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{{Short description|American political consultant and author}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Craig Shirley
| name = Craig Shirley
|image = https://goo.gl/images/0vEJnt
| image = Craig Shirley by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = Shirley in 2016
|birth_name = Craig Paul Shirley
| birth_name = Craigan Paul Shirley
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|9|24}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|9|24}}
|birth_place = [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]
| birth_place = [[Syracuse, New York]], U.S.
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|resting_place=
| resting_place =
|occupation = Reagan biographer and historian
| occupation = Author, political consultant
|nationality = African American
|alma_mater=[[Springfield College (Massachusetts)|Springfield College]]
| alma_mater = [[Springfield College (Massachusetts)|Springfield College]]
|spouse = Zorine Shirley
| spouse = Zorine Shirley
|children = 3 sons, 1 daughter
| children = 4
|website = {{URL|http://www.craigshirley.com}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.craigshirley.com}}
|footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Craigan Paul Shirley'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/2023-10/40-219-6927378-009-009-2023.pdf|title=Green, Max: Files, 1985-1988|publisher=Reagan Library|page=143|accessdate=March 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/ind_detail/SHIRLEY%7CCRAIGAN+PAUL%7CALEXANDRIA%7CVA%7C22314%7CSHIRLEY+&+BANISTER/LOBBYIST/|title=Contributions Arranged By Type And Recipient|publisher=Federal Election Commission|accessdate=March 29, 2024}}</ref> (born September 24, 1956) is an American political consultant and author of several books on [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Craig Shirley|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/craig-shirley|access-date=2021-02-20|website=HarperCollins|language=en}}</ref>
'''Craig Paul Shirley''' (born September 24, 1956) is an [[United States|American]] author, lecturer, historian and public affairs consultant. He has written three bestsellers on [[Ronald Reagan]]: ''Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America'' (2014), ''Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All'' (2005), and ''Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan'' (2015).

Shirley also wrote ''December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World'', a ''[[New York Times]]'' bestseller published in December 2011 about the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] and its effects on the American people culture.<ref>{{cite news|title=New York Times Bestsellers|url=http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-12-25/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/list.html|accessdate=2011-12-25 | work=The New York Times|first=Gregory|last=Cowles}}</ref> All four books have gone to paperback. Documentaries are now being produced based in part on the 1976 Reagan campaign and ''December 1941'', for the 75th anniversary of the [[Pearl Harbor attack]].

Born and raised in [[Syracuse, New York]], Shirley earned a degree in History and Political Science from [[Springfield College]]. Shirley was named by the ''[[London Telegraph]]'', "the best of the Reagan biographers" <ref>{{cite news|title=The Invisible Bridge The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein, review problematic, partisan analysis|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/10958605/The-Invisible-Bridge-The-Fall-of-Nixon-and-the-Rise-of-Reagan-by-Rick-Perlstein-review-problematic-partisan-analysis.html|accessdate=2014-08-18 | work=The London Telegraph|first=Tim|last=Stanley}}</ref> and writer Tony Lee of [[Breitbart]] said he was “one of the most esteemed Ronald Reagan biographers."<ref>{{cite news|title=America Remains Exceptional Because Of Reagan's 'Informed' Patriots|url=http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2014/06/05/america-remains-exceptional-because-of-reagans-informed-patriots/|accessdate=2014-06-06 | work=Breitbart|first=Tony|last=Lee}}</ref> [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Fred Barnes]] of the ''[[Weekly Standard]]'' called him "a prominent biographer of Ronald Reagan,"<ref>{{cite news|title=Prominent Reagan Biographer Accuses Another of Plagiarism|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/prominent-reagan-biographer-accuses-another-plagiarism_800498.html|accessdate=2014-08-05 | work=The Weekly Standard|first=Fred|last=Barnes}}</ref> [[Mark Levin]] called him "one of the best of the Reagan biographers,"<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Levin calls Craig Shirley "one of the best of the Reagan biographers"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp1V0oL2w_4 |accessdate=2016-02-10 | work=The Mark Levin Show|first=Mark|last=Levin}}</ref> and the ''[[Washington Examiner]]''’s Paul Bedard, a "noted Ronald Reagan biographer.”<ref>{{cite news|title=Reagan biographer Craig Shirley's newest could give GOP a roadmap to the White House|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/reagan-biographer-craig-shirleys-newest-could-give-gop-a-roadmap-to-the-white-house/article/2552993 | work=The Washington Examiner|first=Paul|last=Bedard}}</ref> His book on Reagan’s final years ''Last Act'', the topic which had never been covered before, was also highly praised for its rich writing and intricate detail and research.

Shirley has also written dozens of articles and given dozens of lectures about the life and times and lessons of [[Ronald Reagan]].


