William J. Federer is an American historian and writer. His works include George Washington Carver - His Life and Faith in His Own Words, Treasury of Presidential Quotations, American Quotations, America's God and Country- Encyclopedia of Quotations, The Faith of FDR, The Ten Commandments and their Influence on American Law, as well as numerous presentations including The Real Story Behind Thanksgiving.[1] America's God and Country sold over a half-million copies. He also has a daily radio show, The American Minute, which summarized what happened on that day in history.[2][3]
In 2000 Minority Leader Dick Gephardt's team spent $6 million against Federer's $3 million. Federer's financial contributions came from 35,000 contributors across America who helped fund what turned out to be the nation’s 3rd most expensive Congressional race.[4][5]
In addition to grassroots efforts and small contributions from around the country, Federer's campaign had the interest of a conservative "Who's Who". William H.T. “Bucky” Bush, then President George W. Bush's uncle, co-chaired Bill's finance committee. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Dick Army, J. C. Watts, Alan Keyes, Phyllis Schlafly, William J. Murray, David Limbaugh, Chief Justice Roy Moore and other national leaders campaigned for Federer, unsuccessfully. Equally unsuccessful radio ad endorsements were recorded by Chuck Norris, Ted Nugent and Dr. James Dobson. "Highly effective political machinery" was Gephardt's reluctant admission of Federer in an appeal letter, since Federer accumulated the most votes ever against him. Federer ran unsuccessfully again in 2004, receiving over 46% of the vote.
Federer, a former evangelical pastor, signed a November 2009 ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.[6]