Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America
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Borko concluded, “Reagan's philosophy, accentuated by his always forceful articulation, awoke the inner American in my heart. I wholeheartedly believe that I speak for countless millions who lived beneath the dark cloud of Communism when I say that those longing for freedom had no better friend than Ronald Reagan. There is no doubt in my mind that if Reagan had been born Serbian Orthodox, he would not be referred by many merely as President Reagan, but as Saint Reagan.”
Special thanks are also owed to Sean Kennedy for all of his fine work, especially his diligence in the chapter on Paul Corbin; Andi Hedberg Maloni for her adroit research work at the Reagan, Bush, Ford, and Carter presidential libraries, the Hoover Institution, and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics; Erica Hare for tracking down local newspapers from the 1980 campaign; and Seaton Motley, Stephen Saunders, Maggie Lyons, Kyra-Verena Sendt, and Andreja Komnenovic for their tireless work. And to Bob Clark of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library; Jean Bischoff, Bob Clark, and Bill Lacy of the Dole Institute; Carol Leadenham and Kiz Konzak of the Hoover Institution; Marv Krinsky and David Roepke of the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs; the University of Oklahoma Department of Political Communications; and the Media Research Center. Also, thanks to Gary Johnson of the Library of Congress, Debbie Lopez of the FBI's Freedom of Information Act division, David M. Hardy of the FBI, Doris M. Lama and Lori Twardzik of the Department of the Navy, and Margaret Grafeld of the State Department for their assistance in tracking down government documents on Paul Corbin. And to Charles Brock and Paul Nielsen of The DesignWorks Group, who did such a masterful job for the dust jacket of this book, as well as to Cheryl Hendrick, formerly of The Design-Works Group, for my previous book.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the friendship, kind assistance, and patience of my business partner and friend, Diana Banister, to whom I am deeply indebted. And to the staff at Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, including Kevin McVicker, Meghan Snyder, Amy Haas, Dan Wilson, Hayley McConnell, Katelyn Gimbel, and others, for their support and patience over the past three years.
Before turning the manuscript over to Jed Donahue's warm though necessarily ruthless edits, I first carefully chose three men—all professional editors—to help me along the way. Again, as with so many others, I am in their debt.
Peter Hannaford helped immensely in the factual accounting of this story. He wrote so many of Reagan's speeches, op-eds, radio commentaries, and the like and simply knew the man's mind as well as anyone. He was at Reagan's side constantly during the tumultuous years from 1976 through 1980. And of course he knew all of the other key players involved for many years.
Quin Hillyer, a conservative columnist of long standing for the American Spectator, the Washington Examiner, and the Washington Times, argued with me, cajoled me, pushed me, always in search of the same goal: a book that would stand the test of time.
John Persinos is not a commonly known writer, but he can turn a phrase as well as anyone. And because John's politics are decidedly liberal, I deliberately sought him out in an effort to drain any overt bias out of this book. I simply wanted to report the facts, whether they favored Reagan or not, and John came through like a champ.
Thanks to the following for allowing me to review their private papers covering the election of 1980. Among them are Ken Khachigian, Allan Ryskind, Tim Roper, Dr. Richard Wirthlin, J. Kenneth Klinge, Ron Robinson, Gary Maloney, Rich Bond, N. Richard Greenfield, Bruce Eberle, Richard Viguerie, Robert Novak, Michele Davis, Colin Clark, and Paul Russo. And thanks to my friend David Doll for undertaking research on James Baker at Princeton University.
Sadly, the documents for Citizens for the Republic, the National Conservative Political Action Committee, the Fund for a Conservative Majority, and the Congressional Club were destroyed after the demise of each. Thanks, however, to Brigham Young University, where the papers of the American Conservative Union are stored.
Some close friends over the past three years gave me advice and encouragement, read chapters, and generally put up with me, and they, too, are owed a large measure of gratitude. In no particular order, Bill Schulz, Fred Barnes, Tony Fabrizio, Becky Norton Dunlop and George Dunlop, Marc and Karen Rotterman, Dick Allen, Mark Tapscott, Ralph and Millie Hallow, Jim Pinkerton, Jim Burnley, Al Regnery, Bob Tyrrell, Newt and Callista Gingrich, Frank and Becki Donatelli, George and Susan Allen, Fred Eckert, Brad O'Leary, Bill Hecht, Jerry Eckert, Rich Bond, Tom and Lyn Finnigan, Michele Davis, Richard Viguerie, Kenny and Jean Klinge, Colin Clark, Paul Russo, Sara Davis, Dave Keene, Fred Barbash, Tom Edsall, Michael and Susan McShane, Brent and Norma Bozell, Christian Josi, Tish Leonard, Stephen Moore, Bill Timmons, Vic and Dale Gold, Pat and M. J. Pizzella, Jim Ragonnet, Ed Meese, Ron Robinson, Michelle Easton, Bruce and Kathy Eberle, Carl Cannon, Don Devine, Nancy Reynolds, Karen Spencer, Muriel Coleman, Doug Bandow, Lou Cannon, Sara Davis, Frank and Ann Lavin, Tom Winter, Allan Ryskind, Kevin and Chris Kabanuk, Floyd Brown, Howard Fineman, Dick Allen, Tom Edsall, Bill Clark, Mike Reagan, Joanne Herring, Tom Loringer, Paul Laxalt, Roger Stone, Eric Dezenhall, Chuck DeFeo, Chris Ruddy, Charles Pratt, Roshan and Perin Bhappu, Ross and Candy Bhappu, Dan and Soona Jacob, Manek Bhappu, and Ellen, Nathan, Eric, and Todd Shirley
And special thanks to George F. Will, for agreeing to write the foreword to this book.