==Life and career==
==Life and career==


===Youth and education===
===Youth and education===
Shirley is the second son of Edward Shirley and Barbara Cone Shirley. He is of English and Scottish descent. His parents were charter members of the [[New York State Conservative Party]] and his father was the first registered conservative voter in the Empire State.<ref>{{cite web|title=Edward Shirley Dies In Hospital|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36646041/|date=March 12, 1977|work=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York|accessdate=2015-04-08}}</ref> In 1964 he went door to door for presidential candidate [[Barry Goldwater]] at age 8.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meet Craig Shirley and Diana Banister, the right’s pitch-perfect conservatives|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/meet-craig-shirley-and-diana-banister-the-rights-pitch-perfect-conservatives/2013/07/21/63cea20e-dffe-11e2-b94a-452948b95ca8_story.html | work=The Washington Post|first=Krissah|last=Thompson}}</ref> In high school, Shirley was a standout athlete, winning six varsity letters, winning the league pole vaulting championship and was named “Most Improved Athlete” his senior year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley; Author, Historian, Lecturer|url=http://www.craigshirley.com/|accessdate=2015-04-24}}</ref>
Shirley is the second son of Edward Bruce Shirley and Barbara Cone Shirley. His father was a founding member of the [[New York State Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Edward Shirley Dies In Hospital|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36646041/|date=March 12, 1977|work=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York|accessdate=2015-04-08}}</ref> In 1964, he campaigned door-to-door with his parents for presidential candidate [[Barry Goldwater]]. In 1978, Shirley graduated from [[Springfield College]] in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], where he majored in history and political science.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Springfield College History Program News {{!}} Springfield College|url=https://springfield.edu/programs/history/newsletter-2021|access-date=2022-01-17|website=springfield.edu}}</ref>

In 1978 Shirley graduated from [[Springfield College]] in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], where he majored history and political science. He was also a member of the school’s [[lacrosse]] team and track team.


===Career===
===Career===


In the 1970s, he worked for Senator [[Jacob Javits]] of New York, the [[John N. Dalton]] gubernatorial campaign in [[Virginia]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Profile: Shirley helps right-wing ideals reach new heights|url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1247502/profile-shirley-helps-right-wing-ideals-reach-new-heights | work=The PR Week|first=Douglas|last=Quenqua}}</ref> and Senator [[Gordon Humphrey]] of New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley|url=https://live.washingtonpost.com/ronald-reagan-centennial:-craig-shirley.html|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> Shirley first met Ronald Reagan when Reagan campaigned for Humphrey in [[New Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley|url=https://live.washingtonpost.com/ronald-reagan-centennial:-craig-shirley.html | newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Craig|last=Shirley}}</ref>
Craig Shirley was professionally involved in American politics and government for over three decades. He worked in government and on campaigns at the congressional, gubernatorial, and presidential levels but now spend his time writing and lecturing on presidential politics and American history.


In 1980, he ran an independent expenditure campaign supporting Reagan's presidential bid in the first six primary states on behalf of the Fund for a Conservative Majority. Shirley produced and placed radio and newspaper ads in [[New Hampshire]], [[South Carolina]], [[Florida]] and three other states, using the Fund's $750,000 budget.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bit of History|url=http://bluehampshire.com/2007/03/27/a-bit-of-history/|accessdate=2015-04-25|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150428192307/http://bluehampshire.com/2007/03/27/a-bit-of-history/|archive-date=2015-04-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1977, he interned in the [[Capitol Hill]] office of Senator [[Jacob Javits]] of New York. That fall, he worked on the successful election campaign of [[John N. Dalton]] for governor of [[Virginia]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Profile: Shirley helps right-wing ideals reach new heights|url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1247502/profile-shirley-helps-right-wing-ideals-reach-new-heights | work=The PR Week|first=Douglas|last=Quenqua}}</ref>


He joined the staff of the [[Republican National Committee]] in 1982. During the 1984 presidential campaign, Shirley was the Director of Communications for the [[National Conservative Political Action Committee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ad campaigns on behalf of candidates are rough-and-tumble|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1984/1017/101725.html | work=The Christian Science Monitor|first=John|last=Dillin}}</ref> After the election, Shirley opened his own firm<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.sbpublicaffairs.com/about-us/|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> and worked on numerous matters, including aid to the [[Nicaraguan Contras]], support for the Strategic Defensive Initiative, support for the [[Afghanistan]] Mujahideen, support for [[Jonas Savimbi]]'s [[UNITA]], and support for the [[Tax Reform Act of 1986]]. He also worked on the White House Conference on Small Business in 1985.
In the fall of 1978, Shirley was press secretary for [[Gordon Humphrey]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley|url=http://live.washingtonpost.com/ronald-reagan-centennial:-craig-shirley.html|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> who scored a huge upset win in the U.S. Senate election in [[New Hampshire]]. Shirley then served on Humphrey's Washington D.C. staff. [[Ronald Reagan]] came into [[New Hampshire]] to campaign for Humphrey, where Shirley first met Governor Reagan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley|url=http://live.washingtonpost.com/ronald-reagan-centennial:-craig-shirley.html | work=The Washington Post|first=Craig|last=Shirley}}</ref>


