Believer: My Forty Years in Politics

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Believer: My Forty Years in Politics Page 64

by David Axelrod


  presidential campaign (1984), 58, 59, 60, 207

  Morris, Dick, 107–9, 116

  Moscow, author’s family background in, 13–14

  Moseley Braun, Carol:

  and presidential race, 135, 155

  and U.S. Senate, 103, 104–6, 123, 124, 129, 131

  Moynihan, Daniel Patrick, 115

  Mubarak, Gamal, 406

  Mubarak, Hosni, 406–7, 408–9

  Mullen, Mike, 393, 394, 396

  Murdoch, Rupert, 423, 424

  Murphy, Mike, 128, 148, 149, 153

  Murphy, Patrick, 427

  Murray, Shailagh, 280–81

  Musharraf, Pervez, 230

  Muskie, Edmund, 252

  Muslim Brotherhood, 408–9

  Nagourney, Adam, 224

  Napolitano, Janet, 398–99

  NATO, 392, 403

  Navy SEALs, 437–38

  Neal, Steve, 51, 104

  Nebraska, 264, 382

  Nelson, Ben, 101, 380, 381–82

  Nelson, Bill, 171

  Nesbitt, Marty, 190, 275, 280

  Netanyahu, Bibi, 292, 406, 446, 485

  Nevada, 256, 262

  New Democrats, 76

  New Hampshire:

  campaigns in, 216, 224, 475

  polls in, 184, 252, 253–54

  presidential primaries in, (1984), 58, 59; (2008), 248, 250–55, 262, 265

  as swing state, 288

  Newhouse, Richard, 120

  New Orleans, and Hurricane Katrina, 169

  New York, 262, 263

  New York Times, 4, 230, 387

  Nichols, Mike, 26

  Nicholson, Marvin, 235, 247, 321, 468

  Nixon, Richard M., 1, 22, 28

  Nobel Peace Prize, 390, 400–402

  Norris, John, 247

  North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 126, 266

  North Carolina, 278–79, 281, 318, 456, 476

  North Korea, 362, 411, 412

  Nugent, Daniel, 35–36

  Obama, Barack, 119–25, 153–62

  achievements of, 349–50, 368, 415–16, 420, 421, 426, 430, 458, 483

  agenda for change, 214–15, 228, 234, 274, 283, 289, 314, 415, 476, 483, 487

  ambition of, 137, 163, 373

  The Audacity of Hope, 184–86

  and campaigning vs. governing, 217, 444, 445, 486

  campaign team of, 205–8, 216, 220, 224, 226, 228, 232–33, 245–46, 247, 248, 263, 267–68, 431, 448, 475

  as commander in chief, 390

  comparisons with, 177–78, 203, 212

  competitiveness of, 4, 121, 137, 202, 220

  and compromise, 141, 345–46, 352, 354, 366, 373, 374–75, 385–86, 388–89, 481

  convictions of, 123–24, 220, 359, 368, 372–73, 374, 376, 389, 421–22, 441, 445, 449, 459, 483, 485

  and debates, 223–24, 229–32, 235–36, 241–42, 251, 309–13, 463–74

  Dreams from My Father, 156, 164, 165, 241

  at ease with people, 138–39, 182, 459, 470

  and the economy, 229, 289, 307–12, 324, 327, 330, 331–35, 346, 348, 351–68, 403, 416, 428–29, 438, 439–40, 441, 442, 443, 446, 461, 473, 483, 486–87

  and elections, 3–9, 319–23

  expectations for, 316, 327, 354, 374, 416, 426, 439, 476, 483

  family history of, 156, 318

  and fund-raising, 168, 188, 219, 315

  and health care, see health care

  and his family, 5–6

  and his grandmother, 317–18

  inauguration (2009), 338–39

  influence of, 167

  logo for, 208–9, 316

  media attention to, 204, 218–20, 222, 223–24, 243, 248, 250, 258, 265, 271–72, 275, 277, 355, 379, 400, 417, 443, 475

  and Michelle, see Obama, Michelle Robinson

  name of, 129, 153, 378

  Nobel Peace Prize to, 390, 400–402

  opponents of, 204, 384, 483

  and party unity, 282–83, 287–89

  political rise of, 9, 30, 137, 140–41, 145, 162, 222, 320–21

  popularity of, 3–4, 219, 289, 316, 373, 389, 439, 462, 474

  as possible presidential candidate, 22, 163–64, 171–73, 175, 181, 182–88, 190–202, 216

