A Year After Ed Feulner’s Death, Mike Pence Calls for New Generation of Conservative Leaders

The conservative movement marked a somber milestone this year with the passing of Ed Feulner, one of its foundational architects. As twelve months have elapsed since his death, his approach to advancing political ideals has become increasingly relevant to the nation’s current challenges, according to former Vice President Mike Pence.

Feulner distinguished himself by prioritizing long-term institutional development over short-term electoral gains. Rather than pursuing fleeting headlines, he established lasting organizations and mentored successive generations of conservative thinkers and activists who would advance freedom-based principles well beyond his own lifetime.

As founder of the Heritage Foundation, Feulner translated academic conservative thought into practical policy guidance for government officials. In his later years, he continued this mission by serving on the board of Advancing American Freedom, maintaining his focus on cultivating emerging leaders committed to constitutional principles.

Pence identified five critical challenges confronting America today: restoring faith in constitutional governance, countering Chinese communist expansion, addressing the national debt crisis, protecting free markets from government overreach, and maintaining American global leadership. He argued that Feulner’s lifetime commitment to enduring principles offers a roadmap for addressing these difficulties.

Rather than memorializing Feulner through words alone, Pence urged Americans to adopt his methodology: recommitting to foundational principles, strengthening institutions protecting liberty, developing courageous conservative leaders, and maintaining confidence in the nation’s founding values and potential.