In 1986, he became a consultant to the Fund for America's Future, the [[political action committee]] of [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[George H. W. Bush]], and worked on [[George H. W. Bush]]'s 1988 presidential bid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/|accessdate=2015-04-18}}</ref> In 1991, Shirley ran an advertising and public affairs campaign supporting President Bush and [[Operation Desert Storm]], later represented the Embassy of the State of [[Kuwait]] and was placed in charge of public relations for an international conference on democracy hosted in Prague by President [[Václav Havel]] of then [[Czechoslovakia]]. Shirley briefly partnered with [[David Keene]], but that association ended in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/|accessdate=2015-04-18}}</ref>
In 1980, he ran an important independent expenditure campaign is support of former [[California governor]] [[Ronald Reagan]]’s presidential bid in the first six primary states on behalf of the [[Fund for a Conservative Majority]]. Shirley produced and placed radio and newspaper ads in [[New Hampshire]], [[South Carolina]], [[Florida]] and three other states maximizing the three quarters of a million dollars FCM budgeted for the campaign to help Reagan at a time when his own campaign was broke.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bit of History|url=http://bluehampshire.com/2007/03/27/a-bit-of-history/|accessdate=2015-04-25}}</ref>


During the 1990s, Shirley founded Citizens for State Power, which represented small investor-owned utilities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fronts in Lobbying Edging Grass Roots|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/fronts-in-lobbying-edging-grass-roots/article_5097c72a-6db7-55bb-b393-c8046d413f1f.html | agency=Associated Press|first=Jim|last=Drinkard}}</ref> In 2000, Craig Shirley & Associates became Shirley & Banister Public Affairs. In 2019, it became Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs. Shirley is the acting chairman of the political action committee [[Citizens for the Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Officers|url=http://www.cftr.org/about/|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mission|url=http://www.cftr.org/about/mission/|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref>
He joined the staff of the [[Republican National Committee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Biographer: Reagan Fought Elite Establishment His Whole Life; Obama ‘Facebook President’ Who Lacks ‘Understanding Of American History’|url=http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/02/09/biographer-reagan-fought-elite-establishment-his-whole-life-obama-facebook-president-who-lacks-understanding-of-american-history/ | work=Breitbart|first=Tony|last=Lee}}</ref> As a Communications Advisor, Shirley traveled across the country advising dozens of campaigns and state committees on public relations, political advertising, and campaign strategy to co-ordinate with the message of the Reagan White House.


Shirley is a former member of the Board of Governors of the [[Reagan Ranch]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Reagan Ranch Board of Governors|url=http://www.yaf.org/StaffAndBoard.aspx?terms=%22craig%20shirley%22|accessdate=2012-08-08}}</ref> and has lectured at the [[Reagan Library]].<ref name="Craig Shirley at the Reagan Library">{{cite web | title = Lecture with author Craig Shirley | publisher =craigshirley.com | date = | url =http://www.craigshirley.com/uncategorized/5292012-reagan-foundation-live-webcast-lecture-with-author-craig-shirley-may-29-2012-600pm-pdt/| format =web | doi = | accessdate = August 9, 2012 }}</ref> He was chosen in 2005 by [[Springfield College]] as their Outstanding Alumnus<ref>{{cite web|title=Lecture and Book Signing with Craig Shirley|url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/details_t.aspx?p=PE40004PUAF&h1=0&h2=0&sw=&lm=programandevents&args_a=cms&args_b=63&argsb=N&tx=1564|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150428233102/http://www.reaganfoundation.org/details_t.aspx?p=PE40004PUAF&h1=0&h2=0&sw=&lm=programandevents&args_a=cms&args_b=63&argsb=N&tx=1564|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-04-28|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> and has been named the Visiting Reagan Scholar at [[Eureka College]]. He taught a weeklong class, "Reagan 101", at Eureka College in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronald Reagan|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?308862-1/ronald-reagan|accessdate=2015-04-23}}</ref> He was also appointed as a Trustee of Eureka.<ref>{{cite web|title=EC elects trustees, officers|url=https://www.eureka.edu/news/2014-elected-trustees-officers/|accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref> He is also a member of the school's Reagan Forward Advisory Council.
In 1984, during the U.S. presidential campaign, Shirley was the Director of Communications for the [[National Conservative Political Action Committee]], America’s largest independent [[political committee]], which spent over $14 million on behalf of President [[Ronald Reagan]]’s re-election on another independent expenditure campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ad campaigns on behalf of candidates are rough-and-tumble|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1984/1017/101725.html | work=The Christian Science Monitor|first=John|last=Dillin}}</ref> In 1986, he became a consultant to the [[Fund for America’s Future]], the [[political action committee]] of [[Vice President]] [[George H. W. Bush]], working closely with the future President [[George W. Bush]]. Shirley was retained and tasked with the goal of organizing conservative support for [[George H. W. Bush]]’s 1988 presidential bid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/|accessdate=2015-04-18}}</ref>