Finally, I am most deeply indebted to my beloved wife, Zorine—“Reggie”—who so patiently read, edited, listened, and made superior suggestions over the past several years. For much of the time, I labored in a tiny den at home, crammed with books, interview transcripts, DVDs, CDs, newspapers, magazines, presidential library material, and other source material. So concerned was I about losing anything, no one was allowed into my sanctum sanctorum with the exception of Zorine. I understand that Mark Twain operated in much the same fashion, allowing only his beloved Olivia, “Liv Darling,” to cross a chalk line he'd drawn across the floor. This system seemed to work for us as well, but as dust gathered and I fulminated, Zorine's fortitude never wavered.
Our four children also helped along the way, from Mitchell reviewing videotapes to Matt and Andrew (who often worked into the wee hours of the morning) and Taylor reading manuscripts, fact-checking, and offering advice to their old man.
Thank you all.
Craig Shirley
Alexandria, Virginia
INDEX
ABC, 1, 30, 39, 100, 121, 133, 147, 158, 196, 201, 221, 238, 252, 492, 531, 548, 571–74
Abernathy, Ralph, 506
abortion, 21, 48, 58, 93, 107, 108, 135, 149, 192, 194, 234, 282, 306, 323, 327, 393, 397, 479
Abscam scandal, 130, 306, 491, 552
Adams, John, 336
affirmative action, 32, 398–99
Afghanistan, 5, 51, 80–81, 99, 103, 114, 186, 190, 244–45, 265, 310, 480, 488, 525, 586
AFL-CIO, 106, 284, 391, 422, 501, 557
African-Americans, 82, 179, 182, 189, 199, 326, 342, 387–88, 399, 402, 474, 518, 537, 589
age issue, 6, 13, 23, 33, 37, 58, 72, 74, 76–77, 94, 108, 111–12, 114, 118, 119, 189
Agnew, Spiro, 39, 97, 258, 337, 400, 474, 493
Ahearn, Rick, 124, 162
Ailes, Roger, 198, 390
Air Force One, 471, 556, 563
Air Force Two, 223–24, 264
Alabama, 31; 1980 Democratic presidential nomination and, 177–78, 201; 1980 presidential election and, 457, 458, 499, 575; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 160
Alaska, 51, 99, 143, 252
Albosta, Donald J., 420, 438–41, 607, 609
Alden, Priscilla, 243
Alexander, Lamar, 203, 269, 434
Alexander, Phil, 589
Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner, 507–9
Allen, Richard, 113, 117, 215, 332, 554; Casey and, 221; China and, 448; Debategate and, 438–39; Election Day 1980 and, 579; Reagan running mate selection and, 357–60; Sears, firing of and, 137, 166, 167, 169
American Agriculture Movement, 79–80
American Conservative Union, 23, 33, 94, 151, 292, 330, 373, 491
American Enterprise Institute, 32
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union, 461
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, 401
American Revolution, 10, 255
Americans for Change, 308
Americans for Conservative Action, 192
Americans for Democratic Action, 528
Americans for Reagan, 308
American Society of Newspaper Editors, 254
American Spectator, The, 258, 354, 586
Ames straw poll, 51
Anderson, John B., 52, 133, 154, 306; 1980 presidential election and, 6, 206, 226–27, 246, 262, 270, 283, 286, 290, 298, 316–17, 319, 392, 396, 403, 420, 497, 499, 528–29, 561, 564, 588; 1980 Republican convention and, 361, 363; campaign finance and, 205, 270, 461; Communism and, 225–26; Crisp and, 296, 314; Election Day 1980 and, 572, 575, 578, 580–81; Ford and, 197; gun control and, 144; Illinois and, 200–201, 205–8, 213–17; impact of, 464; Iowa and, 111; Iranian hostage crisis and, 518; liberalism and, 52, 283, 500; Lucey as running mate of, 286, 396, 436–37, 446, 451; Massachusetts and, 183, 188, 192–93, 392, 581; media and, 92–93, 200, 319; New Hampshire and, 68, 142, 144, 146–48, 154, 158, 162; New York and, 581; Pennsylvania and, 249, 252; presidential debates and, 446, 451–52, 463, 482–83, 487, 507, 544; Republican platform and, 327; Trilateral Commission and, 138; Vermont and, 183, 192–93; Wisconsin and, 201, 241–42
