Key Leaders
It could be said that Eagle Forum (EF), like many conservative organizations, is better identified by its celebrity leadership than by what it has accomplished.Phyllis Schlafly founded Eagle Forum while fighting against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s. She is first and foremost a proud anti-feminist, and regularly advocates for the return of the homemaker-female. This, despite graduating from law school at the age of 54 and having a remarkably active public life.
Schlafly has been called “matriarch of the Christian Right” and has been present at every Republican National Convention since 1952. She has twice been a candidate for the United States Congress, losing both times. Additionally, Schlafly has testified before more than 50 congressional and state legislative bodies on issues ranging from national defense to her interpretation of the constitution.
Phyllis Schlafly is the author of more than twenty books; her materials are heavily promoted on the Eagle Forum website. As a media personality, Schlafly has made appearances on national television for over sixty years. She is a syndicated columnist and produces a weekly radio show, Phyllis Schlafly Live.
Eagle Forum has shown signs that it is beginning to pass the torch of leadership to the next generation: Twenty-something Jessica Echard currently serves as Executive Director for Eagle Forum, while Rebekah Baxter, "a 2004 graduate of Washington University" according to their website, serves as the Executive Director of the Eagle Forum Education Center. Echard has spoken to the media about the judicial nominations to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Offering support for Justice Samuel A. Alito, she told one interviewer that they are committed to “continue to fight to make sure abortion is outlawed.” While other peers of Eagle Forum may try to avoid this conclusion, she makes plain that they are committed to criminalizing women and their doctors. Baxter and Echard are the only two other staff, aside from Schlafly, who are featured on the official Eagle Forum website.
Despite a couple of youthful staffers, Eagle Forum continues to rely heavily on the Schlafly, highlighting her as their main public voice and utilizing her almost exclusively for high-profile speaking engagements.
Organizational Background and Activities
Eagle Forum rallies around whatever Phyllis Schlafly deems important. Their seemingly disconnected array of issues includes the importance of phonics in early childhood education, supporting American sovereignty, and preventing “judicial tyranny.” They oppose “radical feminists” and promote “traditional” education. They support the right to bear arms, protecting American lives with anti-ballistic missiles, and the role of women as homemakers.Eagle Forum proudly opposes a Constitutional Convention to rewrite the U.S. Constitution, statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, “…the feminist goals of federally financed and regulated child care and the feminization of the military.”
Charges of racism and bigotry have been launched against Eagle Forum as a result of their support for English-only legislation and advocating against what they call “immoral” guest worker amnesty support.
Their conservative campus affiliates seek to counter feminism, “the gay agenda,” and liberal voices in general, by sponsoring speakers and organizing like-minded students on their campuses. Schlafly continues today to be one of the most common faces on the conservative campus speaker circuit.
Eagle Forum mobilizes through their print publications, website, action alerts, annual convention, youth and collegiate groups, litigation, and lobbying. Publications include a column and report by Phyllis Schlafly, as well as the Education Reporter.
Address
Eagle Forum
P.O. Box 618
Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618-462-5415
Fax: 618-462-8909
Funding and Budget
Data is for “Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense”, the official non-profit arm of Eagle Forum. Eagle Forum is organized as a 501(c)(4) civic organization.Fiscal Year 2003
Income: $1,608,355
Expenses: $678,538
Net Gain: $929,817
Assets: $13,269,058
View their IRS Form 990 at GuideStar.org (login required)
