The Man Who Saved the Electoral College

ichael Uhlmann was a central figure in the conservative intellectual movement for 60 years, from his participation, as a Yale undergraduate, in William F. Buckley, Jr.'s "Sharon Statement" conference in 1960, through his distinguished tenure as professor of government at Claremont Graduate University from 2002 until his death in October 2019 at the age of 79. The many stirring tributes and eulogies following his death present a remarkably consistent portrait of his life and character. He combined exceptional personal modesty with continuous good spirits and good deeds. He was a witty raconteur and aphorist whose humor always carried a serious point. He was a strong-minded, full-spectrum political conservative who never gave in to handwringing and despair. He was a clubbable drinking buddy whose first loves were learning, teaching, and grooming others for success. He combined these disparate traits naturally, gracefully, for they were conscious embodiments of his Christian devotion. Mike's friends knew all or most of these things through personal experience; following the shock of his unexpected death, it has been gratifying to discover how many others knew precisely the same man.