Anderson, Keke, 578
Anderson, Marty: 1976 Republican presidential nomination and, 14; 1980 presidential election and, 28, 390, 530; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 67, 81, 113, 238, 308, 332; Republican platform and, 329; Sears and, 180
Anderson Difference, 183, 464, 482, 581
Angelo, Ernie, 65, 123, 174, 267, 274, 371, 498
Annenberg, Walter, 549
anti-Americanism, 44, 46, 63, 497
Antosh, Steve, 603
AP. See Associated Press
Arkansas: 1980 presidential election and, 581; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 117
Arledge, Roone, 573
arms control, 395, 415, 458–59, 510, 538–39
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, 215
Armstrong, Anne, 301, 363, 389, 392, 520
Ashbrook, John, 338
Associated Press (AP), 34, 50, 98, 124, 127, 141, 149, 161, 302, 366, 374, 392, 408, 479, 484, 547
Atlantic Monthly, 50
Atwater, Lee, 174, 197–98
Austin American-Statesman, 267
auto industry, 45, 324, 492
Bachrach, Judy, 295, 406, 555, 593
Bailey, Doug, 59, 196, 203, 430
Bailey, John, 428
Baker, Howard, 36, 143, 604; 1980 presidential election and, 520; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 33, 59, 71–72, 84–85; Arkansas and, 117; Brock and, 279; campaign finance and, 92; Carter briefing books and, 438; Cleveland debate and, 530; Connecticut and, 135; Ford and, 71; health of, 140; Iowa and, 86, 104, 111; Maine and, 72; Maryland and, 191; New Hampshire and, 126, 146–47, 153, 155, 162; Panama Canal treaties and, 27, 32, 59, 227, 251, 306; Reagan, attacks on by, 59; Reagan, endorsement of by, 264; Reagan running mate selection and, 218, 227, 250–51, 301, 306, 319, 329, 335, 350, 352; Reagan transition team and, 594; SALT II and, 59; withdrawal of, 196
Baker, James A., III, 511, 512; 1976 Republican presidential nomination and, 18, 514–15; 1978 midterm elections and, 36; 1980 presidential election and, 392, 453, 465, 515; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 34, 36, 38, 39, 70, 141, 179, 184, 189, 257–59, 274, 278; Carter briefing books and, 420, 440, 440–41, 515–16, 607, 609; Casey and, 604; Massachusetts and, 188; media and, 38, 77; New Hampshire and, 115, 149, 150, 154, 159; Reagan running mate choice and, 355, 356; Reagan transition team and, 579; RNC chairmanship and, 18; Rove and, 605; South Carolina and, 92; Texas and, 266–67
Baker, Joy, 59
balanced budgets, 2; Carter and, 17; Reagan and, 107, 397, 466–67; Republican Party and, 15
Baldridge, Malcolm, 222
Baltimore Sun, 547
Bandow, Doug, 66, 453–54
Banister, Diana, 386
Barbour, Haley, 91
Barnes, Fred, 547
Barnhart, Ray, 65
Barone, Michael, 488–89
Baroody, William J., 32
Barrett, Bob, 353
Barrett, Laurence, 97, 438
Bates, David, 175, 364
Bauman, Bob, 373, 491
Bayh, Birch, 574
Beard, Robin, 434
Beckel, Bob, 498, 556
Bell, Jeff, 69, 74, 138–39, 213, 238, 484, 485
Bellamy, Carol, 403
Bergland, Bob, 250, 525
Bernstein, Leonard, 593
Bethune, Ed, 329
Bible, 508, 556
Biebel, Fred, 222, 267
“Big Momentum” (“Big Mo”), 107, 115, 116, 129, 165, 186, 222, 298, 300
Billings, Robert, 473
Black, Charlie, 27, 49, 55, 81–83, 94, 96, 112, 112–14, 116, 123, 135–37, 138, 147, 148, 150, 151, 164–70, 174, 180–82, 223, 292, 316
Blackwell, Morton, 151, 308, 603
Blanton, Ray, 433 Block, Herbert, 504
Bloomingdale, Alfred, 308
Blue, Bob, 87
Bobo, the mechanical monkey, 108–9, 172–73
Bond, Richard, 56, 70, 96, 104, 294, 605
