Thomas F. Ellis

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Thomas F. Ellis is 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.

Ellis, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was manager of Senator Jesse Helms' 1972 campaign and 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. [1]

He was also a director of the Pioneer Fund.

[edit] 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