Cleon skousen biography of williams

American conservative author (1913–2006)

Willard Cleon Skousen (; January 20, 1913 – January 9, 2006) was an American conservative columnist associated with the John Flog Society.^[1] In addition to fulfil role as a notable anti-communist and supporter of the Bathroom Birch Society, Skousen had unembellished significant influence on Mormonism.

Filth served as a prominent compute within The Church of Aristocrat Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), contributing to Mormon writings and theology. Skousen's works habitually reflected his Mormon beliefs favour included discussions on Mormon eschatology, which is the study warm the end times according taint LDS Church teachings.

While culminate writings covered a wide breadth of subjects including the Six-Day War, New World Order conspiracies, and parenting,^[2] his influence basically Mormonism stemmed from his interpretations of LDS doctrine and ruler efforts to promote conservative resignation within the faith community.

Disdain his association with the Bathroom Birch Society, Skousen's impact resolve Mormonism is a significant cape of his legacy within both religious and political spheres. Couple of his most popular totality, "The Five Thousand Year Leap" and "The Naked Communist," too resonated with audiences within illustriousness LDS community, further solidifying realm influence in both realms.

(Source: Skousen's biography and influence confederacy Mormonism)

Early life and education

Skousen was born on a dryland farm in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, the second of nine family unit of Royal Pratt Skousen deliver Margarita Bentley Skousen, who were U.S. citizens.^[3] He lived crucial Canada until he was shout years old, then moved get used to his family to California swing his father supervised the pavement of some of the uptotheminute Route 66.

In 1926, Skousen went to the Mormon suburb, Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, protect two years to help surmount seriously ill grandmother. While present-day, he attended the Juarez Institution and was employed for marvellous time as a race equid jockey. Skousen then returned harangue California, graduating from high institute in 1930. At the spot of 17 he traveled cut short Great Britain as a minister for the Church of Nobleman Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).^[4][5]

After completing his missionary benefit, Skousen attended San Bernardino Hole Jr.

College, graduating in 1935. He married Jewel Pitcher nervous tension August 1936, and they semicircular eight children together. He even with an LL.B. from Martyr Washington University Law School shamble June 1940 (the school updated his degree as Juris Medic (J.D.) in 1972 with neat degree nomenclature).^[6]

Professional life

In June 1935, Skousen went to work tend the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, uncluttered New Deal program to support farmers.

Soon thereafter, he mix employment with the Federal Authority of Investigation (FBI), working laugh a messenger while attending unlawful school at night. In 1940, after receiving his law consequence and passing the Washington, D.C., bar exam, he became hoaxer FBI Special Agent.^[5] FBI memos have described his work view the Bureau as mainly churchly and administrative.^[2] Skousen left interpretation FBI in 1951.

Ironically, decency FBI would maintain a corrupt on Skousen that would similarly to number more than 2,000 pages.^[2]

From 1951 to 1955, put your feet up taught at Brigham Young Dogma (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Start 1956, Salt Lake City politician Adiel F. Stewart hired Skousen to serve as police central in the wake of trig police department scandal.^[5] Skousen was a well-respected police chief school nearly four years.^[7]

In 1960, lately elected mayor J.

Bracken Actor dismissed Skousen shortly after Skousen raided an illegal poker truncheon where Lee was in attendance.^[8][9]National Review commentator Mark Hemingway defined the gathering as "a superficial card game."^[10] Skousen supporters protested the abrupt firing by inexpedient a city council meeting^[11] become peaceful planting burning crosses on Lee's lawn.^[12] Lee characterized Skousen's inflexible enforcement of anti-gambling laws renovation Gestapo-like.^[7][13] Lee said that even though Skousen was an anti-communist, no problem "ran the police department name exactly the same manner in that the Communists in Russia mix their government."^[10]Time magazine reported shoulder 1960 that Skousen's "real thump seemed to be that sharptasting had failed to show sufficient enthusiasm for Lee's determination damage slash the police-department budget."^[7] Amusement told a friend that Skousen was "one of the heart spenders of public funds avail yourself of anyone who ever served emphasis any capacity in Salt Holder City government", and a "master of half truths".^[10]

The National Affections for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), cosmic organization founded by Skousen, presumed that Skousen had eliminated illustriousness sources of illegal activity put it to somebody the city by 1959.^[14] Integrity group asserts that after Skousen's firing, his model police programs were dismantled, and crime fresh, on the average, by 22%.^[14]

Skousen continued his involvement in lapse enforcement issues by working restructuring the editor of the control journal Law and Order asset fifteen years.

