Christopher DeMuth
Encyclopedia
Christopher C. DeMuth is an American
lawyer
. He was the president of the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI), a conservative think tank
, from 1986 to 2008. DeMuth is widely credited with reviving AEI's fortunes after its near-bankruptcy in 1986 and leading the institute to new levels of influence and growth. Before joining AEI, DeMuth worked on regulatory
issues in the Ronald Reagan
administration.
, graduating in 1964. He graduated from Harvard College
in 1968, after which he worked at the White House
. In his youth, he was a member of the politically moderate Ripon Society
. After attending law school
at the University of Chicago
, he worked for law firm Sidley & Austin
, the Consolidated Rail Corporation
, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
When Reagan took office in 1981, DeMuth joined the administration as administrator for information and regulatory affairs at the Office of Management and Budget and executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief. He was known as Reagan's "deregulation czar."
DeMuth later ran an economics consulting firm and edited and published AEI's Regulation magazine.
AEI was a respected institution, but Baroody had been careful to keep AEI in the political mainstream. DeMuth returned the institute to its conservative and small-government principles, allowing it to compete with think tank the Heritage Foundation
and Cato Institute
, and bringing in more money from conservative foundations. DeMuth restored AEI's financial fortunes, eliminating $9 million in debt and generating an asset balance of over $75 million. He also more than tripled AEI's budget during his presidency.
DeMuth presided over the institute as a number of high-profile scholars joined AEI, including Charles Murray
, Dinesh D'Souza
, Richard and Lynne Cheney
, Michael Barone
, James K. Glassman
, Newt Gingrich
, Karl Zinsmeister
, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali
. As many as twenty AEI scholars served in the George W. Bush
administration. AEI scholars also influenced the administration. Announcing his departure from AEI in 2007, DeMuth noted that the Iraq surge strategy
was devised at AEI. DeMuth oversaw the creation of an AEI magazine
, the founding a joint center on regulation with the Brookings Institution
(DeMuth was a fellow at the center), the expansion of AEI's publications, the founding of AEI's National Research Initiative to underwrite and promote research by university-based academics and independent scholars, a reorientation of AEI's foreign policy division to focus on the Middle East
, and the merger of the National Legal Center for the Public Interest into AEI to form the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
.
In addition to promoting the role of think tanks in public policy research and the flexibility that they have in developing innovative ideas over long periods of time, DeMuth has also been bullish on the role of the corporation
in American life. "[T]hey are . . . the single most important positive force in American politics," he said in 1992. "The corporation is the transmission belt of much of our saving, prosperity, and progress. It is the place where many Americans pursue their vocations and spend most of their lives," he said in 2007. "The corporation is a vital, reality-based counterweight to those for whom politics is primary."
DeMuth announced his retirement as president in October 2007, and became a senior fellow at AEI at the beginning of 2009. His announcement was met with praise and criticism. Conservative writers referred to him as "charming" and "brilliant" and wrote: "It is just remotely possible that there may be someone whose contributions to American intellectual life over the past two decades have equaled those of Christopher DeMuth." Liberal critics noted their general disapproval of AEI, and one referred to DeMuth as a "hack extraordinaire."
Since retiring as president of AEI, DeMuth has held the D. C. Searle Chair there, researching government regulation, culture, and American politics.
, both of which contribute to AEI.
He is distantly related to the painter Charles Demuth
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was the president of the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
(AEI), a conservative think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, from 1986 to 2008. DeMuth is widely credited with reviving AEI's fortunes after its near-bankruptcy in 1986 and leading the institute to new levels of influence and growth. Before joining AEI, DeMuth worked on regulatory
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
issues in the Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
administration.
Education and career
DeMuth attended the Lawrenceville SchoolLawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
, graduating in 1964. He graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1968, after which he worked at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. In his youth, he was a member of the politically moderate Ripon Society
Ripon Society
The Ripon Society is an American centrist Republican think tank based in Washington, D.C. They produce The Ripon Forum, the Nation's longest running Republican thought and opinion journal....
. After attending law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, he worked for law firm Sidley & Austin
Sidley Austin
Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is one of the oldest law firms in the world. It is the sixth-largest U.S.-based corporate law firm with more than 1,650 lawyers, annual revenues of more than one billion dollars, and offices in 17 cities worldwide, with the most...
, the Consolidated Rail Corporation
Consolidated Rail Corporation
The Consolidated Rail Corporation, commonly known as Conrail , was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeast U.S. between 1976 and 1999. The federal government created it to take over the potentially profitable lines of bankrupt carriers, including the Penn Central Transportation Company and...
, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
When Reagan took office in 1981, DeMuth joined the administration as administrator for information and regulatory affairs at the Office of Management and Budget and executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief. He was known as Reagan's "deregulation czar."
DeMuth later ran an economics consulting firm and edited and published AEI's Regulation magazine.
