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David J. Theroux: Difference between revisions
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As a teenager, Theroux was given a copy of [[Barry Goldwater]]'s famous book, ''The Conscience of a Conservative'', by his mother. He would later become an Eagle Scout, and also obtained a commission to the U.S. Air Force Academy during the Vietnam War. During the Academy's famous Vietcong prison simulations, Theroux was a rare exception among cadets in that did not sign the forced confession. During this time, he began to understand that the war ran contrary to the founding principles of American freedom. At the conclusion of his third year, he resigned from the Academy without graduating. <ref name=":0">[https://www.independent.org/multimedia/detail.asp?id=7307 Mary Theroux at The Independent Institute, "Celebration of the Life of David J. Theroux: The Legacy and Future of Liberty" (March 28, 2023)]</ref> | As a teenager, Theroux was given a copy of [[Barry Goldwater]]'s famous book, ''The Conscience of a Conservative'', by his mother. He would later become an Eagle Scout, and also obtained a commission to the U.S. Air Force Academy during the Vietnam War. During the Academy's famous Vietcong prison simulations, Theroux was a rare exception among cadets in that did not sign the forced confession. During this time, he began to understand that the war ran contrary to the founding principles of American freedom. At the conclusion of his third year, he resigned from the Academy without graduating. <ref name=":0">[https://www.independent.org/multimedia/detail.asp?id=7307 Mary Theroux at The Independent Institute, "Celebration of the Life of David J. Theroux: The Legacy and Future of Liberty" (March 28, 2023)]</ref> | ||
Still under contract for two years of military service and not wanting to go to Vietnam, Theroux obtained a domestic assignment at a little-known base in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he spent most of his time in the base's library and eventually came across [[FA Hayek]]'s essay "Why I am Not a Conservative." Starting | Still under contract for two years of military service and not wanting to go to Vietnam, Theroux obtained a domestic assignment at a little-known base in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he spent most of his time in the base's library and eventually came across [[FA Hayek]]'s essay "Why I am Not a Conservative." Starting from Hayek's sources in that essay, Theroux embarked on an extensive journey of study across topics related to liberty. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
After completing his Air Force contract, Theroux attended the University of California, Berkeley, studying math and engineering, where he was shocked by his encounters with communists on campus upon learning of their political intentions. Around this time he attended a conference at Stanford University where he was introduced to C.S. Lewis' ''The Abolition of Man'', which further set him on a learning path towards a philosophical framework for opposing the communist agenda. With his credits transferring from the Air Force Academy, Theroux graduated from Berkeley after only one year with dual Bachelor's degrees in math and engineering. One year later he obtained a Master's degree. <ref name=":0" /> | After completing his Air Force contract, Theroux attended the University of California, Berkeley, studying math and engineering, where he was shocked by his encounters with communists on campus upon learning of their political intentions. Around this time he attended a conference at Stanford University where he was introduced to C.S. Lewis' ''The Abolition of Man'', which further set him on a learning path towards a philosophical framework for opposing the communist agenda. <ref name=":0" /> With his credits transferring from the Air Force Academy, Theroux graduated from Berkeley after only one year with dual Bachelor's degrees in math and engineering. One year later he obtained a Master's degree. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxBerkeley.jpg|Photo of Theroux receiving a degree from UC Berkeley (1970's)]]</ref> | ||
==Engineering Career & Later Education== | ==Engineering Career & Later Education== | ||
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Theroux then worked as a petroleum engineer in both Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, he continued his studies and came across both the [[Foundation for Economic Education]] and the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], becoming friends with both of their respective founders, [[Leonard Read]] and [[F. A. "Baldy" Harper]]. <ref name=":0" /> He was introduced to the [[Mont Pelerin Society]] in 1975 by [[Roger MacBride]], who became the [[Libertarian Party]] nominee for President of the United States the following year. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>See sources at [[Roger MacBride]]</ref> Theroux met [[Milton Friedman]] at the Mount Pelerin meeting, who encouraged him to apply to graduate school at the University of Chicago. He did, was accepted into the PhD program in Economics. <ref name=":0" /> | Theroux then worked as a petroleum engineer in both Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, he continued his studies and came across both the [[Foundation for Economic Education]] and the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], becoming friends with both of their respective founders, [[Leonard Read]] and [[F. A. "Baldy" Harper]]. <ref name=":0" /> He was introduced to the [[Mont Pelerin Society]] in 1975 by [[Roger MacBride]], who became the [[Libertarian Party]] nominee for President of the United States the following year. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>See sources at [[Roger MacBride]]</ref> Theroux met [[Milton Friedman]] at the Mount Pelerin meeting, who encouraged him to apply to graduate school at the University of Chicago. He did, was accepted into the PhD program in Economics. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
At the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, Theroux organized a lecture series on the [[Austrian School of Economics]] which featured [[Israel Kirzner]], [[Murray Rothbard]], and [[FA Hayek]]. Around 1979, he was approached about joining the newly-forming [[Cato Institute]] in San Francisco, California. He resigned from the PhD program early and was granted an MBA, then moved back to Northern California to work with Cato. <ref name=":0" /> | At the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, Theroux organized a lecture series on the [[Austrian School of Economics]] which featured [[Israel Kirzner]], [[Murray Rothbard]], and [[FA Hayek]]. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxHayek.jpeg|Photo of Theroux with FA Hayek (date unknown)]]</ref> Around 1979, he was approached about joining the newly-forming [[Cato Institute]] in San Francisco, California. He resigned from the PhD program early and was granted an MBA, then moved back to Northern California to work with Cato. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Think Tank Leadership== | ==Think Tank Leadership== | ||