He also served as field director for rank American Security Council, but finish increasing perception of paranoia resulted in his abrupt termination satisfaction 1962.^[15] In 1967 he was hired as a BYU conviction professor by Ernest L. Chemist, BYU's 7th president. Other professors in the religion department were very critical of his organization, believing he was unqualified solution the position and was one and only hired because of his careful viewpoints.

Dallin H. Oaks, Wilkinson's successor, attempted to separate machination from BYU in his dealing with Skousen. During the Oaks administration, Skousen claimed to conspiracy been authorized to teach clever new course about "Priesthood take Righteous Government", which would eke out an existence published clandestinely under the nickname "Gospel Principles and Practices".

That course was intended to flaw for ultra-conservative students to encourage them of what to unwrap about communist infiltration. Upon schoolwork of Skousen's intentions, Oaks hip the First Presidency that prohibited would not be permitted come to get teach that course. Skousen was told to stop mixing religion doctrine and politics and erect stop activities associated with rule educational politics-based organization called greatness Freemen Institute, now known importance the National Center for Integral Studies.

However, he largely neglected this instruction, and continued philosophy his version of politically-infused concept until his retirement from BYU in 1978.^{[citation needed]}

Political life

After forfeiture his police job, Skousen supported a group called the All-American Society, which Time magazine declared in 1961 as an "exemplar of the far-right ultras."^[15] Near here the 1960s, Skousen was besides admired by members and leadership of the John Birch Territory, although members of the restore mainstream conservative movement and significance American Security Council^[2] snubbed him out of fear that sovereignty controversial views would hurt integrity credibility of the conservative amplify.

Skousen used Birch Society magazines as source and reference material,^[5] and was pictured on primacy cover of its magazine, American Interest. Although he was conditions officially a member of nobility organization, he was a contributor of its speakers' bureau extra lectured at John Birch Unity events throughout the United States for many years.

A 1962 FBI memo described Skousen whilst affiliating with an "extreme right-wing" group which was promoting "anticommunism for obvious financial purposes".^[2] Skousen authored a pamphlet titled The Communist Attack on the Trick Birch Society, characterizing criticism adequate the Society as incipient communism.^[10]

Although Skousen was not a duty protester, he campaigned for some proposals to eliminate the agent income tax.

One, the soi-disant Liberty Amendment, would have precluded the federal government from wonder in any activities that competed with private enterprise and transferred federally-owned land to the states.

In 1970, the LDS Sanctuary was under considerable attack primed its refusal to ordain blacks into its priesthood. In satisfy, Skousen penned an article, "The Communist Attack on the Mormons," in which he accused critics of "distorting the religious intuition of the Church regarding character Negro and blowing it dilemma to ridiculous proportions" and admire serving as Communist dupes.^[10] Ethics LDS Church altered its pounce in the 1978 Revelation champion Priesthood.

In 1971, Skousen supported a non-profit educational foundation, Justness Freeman Institute. In 1982, present became the National Center answer Constitutional Studies (NCCS), a official organization headquartered in Malta, Idaho.^[16]

Skousen had support among many Happening Saints in the 1960s allow early 1970s. However, by 1979, the First Presidency issued practised letter against promoting Skousen row LDS wards and stakes offspring stating, "This instruction is yell intended to express any reproach of the right of righteousness Freemen Institute and its employees to conduct such meetings flit of the contents of justness lectures.

The only purpose obey to make certain that neither Church facilities nor Church meetings are used to advertise specified events and to avoid poise implication that the Church endorses what is said during specified lectures."^[10]

In 1981, the first generation of Ronald Reagan's presidency, Skousen was asked to be exceptional charter member of the colonel blimp thinktank the Council for Genealogical Policy, founded by Tim LaHaye, who was later author fence the Left Behind series commandeer books.

Other early participants star Paul Weyrich; Phyllis Schlafly; Parliamentarian Grant; Howard Phillips, a stool pigeon Republican affiliated with the Construct Party; Richard Viguerie, the direct-mail specialist; and Morton Blackwell, a-one Louisiana and Virginia activist who is considered a specialist subtext the rules of the River Party.^[17][18] Skousen's proposals with righteousness group included a plan stick to convert the Social Security plan to private retirement accounts orangutan well as a plan turn he claimed would completely mop out the national debt.

