Tony Blankley
Encyclopedia
Anthony “Tony” Blankley (born 1948, London, England, United Kingdom) is an Executive Vice President with Edelman
public relations in Washington, a Visiting Senior Fellow in National-Security Communications at the Heritage Foundation
, weekly contributor to the nationally syndicated public radio program Left, Right & Center
, author of The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?
and American Grit: What It Will Take to Survive and Win in the 21st century, and a regular guest on various news programs. Blankley is also a regular commentator for radio shows including The Diane Rehm Show
and The Steve Gill Show with a segment titled Fill In the Blanks. Earlier in his career Blankley was the editorial page editor for The Washington Times
, a contributing editor and monthly columnist for George Magazine
, and a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group
.
Blankley’s political opinions are generally considered to fall within traditional conservatism, although he has been labeled as a neo-conservative by some critics. He denies this label, claiming that his views are more comparable to a classic conservative such as former U.S. President Ronald Reagan
.
Blankley’s political career spanned several decades, and his most prominent position was a seven-year stint as House Speaker Newt Gingrich
’s press secretary
. Prior to his career on Capitol Hill, Blankley served president Reagan as a policy analyst and speechwriter, and was a staff writer for Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler
. Before coming to Washington
, Blankley spent 10 years as a prosecutor
with the California Attorney General
’s office.
He was also a child actor, appearing as Rod Steiger
’s child in The Harder They Fall
(1955). He graduated from UCLA and graduated Loyola Law School
in Los Angeles (with a J.D.
). He was admitted to the State Bar of California Bar in 1972, but has been ineligible to practice law in the State of California since 2002 for a failure to pay his bar member dues. Blankley continues to write for the Washington Times; he also lectures at many universities and institutes. On 19 November 2009, Blankley presented his lecture – A Year out from the 2010 Congressional Elections – National Politics, Policy and their Communication at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College
.
Edelman (firm)
Edelman is a global public relations firm with consumer, finance, healthcare, technology and industrial practices. It employs over 3,600 people in 53 offices around the globe. Edelman was founded in 1952 by Daniel J. Edelman and is today led by his son President & CEO Richard Edelman...
public relations in Washington, a Visiting Senior Fellow in National-Security Communications at 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...
, weekly contributor to the nationally syndicated public radio program Left, Right & Center
Left, Right & Center
Left, Right, & Center is a weekly half-hour public radio program that provides a "civilized yet provocative antidote to the screaming talking heads that dominate political debate"...
, author of The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?
The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?
The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? is a book by author Tony Blankley , first published in October 2005....
and American Grit: What It Will Take to Survive and Win in the 21st century, and a regular guest on various news programs. Blankley is also a regular commentator for radio shows including The Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show is a National Public Radio call-in show based in the United States. In October, 2007, The Diane Rehm Show was named to Audience Research Analysis’ list of the top ten most powerful national programs in public radio – the only talk show on the list...
and The Steve Gill Show with a segment titled Fill In the Blanks. Earlier in his career Blankley was the editorial page editor for The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
, a contributing editor and monthly columnist for George Magazine
George (magazine)
George was a glossy monthly magazine centered on the theme of politics-as-lifestyle co-founded by John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Michael J. Berman with publisher Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in New York City in September 1995...
, and a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the United States, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife...
.
Blankley’s political opinions are generally considered to fall within traditional conservatism, although he has been labeled as a neo-conservative by some critics. He denies this label, claiming that his views are more comparable to a classic conservative such as former U.S. President 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....
.
Blankley’s political career spanned several decades, and his most prominent position was a seven-year stint as House Speaker 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....
’s press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
. Prior to his career on Capitol Hill, Blankley served president Reagan as a policy analyst and speechwriter, and was a staff writer for Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler
Bobbi Fiedler
Bobbi Fiedler is a former U.S. Representative from California who made a name for herself as a strong opponent of forced busing.-Biography:...
. Before coming to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Blankley spent 10 years as a prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
with the California Attorney General
California Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
’s office.
He was also a child actor, appearing as Rod Steiger
Rod Steiger
Rodney Stephen "Rod" Steiger was an Academy Award-winning American actor known for his performances in such films as On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, Oklahoma!, The Harder They Fall, Across the Bridge, The Pawnbroker, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and Waterloo as well as the...
’s child in The Harder They Fall
The Harder They Fall
The Harder They Fall is a film noir directed by Mark Robson, featuring Humphrey Bogart in his last film before his death in 1957. The film was written by Philip Yordan and based on the 1947 novel by Budd Schulberg....
(1955). He graduated from UCLA and graduated Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
in Los Angeles (with a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
). He was admitted to the State Bar of California Bar in 1972, but has been ineligible to practice law in the State of California since 2002 for a failure to pay his bar member dues. Blankley continues to write for the Washington Times; he also lectures at many universities and institutes. On 19 November 2009, Blankley presented his lecture – A Year out from the 2010 Congressional Elections – National Politics, Policy and their Communication at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the...
.