David Horowitz, Noted Political Writer, Dies at 86

David Horowitz, a former radical who dedicated over 40 years to uncovering leftist deceptions and hypocrisy, passed away on April 29th after a prolonged struggle with cancer. He was 86 years old.

Once a Marxist intellectual and a prominent figure in the new left, Horowitz became one of the leading conservative voices of his time. He was many things: an essayist, activist, memoir writer, and especially a fierce advocate in political debates. He viewed the contest of ideas as a battlefield, firmly against any form of compromise.

Throughout his life, Horowitz cautioned Americans about various issues, maintaining his stance without retreat.

Born in 1939 in Forest Hills, New York, Horowitz was steeped in ideological convictions from an early age. He earned degrees from Columbia and Berkeley, where he got involved in literary criticism and helmed the radical journal Ramparts during the 1960s. As the 1970s approached, he found himself deeply entwined with the Black Panthers and witnessed troubling patterns within that movement, leading him to question his faith in the left.

That period was pivotal, marking a significant shift in his beliefs. By 1985, Horowitz completed his break from his former allies, co-authoring an essay titled “Lefties for Reagan” in the Washington Post Magazine that critiqued leftist ideologies.

Reflecting on his past, he stated, “One of the few blessings of age is a deeper perspective on youthful passions.” He recognized that his enthusiasm for the left had become misguided and painful.

In his autobiography, he detailed how his “moral conscience could no longer align with leftist lies.” He grappled with the notion of justice and deception intertwined in revolutionary rhetoric.

Horowitz didn’t merely shift his political perspective; he severed ties with his past. Following this break, he vigorously advocated against the radicalism, corruption, and oppressive tendencies of former associates, bringing unmatched insight and intensity to his new conservative positions.

In the late 1980s, he and his collaborator, Peter Collier, established the Center for Popular Culture Studies, initially functioning out of Horowitz’s residence in the San Fernando Valley. Unlike traditional think tanks, he described it as driven by a “militant temperament,” which was essential to their vision. The center was later renamed the David Horowitz Freedom Center in 1998, with Horowitz affectionately referring to it as the “Battle Tank.”

I began my professional journey there in 1994. David and Peter offered me my first real job. Although my tenure was brief, the lessons I learned were invaluable. Later, when I decided to join the Claremont Institute, Peter had warned me about it. I wish I had listened.

David’s immediate, outburst response was classic—he yelled, “Jesus Christ! How could you do this to me?” Such reactions were notorious in the office; he had a unique way of expressing concern. Yet, after calming down, he wished me well as I moved on.

Initially, I struggled to understand his intense reaction. But he later shared that he felt a “tension of loyalty” that he found hard to let go. His loyalty was profound; whether you were a friend or colleague, he expected commitment in the face of adversity. He once remarked about a time he faced challenges with the Panthers, emphasizing how personal it always felt for him.

Peter had a unique way of describing David as “four-fifths of a human.” It sounds harsh but held truth. While Horowitz could exhibit coldness and intense rage, he also had a genuine heart, shaped by a life filled with ups and downs. His memoir, “Cracking the Heart,” which recounts the complicated relationship he had with his daughter Sara, who died unexpectedly at 44, is a testament to that humanity.

I was honored to publish his articles in recent years. Each time he pitched an idea, I’d chuckle, realizing that my former boss was approaching me for contributions. It felt like a full circle moment, and I was grateful to him and Peter for the opportunities they provided me.

Despite his well-known transformation, some aspects of David remained constant. His son, Ben Horowitz, put it succinctly: once an ideologue, always an ideologue. His passion for involvement—intense, unyielding, and deeply moral—never wavered.

David was instrumental in mentoring many others, including Stephen Miller and Charlie Kirk, shaping a new wave of conservative activists. While he often lamented the lack of resolve among Republicans, he lived to see a bold figure from Queens take office.

In Horowitz’s later years, his nine-volume series, The Black Book of the American Left, became a defining project, drawing parallels with the “Black Book of Communism.” He aimed to expose the inherent dangers of leftist ideology, asserting it wasn’t merely flawed but genuinely perilous.

David Horowitz is survived by his wife, April, four children, and several grandchildren.

He spent the first half of his life sounding alarms for Americans and never backed down.