Gary Lee Bauer (born May 4, 1946, in Covington, Kentucky) is an American conservative activist, civil servant, and former political candidate. He began his career in public service during the Reagan administration, holding several White House positions from 1981 to 1987, including Policy Advisor to the President, Deputy Assistant Director of Legal Policy, Under Secretary of Education, and Chief Domestic Policy Advisor. After government service, he led prominent conservative Christian organizations as president of the Family Research Council (1988–1999) and senior vice president at Focus on the Family. In 2000, he ran as a candidate in the Republican Party presidential primaries, participating in five national debates and emphasizing religious liberty, pro-life stances, and support for Israel, though he withdrew early without securing the nomination. He is a co-founder of the Emergency Committee for Israel and currently serves as president of American Values, an organization dedicated to promoting Judeo-Christian values, evangelical causes, and electing conservative candidates to Congress. Bauer has strong ties to evangelical and pro-Israel causes and remains influential in conservative politics. He has been married to Carol Elizabeth Hoke since September 9, 1972, and they have three children.