Encyclopedia · Biography
Terry Dolan
American conservative political organizer (1950–1986)
Personal details
- Full name
- John Terrence Dolan
- Born
- c. 1950 · Connecticut
- Died
- December 28, 1986 · Washington, D.C.
- Parents
- Joseph and Margaret Dolan
- Siblings
- Anthony Dolan; Maiselle Shortley
- Political affiliation
- Conservative Republican organizer
John Terrence “Terry” Dolan (1950–1986) was an American conservative political organizer and a founder and longtime leader of the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC).
Early life and education
Dolan grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, in a politically active family. His parents were Joseph and Margaret Dolan; his brother Anthony became a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, and his sister Maiselle worked in the White House.
He attended Georgetown University beginning in 1968, graduated, and participated in the campus Young Americans for Freedom network. Later law study is mentioned in a retrospective account, but an earned law degree has not been independently documented.
Political work
After working with conservative organizations in Washington, Dolan helped establish NCPAC in 1975 with Charles Black and Roger Stone. A December 1976 sworn filing identifies him as executive director; he later became president.
Under Dolan, NCPAC raised funds and purchased independent campaign advertising. In 1980 it targeted six Democratic senators, four of whom lost reelection. Dolan left its leadership in 1986 and died that December.
Positions
Dolan was generally aligned with conservative causes including higher defense spending, abortion restrictions, and school prayer. In a 1982 interview, he also expressed support for federal nondiscrimination protections for gay people—a stance that differed from many other social-conservative activists.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.