=== Books ===
After Reagan’s reelection and in the late fall of 1984, Shirley opened his own firm<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.sbpublicaffairs.com/about-us/|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> and worked on numerous matters in co-ordination with the Reagan White House including aid to the [[Nicaraguan Contras]], support for the Strategic Defensive Initiative, support for the [[Afghanistan]] Mujahideen, support for [[Jonas Savimbi]]’s [[UNITA]], and support for the [[Tax Reform Act of 1986]]. He also worked on the White House Conference on Small Business in 1985.
* ''Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All'' (Thomas Nelson, 2005)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/reagansrevolutio0000shir|title=Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started it All|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59555-342-3|url-access=registration}}</ref>
* ''Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America'' ([[Intercollegiate Studies Institute]], 2009)<ref>{{cite book|title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America|year=2011|isbn=978-1-935191-93-3|last1=Shirley|first1=Craig}}</ref>
* ''December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World'' (Thomas Nelson, 2011)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/december194131da0000shir|title=December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2011|isbn=978-1-59555-457-4|url-access=registration}}</ref>
* ''Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan'' (Thomas Nelson, 2015)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/lastactfinalyear0000shir|title=Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2015|isbn=978-1-59555-534-2|url-access=registration}}</ref>
* ''Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980'' (HarperCollins, 2017)
* ''Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative'' (Thomas Nelson, 2017)<ref>{{cite book|title=Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2017|isbn=978-1-59555-448-2}}</ref>
* ''Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington's Mother'' (Harper Collins 2019)<ref>{{cite book|title=Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington's Mother|publisher=Harper|year=2019|isbn=978-006245651-9}}</ref>
* ''April 1945: The Hinge of History'' (Thomas Nelson, 2022)<ref>{{cite book|title=April 1945: The Hinge of History|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2022|isbn=978-140021708-3}}</ref>


His book ''December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World'' (2011) was a ''New York Times'' bestseller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 1945 |url=https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/april-1945/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Marketing Pages |language=en-US}}</ref> His book, ''Last Act'', was named best narrative in the non-fiction category by [[USA Book News]] for 2015. His book ''Rendezvous with Destiny'' was named one of the five best campaign books of all time by the ''Wall Street Journal''.
In 1991, Shirley ran a major advertising and public affairs campaign supporting President Bush and [[Operation Desert Storm]], later represented the Embassy of the State of [[Kuwait]], and was placed in charge of public relations for an international conference on democracy hosted in Prague by President [[Václav Havel]] of then [[Czechoslovakia]]. For a short time, Shirley and [[David Keene]] partnered in a firm, but that association ended amicably in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/|accessdate=2015-04-18}}</ref>


During the 1990’s, Shirley conceived and created [[Citizens for State Power]], which represented small investor owned utilities and they successfully stopped the attempts by [[Enron]] to nationalize the electricity grid.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fronts in Lobbying Edging Grass Roots|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/fronts-in-lobbying-edging-grass-roots/article_5097c72a-6db7-55bb-b393-c8046d413f1f.html | work=The Associated Press|first=Jim|last=Drinkard}}</ref> Shirley also advised the [[Southeastern Legal Foundation]] to file suit against the [[Clinton Administration]]’s attempt to politicize the [[census]]. The case went to the [[Supreme Court]] and there the SLF prevailed, defeating Clinton in an historic 5–4 vote. Shirley pioneered the "[[New Media]]"—and indeed coined the very phrase—of talk radio, faxes, e-mail and later the internet to mobilize for politics and policy.