  as possible senatorial candidate, 118, 120, 122–23

  and possible victory, 194

  preparing for presidential campaign, 204–11

  as president-elect, 321–23, 324–35, 339

  presidential primaries (2008), 6–7, 216–34, 235–49, 250–83, 315

  and racial issues, 257–59, 270–71, 272–75, 282, 290, 378–79, 403, 484

  and reelection, 427, 439–41, 442–59, 461–78

  on the road, 242–43, 474

  and running mate, 287–89, 295–99

  Secret Service protection for, 282, 321, 322, 338

  Senate race (2004), 123–25, 128–31, 135–39, 142–47, 154–55, 160–62, 178, 204, 322, 370

  speeches of, 130, 141, 155–60, 164, 172, 209–10, 211, 213–15, 217, 226, 236–37, 239–40, 246, 250, 254–55, 273–75, 280, 283, 293–94, 300–302, 322–23, 338, 347, 380, 401, 405–6, 407–8, 440–41, 449, 451

  as state senator, 121, 137, 139–41, 228, 290, 370

  supporters of, 245–46, 248, 315–16, 451, 474

  and transition period, 324–37

  travel abroad, 168–69, 174, 182, 290–95, 307, 403–14, 451–52

  on TV, 157, 163, 164, 170, 174–75, 185–87, 453

  as U.S. Senator, 163–65, 166, 167–68, 171, 175, 181, 354, 370, 381

  and voter registration drives, 119–20

  and welfare reform, 121

  and “Yes We Can!” slogan, 6, 143, 144, 147, 162, 283, 293, 321

  Obama, Malia and Sasha, 5, 321, 401

  Obama, Michelle Robinson, 120, 190–91

  and Barack’s smoking habit, 210–11

  and children’s nutrition law, 428, 430

  and election, 321

  and election campaigns, 4–6, 123, 136, 143, 171, 172, 182, 185–86, 190, 192–93, 199, 201, 204, 211, 234, 258–59, 276–77, 328, 444–45

  supportiveness of, 164–65, 190

  and transition period, 328

  Occupy Wall Street, 449

  O’Donnell, Lawrence, 468

  Ogilvie, Richard, 56

  Ohio, 266, 267, 268, 269, 320, 364, 456, 458

  oil industry, 279–80

  deep-sea drilling by, 418

  oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, 416–19

  O’Keefe, Kevin, 97

  Olbermann, Keith, 429

  Olmert, Ehud, 292

  Orszag, Peter, 332, 333, 370

  Owens, Jesse, 30

  Owens, Valerie Biden, 297

  Pakistan:

  Al Qaeda in, 230, 244, 397

  and bin Laden, 437–38

  drone strikes in, 397

  Palestine, and Israel, 63, 404, 405, 406, 446

  Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 63

  Palin, Sarah, 304–7, 314–15, 378

  Palmer, Alice, 120–21, 137

  Parker, Brad, 199–200

  Parker, Dorothy, 16

  Patrick, Deval, 176–78, 189, 203–4, 211

  Paulson, Henry, 307, 309, 311, 354

  Pawlenty, Tim, 437

  Pazzi, Tom, 64

  Pelosi, Nancy, 420–21

  and DCCC, 178

  and financial meltdown, 311

  and health care, 371, 384, 388, 415

  and JJ speakers, 237, 239

  and midterm elections, 415

  and Rahm, 178, 189, 371

  Penn, Mark, 108–9, 116, 182,
206, 223, 237, 240

  Pennsylvania, 268, 269, 272, 275–78, 458

  Pentagon, as political player, 390–91, 393–94

  Percy, Charles, 61, 63, 65–67

  Peres, Shimon, 291

  Perino, Dana, 336

  Perriello, Tom, 427

  Petraeus, David, 291, 420

  Pfeiffer, Dan, 207–8, 417

  Pfleger, Father Michael, 182

  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), 374

  Plouffe, David:

  and AKPD Message and Media, 167, 177, 178, 198–99, 208

  and author’s departure, 430–31

  and DCCC, 199

  and debates, 464, 466, 470, 472

  and fund-raising, 246

  and jobs report, 440

  and Obama campaign (2008), 191, 192–93, 198–99, 200, 204, 208, 209, 224, 268, 287–88, 316

  and primaries (2008), 219–20, 226, 232, 247, 258, 262, 266, 267, 315, 320, 321

  and reelection campaign (2012), 452, 475, 476–77

  and running mate selection, 295, 296, 299

  and victory, 477

  Plouffe, Olivia, 327

  PM, 15–16

  Podesta, John, 328

  politics:

  brinksmanship in, 438

  exhilarating campaigns, 124

  factionalism in, 380, 382–83, 416, 426, 438, 439, 482–83

  grassroots, 221, 303, 315, 389

  interest groups in, 63, 69, 103

  issue-driven funding of, 63

  machine of, 481

  public disdain for, 375, 487–88

  urban, 90–91

  of Washington, 487

  Powell, Colin, 395

  president, as commander in chief, 390–97

  presidential campaigns:

  (1984), 58–61

  (1988), 82–83

  (1992), 63–64, 95–100

  (1996), 206, 282

  (2000), 197, 289

  (2008), 6–7, 463, 474

  (2012), 7, 9, 440–41, 442–78

  presidential elections:

  (1960), 27

  (1964), 320

  (1984), 68

  (2008), 319–23

  (2012), 3–9, 364, 474–78, 486

  presidential primaries (2008), 216–34, 235–49, 250–83, 315

  Project Vote, 119

  Pucinski, Roman, 56

  Putin, Vladimir, 410–13

  Ralston, Jason, 234

  Rattner, Steven, 362

  Reagan, Ronald, 58, 422, 444, 481

  in Berlin, 292, 293

  and “city on a hill,” 65

  and Cold War, 229

  followers of, 63, 65, 66

  presidency of, 75, 81, 82, 106

  reelection campaign of, 63, 68

  Reaganomics, 63, 66, 83, 482

  Recovery Act, see American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

  Reed, Bruce, 461

  Reid, Harry, 181, 295, 337, 345, 381, 384–85, 415

  Reilly, Tom, 176

  Republican National Convention (2012), 460

  Republican Party:

  opposition from, 6–7, 484; see also specific politicians

  right wing control of, 427, 482

  and Tea Party, 7, 315, 378–79, 380, 426, 427, 450, 460, 484

  Reynolds, Mel, 120

  Rezko, Tony, 271–72

  Rhodes, Ben, 230, 293, 406, 413

  Ribicoff, Abe, 19

  Richardson, Bill, 250

  Roberts, John, 170, 171, 420, 458

  Roberts, Robin, 453

  Robinson, Michelle, see Obama, Michelle Robinson

  Rochon, Reynard, 88

  Rodriguez, Matt, 253

  Rolling Stone, 211, 419–20

  Romer, Christina, 332, 333, 334, 357, 358

  Romney, George, 450

  Romney, Mitt:

  and Bain, 454, 456, 468

  and debates, 463–64, 467–68, 470, 472–74

  and 47 percent, 462, 467, 468, 471

  as governor of Massachusetts, 176, 453–54

  and presidential campaign (2012), 4, 303, 450–51, 453–57, 459–60, 462, 472, 476–77

  and presidential primary (2008), 176, 254, 303

  and Tea Party, 450

  Roosevelt, Eleanor, 115

  Roosevelt, Franklin D., 379, 427

  Roosevelt, Theodore, 8, 347, 449

  Rose, Don, 33–34, 44–45

  Rosewell, Ed, 48

  Rostenkowski, Dan, 27, 106–7, 109, 481–82

  Rostenkowski, Joe, 106

  Rouse, Pete, 165–66

  and Daschle, 165

  and Nelson, 382

  and Plouffe, 199

  and presidential primaries (2008), 173, 175, 191, 193, 199, 207

  and Roberts, 170

  and transition period, 328, 329

  Rove, Karl, 267, 349

  Royko, Mike, 28, 33, 40, 52–53, 86, 103–4

  Rubin, Doug, 176

  Rubin, Robert, 309, 332

  Ruemmler, Kathy, 458

  Rule, Amy, 165

  Rumsfeld, Donald H., 296, 300, 391

  Rush, Bobby, 122, 129, 136

  Rush, Huey, 122

  Russert, Tim, 157–58, 164, 174–75, 185–87, 235–36, 258

  Russia, Obama’s travel to, 168, 410–13

  Ryan, George, 117

  Ryan, Jack, 155, 161, 162

  Ryan, Paul, 459–60, 470

  Sadat, Anwar el-, 406

  Saltzman, Bettylu, 119, 129, 245

  Saltzman, Paul, 245

  Sandburg, Carl, 79

  Sarkozy, Nicolas, 425

  Saudi Arabia:

