William J. Baroody Jr.

William J. Baroody Jr. (November 5, 1937-June 8, 1996) was an American government official best known for running the White House Office of Public Liaison under President Gerald Ford and, later, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). His leadership of the think tank saw AEI enjoy new levels of political influence but was cut short by financial problems.

Government career

Baroody joined the staffs of U.S. Representative Melvin Laird and of the House Appropriations Committee in 1961, and later served as an aide to Laird at the Pentagon from 1969 to 1973. He worked at the White House from 1973 to 1977, including service as assistant to the president for public liaison.Gerald R. Ford Library, Public Liaison Office, [http://www.ford.utexas.edu/LIBRARY/guides/Finding%20Aids/Baroody,%20William%20-%20Files.htm files of William J. Baroody, Jr.] ]

Presidency of AEI

Baroody's father, William J. Baroody Sr., had been president of the influential, right-leaning think tank since 1962. The younger Baroody became executive vice president of the institute in 1977 and president in 1978. The elder Baroody died in 1980.

William Jr.'s tenure at the institute saw increasing growth. With the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1981, many AEI scholars' ideas on deregulation, the Cold War, the culture war, constitutional law, and other issues achieved currency and a receptive audience. Many AEI scholars left the institute for government service, including Jeane Kirkpatrick, Robert Bork, and James C. Miller III. Baroody expanded AEI's activities, producing more publications and introducing new research areas.American Enterprise Institute, [http://www.aei.org/about/contentID.20031212154735838/default.asp "AEI's Diamond Jubilee, 1943-2003,"] "Annual Report", 2003.] Karlyn Bowman, "American Enterprise Institute," in "American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia", ed. Bruce Frohnen, Jeremy Beer, and Jeffrey O. Nelson (Wilmington, Del.: ISI Books, 2006).] But the Reagan administration saw the emergence of new think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation, and competition for funding increased. Insiders lamented a pursuit of prestige, evidenced by Baroody's hiring of former president Ford as a distinguished fellow, at the expense of more ideological conservative scholars.Todd Lencz, " [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_v38/ai_4373932 The Baroody Bunch] ," "National Review", September 12, 1986.] Some donors were concerned about AEI's centrist trend and perceived loss of conservative principle.Todd Lencz, " [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_v38/ai_4373932 The Baroody Bunch] ," "National Review", September 12, 1986.]

With AEI on the verge of bankruptcy in June 1986, Baroody resigned and was replaced on an interim basis by respected economist Paul McCracken.

Personal

Baroody was born in Manchester, N.H. Educated at Holy Cross College, he later served in the U.S. Navy. He was divorced from his wife, Mary, at the time of his death, and he had nine children and thirteen grandchildren.Eric Page, " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E4D61639F933A25755C0A960958260 William J. Baroody Jr., 58, A Top Aide to President Ford] ," obituary, "New York Times", June 10, 1996.]

Baroody's brothers include Michael Baroody, a corporate lobbyist, and Joseph Baroody, a former leader of the National Association of Arab Americans. Baroody died in 1996 in Alexandria, Va.

References