David Horowitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Horowitz
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| Born | David Joel Horowitz January 10, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, 2025 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Conservative activist and writer |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) UC Berkeley (MA) |
| Spouse |
Elissa Krauthamer
(m. 1959; div. 1978)Sam Moorman
(m. 1984; div. 1985)Shay Marlowe
(m. 1990; div. 1995)April Mullvain
(m. 1998) |
| Children | 4, including Ben |
David Joel Horowitz (January 10, 1939 – April 29, 2025) was an American writer and activist. He was known for his conservative views. He started and led the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He also edited its website, FrontPage Magazine. Horowitz helped create Discover the Networks, a website that tracks groups on the political left. He also founded Students for Academic Freedom.
Horowitz wrote many books with author Peter Collier. Some of these books were about important American families. They also wrote books about culture. Horowitz was a columnist for Salon.
From 1956 to 1975, Horowitz was a strong supporter of the New Left. This was a political movement. Later, he changed his mind about these ideas. He became a defender of neoconservatism. Horowitz wrote about his journey in books. His 1996 book, Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey, tells his story.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Horowitz was born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City. His parents, Phil and Blanche Horowitz, were high school teachers. His father taught English, and his mother taught stenography. His mother's family came from Russia in the mid-1800s. His father's family left Russia in 1905. This was during a time when Jewish people faced attacks.
During the Great Depression, his parents were members of the American Communist Party. They supported Joseph Stalin. They left the party in 1956. This was after a report came out about Stalin's crimes.
Horowitz went to Columbia University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1959. He then got a master's degree in English literature. This was from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career
Early Activism (New Left)
After college, Horowitz lived in London in the mid-1960s. He worked for the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. He believed in Marxism, a political and economic theory.
In 1966, Bertrand Russell started a special court. It was called the Russell Tribunal. This court looked into the United States' actions in the Vietnam War. Horowitz later said he had doubts about this court. He did not take part in it. In January 1966, Horowitz helped form the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. This group organized protests in London. They were against Britain's support for the Vietnam War.
While in London, Horowitz became good friends with Isaac Deutscher. Horowitz wrote a book about him. Horowitz also wrote The Free World Colossus. This book criticized American foreign policy. In January 1968, Horowitz returned to the United States. He became an editor for Ramparts magazine. This was a New Left magazine.
In the early 1970s, Horowitz became close friends with Huey P. Newton. Newton was a founder of the Black Panther Party. Later, in the 1970s, a personal tragedy involving a friend led to a difficult time between Horowitz and the Black Panthers.
Changing Views (Rightward Evolution)
After this period, Horowitz stopped believing in Marx and socialism. But he did not talk about his new political views for almost ten years.
In 1985, Horowitz and Peter Collier wrote an article. It was for The Washington Post Magazine. It was called "Lefties for Reagan". The article explained why they had changed their minds. They had decided to vote for Republican President Ronald Reagan. In 1986, Horowitz wrote "Why I Am No Longer a Leftist". This was published in The Village Voice.
In 1987, Horowitz helped host a conference. It was called the "Second Thoughts Conference". This event showed that he was now a conservative.
In May 1989, Horowitz went to a conference in Kraków. This meeting called for the end of Communism. He marched with Polish activists. He spoke about his changing thoughts. He said that socialism could not create a free future. He dreamed of freedom for the people of Poland.
In 1992, Horowitz and Collier started Heterodoxy. This was a monthly magazine. It focused on what it called "excessive political correctness" on college campuses. Horowitz believed that universities were not fair. He felt they did not show both sides of political arguments. He wrote that some professors created a difficult atmosphere for students with different views.
In 2005, Horowitz launched Discover the Networks. This website tracks certain political groups.
Academic Bill of Rights
In the early 2000s, Horowitz focused on academic freedom. He wanted to protect conservative viewpoints in schools. He published a report in 2004. It said that there were many more Democrats than Republicans at some top colleges.
Horowitz's 2006 book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America, criticized some professors. He said they were teaching their own views instead of just sharing knowledge.
Horowitz also created an Academic Bill of Rights (ABR). He suggested this to stop political unfairness in universities. He said that conservatives were often kept out of teaching jobs. He used studies about professors' political parties to support this.
In 2004, the Georgia General Assembly voted to use a version of the ABR. This was for state schools. In Pennsylvania, a special committee was formed. It looked into academic freedom. It also checked if students with unpopular views needed more protection.
David Horowitz Freedom Center
In 1998, Horowitz and Peter Collier started the David Horowitz Freedom Center. This organization supports conservative ideas. It is funded by various people and foundations.
Horowitz was the editor of the Center's website, FrontPage Magazine. This magazine is known for its right-wing views.
Political Positions
David Horowitz was once a Marxist. Later, he became a conservative. When he was part of the New Left, he supported the civil rights movement.
Horowitz spoke out against the US getting involved in the Kosovo War. He thought it was not needed. But he supported the foreign policy of the Bush Doctrine. This included the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Horowitz was against Barack Obama. He also opposed illegal immigration, gun control, and some views on Islam. He supported Presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. He also supported efforts to question the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Personal Life
David Horowitz was married four times. He married Elissa Krauthamer in 1959. They had four children: Jonathan Daniel, Ben, Sarah Rose, and Anne. Sarah passed away in 2008. She was a teacher and human rights activist. Horowitz wrote a book about her called A Cracking of the Heart.
Horowitz's son, Ben, is a well-known person in technology. He is an investor and co-founder of a company called Andreessen Horowitz.
Horowitz's second marriage was to Sam Moorman in 1984. It ended in divorce quickly. In 1990, he married Shay Marlowe. They later divorced.
His fourth and final marriage was to April Mullvain. They met in the mid-1990s and married two years later. They lived in California. April rescues horses and runs educational programs with them.
In 2015, Horowitz said he was an agnostic. This means he was unsure about the existence of God.
David Horowitz passed away from cancer on April 29, 2025. He was 86 years old.
See also
In Spanish: David Horowitz para niños
