played an instrumental role in the leadership of the New Right, as well as in the founding of the religious right in 1977. Phillips has led geostrategic fact-finding missions to Eastern Europe, Africa, the Baltic States, South America, Central America, Western Europe, and the Far East.

Phillips is President of The Conservative Caucus Research, Analysis & Education Foundation and the U.S. Taxpayers Institute, and is Chairman of the U.S. Taxpayers Alliance.

Howard Phillips founded the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP) in 1992 to offer America leadership committed to restoring the Federal Republic to its delegated, enumerated Constitutional functions and returning American jurisprudence to its original "common law" Biblical foundations. Phillips was nominated in 1992 and 1996 to be the USTP candidate for President of the United States. In 1999 he was chosen to be Y2K Presidential nominee of the Constitution Party, the renamed USTP.

Married, with six children ranging in age from 18 to 39, and 15 grandchildren, Phillips left the Republican Party in 1974 after some two decades of service to the GOP as precinct worker, election warden, campaign manager, Congressional aide, Boston Republican Chairman, and assistant to the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

A 1962 graduate of Harvard College where he was twice elected president of the Student Council, Phillips is President of Policy Analysis, Inc. (PAI), a for-profit consulting firm which publishes the bimonthly Howard Phillips Issues and Strategy Bulletin (HPISB).

During the Nixon Administration, Phillips headed two Federal agencies, ending his Executive Branch career as Director of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity in the Executive Office of the President, a position from which he resigned when President Nixon reneged on his commitment to veto further funding for "Great Society" programs.

Phillips has published four books: The New Right at Harvard (1983), Moscow's Challenge to U.S. Vital Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa (1987), The Next Four Years (1992), and Victory 2000 (1999). He was the recipient of the Strategic Resource Group's William Wilberforce Award for "Ministry to the Nation/Public Policy" in September, 1996; the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools Award, 1995; the Young Americans for Freedom "Alumnus of the Year" Award, 1990; the National Association of Pro-America 1983 Award for "promoting Constitutional government"; and the June, 1982 Eagle Forum Award, for leadership in the pro-family cause and "steadfast opposition to the mischief of the Federally financed feminists". In May, 2002, the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty conferred upon him the title of "Patriot."

Phillips, his wife, Peggy, and their immediate family reside in Fairfax County, Virginia.

The Conservative Caucus:

More than 35 years of accomplishments

1974 TCC Chairman, Howard Phillips, hosted meetings in every U.S. Congressional District to recruit and mobilize grass-roots activists to hold their elected legislators accountable to Constitutional principles.

1975 Regional conferences were conducted in Los Angeles and the Washington, D.C. area. By this time, there were State Coordinators or contacts in all 50 states and District Directors in more than 375 of the 435 U.S. Congressional Districts.

1976 The Conservative Caucus Research, Analysis, and Education Foundation (TCCF), a 501(c)3 entity, was established to supplement the work of TCC. TCC’s efforts to hold members of Congress accountable were reinforced by TCCF’s publication of Senate Report, analyzing the voting records of U.S. Senators in all 50 dates. Congressional Reports were published in targeted Congressional Districts.

1977 TCC formed a Citizen’s Cabinet, a form of Shadow Government, to respond to the misbegotten policies of the Carter Administration. In the same year, we led the fight against the surrender of the U.S. Canal and Zone at Panama, with Chairman Howard Phillips traveling to all 50 states for rallies, news conferences, and organizational meetings. In the same year, TCC worked closely with Phyllis Schlafly in state-by-state campaigns to defeat the dangerous Equal Rights Amendment. We also helped lead the fight against Postcard Voter Registration and participated in the defeat of Ted Sorensen’s nomination to be Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

1978 A TCC National Conference in Atlanta assembled TCC State Coordinators and Congressional District Directors from nearly all of the 50 states and 435 Congressional Districts. TCC’s New Hampshire State Coordinator was elected to the United States Senate, and TCC provided leadership which was important in the defeat of a Jimmy Carter-Teddy Kennedy socialized medicine scheme. TCC’s National Field Director traveled to crucial states helping defeat a Constitutional Amendment which would have given the District of Columbia full voting rights in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

1979 TCC Chairman Howard Phillips, accompanied by top generals and admirals, visited all 50 states rallying TCC’s membership to help defeat the Jimmy Carter-Leonid Brezhnev SALT II Treaty. TCC helped lead the fight which resulted in the defeat of taxpayer financing of elections. Chairman Phillips led a fact-finding trip to the Republic of China on Taiwan, accompanied by members of Congress and key conservative leaders. But for the betrayal of Congressman Robert Bauman on legislation concerning the Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 Constitutional requirement that the U.S. House of Representatives consent to the surrender of U.S. territory, passage of the final surrender of the U.S. Canal and Zone to Panama would have failed.

