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John Samples
Director, Center for Representative Government
John Samples directs Cato's Center for Representative Government, which studies campaign finance regulation, delegation of legislative authority, term limits, and the political culture of limited government and the civic virtues necessary for liberty. He is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Cato, Samples served eight years as director of Georgetown University Press, and before that, as vice president of the Twentieth Century Fund. He has published scholarly articles in Society, History of Political Thought, and Telos. Samples has also been featured in mainstream publications like USA Today, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on NPR, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC. Samples received his Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University.
Media Contact: 202-789-5200
To Book a Speaking Engagement: 202-789-5226
E-Mail: jsamples@cato.org
Books and Book Chapters
The Fallacy Of Campaign Finance Reform, (2006)
The Marketplace Of Democracy: Electoral Competition and American Politics, coeditor (2006)
The Republican Revolution 10 Years Later: Smaller Government or Business as Usual? coeditor (2005).
Welfare For Politicians? Taxpayer Financing of Campaigns, editor (2005).
James Madison and the Future of Limited Government, editor (2002).
Cato Studies
"A Critique of the National Popular Vote," Policy Analysis no. 622, October 13, 2008.
"Three Myths about Voter Turnout in the United States," Policy Analysis no. 524, September 14, 2004.
"The Failures of Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Campaigns," Policy Analysis no. 500, November 25, 2003.
"Why Subsidize the Soapbox? The McCain Free Airtime Proposal and the Future of Broadcasting," by John Samples and Adam D. Thierer, Policy Analysis no. 480, August 6, 2003.
"Election 2002 and the Problems of American Democracy," by John Samples and Patrick Basham, Policy Analysis no. 451, September 5, 2002.
Opinion and Commentary
"Let Millionaires Spend," by John Samples and Ilya Shapiro, New York Sun, June 27, 2008
"So Long, 'Campaign Reform'," New York Post, June 25, 2008
"What Sort of Country?," American Spectator (Online), June 18, 2008
"No, You Can't," American Spectator (Online), May 30, 2008
"What’s So Great About the Great Society?," American Spectator (Online), May 19, 2008
Events
"What to Do about Self-Funded Campaigns ," April 21, 2008 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"The End of Campaign Finance Reform?," August 2, 2007 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"The Dangers of Disclosure: The Unintended Consequences of Campaign Regulations for Free Speech and Privacy," March 27, 2007 [Policy Forum]
"A Skeptical Look at Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure," March 9, 2007 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"Election 2006: A Look Back and Forward," November 9, 2006 [Policy Forum]
Speeches and Testimony
"House Bill 1028 Regarding the National Popular Vote," Congressional Testimony, October 18, 2007.
"An Evaluation of the Campaign Accountability Act of 2007," Congressional Testimony, April 18, 2007.
Multimedia
November 13, 2008: John Samples on Free Political Speech in 2009. [Flash Video, 05:59]
John Samples discusses the presidential transition of power on WTTG Fox 5 November 12, 2008 [Flash Video, 02:21]
"The Obama Agenda: Free Political Speech" featuring John Samples, November 4, 2008 [Flash Audio, 09:17]
"A State-Based Presidential Selection" featuring John Samples, October 17, 2008 [Flash Audio, 11:25]
"The Politics of Bailouts" featuring John Samples, September 29, 2008 [Flash Audio, 09:25]