Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (2008) - full transcript
The Murrow, Polk, and IDA Award-winning documentary Boogie Man is about Lee Atwater, a blues-playing rogue whose rise from the South to Chairman of the GOP made him a political rock star. He mentored George W. Bush and Karl Rove while leading the Republican party to historic victories, helping make liberal a dirty word, and transforming the way America elects our Presidents. In interviews with Republicans and friends of Atwater, Boogie Man examines his role in America's shift to the right. To Democrats offended by the 1988 Willie Horton controversy, Atwater was a remorseless political assassin dubbed by one Congresswoman "the most evil man in America." The film examines his irreverent sense of humor, his understanding of the American heartland, and his unapologetic vision of politics as war. It ends with a portrait of a cynic's deathbed search for meaning.
[ NO SOUND ]
[GUNSHOTS]
[RAPID FIRE]
[TYPEWRITER CLICKS]
[TYPEWRITER DINGS]
[TYPEWRITER ROLLING UP]
[ DRUMMING ]
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE
THE WHOLE THING.
[ BAND PLAYS ]
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-...THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
-PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.
-♪ SO I'M A BAD BOY ♪
♪ I'M A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
HOME ♪
♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
-CAN YOU UNDERSTAND AMERICAN
POLITICS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
LEE ATWATER?
I BELIEVE NOT.
-HE COULDN'T TEACH ME RHYTHM,
BUT HE DID TEACH THE DEMOCRATS
TO SING THE BLUES, AND I BELIEVE
THEY'RE JUST STARTING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-HE MATTERED IN AMERICAN
POLITICS BECAUSE OF THE MAN HE
GOT ELECTED, BECAUSE OF THE
PARTY HE SHAPED.
HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY
TO GEORGE H.W.'S VICTORY BUT TO
HIS SON'S VICTORY.
-LEE ATWATER WAS PART MYTH,
PART SHOWMAN, AND PART
POLITICAL MASTERMIND.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HOW DO POLITICS REALLY WORK?
HOW DOES A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
REALLY WORK?
THE DEPTHS OF IT DESERVE TO BE
EXAMINED CLOSELY.
-RACIST.
-DISGUSTING.
-SCUMBAG POLITICS.
-GARBAGE.
-AND I'M A VERY LOVABLE GUY.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-GOSH, WHAT A PERSON MADE DUE
FOR A LIVING.
NOW, HE PLAYED BLUES.
HE MY MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I LIKE HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IT WAS A GREAT STORY NOT
BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
IT'S AMERICAN YEARNING AND
STRIVING TO BE ACCEPTED, TO BE
POWERFUL, TO BE GREAT, AND THE
PERSONAL RISKS OF DOING THAT.
LIFE GETS EVEN WITH YOU IN THE
END.
-PRIDE.
SIN.
REDEMPTION.
LEE WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE, AND
YOU HAD TO WONDER, WHAT NEXT?
I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS SOME
KIND OF GREEK TRAGEDY.
LEE ATWATER GREW UP IN A
STANDARD, SOUTHERN-LOOKING,
WHITE LIFE.
HE PIERCED THROUGH ALL THAT.
I'D HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS
GUY OPERATE AT THE GRADE-SCHOOL
LEVEL.
I MEAN [LAUGHS] THAT'S WHERE YOU
LEARN POLITICS.
-HE COULD JUST GET A CROWD
INTO A FRENZY.
WE WERE JUST A SO-SO BAND, BUT
WE HAD LEE, THE ONLY GUY I KNEW
WHO COULD DO A SPLIT.
-JUST THINK IF YOU'D HAVE
STAYED WITH THE UPSETTERS REVUE
WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BECOME.
-YEAH, I COULD HAVE BEEN
MAKING $65 A NIGHT.
-HE TOOK THIS ONE GUY AND RAN
HIM AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.
NOBODY HAD EVER HAD A CAMPAIGN
MANAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
-AND THEY WON!
YOU KNOW?
HE FIGURED OUT EARLY ON THAT
MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE
CANDIDATE BUT THE
BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY.
-WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I JUST SAY,
"WELL, IF THESE GUYS ARE THE
DEMOCRATS, I'M A REPUBLICAN."
-I ASKED LEE, WHY DID YOU GO
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE
FUDDY-DUD, COUNTRY-CLUB SET?
LEE SAID, "HEY, MAN, I HAVE A
LOT BETTER CHANCE AT DOING
SOMETHING IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY."
-IF THE GRAND OLD PARTY STAYED
KIND OF GRAND AND OLD, IT WASN'T
GONNA BE MUCH OF A PARTY.