1980 TCC’s important documentary, Can Soviet Imperialism be Halted, starring top defense and foreign policy experts, was broadcast on TV stations throughout America. TCC continued its program of national and regional Leadership Conferences.

1981 TCC helped facilitate the Kemp-Roth tax cuts signed into law by President Reagan. Together with Tim LaHaye, Howard Phillips participated in the founding of Concerned Women for America (CWA) and the Council for National Policy (CNP). Phillips opposed the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor, a pro-abortion legislator from Arizona, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Defunding the Left, TCC’s efforts to block taxpayer subsidies to left of center activist groups, made some limited progress during the Reagan Administration.

1982 Picking up on activities initiated by TCC during the 1970s, Chairman Phillips was instrumental in helping persuade President Reagan to seek the defeat of the Soviet Union by means of assistance to anti-Soviet guerrilla groups in Angola and Central America. Phillips traveled frequently to southern Africa and led a major delegation to meet with anti-Soviet activists in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

1983 Beginning in 1980, TCC took the lead in promoting global ballistic missile defense, which came to be known as SDI. Ultimately, on March 23, 1983, with the help of leaders recruited by TCC, especially Lt. General Dan Graham, President Reagan rhetorically embraced the concept of protecting America from missile attacks. That same year, TCC organized a memorial service attended by nearly 4,000 anti-Communist patriots at Constitution Hall for Congressman Lawrence P. McDonald who was a passenger on KAL007, a plane shot down by the Soviet Union.

1984 TCC campaigned at the 1984 Republican National Convention in support of a 10 percent flat tax. In that year, TCC also campaigned against the U.N. Genocide Treaty, which never came to a vote.

1985 TCC helped push Congress to approve funding for the MX Missile, needed to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent. TCC also mobilized efforts against Assistant Secretary of State Chester Crocker, who aided Communist groups in southern Africa in alliance with the Chevron Corporation whose facilities in Angola were guarded by Fidel Castro’s Cuban troops.

1986 TCC helped persuade Congress to repeal the Clark Amendment, which blocked U.S. aid to anti-Soviet freedom fighters in Angola. That same year, with TCC’s help, tax reforms were enacted eliminating all tax brackets above 28 percent. TCC also pushed for confirmation of William Rehnquist and Antonio Scalia to the U.S. Supreme Court. Backed by TCC, President Reagan agreed to end voluntary U.S. compliance with a SALT II Agreement which was beneficial to the Soviet Union. TCC Chairman Howard Phillips and White House Communications Director Pat Buchanan helped draft President Reagan’s veto message concerning sanctions on South Africa.

1987 TCC helped lead the campaign for confirmation of Judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court. TCC helped persuade Congress to prohibit the continued use of taxpayer funds to promote homosexuality under the guise of AIDS education. With TCC support, Jesse Helms became ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, aided by his Chief of Staff, TCC Treasurer Dr. James P. Lucier. Together with Congressman Jack Kemp, TCC led a delegation to Central America for meetings with key officials in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

1988 TCC helped lead the fight against ratification of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which removed U.S. missiles from Germany within striking range of Moscow.

1989 TCC members helped Congress repeal the so-called "Catastrophic Coverage" Act, a back-door form of socialized medicine. TCC also aided Senate approval of the restoration of the Marine pension of Lt. Colonel Oliver North. Chairman Phillips traveled inside Nicaragua to deliver a jungle address to freedom fighter troops. TCC helped block the appointment of Caldwell Butler to be Chairman of the Legal Services Corporation Board – – – an important victory in the campaign to Defund the Left.

1990 TCC Chairman Phillips testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings against the confirmation of David Souter to the Supreme Court – – – the only conservative who challenged the consistent pro-abortion record of Judge Souter.

