"Conservative futurism" might seem to be a comical oxymoron, much like "honest politician" or "military intelligence." But Walt Disney, one of the most famous Americans of the twentieth century, certainly qualified as a conservative futurist. Let's start with the conservative part. Walt was a capitalist and a right-winger, through and through. There's no question about that. On October 24, 1947, he testified in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee - popular actor and future American president Ronald Reagan had testified the day before - about union activity at his company and employees he believed to be communists. Walt was also a supporter of Republican politicians Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Barry Goldwater. When Walt received the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian award - from President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, he wore a Goldwater button under his lapel.
- From The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised by James Pethokoukis
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