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Reed has been named one of the top ten political newsmakers in the nation by Newsweek, one of the twenty most influential leaders of his generation by Life magazine, and one of the 50 future leaders of America by Time magazine. As executive director of the Christian Coalition (1989-1997), he built one of nation's most effective grassroots organizations.

Reed has been named one of the top ten political newsmakers in the nation by Newsweek, one of the twenty most influential leaders of his generation by Life magazine, and one of the 50 future leaders of America by Time magazine. As executive director of the Christian Coalition (1989-1997), he built one of nation's most effective grassroots organizations.

He has appeared on numerous television programs, often guesting on CNN, and his columns have appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author and editor of three best-selling books: Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics (1994); After the Revolution (1996); and Active Faith: How Christians are Changing the Face of American Politics (1996). He served as executive director of the College Republican National Committee (1982-1984), and also as youth co-chairman of the re-election campaign for President Ronald Reagan.

He has appeared on numerous television programs, often guesting on CNN, and his columns have appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author and editor of three best-selling books: Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics (1994); After the Revolution (1996); and Active Faith: How Christians are Changing the Face of American Politics (1996). He served as executive director of the College Republican National Committee (1982-1984), and also as youth co-chairman of the re-election campaign for President Ronald Reagan.  He did not enter the military service after receiving his degrees, instead choosing a path toward conservative leadership and the Christian Coalition.

Reed has served on several corporate boards of directors and is active in SafeHouse, a faith-based organization helping the poor in inner city Atlanta.

Reed has served on several corporate boards of directors and is active in SafeHouse, a faith-based organization helping the poor in inner city Atlanta.

==Role in the Christian Coalition==

==Role in the Christian Coalition==

Reed’s leadership at the Christian Coalition helped to move religious conservatives into the mainstream and make them one of the most important constituencies in the electorate.  Political analysts now agree that the so-called “values voters” are among the most critical voting blocs in contemporary American politics.  They proved critical to the election of the first Republican Congress in forty years in the 1994 landslide, and also were integral to the election victories of President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

Reed’s leadership at the [[Christian Coalition]] helped to move religious conservatives into the mainstream and make them one of the most important constituencies in the electorate.  Political analysts now agree that the so-called “values voters” are among the most critical voting blocs in contemporary American politics.  They proved critical to the election of the first Republican Congress in forty years in the 1994 landslide, and also were integral to the election victories of President [[George W. Bush]] in 2000 and 2004.

The strength of religious conservatives was dramatically demonstrated in the Republicans gaining control of Congress in 1994.  In that election, Reed’s Christian Coalition turned out a record number of voters.  Religious conservatives represented one out of every three voters, and voted roughly three-to-one for GOP candidates.   

The strength of religious conservatives was dramatically demonstrated in the [[Republicans]] gaining control of [[Congress]] in 1994.  In that election, Reed’s Christian Coalition turned out a record number of voters.  Religious conservatives represented one out of every three voters, and voted roughly three-to-one for GOP candidates.   

Standing on a record of intensive grassroots organizing and unprecedented fundraising success, the Christian Coalition gained significant influence within the Republican Party.  According to a 1994 Campaigns and Elections magazine, in growing the grassroots of the Christian Coalition, religious conservatives gained a “substantial” or “dominant” role in 31 state Republican Party organizations.  Subsequently, Reed used his tenure to achieve issue battle successes at the state level and then projected that grassroots strength to impact legislation in Washington.

Standing on a record of intensive grassroots organizing and unprecedented fundraising success, the Christian Coalition gained significant influence within the Republican Party.  According to a 1994 Campaigns and Elections magazine, in growing the grassroots of the Christian Coalition, religious conservatives gained a “substantial” or “dominant” role in 31 state Republican Party organizations.  Subsequently, Reed used his tenure to achieve issue battle successes at the state level and then projected that grassroots strength to impact legislation in Washington.

==Reed Joined Coalition==

==Reed Joined Coalition==

USA Weekly reported that Reed “got his chance in January 1989.  At a Washington dinner party during George H.W. Bush’s inaugural, he was seated next to Pat Robertson, whom Bush had beaten in the primaries.  Robertson, who’d never mounted a real threat but had managed to build strong grassroots organizations in several states, was looking for someone to take it from there.”  

USA Weekly reported that Reed “got his chance in January 1989.  At a Washington dinner party during [[George H.W. Bush]]’s inaugural, he was seated next to [[Pat Robertson]], whom Bush had beaten in the primaries.  Robertson, who’d never mounted a real threat but had managed to build strong grassroots organizations in several states, was looking for someone to take it from there.”  

Robertson asked Reed to draft a proposal for a grassroots political organization to further the cause of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics.  The product of this meeting and plan was the birth of the Christian Coalition, which quickly capitalized on Robertson’s campaign and the void left by the closing down of the Moral Majority.

Robertson asked Reed to draft a proposal for a grassroots political organization to further the cause of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics.  The product of this meeting and plan was the birth of the Christian Coalition, which quickly capitalized on Robertson’s campaign and the void left by the closing down of the [[Moral Majority]].

   

   

In 1989, Reed was at a crossroads professionally: he had recently finished his doctoral studies in American history at Emory University after serving as the executive director of the College Republican National Committee during the Reagan years.  In Reed, Robertson could not have found anyone better suited for the job as Ralph had once said that he wanted to be the “Christian Lee Atwater.”  With Robertson’s initial lists and support Reed went on to spend the next eight years as executive director of the Christian Coalition (1989-1997), where he built one of nation's most effective grassroots organizations.  The Christian Coalition became “the McDonald’s of conservative activist groups.”  

In 1989, Reed was at a crossroads professionally: he had recently finished his doctoral studies in American history at Emory University after serving as the executive director of the College Republican National Committee during the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] years.  In Reed, Robertson could not have found anyone better suited for the job as Ralph had once said that he wanted to be the “Christian [[Lee Atwater]].”  With Robertson’s initial lists and support Reed went on to spend the next eight years as executive director of the Christian Coalition (1989-1997), where he built one of nation's most effective grassroots organizations.  The Christian Coalition became “the McDonald’s of conservative activist groups.”  

In the midst of all this grassroots success, Reed still managed to author two best selling books, Politically Incorrect and Active Faith.

In the midst of all this grassroots success, Reed still managed to author two best selling books, Politically Incorrect and Active Faith.