“Courage is the ladder on which the all the other virtues mount.” –Clare Boothe Luce UCE ADDER LLVolume XVII, Issue 1 2011 Clare Boothe Luce’s granddaughter provides new tie to namesake’s family page 2 Rep. Renee Ellmers’ surprising message to the Conservative Women’s Network Page 3 Students at the Institute’s 2011 Western Women’s Summit pose for a picture with Miss America Teresa Scanlan (center) 100th Anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s Michelle Duggar, super-mom to 19 Birth Celebrated at the Institute’s 2011 children, accepts the Institute’s 2011 Western Women’s Summit Woman of the Year This year’s Summit drew women from across the country for a weekend of Award learning about key issues and networking with new conservative friends. Pages 4-5 Read the full story on page 6. Author Jackie Gingrich Cushman’s rich insights on America’s history Page 8 As a special treat for Summit attendees, the Western Women’s Summit included an exclusive tour of Ronald Reagan’s ranch home in the hills of Santa Barbara known as “Rancho Del Cielo.” from Letter the Granddaughter of President Clare Boothe Luce ecently, a former Luce intern Rtold me that her time at the Elected to Institute Board Institute was the most memorable summer of her life. Another said, “I’ve grown as The Institute recently welcomed a new member to its Board of Directors—Clare Luce, the granddaughter of the late Clare a person and become more confident in my conservative Boothe Luce. The Institute is named after Mrs. Luce because views and values.” Each summer, I look forward to of her outstanding example as a conservative woman whose welcoming a new group of interns to our Virginia success stemmed from her unwavering values, grace and personal strength. headquarters. Each year we receive resumes from young activists across the country eager to participate in our highly competitive internship program. These women know that Luce internships don’t just consist of making coffee and shuffling paperwork—it is a life changing experience for young women that will open doors to a lifetime of involvement in the conservative cause. In addition to our internship program, Luce offers many other opportunities each summer for students to get involved. In June we host our annual Conservative Leadership Seminar on Capitol Hill featuring key leaders like Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. In July and August we hold mentoring luncheons for high school and Clare Luce with “Joe the Plumber” college students from across the country. And a select at a 2009 Institute event. group of student leaders participate in Luce’s intensive training seminars. Clare Luce traveled extensively with Mrs. Luce and they developed a uniquely special relationship. Clare has worked Thank you for supporting the work of the Clare Boothe with the Institute on numerous special projects and events Luce Policy Institute. With your help, we will continue to and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Institute’s reach thousands of young women and prepare them for work over the years. The Institute staff and Board are delighted to now officially have her in the leadership of the effective leadership. organization. Clare Luce was born and raised on the north shore of Long Island and currently lives north of San Francisco in the Napa Michelle Easton Valley area. Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute Board of Directors Michelle Easton The Dr. Elliott & Darla Partridge he Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute’s President Staff National Headquarters mission is to prepare women for Frank Donatelli 112 Elden Street, Suite P T Secretary/Treasurer Michelle Easton Catherine Helsley Herndon, Virginia 20170 effective leadership and to promote leading President Administrative Assistant (888) 891-4288 conservative women. The Institute strives to Kellyanne Conway Tiffany Bradley Kristen Johnson www.cblpi.org Barb Kenney advance America’s women by promoting and Director of Philanthropy Accounting Manager Publisher Michelle Easton preserving conservative principles. Clare Luce Designer/Writer Camille Hart & Alyssa Cordova Jeanne O’Connor Ursula Meese Lecture Director Catherine Helsley The Luce Ladder is a publication of the Clare Boothe Luce Administrative Director Copy Editor Kristen Johnson Policy Institute, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Kate Obenshain Camille Hart Lil Tuttle Photos Jensen Sutta Photogra- Contributions are eligible for a tax deduction. The Institute’s Darla Partridge Special Assistant Education Director phy & Twin Lens Photo tax ID number is 54-1672138. to the President Marji Ross The Conservative Women’s Network (CWN) is a monthly luncheon co-hosted by the Luce Policy Institute and September CWN The Heritage Foundation. Held in Washington, DC, the speaker Amanda luncheons provide attendees with the opportunity to Carpenter (center) learn about current issues from conservative leaders and with Luce Director connect with other women in the Washington area. For of