October 7,
2009
Richard
Norman, President
The Richard
Norman Company
44084
Riverside Parkway, Suite 350
Leesburg,
VA 20176
Dear Richard,
Thank you
for the opportunity to write a few words on behalf of my good friend Howard
Phillips. Howard has been an inspiration
to me for the better part of my 40 years on earth and helping him celebrate the
accomplishment of the 35 years that he and the Conservative Caucus have been
fighting for our liberty is a true honor.
I first met
Howard through my father, Dominick Spadea, who joined with him to build the
Conservative Movement in New Jersey during the 1970’s. Some of my earliest memories as a child were from
attending meetings with my Dad and Howard as they planned to fight the sell-out
of American interests at the Panama Canal and the SALT treaty that Howard was
instrumental in defeating. Howard's vision and action fighting that treaty in
1979 paved the way for the Reagan election in 1980 and the ultimate collapse of
the USSR. History will remember Howard
Phillips as a key general, helping our nation win the Cold War.
Years later,
when I served as a National Director with Young Americans for Freedom and then
as National Chairman of the College Republican National Committee, Howard was the
inspirational ‘thought-leader’ that I would turn to for advice and
counsel. He was always available to
discuss and support the effort to keep the Republican Party honest and on the ‘Right’
track. When I was “unceremoniously
dumped” by the establishment GOP for publishing Howard’s articles in our
newspaper, he graciously and eagerly opened his doors, enabling me and a small
band of conservative ‘street-fighters’ to continue the battle for our ideas and
Movement throughout my term. Howard
never asked for anything in return except that we stay true to our principles.
When I ran
for U.S. Congress in my home state of New Jersey, despite the overwhelming odds
and his own lack of funding, Howard stepped up to help; both contributing financially
and making key introductions to conservative leaders in the region. His consistent confidence and appreciation for
young leaders is appreciated by an entire generation of conservatives who will
have to carry the torch of liberty during the decades to come, facing the
ultimate test from the far-Left, anti-American zealots who now rule in
Washington.
When the
Republican Party was headed toward defeat in a U.S Senate contest a few years after
my first run, it was Howard who called and wrote in an effort to encourage me
to enter the race and continue the fight for our principles. He’s never given up his enthusiasm, energy
and commitment to encourage candidates to run for the right reasons; and he
always backs it up with real support.
Howard
Phillips is a great patriot, having spent a lifetime sacrificing his own
material opportunities for the good of the Cause. To know Howard is to know a modern version of
the patriots that fought at Lexington and Concord as well as those that debated
in Philadelphia through the hot, muggy summer of 1776 to forge this great
nation.
Howard
Phillips is a friend, a mentor, a patriot and a true ‘Champion of
Liberty’. It’s an honor to congratulate him
on a lifetime of achievement - leading our Movement, championing our ideas and
encouraging the next generation to take up the fight. America is a better place because of the
sacrifices that Howard Phillips has made personally and has inspired others to
make.
We wish him good
health and God speed as he prepares for the next 35 years leading the
Conservative Caucus!
Yours in
Liberty,
Bill
Spadea
Bill Spadea
