Member of the Week: Paul Teller (Chief of Staff, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Congratulations Paul on being our Conservative Book Club “Member of the Week!” Tell us a little about yourself and the work you do as Chief of Staff for Sen. Ted Cruz.  

It is a true privilege each day to help Senator Cruz represent 27 million Texans and to fight for liberty in America and worldwide.  Here in the Senate office, we do everything from policy and legislation to communications and coalitions.  And of course we directly serve the Texans the senator represents.

I’ve been in this office (first as deputy chief and then chief) since January 2014.  Before that, I spent nearly 13 years at the U.S. House Republican Study Committee (RSC), where we advanced conservative policy solutions in the House and beyond.

And before that, I spent a year at the Committee on House Administration. Plus, I’ve also done a number of stints around the Conservative Movement, including The Washington Times, the National Center for Public Policy Research, and the College Republican National Committee.

I was born in New York City, raised mostly on Long Island, went to undergrad at Duke University, and went to graduate school studying political science at American University in DC.  I now live with my wife and two children in Chevy Chase, MD.

I think it’s fair to say you know your way around the conservative movement! What got you interested in the work you do? 

Good question!  I honestly do not know.  Politics has been in my blood since at least 7^th grade, if not before.  It’s just who I am.

What books, authors, or conservative-themed books, influenced your political philosophy and outlook on life? 

I’ve been most impacted by the writings of the American Founders (The Federalist Papers, for example) and key writings about the Founders (particularly historical biographies like David McCullough’s John Adams and Joseph Ellis’ Founding Brothers –but also such works at David McCullough’s 1776, Larry Arnn’s The Founders’ Key, and Matthew Spalding’s We Still Hold These Truths).

Why did you join the Conservative Book Club? How is the user experience beneficial to you? 

The CBC serves as an excellent resource for determining whether books have a conservative theme and promote conservative values, so I know what I can and cannot buy as gifts for my children and others.  Also—and I can admit this—sometimes I forget the titles or authors of key books I read long ago.  CBC is a place where I can poke around and know that I’ll find what I’m trying to recall.

Any words of wisdom you’d like to share with your fellow members? Any 2016 predictions?? 🙂 

Read more than I do!

Tags: Member of the Week, Paul Teller, Ted Cruz