Probably the last real conservative on the national stage was Dwight Eisenhower. In his farewell address he did not use either liberal or conservative. See http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdeisenhowerfarewell.html.
The most famous assertion he made was his warning about the “military-industrial complex”:
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
Just like Washington’s “Farewell Address”, so-called “conservatives” completely ignore the advice of two of the most prominent, believable, and thoughtful conservatives.
I hope you can take the time to read Eisenhower’s farewell address. If you do, you may agree that Eisenhower was among the last of the true conservatives. In Minnesota they were rejected by the Republican Party as RINOs (Republican in name only).
Although John B. Anderson was a bit quixotic and supported some radical candidates, like Ralph Nader, I consider him more a true Republican than almost any other prominent Republican. i think Rep. Bill Frenzel and Governor Arne Carlson represent true conservatives. Arne Carlson still blogs at http://govarnecarlson.blogspot.com.
