[![David Boaz](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2021-01/David%20Boaz.jpg?itok=h2y_VjDj)](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2021-01/David-Boaz.jpg) 

# David Boaz 

Distinguished Senior Fellow

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Over more than four decades as vice president for public policy and executive vice president, David Boaz played a key role in the development of the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He was the author of [*The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom*](/books/libertarian-mind) and the editor of [*The Libertarian Reader*](http://smile.amazon.com/Libertarian-Reader-Contemporary-Writings-Friedman/dp/1476752893/).

Boaz was a provocative commentator and a leading authority on domestic issues such as education choice, drug legalization, the growth of government, and the rise of libertarianism. Boaz was the former editor of *New Guard* magazine and was executive director of the Council for a Competitive Economy prior to joining Cato in 1981. The earlier edition of [*The Libertarian Mind*](http://store.cato.org/books/libertarian-mind), titled [*Libertarianism: A Primer*](http://www.amazon.com/Libertarianism-A-Primer-David-Boaz/dp/068484768X), was described by the *Los Angeles Times* as “a well-researched manifesto of libertarian ideas.” His other books included [*The Politics of Freedom*](https://www.cato.org/books/politics-freedom-taking-left-right-threats-our-liberties) and the [*Cato Handbook for Policymakers*](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/archives).

His articles were published in the *Wall Street Journal*, the *New York Times*, the *Washington Post*, the *Los Angeles Times*, *National Review*, and *Slate*, and he wrote the entry on libertarianism for *Encyclopedia Britannica*. He was a frequent guest on national television and radio shows and appeared on ABC’s *Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher*, CNN’s *Crossfire*, NPR’s *Talk of the Nation* and *All Things Considered*, *The McLaughlin Group*, *Stossel*, *The Independents*, Fox News, BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and other media.

David Boaz passed away in 2024.

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[![David Boaz](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block/public/2024-06/db_cato2_0.png?itok=IxtOtE9S)](https://www.cato.org/tribute-david-boaz) 

##### In Memoriam 

### [David Boaz: Champion of Liberty](https://www.cato.org/tribute-david-boaz)

David made an incalculable contribution to building Cato into the respected institution and voice it is today, as well as to the “mainstreaming” of libertarianism as a legitimate political philosophy worthy of a seat at the table in all of the nation’s policy debates.

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