Thomas F. Ellis

Thomas F. Ellis (10 August 1920 – 12 July 2018) was an American lawyer and political activist involved in numerous conservative causes. His network of interests were described as "a multimillion dollar political empire of corporations, foundations, political action committees and ad hoc groups" active in the 1980s and developed by Ellis, Harry Weyher, Marion Parrott, Carter Wrenn and Jesse Helms.

Biography

Ellis, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was manager of Senator Jesse Helms' 1972 Republican primary campaign, but F. Clifton White, a widely respected professional campaign manager, was brought in to direct the general election campaign, providing Helms a comfortable upset victory over the favored Democrat, Congressman Nick Galifianakis. Ellis was an important backer of Ronald Reagan in his 1976 Presidential campaign. Eliis succeeded Tim LaHaye in 1982 as president of the Council for National Policy. He was also chair of the National Congressional Club; principal stock-holder and a board member of the tax-exempt, non-profit Educational Support Foundation that in turn owns Jefferson Marketing. He appointed the officers and directors of Jefferson Marketing; was a co-founder of Fairness in Media, and chairman of the Coalition for Freedom, a tax-exempt foundation whose goal is to finance conservative-oriented television programs.

Because of the arrangements between the National Congressional Club, the Educational Support Foundation, and Jefferson Marketing, in 1986 he and Carter Wrenn were fined $10,000 each for violating federal election laws.

He was also a director of the Pioneer Fund. Ellis died on July 12, 2018.

References

• Dillen, Vicky. The Council for National Policy: Selected Member Biographies. Retrieved July 17, 2006.
• Edsall, Thomas B. and David A. Vise (March 31, 1985). CBS Fight a Litmus Test for Conservatives: Helms Group Faces Legal Hurdles in Ideological Takeover Bid Helms-Connected Money Machine Bankrolling Fairness in Media. p. 1; A16 Washington Post