Bond, Valerie, 70, 104
Boone, Pat, 131, 132, 340
Boston Globe, 71, 120, 144, 146, 183, 188
Bourne, Peter, 532
Bouvier, Jacqueline. See Kennedy, Jacqueline
Bozell, L. Brent, III, 341
Bradlee, Ben, 428, 432
Brady, Jim, 243, 327, 390, 528, 567
Brandon, Henry and Muffie, 580
Breen, Jon, 135, 150, 151–53, 157, 172
Brezhnev, Leonid, 80, 206, 518
Briggs, John, 35
Briggs Amendment (Proposition 6), 35, 36
Brinkley, David, 360, 573, 575
Brock, William, 18, 27, 473, 605; 1980 Republican convention and, 3, 325–26, 388–89; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 279; Election Day 1980 and, 578; Panama Canal treaties and, 27; Reagan running mate selection and, 218, 251; RNC chairmanship and, 18, 179, 280, 296, 314
Broder, David, 23, 54, 156, 202, 245, 261, 286, 306, 333, 363, 500, 546–47, 610
Brokaw, Tom, 72, 194, 358, 367, 415, 546, 573, 605, 609
Brooke, Edward, 521
Brown, Harold, 395, 462
Brown, Jerry, 30, 46, 63, 103, 140, 145, 163, 178, 225
Brown, John Y., 402
Brown, Pat, 46, 304, 475
Brown, Phyllis George, 402, 407
Bruinooge, Thomas, 262
Bruno, Hal, 367, 573
Bryan, William Jennings, 120, 360
Brzezinski, Zbigniew, 137, 395, 415, 439, 576
Buchanan, Bay, 230
Buchanan, Pat, 103, 523
Buckley, Jim, 341 Buckley, Pat, 72
Buckley, William F., Jr., 24, 26, 72, 99, 169, 338, 339–40, 341, 346–47, 590, 600, 613
Buckley v. Valeo, 308
Bulen, Keith, 173, 279
Bunnell, Cynthia, 339
Burch, Dean, 71, 391, 453
bureaucracy, 20, 22, 114, 185–86, 516–17, 567
Burke, Edmund, 596
Burke, Richard, 409
Burns, James MacGregor, 588
Bush, Barbara, 3, 57, 104, 163, 390, 570, 582
Bush, Dorothy, 57, 163
Bush, George H.W., 125; 1976 Republican presidential nomination and, 97–98; 1980 presidential election and, 563; 1980 Republican convention and, 3; 1980 Republican presidential nomination and, 6, 32, 33, 36, 38; abortion and, 397; Alabama and, 160; Arkansas and, 117; campaign finance and, 92, 231; CIA and, 97–98, 153; competence of, 97, 148, 164; Connally and, 56–59, 92; Connecticut and, 121, 133, 134–35, 221–22
; conservatism and, 48–49, 58, 261; debates and, 470; Dole and, 57; Election Day 1980 and, 570, 582; fitness of, 129, 138, 156; Florida and, 85, 121, 160, 176–77, 186–87, 194–95, 200; Ford and, 71; foreign policy and, 128, 331, 448; as front-runner, 110, 139, 155; Georgia and, 160; health of, 140, 204; Illinois and, 205–10, 213–17; Iowa and, 6, 40, 51, 70, 77, 85, 86, 95–96, 100, 103–5, 111; Maine and, 72, 133; Massachusetts and, 121, 133, 183–84, 188–89, 192–93; media and, 164; military service of, 48, 49, 57, 142; Mississippi and, 134; New Hampshire and, 52, 68, 85, 106, 110, 120–21, 128, 141–43, 144–45, 146–55, 156–58, 159–63; New York and, 219–21; North Carolina and, 213; Pennsylvania and, 249–50, 260–63, 262–63; Puerto Rico and, 138; as Reagan running mate, 6–7, 251, 285–86, 301, 306, 319, 330, 331, 346, 350, 356, 358, 359, 364–69, 370–75; Republican Party and, 95, 293–94; résumé of, 48, 102, 129, 164, 278; RNC and, 48, 142; South Carolina and, 92, 160, 179, 182, 197–99, 199; speaking abilities of, 77, 85; staffing and, 38–39; stamina of, 96–97, 173; tax cuts and, 475; Texas and, 265–67, 271–74; Trilateral Commission and, 56, 97, 137–38, 145, 158, 177, 273; Vermont and, 121, 133, 183–84, 188–89, 192–93; Wisconsin and, 230–31, 241–42
Bush, George W., 3, 7, 70, 97, 267, 273, 587, 589, 596–97, 605
Bush, Jeb, 32, 57, 70, 85, 104, 208, 294, 376, 595
Bush, Marvin, 70, 163
Bush, Neil, 163
Bush, Prescott, 57, 97, 221
Bush, Robin, 228
Butler, Landon, 435
Byrne, Jane, 194, 211
Cable News Network. See CNN
Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network. See C-SPAN