A key figure in the conservative movement, pivotal to the successes of the Reagan Revolution and beyond, passed away on Feb. 25.
Willa Johnson may not have been a well-known figure outside the Beltway. However, she played an indispensable role behind the scenes in recommending senior-level advisers and thousands of mid-level government appointees. She rose to the rank of deputy director in White House Office of Presidential Personnel in four years. Johnson also served as a senior vice president at the Heritage Foundation, where she worked tirelessly to promote conservative policy proposals to check the ever-encroaching federal government. Proposals integral to Republicans reclaiming their congressional majorities in 1994 after a decades-long hiatus. But her greatest contribution to conservatism was establishing the Capital Research Center (CRC) in 1984, a nonprofit organization committed to promote the virtues of charity, philanthropy and volunteerism. The institute continues to empower major conservative donors while monitoring liberal philanthropists who use tax-deductible donations to push their agenda.
A fitting tribute to her life was written by Rubert Huberty on CRC’s website:
Willa made many other contributions to conservative reform efforts. Her career was launched at the Heritage Foundation, where as senior vice president she directed its Resource Bank, which brought together conservative groups to exchange research and plan strategies to assist reforms across the country. Her organized intelligence, capacity for friendship, and keen political instincts made her a natural networker and talent scout. She successfully persuaded many crusty conservatives to overcome their suspicions of Washington and join in the task of reforming government from the inside. These skills attracted the attention of the new Reagan administration, which named her associate director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel in 1981.
Three years later Willa founded Capital Research Center in a small office in downtown Washington. With a small staff, its purpose was to champion the pre-eminent role of traditional charity and private philanthropy in America’s civil society. Willa created a series of monthly newsletters that still inspire CRC’s publications and social media. Organization Trends was a newsletter covering the leadership, activities, and funding sources of political advocacy groups. Compassion & Culture highlighted the achievements of traditional and faith-based charities that helped the troubled and needy. Alternatives in Philanthropy studied state and federal policies and tax ideas that could help—or hurt—charitable giving. Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy, an annual directory, rated “charitable” grantmaking by America’s largest corporations. (We did not make friends with Big Business when Fortune 100 corporations received failing grades, usually for giving to left-wing groups on the foolish theory that by feeding the alligators, a corporation would be the last to be eaten.)
CRC’s growing influence during her 10 years of leadership led our reports to be cited in major newspapers and other national news media. Donors called to request advice on how best to give. Professional groups invited Willa to speak to their trustees and members. Sen. Malcolm Wallop (R-WY) cited Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy in the Congressional Record, and Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) sent copies of Patterns to his congressional colleagues. Our voice was heard.
Upon news of her passing, Edwin Meese, former U.S. attorney general and longtime CRC trustee, commented.
Willa will be remembered as a strong conservative leader. She made the job of gathering and sharing information about political advocacy groups the mission of Capital Research Center. This was her greatest contribution to the conservative movement.
Johnson understood what armchair politicos rarely appreciate. Logistics are the backbone of success in politics. The work may not be flashy, but as the saying goes “soldiers dream of strategy, generals do logistics.”
We owe her a debt of gratitude.
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