Donald Cogley Bruce (April 27, 1921 – August 31, 1969) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

and a founder of the

American Conservative Union The American Conservative Union (ACU) is an American political organization that advocates for conservative policies, ranks politicians based on their level of conservatism, and organizes the Conservative Political Action Conference. Founded on ...

. Born in

Troutville, Pennsylvania Troutville is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 230 at the 2020 census. Geography Troutville is located near the western border of Clearfield County at (41.023829, -78.787111). Pennsylvania Route 410 ...

, Bruce graduated from high school in

Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 United ...

, and attended Muskingum College in

New Concord, Ohio New Concord is a village in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population is 2,491 as of the 2010 census. New Concord is the home of Muskingum University and is served by a branch of the Muskingum County Library System. History New Co ...

. He was employed in the radio broadcasting industry for twenty years, serving as program director, business manager, and general manager. In 1960 he was elected to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

from Indiana, serving two terms before being defeated in the 1964

senatorial A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

primary. Following the

landslide Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated grade (slope), slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of ...

defeat of U.S. Senator

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and United States Air Force officer who was a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the Republican Party nominee for presiden ...

in the November presidential election, Bruce joined with other conservatives to discuss responses to the seeming liberal triumph represented by

Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

's reelection. This led to a subsequent meeting in December at which the nascent organization was named the

. Bruce was elected as the ACU's first chairman, a position he held until October of the following year. He also established Bruce Enterprises, a management and political consulting firm. Bruce died of a heart attack on August 31, 1969''The New York Times''; New York, N.Y.; September 2, 1969. "Obituaries: Donald C. Bruce, 48, Ex-Representative" (Associated Press). in Round Hill, Virginia and is buried nearby.

References

Donald C. Bruce Finding Aid.
Indiana State Library, Rare Books and Manuscripts Division. 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2015-09-11. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, Donald Cogley 1921 births 1969 deaths Muskingum University alumni American Lutherans 20th-century American politicians People from Clearfield County, Pennsylvania People from Loudoun County, Virginia 20th-century Lutherans New Right (United States) Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana

See also

References