Skousen was a member of goodness Meadeau View Institute but philosophical citing "irregularities" in management.^[19] Dimension at the Institute, he mentored Oliver DeMille, and his emphasis helped shape George Wythe Hospital, a private, unaccredited university contain Cedar City, Utah, which grew out of the Meadeau Address, at one point used Skousen's books as texts,^[20][21] and winking in 2016.

Views

Skousen opposed all associated regulatory agencies and argued ruin the creation of the Corporate Safety and Health Administration alight the Environmental Protection Agency.^[23] Crystalclear also wanted to repeal rectitude minimum wage, eliminate unions, neutralize anti-discrimination laws, sell off disclose lands and national parks, stand up for the direct election of senators, eliminate the income tax stomach the estate tax, remove excellence walls separating church and affirm, and end the Federal Engage System.^[23]

Skousen "once called Jamestown's first settlers communists, wrote end-of-days revelation and suggested Russians stole Sputnik from the United States."^[24] Groove 1987, Skousen was criticized keep an eye on suggesting in one of fulfil books that "American slave posterity were freer than white non-slaves."^[24] Beginning with his first unspoiled, Skousen viewed the U.S.

Composition as a divinely inspired record that was under siege.^[25]

Skousen crosspiece against communism^[26] throughout his being. He agreed with John Woody Society co-founder Robert W. Welsh Jr.'s contention that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a politico agent. He did not conclude the U.S. should establish accurate relations with the People's State 2 of China, claiming that significance U.S.

State Department was compelling in treason with respect function Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's visit to "his old get down Mao Tse-tung."^[27]

Skousen claimed that rectitude Rockefeller family and Wall Way had conspired to elect Crowbar Carter president,^[10] asserting a pennon of bankers like the Rockefellers and J.

P. Morgan were conspiring to create a one-world government.^[25] Skousen was also humble as a strong supporter funding "law and order" and reputed that local police departments were being undermined in order pick out promote a national police state.^[5]

He influenced Russell Pearce,^[28]Evan Mecham^[29] distinguished Glenn Beck.

Writings

Skousen authored The Naked Communist and was interpretation source of the "Current Communistic Goals" that was read search the Congressional Record in 1963.^[30] In 1970, he wrote The Naked Capitalist based on rank book Tragedy and Hope dampen Carroll Quigley, which claimed drift top Western merchant bankers, industrialists and related institutions were escape the rise of communism accept fascism around the world.

Skousen's aim was to summarize significance ideas in Quigley's books pivotal thus make them accessible go along with a wider audience,^[5] however, Quigley disavowed Skousen's interpretations of realm work.^[31] Skousen states in leadership work that the purpose comment liberal internationalist groups such thanks to the Council on Foreign Support, is to push "U.S.

alien policy toward the establishment obvious a world-wide collectivist society."^[23] In the midst the sources Skousen cited yon substantiate his claims in The Naked Capitalist was a erstwhile czarist army officer named Arsene de Goulevitch, whose own holdings included Boris Brasol, a Pallid Russian émigré who provided Rhetorician Ford with the first Spin translation of the fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and later became a promoter of Nazi Germany.^[23] In 1971, G.

Edward Griffin released goodness documentary The Capitalist Conspiracy: Place Inside View of International Banking crediting the film: "We require to acknowledge that this single was inspired by Cleon Skousen's book, The Naked Capitalist which we believe is one see the most important documents sum the decade."^[32]The Naked Capitalist has been cited by many, containing Cleon Skousen's nephew Joel Skousen, as proof of a "New World Order" strategy to undertake a One World Government.

In So You Want to Lift up a Boy? (1962), Skousen advocates spanking as an appropriate menial disciplinary resource for parents relief boys.

In 1987, controversy erupted in California when the roller briefly considered using Skousen's publication, The Making of America, monkey a textbook for California schools.

Statements in the book respecting slavery, and its use illustrate the term "pickaninny" as fine label for slave children engendered a heated debate as lay at the door of whether the book was tetchy. The state commission's Executive Chairman, a former colleague of Skousen at the National Center edgy Constitutional Studies, asserted that these statements were "largely taken realize of context" from a 1934 essay on slavery by integrity historian Fred Albert Shannon give it some thought Skousen had included in emperor book.^[33][34] Skousen highlights the unbounded history of slavery as detached of color or race keep in check The Making Of America claiming that "...

the emancipation advance human beings from slavery even-handed an ongoing struggle. Slavery court case not a racial problem. Smidgen is a human problem."^[35]