==Personal life==
In addition to working with a host of political, corporate, and trade concerns, he also served as an informal advisor to the [[1996 campaign]] of Republican presidential nominee [[Bob Dole]]. In 2000, his firm provided in-kind support to the presidential campaign of then Governor [[George W. Bush]] as well as the Florida recount. In that same year, Craig Shirley & Associates became Shirley & Banister Public Affairs with the promotion of Diana Banister from vice president to partner <ref>{{cite web|title=Banister for Shirley|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/may/24/20020524-025354-4037r/?page=2|accessdate=2015-04-17}}</ref> and finally, president of the firm in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=New titles at Shirley & Banister|url=http://www.politico.com/playbook/0415/playbook17848.html|accessdate=2015-04-11}}</ref>
Shirley is the founder of the Ft. Hunt Youth Lacrosse Program and coached there for 14 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fort Hunt Youth Lacrosse Celebrates 25th Year|url=http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2014/jun/26/fort-hunt-youth-lacrosse-celebrates-25th-year/ | work=Alexandria Gazette Packet|first=Alexis|last=Hosticka}}</ref> His wife, Zorine Shirley, is a Vice President of the Essex Country Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |last=elizabeth.prillaman |title=Board of Directors & Staff |url=https://ecmhs.org/board-of-directors-staff/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Essex County Museum & Historical Society |language=en}}</ref>

===Writing career===

Craig Shirley has completed two new books, ''Citizen Newt'' and ''Reagan Rising'' <ref>{{cite news|title=Reagan biographer Craig Shirley's newest could give GOP a roadmap to the White House|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/reagan-biographer-craig-shirleys-newest-could-give-gop-a-roadmap-to-the-white-house/article/2552993 | work=The Washington Examiner|first=Paul|last=Bedard}}</ref> about, respectively, the revolutionary life and times of [[Newt Gingrich]] and the period between 1976 and 1980 when Reagan’s political outlook and philosophy underwent an enormous and significant change.

Shirley is now working on three more books on Reagan<ref>{{cite book|last=Shirley|first=Craig|title=December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World|year=2011|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59555-457-4}}</ref> including a detailed look at his 1968 run for the presidency.<ref name="A Reagan reminder">{{cite web | title = Inside the Beltway: A Reagan reminder | work = | publisher =washingtontimes.com | date = | url =http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/5/inside-the-beltway-a-reagan-reminder/ | format =web | doi = | accessdate = July 2, 2012 }}</ref> He is also writing a book about Dr. Howard Snyder, personal physician to President [[Dwight Eisenhower]], as well as a book about [[George Washington]]’s family.

==Achievements and awards==

===Recognition===

Shirley is a member of the Board of Governors of the [[Reagan Ranch]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Reagan Ranch Board of Governors|url=http://www.yaf.org/StaffAndBoard.aspx?terms=%22craig%20shirley%22|accessdate=2012-08-08}}</ref> and has often lectured at the [[Reagan Library]].<ref Name="Craig Shirley at the Reagan Library">{{cite web | title = Lecture with author Craig SHirley | work = | publisher =craigshirley.com | date = | url =http://www.craigshirley.com/uncategorized/5292012-reagan-foundation-live-webcast-lecture-with-author-craig-shirley-may-29-2012-600pm-pdt/| format =web | doi = | accessdate = August 9, 2012 }}</ref>

He is also a member of the Reagan Alumni Association. He has addressed the Friends of Ronald Reagan association in Los Angeles and occasionally consults for the [[Reagan Library]], especially on campaign displays and political history.

He was chosen in 2005 by [[Springfield College]] as their Outstanding Alumnus<ref>{{cite web|title=Lecture and Book Signing with Craig Shirley|url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/details_t.aspx?p=PE40004PUAF&h1=0&h2=0&sw=&lm=programandevents&args_a=cms&args_b=63&argsb=N&tx=1564|accessdate=2015-04-26}}</ref> and has been named the Visiting Reagan Scholar at [[Eureka College]], Ronald Reagan's alma mater. He taught a week long class, "Reagan 101" at Eureka College in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ronald Reagan|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?308862-1/ronald-reagan|accessdate=2015-04-23}}</ref>

He was also appointed as a Trustee of Eureka.<ref>{{cite web|title=EC elects trustees, officers|url=https://www.eureka.edu/news/2014-elected-trustees-officers/|accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref>

His writings have solved some of the mysteries of Washington and politics including the stolen Carter Briefing Books in 1980,<ref>{{cite news|title=New book pins 'debategate' on Democrat|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28317.html | work=Politico|first=Craig|last=Shirley}}</ref> the missing cornerstone to the [[U.S. Capitol]] <ref>{{cite news|title=Romancing the Cornerstone|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/2008/04/02/romancing_the_cornerstone/page/full | work=Townhall|first=Craig|last=Shirley}}</ref> and the real story about the night of the [[Watergate]] breakin,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Bartender’s Tale: How the Watergate Burglars Got Caught|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/the-bartenders-tale-how-the-watergate-burglars-got-caught/ | work=The Washington Magazine|first=Craig|last=Shirley}}</ref> to name just a few. He also uncovered a Top Secret memo written by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] on December 4, 1941, putting information on the possible attack at [[Pearl Harbor]] inside the Roosevelt White House, three days before the attack.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pearl Harbour memo shows US warned of Japanese attack|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8932197/Pearl-Harbour-memo-shows-US-warned-of-Japanese-attack.html | work=The Telegraph|first=Jacqui|last=Goddard}}</ref>

