Contact: Margaret Wright, 703-396-6974; Nancy Bakersmith, 703-209-6190, 571-292-1817; for Richard A. Viguerie, ConservativesBetrayed.com

MANASSAS, Va., May 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Richard A. Viguerie on the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell:

"With the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell, the conservative movement has lost one its founders and key leaders. Dr. Falwell was one of the main architects of the conservative movement in the 1970s and 1980s. His work and leadership played an indispensable role in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.

"For decades, the conservative movement stood on a two-legged stool and won few elections. But when Dr. Falwell became an integral part of the movement, he led tens of thousands of ministers, along with millions of their followers, into the voting booths to support vital conservative causes. This provided the third leg of the stool, which allowed conservatives to level the political playing field with the Left.

"Without Dr. Falwell, there would be no meaningful conservative movement. He was a true history-maker in our nation.

"I had dinner with Dr. Falwell just 10 days ago and he was full of questions to me about the future of the conservative movement, in light of the 2006 election losses, as well as my views on the 2008 presidential candidates. He was looking forward to active participation in the 2008 political campaigns."

NOTE to EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered ideological and political direct mail and has been called "the funding father of the conservative movement" for his role in helping build dozens of conservative organizations. He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause (Bonus Books, 2006).