IT HAD TO GO YOUNG.
WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULD GO INTO
THE WILDERNESS.
-THE POWER WAS JUST WAITING TO
BE WIELDED, AND HE WAS GONNA
WIELD IT.
-AT NEWBERRY COLLEGE, WHERE
I ATTEND, WE SIGNED UP OVER
12,000 SUPPORTERS FOR PRESIDENT
NIXON, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
RECORD AT THIS POINT.
-ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT HE
DIDN'T DECIDE TO BECOME A
DEMOCRAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST AS EASY FOR HIM.
HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS.
AND YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A
REBEL.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ENORMOUS
RICHES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
-LEE BUILT AN ARMY OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS ALL OVER THE STATE
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FIRST, HE TOOK OVER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN WENT
NATIONAL.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
THE LIBERAL ALLEGATION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
ONLY CARE ABOUT THE RICH OR
WE'RE CLOSET FASCISTS OR WE'RE
PEOPLE WHO HATE THE HUMAN RACE.
-FREE BOOK IF YOU SIGN UP FOR
ISLAMO-FASCISM AWARENESS WEEK.
-LEE ATWATER SHOWED THAT YOU
COULD BE A COLLEGE REPUBLICAN
AND BE COOL, HAVE MUSICAL
INTERESTS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A
PINSTRIPED SUIT OR A BOW TIE.
-WE ARE THE GRASSROOTS FORCE.
YOU KNOW, THE LIBERALS MAY HAVE
THE UNIONS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
AND WE'RE HIT WITH LIBERAL BIAS
FROM EVERY SINGLE PROFESSOR, SO
WE KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
YOU CAN'T LEARN THESE TYPE OF
THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S TOUGH AND IT'S DIRTY, OR IT
APPEARS TO BE DIRTY.
AND KARL ROVE IS A SHINING
EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS CAN DO.
-THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-1973 CONVENTION.
IT REALLY IS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN
THIS LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE
WITH A BUNCH OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS WHO, AT THE TIME,
SEEMED LIKE THE MOST IRRELEVANT
FIGURES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
-COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WERE --
WHERE I ACTUALLY FIRST MET
ATWATER, WE WERE IN DIFFERENT
FACTIONS.
HE WAS IN THE KARL ROVE FACTION.
-I REMEMBER ONE OF THE
GREATEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE, ONE
OF THE WILDEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE
WAS SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF
LEE ATWATER IN A FORD PINTO.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HIS TURN
TO TAKE OVER THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS
ANOTHER GUY NAMED
ROBERT EDGEWORTH, WHO WAS
ACTUALLY THE ONE IN LINE TO
SUCCEED.
THEY GOT INTO A TREMENDOUS,
NATIONWIDE BATTLE.
-THIS IS THE BIG SHOWDOWN IN
MY RACE FOR CHAIRMAN.
ALL THE BAD GUYS ARE THE OTHER
SIDE.
THE VOTE COUNT WAS EVENLY SPLIT.
WE WERE GONNA LOSE.
-IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT
EDGEWORTH ACTUALLY DID HAVE MORE
VOTES.
LEE ATWATER AND KARL ROVE USED
EVERY CONCEIVABLE TRICK.
BALLOTS ARE THROWN AWAY
UNFAIRLY.
-THERE'S NOTHING MORE VICIOUS
THAN A YOUNG REPUBLICAN FIGHT --
NOTHING, NOTHING.
-THE ELECTION WAS APPEALED TO
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING, HE GAVE
THE ELECTION TO ROVE.
YOU KNOW, ECHOES OF THE 2000
ELECTION IN FLORIDA WHERE THE
BALLOTS ARE DISPUTED AND THE
SUPREME COURT MAKES THE DECISION
ON A VERY DUBIOUS BASIS.
THAT WAS A PRETTY EARLY LESSON
FOR KARL ROVE FROM LEE THAT YOU
COULD PLAY THE HARDEST OF
HARDBALL AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
-I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT WHO I
AM, WHAT I AM, AND WHAT I DO.
IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER TEAM, I'M
GONNA TRY TO BEAT YOU.
-LEE SOMETIMES REMINDED ME OF
A WOLVERINE SORT OF CHEWING
THROUGH THE PLYWOOD, AND HE HAD
A VAGUELY MARSUPIAL LOOK ABOUT
HIM, ALWAYS SNIFFING THE AIR.
-I'VE WONDERED ABOUT WHERE
LEE'S STRIVING CAME FROM.
