(Alexandria, VA) -- On the anniversary of Milton Friedman's birth, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) today celebrates one of the most brilliant, cogent, and influential proponents of limited government. NTUF held a reception this morning at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia to highlight the accomplishments of Dr. Friedman.
"Milton Friedman was a towering presence in the economic field for over 50 years and a mentor to thousands of free-market proponents," said NTUF V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp. "Dr. Friedman's contributions to bringing liberty to the world are inestimable." He was also a strong force behind the school of thought known as monetary economics at the University of Chicago, and became a trusted advisor to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
Throughout his career, Friedman's erudite and eloquent prose brought the concept of less government interference in the economy to students and laypeople alike. For 17 years, he wrote a well-read column for Newsweek, even as he was authoring academic works.
The reception today highlights NTUF's long and productive friendship with Dr. Friedman, and his legacy, stretching back to the 1970s. By lending his prominent and authoritative voice to many open letters, NTUF was able to enlist hundreds of his colleagues from economic institutions to speak out on everything from the folly of Jimmy Carter's energy plan in 1979 to, more recently, the economic consequences of the death tax. In 1999, NTUF President John Berthoud had the honor to interview Dr. Friedman on U.S. antitrust policies, then (and now) a topic of great concern.
"Our event is a small but heartfelt tribute to a great champion of liberty. The Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation made this celebration possible, and is an invaluable and generous partner in continuing to promote NTUF's highest ideals," noted Sepp. "Today would have marked Dr. Friedman's 95th birthday, yet his legacy will undoubtedly last for generations to come. The world now enjoys freer trade, lower taxes, and less intrusive government thanks to the tireless work of Dr. Friedman," Sepp concluded.
Note: NTUF is the research arm of the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union. For further details, visit www.ntu.org.