  arms sales to, 63

  Obama’s trip to, 404–5

  Sawyer, Eugene, 85, 88

  Scarborough, Joe, 475

  Schiliro, Phil, 376, 382, 384

  Schoen, Doug, 107–8

  Schommer, Debra, 101

  Schumer, Chuck, 181

  Sebelius, Kathleen, 295, 372

  Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), 412

  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 309, 456

  Senate Democratic Caucus, 337, 381, 384–85

  September 11 attacks, 94, 123, 129, 269, 397, 399, 403, 404

  Shaheen, Jeanne, 241

  Shaheen, William “Billy,” 241–42

  Sharpton, Rev. Al, 159

  Sheehan, Michael, 158, 465–66

  Shrum, Bob, 75, 79, 83, 104, 148, 320

  Shuler, Heath, 179

  Silver, Nate, 4

  Silver, Sheldon, 301

  Simas, David, 383

  Simon, Jeanne, 60, 68

  Simon, Paul:

  death of, 144

  and Dixon, 104

  and governor’s race (1972), 28

  and Obama, 121, 143–44, 145

  presidential primary campaign (1988), 81–84, 183, 234

  Senate campaigns of (1984), 59-61, 62-69, 75, 96; (1988), 83

  as Senator, 73, 74

  supporters of, 119

  Simon, Sheila, 144

  60 Minutes, 210, 366

  Smith, Ben, 226

  Smulevitz, Les, 127

  Snowe, Olympia, 380–82

  Social Security, 364–65

  Somalia, drone strikes in, 397

  Sotomayor, Sonia, 350

  South Carolina:

  polls in, 258–59

  primary in (2008), 256–59

  voters in, 224

  South Dakota, 282

  Specter, Arlen, 354

  Sperling, Gene, 461
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  Spitzer, Eliot, 236

  Springsteen, Bruce, 475–76

  Squier, Bob, 66, 67, 75, 117, 124

  Squier, Knapp, and Dunn, 124

  Squires, James D., 51, 52, 53, 59

  Stabenow, Debbie, 363

  “Star Spangled Banner, The,” 13

  Stein, Andrew, 20, 22–23

  Stephanopoulos, George:

  and ABC News, 160

  and Clinton, 99, 100, 109

  and debates, 231

  and exit polls, 258–59

  and Katrina, 169–70

  Stevens, Christopher, 471

  Stevenson, Adlai E. II, 32

  Stevenson, Adlai E. III, 75, 76–77

  Stewart, Jon, 348

  Stewart, Mitch, 226, 245, 247

  stimulus plan, see American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

  Stone, I. F., 16

  Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), 411, 412, 428, 430, 483

  Street, John F., 141–42

  Streisand, Barbra, 423

  Stroger, John, 137, 179, 180–81

  Summers, Lawrence, 331–32, 368

  and banking crisis, 356–60, 366

  as economic adviser, 332

  and financial crisis, 309, 333, 334, 337

  and National Economic Council, 332

  and stimulus plan, 334, 337

  Supreme Court, U.S.:

  and Affordable Health Care Act, 457–58

  appointees to, 170, 350, 420

  and campaign spending, 453

  Swibel, Charles, 48

  Syria, and ISIS, 396–97

  Talev, Margaret, 422

  Taliban, 392

  Tanden, Neera, 116, 288

  Taub, Richard, 26

  Tea Party:

  antigovernment absolutists in, 7, 484

  consensus blocked by, 315, 438, 484

  and midterm election (2010), 484

  and racism, 378–79

  Republican supporters of, 7, 315, 378–79, 380, 426, 427, 450, 460, 484

  vitriol of, 378–79, 380

  Terkel, Studs, 33

  terrorism, 94, 123, 397–99, 403, 411, 471

  Tewes, Paul, 226, 245, 247

  Texas, 266, 267, 268, 269

  Thomas, Clarence, 102, 104

  Thompson, James R., 28, 75, 76, 77

  Thornburgh, Dick, 96

  Time, 187

  Torricelli, Bob, 167

  Trippi, Joe, 152

  Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), 360, 362

  Truman, Harry S, 32

  Trump, Donald, 419

  Tsunami Tuesday, 262–63

  United Nations General Assembly, 423

  University of Chicago, 23–24, 25–26, 28, 35, 38–39

  Vietnam War, 21

  Villager, 28–29

  Village Voice, 28

  Vilsack, Christie Bell, 111–12

  Vilsack, Tom, 111–12, 127–28, 172, 182

  Virginia, 264, 320

  Voinovich, George, 91, 92, 93

 

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