Former Vice President Mike Pence formally joined Young America’s Foundation (YAF) as its Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, the conservative youth organization announced Friday.
“Vice President Pence has been a stalwart defender of individual freedom, traditional values, free markets, and limited government throughout his career of distinguished service to our country,” former Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said, who is now president of YAF. “Now, by partnering with YAF, the vice president will continue to attract new hearts and minds to the conservative cause, passing along the ideas of freedom—just as President Reagan did before, during, and after his time in office.”
“Vice President Pence’s energy and enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan’s values has and will continue to inspire a new generation of young people,” Walker added.
YAF, the first iteration of which was founded in 1969 at Vanderbilt University, was described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the most preeminent, influential and controversial forces in the nation’s conservative youth movement.”
YAF described Pence as “a great friend” throughout his time in public office, according to a statement provided to The Daily Wire. He spoke to YAF students both as a congressman and as vice president; he also visited the organization’s Reagan Ranch in 2005, which it purchased in 1998.
In his position as Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, Pence will be giving lectures at college campuses and student conferences as well as launching a podcast.
“Throughout its 60-year history, Young America’s Foundation has been a bulwark of the conservative movement, advancing the cause of freedom and ensuring our future leaders embrace America’s founding principles and I am honored to join YAF as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar,” Pence said.
“Long before I became vice president to President Donald Trump, the vision and leadership of Ronald Reagan inspired my youth and I am humbled to continue the work of advancing the conservative cause from a position bearing his name,” Pence continued. “Now more than ever, we need to take the case for freedom, free markets, and traditional values to the rising generation and I look forward to working with the great YAF team to ensure the torch of freedom shines bright for generations to come.”
YAF’s announcement comes a day after conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation announced that Pence joined them as a distinguished visiting fellow. As The Daily Wire reported:
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be joining The Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow, the conservative organization announced Thursday.
“Over the course of the past four years, our team at Heritage has worked closely with members of the Trump administration on a host of policy accomplishments,” said Heritage President Kay C. James in a statement provided to The Daily Wire.
“That’s why I am excited Vice President Mike Pence will join forces with Heritage to ensure we continue to advance conservative principles and policy solutions. His allegiance to the Constitution and commitment to advancing a conservative policy agenda make him an outstanding fit for The Heritage Foundation.”
Related: Former Vice President Mike Pence Joins The Heritage Foundation