description The Powell Memo Overview
The Powell Memo is a 1971 memorandum written by Lewis F. Powell Jr. for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with the commonly used title Attack on American Free Enterprise System.
It argued that American business faced a broad political and cultural challenge and urged companies to organize more actively in litigation, politics, education, and public communication. The document is studied in discussions of organized conservative advocacy, but it was a private memorandum, not a law or government program.
help The Powell Memo FAQ
Who wrote The Powell Memo?
Lewis F. Powell Jr. wrote the memorandum in 1971. He prepared it for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
What is the Powell Memo's full title?
Its commonly used title is Attack on American Free Enterprise System. The document is also widely known simply as the Powell Memo.
What did the Powell Memo argue?
It argued that American business faced a broad political and cultural challenge. Powell urged companies to organize and respond more actively to that environment.
Why is the Powell Memo discussed in U.S. political history?
The 1971 memorandum is often examined as an influential call for organized business participation in public debate. Its connection to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives it a clear institutional context.
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