David Keene Bet On Young Conservatives Before Anyone Else Did

I was told that an email from Ann Coulter is what led David Keene to hire me in 2006.

She wrote, “You only have to tell Lisa to do something once.”

Despite all the drama, I hope he never regretted it.

While David was chairman of the American Conservative Union, a volunteer position, I worked with him as the Director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) from June 2006 to April 2011. In planning the conference there were many ups and downs. I’m sure there were times when I disappointed David in some effort, but I can’t think of any time when he disappointed me. Even though I was only 28 when I began as CPAC Director, he gave me the same opportunity to give my opinion when I disagreed with a board member, sponsor, speaker or member of Congress. Not to brag, but I won a couple of those battles.

During the five years I worked with David I was privy to the way he worked within the conservative movement. I saw him compromise with people he didn’t like and who didn’t like him. I saw him defend people he disagreed with on issues because it was the right thing to do. I saw him make decisions based on what was best for the conference attendees and nothing else. I was on a high when he once told me a speaker idea I had was “inspired.”

Source: @WisconsinYAF

One of the things I admired most about David is that he’s not one of those Old Guard members of the conservative movement who don’t value dissent or new blood. As the chairman of ACU/CPAC he fought to give everyone a seat at the table. Those like Chris Barron who endeavored to start a group that represented conservative gays and their allies. As well as leaders of the tea party movement who criticized his friends in Congress.

David was adamant about including emerging conservative leaders as speakers at the conference. In February 2010 it was his idea to invite Marco Rubio, who was then a long-shot in the Republican primary against Charlie Crist, to be the opening speaker at CPAC. He knew the value of sending that message to his Republican friends and to the media.

I’ve seen him give dozens and dozens of young leaders and unknown activists a place in the spotlight over the years. I was fortunate to be one of them. I’m sure it’s because he still thought of himself as one of us — and he was! On Newsmax, John Gizzi wrote about David’s decades in the conservative movement that began on his college campus.

When Rush Limbaugh was the closing speaker at the 2009 conference, it was David who suggested I introduce Rush. We knew the speech would be covered by many of the networks and it was a very visible spot. David didn’t insist on some well-known Congressman or Senator, donor, or head of a prominent conservative organization. He suggested me because during one of our planning sessions I said Rush was the person who got me excited about being a conservative. Rush was my Reagan. 

Source: Kevin McKeever

The same thing happened a few years later when Donald Trump was scheduled to make a surprise appearance at the conference (thanks to Chris Barron!) and I expressed interest in introducing him because I enjoyed Trump’s candor — also no one else asked. How times have changed.

From time to time friends or acquaintances came to me with an idea or project and requested a meeting with David. Unless the timing just didn’t work out, I don’t recall any instance when David refused to meet with someone. He was always available to give young conservatives advice and to listen to what they had to say. In fact, it is because of David that CPAC became a must-attend event for College Republicans and other conservative students. In CPAC’s early years, David made a promise to President Reagan that CPAC would never be priced out of reach for students and young activists. Even when hotel costs went up, student registration was always between $25-50 ($15 for early bird rate). He also knew the value of CPAC as a reunion for the “vast right-wing conspiracy.” It wasn’t just about what was happening on stage, but the conversations that happened in the bar, at ancillary events and in the hallways. It was where people met future coworkers, allies, and spouses.

Even though I hadn’t spoken to David years, it is very important to me that he be remembered for the intellectual and activist giant that he was. In the five years I worked for him I learned which battles were worth fighting. I learned the importance of being supportive of friends. While I wish I could have worked for David longer than I did (we both left in 2011), I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me a chance to lead CPAC during an important time for the conservative movement. I’ll also remember the man he was in a city and industry that treats people as disposable and transactional.

As his daughter Kerry wrote, “I will remember not the public figure, but a father who welcomed me as his own, who gave me a home, and my first job.”

I will always think of him that way, too.

* * *

Lisa De Pasquale is an author, columnist, and the former director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). She’s a frequent guest on Fox News and Fox Business, the founder of “Bright” on Substack, and the author of “The Gen X Handbook for Middle Age: The Pursuit of Health, Success, and Human Fulfillment.” De Pasquale has authored articles for a variety of publications including The Federalist, Washingtonian, The Daily Caller, and The Washington Times. Follow her on Twitter/X: @LisaDeP and on Instagram at @Lisa_DeP.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.