CPAC 2018 5.82

In 1973, a small group of conservative activists met in Washington to discuss the future of the conservative movement.

This meeting, convened by the American Conservative Union, resolved that an annual event was needed to rally conservatives, share strategies and promulgate and crystallize the best of the conservative thought in America. This meeting, therefore, was the birth of the Conservative Political Action Conference.

In 1974, then Governor Ronald Reagan was the speaker at the Presidential Banquet. President Reagan's 1974 speech set a strong, uncompromisingly pro-freedom agenda for conservatives, building upon the foundations established by Senator Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign a decade earlier.

This speech and this CPAC were to become the catalysts for building a grassroots movement which has now, after 38 years, culminated in conservatism emerging as the dominant American political philosophy.

Ranked #4 by BIZBASH, in the “Top Five Political & Press Events” in America, CPAC today is the nation’s preeminent gathering of conservatives. Each year, CPAC brings together and energizes 10,000 people representing leading conservative organizations, educational institutions, elected officials, thought leaders, media and grassroots activists who impact conservative thought in the United States.

Here are the highlights of CPAC:

-50-year legacy of ACU as the nation’s leading conservative organization
-Four decades of brand equity and influence created by CPAC
-Three days of keynote speakers, general sessions, break-outs, film screenings, author events and
networking activities
-Historically sold-out “CPAC HUB” expo hosting 200 exhibitors
-Numerous special events, venues and programs, each with their own draw and appeal including:  “Radio Row” from where more than 3 dozen of the leading conservative talk shows broadcast; the prestigious Ronald Reagan Dinner; and the nationally reported ACU Presidential Straw Poll
-National media event with extensive media partnerships
-Covered by C-SPAN plus 2,200 credentialed members of the press, bloggers and broadcasters
-Extensive online and social media initiatives generate more than 1,000,000 unique views on the CPAC website plus 28,000 Facebook “likes”
-Forum for the leading conservative candidates, elected officials and conservative thought leaders in the United States
-Attended by 10,000 people reflecting a highly desirable demographic profile including 4,000 young people, comprising the most elusive to reach 18-15 age group