Presidency of AEI
DeMuth is said to have read AEI publications as an undergraduate and used them as a lecturer at Harvard. He was appointed president of AEI at a time of crisis for the institute, after the turbulent presidency of William J. Baroody Jr.William J. Baroody Jr.
William J. Baroody Jr. was an American government official best known for running the White House Office of Public Liaison under President Gerald Ford and, later, the American Enterprise Institute...
AEI was a respected institution, but Baroody had been careful to keep AEI in the political mainstream. DeMuth returned the institute to its conservative and small-government principles, allowing it to compete with think tank the Heritage Foundation
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
and Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
, and bringing in more money from conservative foundations. DeMuth restored AEI's financial fortunes, eliminating $9 million in debt and generating an asset balance of over $75 million. He also more than tripled AEI's budget during his presidency.
DeMuth presided over the institute as a number of high-profile scholars joined AEI, including Charles Murray
Charles Murray
Charles Murray is the name of:*Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore *Charles Augustus Murray , British author diplomat*Charles Murray, 7th Earl of Dunmore *Charles James Murray , British politician...
, Dinesh D'Souza
Dinesh D'Souza
Dinesh D'Souza is an author and public speaker and a former Robert and Karen Rishwain Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is currently the President of The King's College in New York City. D'Souza is a noted Christian apologist and conservative writer and speaker....
, Richard and Lynne Cheney
Lynne Cheney
Lynne Ann Cheney is the wife of former United States Vice President Dick Cheney and served as the Second Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009...
, Michael Barone
Michael Barone
Michael Barone may refer to:*Michael Barone , US political expert and conservative commentator*J. Michael Barone , host of the American Public Media programs Pipedreams, The New Releases, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra...
, James K. Glassman
James K. Glassman
James K. Glassman is an American conservative editorialist, journalist, diplomat and author. He is currently the host of the television program Ideas in Action, which airs on PBS member stations across the country. On December 11, 2007 Glassman was nominated by President George W...
, Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
, Karl Zinsmeister
Karl Zinsmeister
Karl Zinsmeister is an executive, researcher, and writer. From 2006 to 2009 he served in the White House as President George W. Bush's chief domestic policy adviser, and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.-Biography:...
, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Magan Ali is a Somali-Dutch feminist and atheist activist, writer, politician who strongly opposes circumcision and female genital cutting. She is the daughter of the Somali politician and opposition leader Hirsi Magan Isse and is a founder of the women's rights organisation the AHA...
. As many as twenty AEI scholars served in the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration. AEI scholars also influenced the administration. Announcing his departure from AEI in 2007, DeMuth noted that the Iraq surge strategy
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
was devised at AEI. DeMuth oversaw the creation of an AEI magazine
The American (magazine)
The American is an online magazine published by the American Enterprise Institute , a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. The magazine's primary focus is the intersection of economics and politics...
, the founding a joint center on regulation with the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
(DeMuth was a fellow at the center), the expansion of AEI's publications, the founding of AEI's National Research Initiative to underwrite and promote research by university-based academics and independent scholars, a reorientation of AEI's foreign policy division to focus on the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and the merger of the National Legal Center for the Public Interest into AEI to form the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest was formed when the National Legal Center for the Public Interest was merged into the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute in September 2007...
.
In addition to promoting the role of think tanks in public policy research and the flexibility that they have in developing innovative ideas over long periods of time, DeMuth has also been bullish on the role of the corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
in American life. "[T]hey are . . . the single most important positive force in American politics," he said in 1992. "The corporation is the transmission belt of much of our saving, prosperity, and progress. It is the place where many Americans pursue their vocations and spend most of their lives," he said in 2007. "The corporation is a vital, reality-based counterweight to those for whom politics is primary."
DeMuth announced his retirement as president in October 2007, and became a senior fellow at AEI at the beginning of 2009. His announcement was met with praise and criticism. Conservative writers referred to him as "charming" and "brilliant" and wrote: "It is just remotely possible that there may be someone whose contributions to American intellectual life over the past two decades have equaled those of Christopher DeMuth." Liberal critics noted their general disapproval of AEI, and one referred to DeMuth as a "hack extraordinaire."
Since retiring as president of AEI, DeMuth has held the D. C. Searle Chair there, researching government regulation, culture, and American politics.
Personal
DeMuth is married to Susan DeMuth, a physician, and they have three children. He is a board member of the State Farm Insurance Companies, and the Donors Capital Fund; chairman of two family businesses; and a grant adviser to the Searle Freedom Trust and the Smith Richardson FoundationSmith Richardson Foundation
The Smith Richardson Foundation is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut, that supports policy research in the realms of foreign and domestic public policy....
, both of which contribute to AEI.
He is distantly related to the painter Charles Demuth
Charles Demuth
Charles Demuth was an American watercolorist who turned to oils late in his career, developing a style of painting known as Precisionism....
.