OPINION:
I didn’t know he was sick.
When I last saw David Keene, who passed away Sunday at 80, it was late 2025, and he looked well. I asked him, the former editor of these pages, what he had been up to.
“Mostly fly fishing,” he said. I guessed that whatever he had been doing likely involved Dick Cheney. He and Cheney were close, and both were crazy about fly fishing.
It was a nice exchange.
When Cheney died not long afterward, I know the loss affected David deeply.
David and I had a checkered past, but he really made me, and I never stopped admiring him. Here is the story.
I was 29, working for Dan Quayle out of New York, doing East Coast fundraising, when all of a sudden George W. Bush decided he wanted the Republican nomination for president — and they pulled the rug out from under Mr. Quayle (who is an awesome guy, by the way). So Mr. Quayle dropped out, and I suddenly found myself without a client.
The late, great leader of the New York State Conservative Party, Mike Long, to whom I was very close and whom I miss very much, introduced me to David Keene. We hit it off, and eventually I was hired to run both the American Conservative Union and the fledgling Conservative Political Action Conference, which they were considering shutting down because no one was attending.
I worked with David to rebuild both. He just needed a workhorse, not a showhorse.
It wasn’t hard. Under David’s leadership, we raised attendance from 1,500 to 11,000 in three years. My successors, after the job was split, raised it to the powerhouse it is today — and what a powerhouse it is.
David and I had early morning coffee in Old Town Alexandria every morning. Of course, we talked business, but he also told me stories. He looked after me. He introduced me to William F. Buckley Jr., Ralph Reed, with whom I still work, and Donald Devine (who, upon my hiring, asked David, “Who will do the thinking?” Don and I became great friends. Eventually).
Here’s the truth: I would not be anywhere near where I am today if it hadn’t been for David Keene.
I hope President Trump posthumously honors him, and I plan to push for it. David’s story is incredible, his legacy remarkable. I remember meeting him for the first time and being in awe. Working for him was a complete privilege.
David got mad at me for leaving (and for other things we don’t need to get into), but when I saw him a few months ago, he was kind. I was happy to see him and happy to exchange handshakes and smiles. I had missed him, and I miss him now. He was a great American, a great mentor and a great friend.
My love goes out to Tracey, Kerry, Taylor, Lisa and David Jr., as well as the rest of the extended Keene family, most of whom I have known for a long while. I share their sadness.
David was imperfect indeed, but aren’t we all? His heart and patriotism were of pure gold.
Rest well, boss. Thank you for all you did for your nation, your friends, me and our family. I was proud to have had the opportunity to serve you. The nation is lesser without you.
• Christian Josi is a veteran political strategist and columnist. He is the managing director of C. Josi & Co., a global media relations and public affairs firm.
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