Evangelicalism is the most politically potent religious movement in contemporary American politics. A key component of the American conservative movement, evangelicals are widely studied, yet poorly understood. I propose a fresh perspective on evangelicalism by explicating the thought of Carl F.H. Henry (1913-2003), using the lens of Christian tradition. Widely viewed as the preeminent theologian of the evangelical movement during his lifetime, Henry’s impressive and efficacious appeal for political engagement may be his most lasting legacy. This legacy, however, has inadvertently relegated evangelicals to mere foot soldiers of American conservatism, a source of manpower, not brainpower. This is attributable to the fact that many evangelicals have a weak attachment to and a shallow understanding of the rich tradition that guided Christian political reflection for centuries. Yet, Henry, and much of evangelicalism, is deeply indebted to that tradition. My study will identify that indebtedness and illuminate those areas where they depart from it. Greater willingness to learn lessons from the past will enrich their contributions to public life in the future.