Theroux was in charge of academic programs at Cato, including oversight of the ''Cato Policy Report'' and other publications and initiatives. <ref name=":0" /> | Theroux was in charge of academic programs at Cato, including oversight of the ''Cato Policy Report'' and other publications and initiatives. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxRothbardCato.jpg|Photo of Theroux with Murray Rothbard at Cato (circa late 1970's)]]</ref> <ref>[[:File:Camp Cato.jpg|Photo of Theroux in the early days of Cato, wearing a 'Camp Cato' t-shirt]]</ref> | ||
When Cato moved from Northern California to Washington, DC, Theroux was hired by [[Antony Fisher]] to serve as the first president of what is now known as the [[Pacific Research Institute]]. While there, he oversaw the publication of about 30 books. A few weeks before a dinner he organized honoring Hayek, Theroux found out that Hayek was sick in Japan and had been given a doctor's order to not travel. Theroux instead arranged for [[Thomas Sowell]] to speak at the dinner about Hayek's work, and also for Hayek to phone in to the conference's loudspeaker from Japan (which was an uncertain feat given the technology of the time). <ref name=":0" /> | When Cato moved from Northern California to Washington, DC, Theroux was hired by [[Antony Fisher]] to serve as the first president of what is now known as the [[Pacific Research Institute]]. While there, he oversaw the publication of about 30 books. A few weeks before a dinner he organized honoring Hayek, Theroux found out that Hayek was sick in Japan and had been given a doctor's order to not travel. Theroux instead arranged for [[Thomas Sowell]] to speak at the dinner about Hayek's work, and also for Hayek to phone in to the conference's loudspeaker from Japan (which was an uncertain feat given the technology of the time). <ref name=":0" /> | ||
Theroux founded [[The Independent Institute]] in 1986. He had difficulty getting funding because potential donors told him that with Ronald Reagan in the White House, 'the battle of ideas had already been won.' To save on costs, he would use the offices of Grocery Express, a company run by one of Independent's board members, Mary (who he later married). In order to help stabilize the finances, Theroux learned about how to run a direct mail catalog in order to create the Liberty Tree Review, which sold liberty-oriented items. This helped sustain Independent until a good donor base was established. <ref name=":0" /> | Theroux founded [[The Independent Institute]] in 1986. He had difficulty getting funding because potential donors told him that with Ronald Reagan in the White House, 'the battle of ideas had already been won.' To save on costs, he would use the offices of Grocery Express, a company run by one of Independent's board members, Mary (who he later married). <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxGroceryExpress.jpg|Photo of Theroux working from the offices of Grocery Express]]</ref> He also ran operations from his home garage. <ref name=":1" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxGarage.jpg|Photo of Theroux working in his garage in the early days of The Independent Institute]]</ref> In order to help stabilize the finances, Theroux learned about how to run a direct mail catalog in order to create the Liberty Tree Review, which sold liberty-oriented items. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:TherouxLibertyTree.jpg|Photo of Theroux outside the Liberty Tree office]]</ref> This helped sustain Independent until a good donor base was established. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
While at Independent, Theroux focused on popularizing, promoting, and improving the work of others in the liberty movement. He oversaw the publication of a multitude of award-winning books. During the institute's summer seminars, he would personally host multiple students at his home, where they engaged in broad philosophical discussions. He also served as an advisor to the institute's scholarly Fellows, frequently offering them insights for their research based on his decades of extensive study. <ref name=":0" /> | While at Independent, Theroux focused on popularizing, promoting, and improving the work of others in the liberty movement. He oversaw the publication of a multitude of award-winning books. During the institute's summer seminars, he would personally host multiple students at his home, where they engaged in broad philosophical discussions. He also served as an advisor to the institute's scholarly Fellows, frequently offering them insights for their research based on his decades of extensive study. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
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In 1976, shortly before starting his program at the University of Chicago, Theroux married his first wife, Elaine Shipp ''(correct spelling of last name unknown)'', who he had earlier met in Shreveport. They had two sons, Paul and Drake. <ref name=":1" /> <ref name=":0" /> | In 1976, shortly before starting his program at the University of Chicago, Theroux married his first wife, Elaine Shipp ''(correct spelling of last name unknown)'', who he had earlier met in Shreveport. They had two sons, Paul and Drake. <ref name=":1" /> <ref name=":0" /> | ||
Mary Theroux, who later became his second wife, was first introduced to him as a result of her family's ownership of a cattle ranch in Northern Nevada. At the time, Theroux was working on federal land policy at the [[Pacific Research Institute]], and Mary's father asked to go by the Pacific Research Institute to meet him while visiting Mary in Northern California. Mary later became one of Theroux's early board members at [[The Independent Institute]] and helped him bootstrap the organization. They married in 1991. <ref name=":0" /> | Mary Theroux, who later became his second wife, was first introduced to him as a result of her family's ownership of a cattle ranch in Northern Nevada. <ref name=":0" /> At the time, Theroux was working on federal land policy at the [[Pacific Research Institute]], and Mary's father asked to go by the Pacific Research Institute to meet him while visiting Mary in Northern California. <ref name=":0" /> <ref>[[:File:PRI FederalLand.jpg|Photo of a Pacific Research Institute event on federal land policy held during Theroux's tenure]]</ref> Mary later became one of Theroux's early board members at [[The Independent Institute]] and helped him bootstrap the organization. They married in 1991. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
Theroux was deeply committed to his family and loved to spend time with his grandchildren. <ref name=":0" /> | Theroux was deeply committed to his family and loved to spend time with his grandchildren. <ref name=":0" /> | ||