David Farber. The Rise and Fall of Modern American Conservatism: A Short History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010. 308 S. $29.95, cloth, ISBN 978-0-691-12915-0.
Reviewed by James Gilbert
Published on H-Soz-u-Kult (July, 2010)
For many historians and political commenta‐ rejectionists, although even a few of these sorts tors in general, the strength and resilience of camp outside the big tent of the movement. American conservatism is an anomaly in search Perhaps the best way to describe American of an explanation. This conservatism is made of conservatism (and liberalism) is to say that it is separate strands, both cultural, in expressions of situational, defned by the dictates of the moment. religious fervor, social conformity to “family val‐ While conservatism is fairly consistent in oppos‐ ues,” and economically in belief in a (largely) un‐ ing Federal intervention into the economy in ar‐ regulated commercial marketplace. Individualism eas other than defense and protection of trade, as opposed to equality is perhaps the fundamen‐ positions on social issues may vary widely. For ex‐ tal tenet of this creed and perhaps the single idea ample, conservatism was once openly segrega‐ that links everything together. But there are other tionist, but is today much more tolerant of diversi‐ visible elements: hostility to immigrants. In a na‐ ty. Above all, conservatism fancies itself based tion made up entirely of immigrants, Americans upon the American reverence for the Constitution have repeatedly expressed hostility to new immi‐ and its “original intent.” This makes the dead grant groups: frst to Germans, then the Irish, hand of the past into a vital and sometimes imagi‐ Catholics, Jews, Eastern Europeans, and now Lati‐ nary tradition from which to seek guidance in a nos, and, of course, toward involuntary immi‐ mental process that resembles nothing so much as grants from Africa. In many cases, conservatives Protestant Biblical exegesis. To say the least, this is have been reluctant moderns, or at least deeply a complex and variegated political persuasion conficted men and women of their times who that has, for most of American history since the cling to what they defne as traditional values, yet Civil War, been the default position of politics, the who happily surround themselves with consumer New Deal notwithstanding. gadgetry and use the latest fruits of technology, Is post World War II conservatism then, some‐ especially in political organizing. Perhaps the one thing diferent, something new, something de‐ thing they are not is Luddites, neo-primitives and H-Net Reviews manding explanation? This is the implicit ques‐ cus on these six individuals. Most of the chapters tion in David Farber’s new examination of the rise are derived from secondary sources; only the Taft and fall of modern conservatism. In biographies biography benefts from manuscript sources. of fve architects (and one wrecker) of post-war There are occasions when Farber seems to try too conservatism, Farber sketches the growth of the hard to be fair to a political philosophy he does movement from Robert Taft’s opposition to the not appear to support. Thus Phyllis Schlafy is New Deal to ideological ruination as George W. “brilliant” and William F. Buckley is endlessly Bush’s Presidency smashed on the shoals of reali‐ “witty,” and Ronald Reagan possesses not a “mis‐ ty. In other words this book takes us via leading anthropic bone in his body” - this from a man personalities from a series of disparate and un‐ whose administration classifed ketchup and pick‐ connected movements, false starts, hopeful begin‐ le relish as vegetables for children in publically nings, to the fnal, failed test of conservative prin‐ funded lunch programs and whose accusations ciples during the 43rd President’s two-term deba‐ about fctional “welfare Queens” were cruel and cle. racially coded. The problem is a pervasive chatti‐ There are several important and interesting ness and I fear in the end, not as serious a discus‐ arguments that Farber makes along this narrative sion of the American Right as it merits. He does and one inspired choice of subject matter – Phyllis touch on the most important development since Schlafy – that have much to commend. He is cer‐ World War II which is the creation of an ideologi‐ tainly right to emphasize the importance of con‐ cally unifed Republican Party and the elimina‐ servative Catholicism in addition to the better tion of its more liberal wing. But this crucial de‐ known Protestant fundamentalism as a crucial velopment does not receive the attention it de‐ factor in building the movement, although I be‐ serves. lieve he underplays the way Catholicism struc‐ Farber’s fnal evaluation reveals the implica‐ tured the thought of William F. Buckley and tions of this presentation. He ends this way: “The Schlafy. He is also correct to see the importance modern conservative movement had fallen [with of race as a factor in developing a conservative the election of Obama].” (p. 256) Perhaps it looked position, although here, too, I think, he under‐ that way when the manuscript was fnished, but plays the issue, certainly in building a more today it appears merely a stumble, and tomorrow, monolithic Republican Party. And while he notes who knows? That is the trouble with the rise and fear-mongering as a perennial tactic of conserva‐ fall genre of history; those who have fallen some‐ tives (and sometimes liberals, too), he makes no times refuse to stay down. The efect, in the end, is efort to ascertain why fear, anxiety, envy, lack of to underestimate the resilience and centrality of confdence, fatalism, and other kindred negative conservatism to American history. emotions are so important in American politics and where they come from, and if they difer from other political cultures. Surely it is impor‐ tant to explore why American politics has been so consistently driven by obsessions with Commu‐ nists, liberated women, African-Americans, crimi‐ nals, homosexuals, and the ubiquitous minion of evil, the taxman. While Farber pens a lively narrative, there is not a great deal that is new; what is new is the fo‐
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Citation: James Gilbert. Review of Farber, David. The Rise and Fall of Modern American Conservatism: A Short History. H-Soz-u-Kult, H-Net Reviews. July, 2010.
URL: https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=30826
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