The following bio is that of an event speaker or guest author. This person is not directly affiliated with the John Locke Foundation.
Mona Charen, a syndicated columnist and author, is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
She is a graduate of Columbia University and the George Washington University law school.
Ms. Charen began her career at National Review magazine where she served as editorial assistant.
Ms. Charen served as Nancy Reagan’s speechwriter and later as Associate Director of the Office of Public Liaison. Later in her White House career, she worked in the Public Affairs office helping to craft President Reagan’s communications strategy.
In 1986, Ms. Charen joined the presidential campaign of then-Congressman Jack Kemp.
Ms. Charen launched her syndicated column in 1987. It is featured in more than 150 newspapers and websites. She spent 6 years as a regular commentator on CNN’s Capital Gang and Capital Gang Sunday, and has served as a judge of the Pulitzer Prizes. She is the author of two bestsellers:Useful Idiots (2003); and Do-Gooders (2005). Her newest book, Sex Matters, was published in June, 2018.
In 2010, she received the Eric Breindel Award for Excellence in Opinion Journalism.
Ms. Charen is the co-host, with Jay Nordlinger, of the weekly podcast Need to Know,and is a frequent guest on NPR, CNN, and other public affairs programs.