Philanthropy more information about CWN, visit www.cblpi.org/events or Tiffany Bradley (left) contact Camille Hart at [email protected]. and Administrative Assistant Catherine > Amanda Carpenter, currently a speechwriter for Senator Helsley. Jim DeMint, addressed the CWN audience in September. Still in her 20s, Amanda already has a distinguished career as an author and journalist. She shared her story of success as a young conservative woman and outlined how other young Luce Board member people can get involved and make an impact, too. Kate Obenshain > Susan Eckerly from the National Federation of Independent (left) and health Business spoke at CWN in October, explaining how President care expert Grace- Obama’s policies hurt the business community. Marie Turner spoke in November, CWN in Review > Grace-Marie Turner and Kate Obenshain participated in a discussing how panel discussion in November to analyze the results of the the 2010 election 2010 midterm elections. results will impact > Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal helped us the direction of key continue our December CWN tradition of hosting a gentleman public policy issues. speaker. As a respected expert on the economy, Moore gave an insightful talk about America’s fiscal policies. Susan Eckerly > As a nurse for more than 20 years, Congresswoman Renee (right) from the Ellmers of North Carolina has a unique inside perspective on National Federation the harm that Obamacare is causing. In February, she spoke of Independent about the need to completely repeal the government take-over. Business accepts > FOX News commentator Andrea Tantaros gave a thought- a Great American provoking lecture in April titled, “Steel Nerves, Iron Jaws and Conservative High Heels: The New Feminism.” Her remarks were taped by Women Calendar C-SPAN and broadcast to their 97 million viewers. after her speech to CWN in October. Fox News Rep. Renee Ellmers commentator (center) poses for Andrea Tantaros a photo with CWN gave a speech in attendees after her April titled “Steel speech in February. Nerves, Iron Jaws and High Heels: The New Feminism.” A CWN attendee Staff asks a question Wall Street Journal’s Catherine Helsley at the September Stephen Moore Administrative Assistant CWN. Audience was CWN’s special Kristen Johnson participation is an once-a-year male Accounting Manager important part of the speaker in December. Jeanne O’Connor CWN experience. Administrative Director Lil Tuttle Education Director 2011 Woman of the Year Luce Policy Institute’s Award Goes to Michelle Duggar at Annual Conservative Political Action Conference Luncheon he 2011 Conservative Political Action speech, emphasizing the Conference (CPAC) brought another year of importance of faith and Texciting Luce Policy Institute events, drawing family. She encouraged impressive crowds of students and providing a the women to stand strong unique opportunity to mentor the next generation in their beliefs despite the of leaders. obstacles they may face in The largest and most anticipated Luce event at doing so. CPAC was the annual Woman of the Year mentoring In addition to the Woman luncheon. This year’s award recipient was Michelle of the Year luncheon, Duggar, whose family is the focus of the popular cable the Institute hosted television show 19 Kids and Counting. Michelle and several Great American her husband Jim Bob decided early in their marriage Conservative Women that they would have as many children as God saw Calendar signings during Luce President Michelle Easton fit. Today—more than 25 years later—the Duggars CPAC. Calendar ladies S.E. presents Michelle Duggar have ten boys and nine girls, including two sets of Cupp, Amanda Carpenter, with the Institute’s 2011 twins. They live in northwest Arkansas and all of the Kate Obenshain, and Bay Woman of the Year Award children are home schooled. Buchanan all stopped by The Institute chose Mrs. Duggar as Woman of the the Institute’s booth in the CPAC exhibit hall to meet Year because by allowing the public a look into her with students and sign their page in the calendar. family’s everyday life, she shows the joy and blessings For the second year in a row the Institute co-hosted that children bring to a family and the God-given value a unique panel featuring leading ladies of the of every life. The Duggars provide families across conservative movement. The standing-room-only America a wonderful example to follow by teaching crowd of students and CPAC attendees came to hear their children key values like serving others, treating from notable women like Congresswoman Michele everyone with respect, being fiscally responsible and Bachmann, Phyllis Schlafly, Cleta Mitchell, and S.E. relying on faith to get through difficult times. Cupp. Topics ranged from marriage and motherhood Mrs. Duggar graciously and quietly represents to how to be a successful woman leader. It was millions of unsung heroine women across America one of the most popular panel discussions of the who choose to focus on motherhood, knowing it is conference.