Skousen evoked strong feelings

His friends and admirers saw W. Cleon Skousen as a deeply religious man who wasn't afraid to publicly marry his faith with his interpretation of constitutional principles and his disdain for communism.

Those who were leery of his many writings and speeches saw him as an ultra-conservative alarmist with a penchant for fueling political conspiracy theories.

So as family and friends prepare to bid him farewell at local funeral services scheduled for Saturday, Skousen's life and teachings are being remembered in a variety of ways. The former FBI special agent, Salt Lake City police chief, Brigham Young University religion teacher and founder of the Center for Constitutional Studies died on Monday at age 92.

Though they may view him in different spheres, both friends and foes knew he was passionate about his beliefs.

His son, Paul, said the modest family home in Salt Lake City has been deluged with condolences from "a lot of people from across the nation and overseas calling in once word started to get out. They're asking what was he working on, wondering whether they can get a plane in on time" for the funeral.

"He made a lot of friends in Israel, in Central and Latin America — just about everywhere. They had a great love for him. He counseled with them on politics, and on the drafting of a constitution he helped with in Canada and Latin America. Many of them admired his wisdom and understanding, and as a result want to come and offer due respect and honor for a man that helped them understand constitutional principles."

Author of 46 books, including Cold War-era tomes on communism and religious works directed at fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Skousen was most widely known for his devotion to America's Founding Fathers and his interpretation of their writings. The National Center for Constitutional Studies was an outgrowth of his original Freemen Institute, both conservative think tanks that published his articles, speeches and audio tapes. Paul Skousen said his father often made hundreds of speeches a year in a wide variety of venues.

Glenn Kimber, Cleon Skousen's son-in-law, said he had the chance to travel with Skousen for 20 years, working by his side and lecturing with him in all 50 states.

"I was absolutely thrilled watching his great desire for documentation. He covered the spectrum," leaving behind a library with some 7,000 volumes, he said.

While most are books he devoured on the Founding Fathers, politics and the LDS Church, many were penned by Skousen, including scores of personal journals and "scrapbook-type" histories he kept, Kimber said.