His book ''December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World'' (2011), was nominated for 2011 [[Book of the Year Award]] by [[ForeWord Reviews|''Foreword Reviews'']] magazine.<ref Name="ForeWord">{{cite web | title = BOTYA 2011 Finalists In History (Adult Nonfiction) | work = | publisher =forewordreviews.com | date = | url =https://botya.forewordreviews.com/finalists/2011/history/| format =web | doi = | accessdate = June 24, 2012 }}</ref> His book, ''Last Act'', was named best narrative in the non-fiction category by [[USA Book News]] for 2015.<ref Name="USA Book News">{{cite web | title = USA Book News Announces Winners And Finalists Of The 2015 USA Best Book Awards | work = | publisher =USABookNews.com | date = | url =http://www.usabooknews.com/2015awardpressrelease.html| format =web | doi = | accessdate = November 30, 2015 }}</ref>

He is a member of various author’s guilds, [[Philadelphia Society]], the [[Fusionist]] Society and the [[Lyn Nofziger]] Society. He is a former board member of the [[American Conservative Union]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley; Author, Historian, Lecturer|url=http://www.craigshirley.com/|accessdate=2015-04-24}}</ref> He has also lectured at the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library]],<ref Name="Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library">{{cite web | title = Ninth Annual Roosevelt Reading Festival | work = | publisher =fdrlibrary.marist.edu | date = | url =http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/pressmedia/pdfs/twentytwelvenine.pdf| format =web | doi = | accessdate = July 2, 2012 }}</ref> Friends of Ronald Reagan (FORR) and [[Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics]].<ref Name="The Dole Institute">{{cite web | title = Friends of the Dole Institute Private Annual Dinner With Craig Shirley, author of Rendezvous with Destiny | work = | publisher =doleinstitute.org | date = | url =http://www.doleinstitute.org/programs-Dole-forum-fall09.shtml | format =web | doi = | accessdate = July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

He has also lectured at the Buckley Center at [[Yale]],<ref>{{cite web|title=William F. Buckley, Jr. Program: “Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Election, and A Time for Choosing: 50 Years Later”|url=http://politicalscience.yale.edu/event/william-f-buckley-jr-program-barry-goldwater-1964-election-and-time-choosing-50-years-later|accessdate=2015-04-21}}</ref> at [[Larry Sabato]]’s Center for Politics at UVA,<ref>{{cite web|title=8th Annual American Democracy Conference Opens Thursday|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/news/archives05.htm|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref> at [[Georgetown University]], at [[Hillsdale College]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Freedom Library Catalog|url=http://www.hillsdale.edu/file/FreedomLibraryCatalog.pdf|accessdate=2015-04-20}}</ref> at [[Regent University]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ronald Reagan Symposium 2015|url=http://www.regent.edu/acad/schgov/events/symposium15/home.cfm|accessdate=2015-08-06}}</ref> and other colleges and universities.

===Op-eds and media appearances===

Shirley is a frequent commentator on politics. He has written for publications including the ''[[Washington Post]]'', the ''[[Washington Times]]'', the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', ''[[Townhall]]'', the ''[[Weekly Standard]]'', the ''[[Washington Examiner]]'', ''[[Newsmax]]'', ''[[National Review]]'', [[Reuters]], ''[[Investors Business Daily]]'', ''[[Politico]]'', [[Breitbart]], Lifezette and many other publications. He is also frequently sought after for televised interviews on all major networks, including [[CBS]], [[NBC]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[FOX News]], [[MSNBC]], [[C-SPAN]], [[FOX Business]] and [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Shirley; Author, Historian, Lecturer|url=http://www.craigshirley.com/|accessdate=2015-04-24}}</ref>

===Personal life===

Craig Shirley and his wife, Zorine, are the parents of four children, Matthew, Andrew, Taylor and Mitchell, soon to be Meredith. They split their time between "Trickle Down Point" on the [[Rappahannock River]] in [[Lancaster, Virginia]] and "Ben Lomond," a 300-year-old [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] manor house in [[Tappahannock, VA]]. His hobbies include sailing, writing, scuba diving, water skiing, sport shooting, and renovating old buildings.

