CHICAGO – In 2010, the United Republican Fund and Illinois Review worked together with dozens of other groups to host an array of conservative, Tea Party-type personalities with hopes of energizing the Illinois conservatives. Among those that were featured that night in Hoffman Estates' Sears Centre were Glenn Beck, Andrew Breitbart and Americans for Prosperity's Tim Phillips – at the time, just becoming household names.
Eight years ago today, Andrew Breitbart died after suffering what his family said was a sudden heart attack. It was a devastating blow to conservatives nationwide. But Breitbart's confident persona, his in-your-face style, set up the nation for a similar personality to run for president in 2016 – Donald J. Trump.
Rest in peace, Andrew. We miss you.
