Contact: Cynthia Chambliss, 703-396-6971; After 6 PM Eastern and on weekends, Bob Sturm or Cynthia Chambliss, 703-307-8176 or 703-930-5148; ConservativeHQ.com

MANASSAS, Virginia, Dec. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, issued the following statement regarding the death of Paul Weyrich:

"Today, Paul Weyrich, a giant in American politics and public policy has died.

"Weyrich, along with Barry Goldwater, Bill Buckley, and Ronald Reagan, were the four people most responsible for the launching and the success of the conservative movement.

"Without Paul's strategic brilliance, his determination, his character, and his leadership, many conservatives' political, legislation, and public policy victories would have been lost.

"Through Paul's mentoring and encouragement, thousands of conservatives became active in politics.

"Before Paul, there was no one who played his role and there is no one who can replace Paul.

"Paul Weyrich leaves a leadership vacuum that conservatives will greatly miss as we wander through the political wilderness in the Obama era.

"All who love freedom are deeply in Paul Weyrich's debt."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation magazine) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (The Washington Times).