W. Cleon Skousen facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids W. Cleon Skousen

Born	Willard Cleon Skousen (1913-01-20)January 20, 1913 Raymond, Alberta, Canada
Died	January 9, 2006(2006-01-09) (aged 92) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Occupation	Law enforcement University professor Political speaker
Education	San Bernardino Valley College George Washington University (LLB)
Genre	Politics Religion
Subject	Mormonism Anti-communism Early American history
Notable works	Five Thousand Year Leap The Naked Communist
Spouse	Jewel Pitcher (m. 1936)
Children	Paul Skousen
Relatives	Nephews: Joel Skousen, Royal Skousen, Mark Skousen
Website
skousen2000.com (archived)

Willard Cleon Skousen (January 20, 1913 – January 9, 2006) was an American author who supported conservative ideas. He was known for being against communism and for his connection with the John Birch Society. Skousen also had a big impact on Mormonism, which is the faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

His writings often showed his Mormon beliefs. He wrote about many topics, including the Six-Day War, ideas about a "New World Order," and parenting. His most famous books, "The Five Thousand Year Leap" and "The Naked Communist," were popular with many people, including those in the LDS Church.

Early Life and Education
Professional Life
Political Life
Views
Writings
Legacy
Family
Selected Works
See also

Early Life and Education

Willard Cleon Skousen was born on a farm in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. He was the second of nine children. His parents were U.S. citizens. He lived in Canada until he was ten. Then his family moved to California. His father helped pave parts of the original Route 66.

In 1926, Skousen went to a Mormon community in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He stayed there for two years to help his grandmother, who was very sick. While there, he went to Juarez Academy and worked for a time as a jockey for race horses. Skousen then went back to California and finished high school in 1930. When he was 17, he traveled to Great Britain to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After his mission, Skousen went to San Bernardino Valley College. He graduated in 1935. He married Jewel Pitcher in August 1936. They had eight children together. He earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1940.

Professional Life

In 1935, Skousen started working for a government program that helped farmers. Soon after, he began working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a messenger while studying law at night. In 1940, after getting his law degree, he became an FBI Special Agent. He left the FBI in 1951.

From 1951 to 1955, he taught at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. In 1956, the mayor of Salt Lake City hired Skousen to be the police chief. He was a respected police chief for almost four years.

In 1960, the new mayor fired Skousen. This happened shortly after Skousen raided an illegal poker club where the mayor was present. Some people protested his firing. The mayor said Skousen was too strict with anti-gambling laws. He also said Skousen spent too much public money.

Skousen continued to work on law enforcement issues. He was the editor of a police magazine called Law and Order for fifteen years. In 1967, he was hired as a religion professor at BYU. Some other professors thought he was not qualified. They believed he was hired only because of his conservative views. Skousen often mixed church teachings with his political ideas. He continued to teach his politically-focused lessons until he retired from BYU in 1978.

Political Life

After losing his police job, Skousen started a group called the All-American Society. He was also admired by members of the John Birch Society, a group known for its strong anti-communist views. Skousen gave many speeches at their events across the United States for years. He wrote a pamphlet called The Communist Attack on the John Birch Society. In it, he said that criticism of the Society was a sign of communism.

Skousen was not against paying taxes himself. However, he supported ideas to get rid of the federal income tax. One idea was the "Liberty Amendment." This would have stopped the federal government from doing anything that competed with private businesses. It also would have given federally-owned land to the states.

In 1971, Skousen started a non-profit educational group called The Freeman Institute. In 1982, it became the National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS).

Many members of the LDS Church supported Skousen in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, in 1979, the Church leaders asked that Skousen's group not be promoted in Church buildings or meetings. This was to make sure people did not think the Church officially supported his lectures.

In 1981, Skousen became a founding member of a conservative group called the Council for National Policy. He suggested plans to change the Social Security system to private accounts. He also had a plan he claimed would completely pay off the national debt.

Views

Skousen was against many federal government agencies. He did not want the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exist. He also wanted to get rid of the minimum wage and unions. He believed in selling off public lands and national parks. He wanted to change how senators were elected and remove the income tax. He also believed in removing the separation of church and state.

Skousen spoke against communism throughout his life. He believed the U.S. Constitution was a document inspired by God. He thought it was always under attack.

He claimed that powerful families and banks were working together to create a single world government. Skousen also strongly supported "law and order." He believed local police departments were being weakened to create a national police force.