===Activism===

Shirley is the acting chairman of the revived political action committee, [[Citizens for the Republic]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Officers|url=http://www.cftr.org/about/|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref> originally established in January 1977 by [[Ronald Reagan]] after his defeat for the 1976 Republican presidential nomination the preceding summer. On its website, Citizens for the Republic describes itself as a "national organization dedicated to revitalizing the conservative movement. Through education, grassroots organization, advocacy, and political activism...promoting the principles of limited government, maximum freedom, personal responsibility, peace through strength, and defense of the dignity of every individual".<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission|url=http://www.cftr.org/about/mission/|accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref> The CFTR directors include former Reagan advisors and consultants, such as the honorable [[Ed Meese]] and Reagan speechwriter [[Mari Maseng Will]].

===Lacrosse===

Shirley is the founder of the Ft. Hunt Youth Lacrosse Program, and was a coach there for 14 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fort Hunt Youth Lacrosse Celebrates 25th Year|url=http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2014/jun/26/fort-hunt-youth-lacrosse-celebrates-25th-year/ | work=Alexandria Gazette Packet|first=Alexis|last=Hosticka}}</ref> In the 20 plus years since Shirley founded the program, thousands of boys and girls have enjoyed learning and playing for Ft. Hunt. Shirley was instrumental in getting the [[Maryland]] legislature to make lacrosse the state’s sport. He was also an editor of ''Coaching Youth Lacrosse'', published by the [[Lacrosse Foundation]].

===Books===
* ''Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All'' (Thomas Nelson, 2005)<ref>{{cite book|title=Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started it All|year=2010|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59555-342-3}}</ref>
* ''Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America'' (Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2009)<ref>{{cite book|title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America|year=2011|isbn=978-1-935191-93-3}}</ref>
* ''December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World'' (Thomas Nelson, 2011)<ref>{{cite book|title=December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World|year=2011|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59555-457-4}}</ref>
* ''Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan'' (Thomas Nelson, 2015)<ref>{{cite book|title=Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan|year=2015|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59555-534-2}}</ref>
* ''Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative'' (Thomas Nelson, 2017)<ref>{{cite book|title=Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative|year=2017|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-59555-448-2}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Portal|Biography|New York|New York City|Politics|Conservatism}}
{{Portal|Biography|New York (state)|Politics|Conservatism}}
* [http://sbpublicaffairs.com/bio.php?id=2 Biography on the Shirley & Banister Public Affairs website]
* [http://www.craigshirley.com Official website]
* {{C-SPAN|26769}}
* [http://www.craigshirley.com Personal website]

* [http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/craig_shirley.html Archive of op-eds] for [[Politico]]
{{Authority control}}
* [http://townhall.com/columnists/craigshirley/ Archive of op-eds] for [[Townhall.com]]
* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/author/craig-shirley Archive of op-eds] for the ''[[Weekly Standard]]''
* {{C-SPAN|craigshirley}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirley, Craig}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirley, Craig}}
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American political consultants]]
[[Category:American political consultants]]
[[Category:People from Syracuse, New York]]
[[Category:Writers from Syracuse, New York]]
[[Category:Springfield College (Massachusetts) alumni]]
[[Category:Springfield College alumni]]
[[Category:People from New York City]]
[[Category:People from Lancaster County, Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Lancaster County, Virginia]]
[[Category:New York (state) Republicans]]
[[Category:Virginia Republicans]]
[[Category:Virginia Republicans]]
[[Category:Ronald Reagan]]

Latest revision as of 06:26, 21 December 2024

Craig Shirley
Shirley in 2016
Born
Craigan Paul Shirley

(1956-09-24) September 24, 1956 (age 68)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Alma materSpringfield College
Occupation(s)Author, political consultant
SpouseZorine Shirley
Children4
Websitewww.craigshirley.com

Craigan Paul Shirley[1][2] (born September 24, 1956) is an American political consultant and author of several books on Ronald Reagan.[3]

Life and career

[edit]

Youth and education

[edit]

Shirley is the second son of Edward Bruce Shirley and Barbara Cone Shirley. His father was a founding member of the New York State Conservative Party.[4] In 1964, he campaigned door-to-door with his parents for presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. In 1978, Shirley graduated from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he majored in history and political science.[5]

Career

[edit]

In the 1970s, he worked for Senator Jacob Javits of New York, the John N. Dalton gubernatorial campaign in Virginia,[6] and Senator Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire.[7] Shirley first met Ronald Reagan when Reagan campaigned for Humphrey in New Hampshire.[8]

In 1980, he ran an independent expenditure campaign supporting Reagan's presidential bid in the first six primary states on behalf of the Fund for a Conservative Majority. Shirley produced and placed radio and newspaper ads in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and three other states, using the Fund's $750,000 budget.[9]

He joined the staff of the Republican National Committee in 1982. During the 1984 presidential campaign, Shirley was the Director of Communications for the National Conservative Political Action Committee.[10] After the election, Shirley opened his own firm[11] and worked on numerous matters, including aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, support for the Strategic Defensive Initiative, support for the Afghanistan Mujahideen, support for Jonas Savimbi's UNITA, and support for the Tax Reform Act of 1986. He also worked on the White House Conference on Small Business in 1985.

