About David
David Davenport is a research fellow emeritus at the Hoover Institution specializing in constitutional federalism, civic education, modern American conservatism and international law.
Davenport has coauthored three books: “How Public Policy Became War” (2019), “Rugged Individualism” (2017) and “The New Deal and Modern American Conservatism” (2013) with additional books to be published in 2023 on equality of opportunity and the civic education crisis.
He has also authored articles in Policy Review on “The New Diplomacy” and “The Politics of Literacy,” and has been a regular columnist for the Washington Examiner, Scripps Howard News Service, the San Francisco Chronicle and Forbes.com. He was also a regular commentator on the Salem Radio Network.
Davenport is the former president of Pepperdine University (1985–2000). Under his leadership, the University experienced significant growth in quality and reputation. Davenport cofounded Common Sense California and the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. He has been active in efforts to reform governance in California, having served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Performance Review Commission and as a board member of California Forward. Davenport has served on several corporate and nonprofit boards as well.
Davenport earned a B.A. with distinction in international relations from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and earned national and international awards in moot court competitions.
David Davenport 