TERRY DOLAN

CONSERVATIVE FUND-RAISER

A New Rightist, Dolan was called one of "God's bullies" for the aggressiveness with which he attacked political opponents, liberal media, and even the actress Jane Fonda.

Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1950, John (Terry) Dolan entered politics early as a nine-year-old volunteer in Richard Nixon's 1960 campaign. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1974, Dolan and some friends founded the National Conservative Political Action Committee-NCPAC or Nickpack. NCPAC, whose efficient money-raising and brutal attacks on opponents were characteristic of the New Right, supported school prayer and opposed abortion and "Big Government." By 1980, Dolan and NCPAC had raised $19 million to use against liberal candidates, and they helped to defeat Senators Frank Church (D. Idaho) and George McGovern (D. South Dakota). NCPAC's TV commercials were so vicious (and often inaccurate) that even conservatives were offended by them. In 1982, NCPAC had a "hit list" of 20 senators, but 19 of them were elected. NCPAC spent $7 million on Ronald Reagan's reëlection in 1984, but thereafter carried little weight.

Considering the usual conservative opposition to civil rights for gays and lesbians, it is surprising that such self-proclaimed homosexuals as Marvin Liebman and John Schlafly (Phyllis Schlafly's son) remain in the right wing of the Republican Party. Dolan was there too gay but closeted. When he died on December 28, 1986, his doctor gave the cause as heart failure, but New Right sources and the Washington Post said he died of AIDS. Ironically, NCPAC had used anti-gay messages to raise funds among conservatives. Next Card 14: CASEY DONOVAN: Model, Actor