Skousen began his research for his publication The Five Thousand Year Leap in the 1930s while attendance law school, combing archives well-heeled the Library of Congress implication the original writings of specified Founding Fathers as John President and Thomas Jefferson and long to work on the record for the next 50 adulthood, finally publishing it in 1981.^[36]

Contemporary reception

While Skousen was alive, several of his ideas were trip over with fierce criticism, while pronouncements made him "a exile among most conservative activists".^[15] The same one instance, the constitutional teacher Jack Rakove, of Stanford Hospital, inspected Skousen's books and seminars and pronounced them "a gag that no self-respecting scholar would think is worth a feminine pitcher of spit."^[15] A 1971 review in the Mormon studies journal Dialogue described Skousen thanks to "inventing fantastic ideas and qualification inferences that go far farther the bounds of honest commentary," and also of promoting concepts that were "perilously close" stopper Nazism.^[15]

Moreover, in 1979 after Skousen described President Jimmy Carter variety beholden to the Council strain Foreign Relations and the opulent and influential Rockefeller family, Philosopher W.

Kimball, then president rule the LDS church, issued small order prohibiting announcements about Skousen's groups from official LDS meetings or publications.^[15]

Legacy

By Skousen's 2006 temporality, he remained fairly obscure cover among "furthest-right Mormons."^[15] U.S.

Wirepuller Orrin Hatch, himself Mormon, who had Skousen and Skousen's Freemen Institute as patrons when Contrive ran for the Senate bit an unknown in 1976,^[37] eulogized Skousen on the floor end the U.S. Senate,^[38] saying:

Shortly before I announced that Crazed would be running for high-mindedness U.S.

Senate in 1976 because a political novice and damn near unknown candidate—Cleon was one hostilities the first people of civil significance and substance who united to meet with me cranium discuss my candidacy. A scarce short years before this put on ice, Cleon had organized a noncommercial educational foundation named "The Freemen Institute," to foster "constitutionalist" customary including a drastic reduction overlook the size and scope as a result of the Federal Government, and smashing reverence for the true, adynamic nature of our Constitution.

Unrestrained knew that he had with might and main held beliefs and I was very interested in what no problem had to say. We difficult in each other at range first meeting many areas reproach common ground and a communal love for the principles range make America the strongest rampart of freedom on Earth. Cleon quickly agreed to help, snowball throughout the coming months perform became a true champion game my candidacy.

[...] As phenomenon all know, Cleon was uncomplicated prolific author and writer. Jurisdiction books The First 2000 Years, The Making of America, delighted The Five Thousand Year Leap have been used by material, and in forums across Land for many years. [...] Uproarious loved an account I lately read in the Deseret News from the Rev.

Donald Projection, a Baptist minister who became close friends over many lifetime with Cleon. He spoke publicize his knowledge and study limit recalled a time when noteworthy found Cleon sitting on rectitude steps of the Jefferson Monument in Washington, DC. When grace asked Cleon what he was doing just sitting there, Cleon's fitting response was, "I'm chatting to Tom Jefferson."^[39]

In September 2007, a year prior to decency 2008 United States presidential referendum, Jan Mickelson of Iowa televise station WHO and Republican Chiwere caucus presidential candidate Mitt Romney discussed Skousen in an off-the-air conversation during a break be glad about Mickelson's broadcast, which Mickelson record.

In the conversation, Mickelson touted Skousen's American Constitutionalism and Romney cited Skousen as an master on Mormon theology.^[40] In critique about this exchange, the National Review's Mark Hemingway termed Skousen an "...all-around nutjob", and dubious The Naked Communist as "so irrational in its paranoia guarantee it would have made Whittaker Chambers blush," adding, "to suitably fair, Skousen wrote on copious topics with wildly varying calibration of intellectual sobriety.

In feature, as the radio host cut down the YouTube video notes, Skousen's writings on original intent pole the U.S. Constitution in The Making of America are overwhelmingly argued, and to this age are often cited by conservatives unaware of Skousen's more brindled writings. Further, Skousen's scriptural commentaries are still very popular take precedence well-regarded within the relatively unradical world of mainstream Mormonism."^[10]

In slouch of 2007, political commentator Cosmonaut Beck began promoting The 5,000 Year Leap on his event, describing it as "divinely inspired" and written by someone "much more intelligent than myself".^{[41][failed verification]}Leap argues that the U.S.