Writings

Skousen wrote The Naked Communist. This book was the source of "Current Communist Goals," which was read into the Congressional Record in 1963. In 1970, he wrote The Naked Capitalist. This book claimed that top Western bankers and business leaders were behind the rise of communism and fascism. Skousen wanted to make these ideas easier for more people to understand.

In 1987, there was a discussion in California about using Skousen's book, The Making of America, as a school textbook. Some statements in the book about slavery caused a lot of debate. Skousen wrote in The Making Of America that slavery has been a global problem, not just a racial one. He said that freeing people from slavery is an ongoing fight.

Skousen started researching his book The Five Thousand Year Leap in the 1930s. He looked through old writings of the Founding Fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. He worked on the book for 50 years and finally published it in 1981.

Legacy

When Skousen died in 2006, he was mostly known among very conservative Mormons. U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch spoke highly of Skousen. He said Skousen was one of the first important people to support him when he ran for Senate in 1976. Hatch also mentioned Skousen's books like The First 2000 Years, The Making of America, and The Five Thousand Year Leap.

In 2007, a radio host and presidential candidate Mitt Romney talked about Skousen. Romney called Skousen an expert on Mormon beliefs.

In 2007, political commentator Glenn Beck started promoting The 5,000 Year Leap on his show. He called it "divinely inspired." The book argues that the U.S. Constitution is based on Judeo-Christian values and Enlightenment ideas. Skousen's son, Paul Skousen, asked Beck to write the introduction for a new edition of the book. Texas Governor Rick Perry also promoted the book.

After Beck promoted The 5,000 Year Leap in 2009, it became a top-selling non-fiction book on Amazon.com. It was also used as a source for speakers at Beck's 9-12 Project meetings.

Skousen's book about LDS end-times prophecy, The Cleansing of America, was published in 2010.

Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has also supported Skousen's work, especially The Naked Communist. Carson said this book explains how communists planned to change America.

Family

Skousen's son, Paul Skousen, is an author. His nephews include Joel Skousen, who writes about survival; Royal Skousen, a scholar of Mormon studies; and Mark Skousen, an economist and author.

Selected Works

Political Writing

Skousen, W. Cleon (March 19, 2009). James Michael Pratt; Carlos L Packard (eds.). The Five Thousand Year Leap. Franklin, Tennessee: American Documents Publishing, LLC. p. 356. ISBN 978-0-9815596-6-7.
The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution (2nd ed.). Malta, Idaho: National Center for Constitutional Studies. 1985. pp. 888. ISBN 0-88080-017-8.
The Miracle of America (Paperback ed.). National Center for Constitutional Studies. 1977. ASIN: B000J5A9XY
The Naked Communist (11th ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign. 1962. p. 408. ASIN: B000NKE3M
The Naked Capitalist. self-published. 1962. ASIN: B000GDX9D6
The Majesty of God's Law.

Religious

Richard Skousen (2007). Brother Joseph: Seer of New Dispensation (Volume 1). Pleasant Grove, Utah: Verity Publishing. ISBN 978-0-934364-27-0.
Treasures from The Book of Mormon Volume 1 (First Nephi-jacob 7) (Paperback ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing. 1998. p. 329. ASIN: B000Q8120S
A Personal Search for the Meaning of the Atonement (Audio cassette ed.). Ensign Productions. ASIN: B000QXLQYA
So You Want To Raise A Boy? (1994 ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign. 1958. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-934364-15-7.
Isaiah Speaks to Modern Times. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign. 1984. ISBN 978-0-910558-25-9.
The First Two Thousand Years. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. 1953. ISBN 0-88494-029-2.
The Third Thousand Years. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. 1964. ISBN 0-88494-122-1.
The Fourth Thousand Years: From David to Christ. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. 1966. ISBN 0-88494-147-7.
Days of the Living Christ, Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing Co. 1992. ISBN 0-916095-46-0.
Days of the Living Christ, Vol. 2. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing Co. 1998. ISBN 0-916095-47-9.
The Real Story of Christmas; and Authoritative Historical Sources Compiled from The Scriptures. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co. 1958. ASIN: B000WLY4UY
Prophecy and Modern Times. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Books. 1948. p. 150. ASIN: B0007EXO02
The Cleansing of America. Orem, Utah: Valor Publishing Group. 2010. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-935546-21-4.

Discography

Building Balanced Children, Key Records KEY LP-770, 1961.
Instant Insanity ..., Key Records KLP-1101, 1968.
The Ten Commandments: A Timely Commentary by W. Cleon Skousen, Key Records KLP-2670.