In 1986, he became a consultant to the Fund for America's Future, the political action committee of Vice President George H. W. Bush, and worked on George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential bid.[12] In 1991, Shirley ran an advertising and public affairs campaign supporting President Bush and Operation Desert Storm, later represented the Embassy of the State of Kuwait and was placed in charge of public relations for an international conference on democracy hosted in Prague by President Václav Havel of then Czechoslovakia. Shirley briefly partnered with David Keene, but that association ended in 1992.[13]

During the 1990s, Shirley founded Citizens for State Power, which represented small investor-owned utilities.[14] In 2000, Craig Shirley & Associates became Shirley & Banister Public Affairs. In 2019, it became Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs. Shirley is the acting chairman of the political action committee Citizens for the Republic.[15][16]

Shirley is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Reagan Ranch[17] and has lectured at the Reagan Library.[18] He was chosen in 2005 by Springfield College as their Outstanding Alumnus[19] and has been named the Visiting Reagan Scholar at Eureka College. He taught a weeklong class, "Reagan 101", at Eureka College in 2012.[20] He was also appointed as a Trustee of Eureka.[21] He is also a member of the school's Reagan Forward Advisory Council.

Books

[edit]
  • Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All (Thomas Nelson, 2005)[22]
  • Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America (Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2009)[23]
  • December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World (Thomas Nelson, 2011)[24]
  • Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan (Thomas Nelson, 2015)[25]
  • Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980 (HarperCollins, 2017)
  • Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative (Thomas Nelson, 2017)[26]
  • Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington's Mother (Harper Collins 2019)[27]
  • April 1945: The Hinge of History (Thomas Nelson, 2022)[28]

His book December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World (2011) was a New York Times bestseller.[29] His book, Last Act, was named best narrative in the non-fiction category by USA Book News for 2015. His book Rendezvous with Destiny was named one of the five best campaign books of all time by the Wall Street Journal.


Personal life

[edit]

Shirley is the founder of the Ft. Hunt Youth Lacrosse Program and coached there for 14 years.[30] His wife, Zorine Shirley, is a Vice President of the Essex Country Historical Society.[31]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Green, Max: Files, 1985-1988" (PDF). Reagan Library. p. 143. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Contributions Arranged By Type And Recipient". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Craig Shirley". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  4. ^ "Edward Shirley Dies In Hospital". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. March 12, 1977. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  5. ^ "Springfield College History Program News | Springfield College". springfield.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  6. ^ Quenqua, Douglas. "Profile: Shirley helps right-wing ideals reach new heights". The PR Week.
  7. ^ "Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley". Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  8. ^ Shirley, Craig. "Ronald Reagan: A look at his life, presidency and policies with Craig Shirley". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ "A Bit of History". Archived from the original on 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  10. ^ Dillin, John. "Ad campaigns on behalf of candidates are rough-and-tumble". The Christian Science Monitor.
  11. ^ "About Us". Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  12. ^ "Craig Shirley". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  13. ^ "Craig Shirley". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  14. ^ Drinkard, Jim. "Fronts in Lobbying Edging Grass Roots". Associated Press.
  15. ^ "Officers". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  16. ^ "Mission". Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  17. ^ "Reagan Ranch Board of Governors". Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  18. ^ "Lecture with author Craig Shirley" (web). craigshirley.com. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  19. ^ "Lecture and Book Signing with Craig Shirley". Archived from the original on 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
  20. ^ "Ronald Reagan". Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  21. ^ "EC elects trustees, officers". Retrieved 2015-04-22.
  22. ^ Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started it All. Thomas Nelson. 2010. ISBN 978-1-59555-342-3.
  23. ^ Shirley, Craig (2011). Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America. ISBN 978-1-935191-93-3.
  24. ^ December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World. Thomas Nelson. 2011. ISBN 978-1-59555-457-4.
  25. ^ Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan. Thomas Nelson. 2015. ISBN 978-1-59555-534-2.
  26. ^ Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative. Thomas Nelson. 2017. ISBN 978-1-59555-448-2.
  27. ^ Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington's Mother. Harper. 2019. ISBN 978-006245651-9.
  28. ^ April 1945: The Hinge of History. Thomas Nelson. 2022. ISBN 978-140021708-3.
  29. ^ "April 1945". Marketing Pages. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  30. ^ Hosticka, Alexis. "Fort Hunt Youth Lacrosse Celebrates 25th Year". Alexandria Gazette Packet.
  31. ^ elizabeth.prillaman. "Board of Directors & Staff". Essex County Museum & Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
[edit]
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