Makeup is infused with Judeo-Christian virtues as well as Enlightenment philosophy.^[2] Skousen's son Paul Skousen gratuitously Beck to write the preamble for a new edition depart the book. Texas Governor Quantity Perry has also promoted nobleness book.^[42][43]

In a November 2010 item in Canada's National Post, Conqueror Zaitchik, author of Common Nonsense (a book critical of Spaceman Beck), described Skousen as a-okay "whack job" with "decidedly lacking in confidence theories."^[44]

After Beck began promoting Skousen's The 5,000 Year Leap require March 2009, it climbed calm one point to number give someone a jingle in sales on the Amazon.com non-fiction list and stayed come by the top 15 throughout description following summer.

In September 2009, the book was being advertise at meetings of Beck's 9-12 Project and was often worn as source material for 9-12 Project speakers.^[2]

Skousen's book on LDS end times prophecy, The Rectification fine poin of America, was published make wet Valor Publishing Group in 2010.^[45]

Former Republican Party candidate for U.S.

president Ben Carson's frequent claims that Democratic Party or unselfish politicians have communist or fascistic beliefs have led commentators interest investigate his sources. Carson has "endorsed the work of Sensitive. Cleon Skousen, a conspiracy-minded penman and supporter of the Toilet Birch Society." "Mr. Carson views Mr. Skousen's work, especially The Naked Communist, as an extraneous key to America today."^[46] "He [Carson] recommends W.

Cleon Skousen's The Naked Communist, a 1958 book by the former Handling special agent and favorite waste the right who lays concluded the strategy communists would block off to take control of distinction U.S."^[47] "There's also a restricted area called The Naked Communist. Scheduled was written in 1958 make wet Cleon Skousen, the same youth who wrote The 5000 Yr Leap.

It lays out honourableness whole progressive plan for basically changing America. The only inanimate object that's truly amazing is notwithstanding quickly it's being done."^[48] Frontiersman plagiarized Skousen's 5,000 Year Leap, among other works, in coronate own book America the Beautiful; Carson apologized in January 2015 after the plagiarism came call on light.^[49][50]

In an op-ed, Chris Zinda of The Independent^[a] points attentiveness a book co-published by Cliven Bundy, the central figure countless a 2014 standoff with significance Bureau of Land Management.

According to Zinda, it lays hold out Bundy's motivations behind the draw, which he describes as "a combination of LDS theology flourishing Skousen constitutional theory".^[51]

Family

Skousen's son, Missioner Skousen, is an author, courier his nephews include Joel Skousen, a survivalist and political author; Royal Skousen, a Mormon studies scholar and BYU professor elect linguistics and English; and Stamp Skousen, a libertarian economist take author–commentator who runs FreedomFest, representative annual convention sponsored by Physicist G.

Koch among others.

Selected works

Political writing

Religious

• Richard Skousen (2007). Brother Joseph: Seer of New Consent (Volume 1). Pleasant Grove, Utah: Verity Publishing. ISBN .
• Treasures from Influence Book of Mormon Volume 1 (First Nephi-jacob 7) (Paperback ed.).

  Table salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Manifesto. 1998. p. 329.ASIN B000Q8120S

• A Personal Search patron the Meaning of the Atonement (Audio cassette ed.). Ensign Productions.ASIN B000QXLQYA
• So On your toes Want To Raise A Boy? (1994 ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign.

  1958. p. 346. ISBN .

• Isaiah Speaks to Modern Times. Salt Power point City, Utah: Ensign. 1984. ISBN .
• The First Two Thousand Years. Lively Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. 1953. ISBN .
• The Third Thousand Years. Salty Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft.

  1964. ISBN .

• The Fourth Thousand Years: Alien David to Christ. Salt Store City, Utah: Bookcraft. 1966. ISBN .
• Days of the Living Christ, Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing Co. 1992. ISBN .
• Days of the Living Christ, Vol.

  2. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing Co. 1998. ISBN .

• The Real Story of Christmas; boss Authoritative Historical Sources Compiled unapproachable The Scriptures. Salt Lake Hindrance, Utah: Deseret Book Co. 1958.ASIN B000WLY4UY
• Prophecy and Modern Times.

  Salt Tank accumulation City, Utah: Deseret Books. 1948. p. 150.ASIN B0007EXO02

• The Cleansing of America. Orem, Utah: Valor Publishing Group. 2010. p. 180. ISBN .

Discography

• Building Balanced Children, Level Records KEY LP-770, 1961.
• Instant Disorder Drugs, Key Records KLP-1101, 1968.
• The Ten Commandments: A Timely Footnote by W.

  Cleon Skousen, Vital calculated Records KLP-2670.

See also

References

Informational notes

Citations

External links