A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement

The education/political action organization Young Americans for Freedom, founded in 1960, helped forge the growing conservative movement into a political force that seized control of a party, elected one of their own to the presidency and, in the process, changed the world. This is the first comprehensive history of YAF, from which also came 27 members of Congress, eight U.S. Circuit Court judges, a Vice President of the United States, governors, numerous media figures and journalists, college presidents and professors, authors and many of the leaders of the major conservative organizations in the United States today.Following its founding fifty years ago, hundreds of thousands of students were first influenced by YAF in high schools and on college campuses, next leading to their involvement in the 1964 Goldwater campaign, the successful U.S. Senate campaign of James Buckley in New York, and eventually the 1980 presidenial campaign and administration of Ronald Reagan.Praised by prominent historians and journalists , this book will come to be regarded as an essential resource for an understanding of 20th Century American politics.

Wayne Thorburn joined YAF in 1961 and held nearly every position in the organization, including serving as executive director from 1971-73. Formerly a political science faculty member at three universities, he held appointments in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Judith, also a former YAF activist.