1991 TCC launched its nationally broadcast weekly television program, "Conservative Roundtable". TCC was instrumental in securing enactment of an amendment calling on President Bush to begin negotiations with Panama to keep U.S. troops in the Canal Zone. Chairman Phillips led a Baltic Liberation Tour, bringing American anti-Communists to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. While in Europe, the TCC- sponsored group met with Vaclav Klaus, a free market anti-Communist leader in the Czech Republic. TCC members brought pressure on President George H.W. Bush to preserve immigration regulations, preventing the entrance to the United States of AIDS-infected homosexuals. With strong TCC support, Clarence Thomas was confirmed as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

1992 Following an initiative from TCC, the U.S. General Accounting Office began an investigation of Federal grants to Left-wing organizations, including militant homosexual groups.

1993 TCC helped block President Clinton from ending the ban on homosexuals in the military. Massive lobbying by TCC members blocked enactment of an unconstitutional D.C. statehood bill.

1994 TCC launched the Campaign for a Congressional Impeachment Inquiry long before the name Monica Lewinsky became a household word, challenging President Clinton’s technology transfers to Red China as well as his Whitewater scandal. TCC helped defeat Hillary Clinton’s socialized medicine proposals, and blocked an automatic pay raise for members of Congress. In addition, TCC helped secure rejection of Clinton’s nomination of Robert Pastor to be U.S. Ambassador to Panama. Pastor had helped draft the Panama Canal Treaties and more recently has been a key architect of the scheme for a North American Union (NAU).

1995 Behind TCC’s leadership, Congress cut the budget of the radical Leftist Legal Services Corporation by 30 percent.

1996 The Senate passed S. Con. Res. 14, calling for negotiations to keep U.S. military bases in Panama after 1999.

1997 TCC helped block confirmation of Left-winger Anthony Lake to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

1998 TCC’s four year Campaign for a Congressional Impeachment Inquiry resulted in the historic vote in the House to impeach President Clinton.

1999 Chairman Phillips was in Panama protesting on the day Jimmy Carter and David Rockefeller helped preside over the final surrender of the U.S. Canal and Zone to Panama’s Left-wing government.

2000 TCC launched its website, www.conservativeusa.org. TCC helped secure passage by the House of Representatives of a bill to repeal Bill Clinton’s tax increase on Social Security benefits.

2001 After years of advocacy by TCC, the U.S. withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which limited America’s ability to block enemy missile attacks. Chairman Phillips led a Fact-Finding delegation to Taiwan, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing. Key meetings were held with prominent journalists, diplomats, military personnel, and political leaders, including Taipei Mayor Ma, who is now the President of Taiwan.

2002 Backed by TCC, President Bush removed the U.S. signature from the International Criminal Court Treaty.

2003 TCC led the way in blocking the so-called "Continuity of Government" Project, which would have facilitated post-crisis the selection of Congressmen by appointment rather than election.

2004 The Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico giving U.S. Social Security benefits to illegal aliens was withheld by the White House after TCC led the effort to persuade Congress to reject it.

2005 TCC launched www.howardphillips.com, a popular Blog on current issues. The U.S. Senate voted 55 to 45 to repeal the 1993 Clinton tax on Social Security benefits, but the House failed to act.

2006 TCC launched a Secure Borders Coalition, which was instrumental in blocking amnesty for illegal aliens. Chairman Phillips and Lt. Gen. Gordon Sumner (USA-Ret.) led a Fact-Finding trip to Panama, meeting with top government officials and touring the Communist Chinese port facilities at one end of the Canal.

2007 TCC organized the Coalition to Block the North American Union, chaired by Howard Phillips. Support was rallied for House Concurrent Resolution 40 to block the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the NAFTA Superhighway, and the North American Union (NAU). Phillips held a major news conference in Ottawa, Canada during a meeting of the elected leaders of Mexico, Canada, and the United States which focused on North American Union related topics.

2008 TCC Chairman Phillips helped establish a significant presence in New Orleans with participants from a number of organizations challenging the meeting of U.S. President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon regarding the North American Union (NAU). TCC also campaigned to block statehood for Puerto Rico.

2009 TCC worked to reject the U.N. Law of the Sea Treaty (UNLOST), the return of the Fairness Doctrine, the renewed push for illegal alien amnesty, and other measures. Repeal of the Death Tax is a key priority, and TCC has helped lead the effort against confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.