LEE GREW UP IN THIS BREW OF
RACIAL DIVIDES DRIVING THE
COUNTRY.
THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE
SOUTH'S RISE FROM THE ASHES.
AT ITS HEART, IT'S ABOUT
LEARNING LESSONS OF DEFEAT.
-THE SOUTH IS THE ONLY PART OF
THE UNITED STATES EVER
THOROUGHLY DEFEATED AND
HUMILIATED IN A WAR.
IT DOES CREATE A VERY VISCERAL
BACKLASH, AND ATWATER WAS ADEPT
AT TAPPING INTO THAT.
IT WAS A BACKLASHING OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN
YOU ARE.
-IT'S THIS CULTURAL RESENTMENT
THAT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH FEEL
BECAUSE THESE LIBERALS, THESE
SMARTASSES RUN EVERYTHING, AND
WE HAVE NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT FOR
THEM.
LEE'S FRIENDS SAID, "YOU GUYS
ALL THINK WE'RE DUMB.
YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF
PREJUDICE AGAINST US THAT YOU
ACCUSE US OF HAVING AGAINST
BLACK PEOPLE."
-THE BIG BOYS TRYING TO PUSH
US AROUND, TRYING TO REMIND US
HOW MUCH GREATER THEY ARE.
"WE'LL SHOW THEM."
WELL, LEE HAD A "WE'LL SHOW
THEM" KIND OF STRENGTH TO HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT AS WIDE AS HIS
BACKBONE.
RESENTMENT BECAME THE DESTINY OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
-I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER
EVEN GOTTEN INTO POLITICS IF IT
WEREN'T FOR STROM THURMOND.
THE PERSONAL INTEREST HE TOOK IN
ME AND MY CAREER...
-BEFORE STROM, HE WAS, YOU
KNOW, "WHERE IS THE NEXT PARTY
COMING?
LET'S GET DRUNK TONIGHT."
WORKING FOR THURMOND TRANSFORMED
LEE.
-MY GRANDFATHER HATED
STROM THURMOND WITH A PASSION.
AND I GREW UP WITH THAT SAME
HATE.
AND WHEN I MET LEE, I KNEW LEE
WAS CONNECTED TO HIM.
HE'S A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
HATES US.
-GOOD OLD STROM.
GOLLY -- 21 YEARS OLD, HAS SEX
WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF A
MAID THERE AT HIS HOUSE, AND
PRODUCES A CHILD.
AND TO COME OUT AND SAY "THE
BLOOD WILL RUN BEFORE WE
INTEGRATE" -- IT PERSONIFIES
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE HYPOCRISY OF RACISM.
-THE SOUTH IS AFRO-CELTIC.
IT'S WHERE YOU FIND THE CELTS
SETTLE AND WHERE THE AFRICANS
ARE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE SAME
PERSON WHO'S SAYING, "YES, SIR"
AND "YES, MA'AM" TO YOU CAN GO
AND GET LYNCH ROPE THE NEXT DAY.
SO, I MEAN, THE SOUTH IS
COMPLICATED.
-THE SOUTH HAS GOT THE SAME
THING AMERICA'S GOT, A
COMPLICATED HISTORY ON RACE.
THERE ARE REASONS TO HATE THINGS
ABOUT THE SOUTH AND STILL LOVE
THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY DEMOCRAT
PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT LEE
REALLY LEARNED IN HIS EARLY
RACES.
THEY EXISTED UP IN SOME ELITE
LAYER OF THE CLOUDS THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MOVED
PEOPLE TO FEEL.
THEY SLEPT WHILE LEE
OUTMANEUVERED.
-IT WAS A CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
I WAS A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.
HE CAME OUT AND, IN ACCOUNT OF
AN UNDERHANDED WAY, IN A SENSE,
HE GOT A REPORTER TO ASK HIM A
QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, "ISN'T IT
TRUE THAT TOM TURNIPSEED HAD
SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEM
AS A KID?"
HE WAS THE MASTER AT CREATING
LITTLE JUICY TIDBITS FOR THE
MEDIA.
-WELL, I SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES IN
REFERENCE TO A BOUT HE HAD HAD
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN COLLEGE,
WHICH HAD BEEN MADE PUBLIC TWO
YEARS BEFORE, SO I WASN'T
BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND.
-THAT GOT QUOTED ALL OVER FROM
KINGDOM COME DOWN HERE,
LEE ATWATER SAYING THAT --
ACCUSING TOM TURNIPSEED OF BEING
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
-HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
I'M LAUGHING NOW, BUT IT AIN'T
FUNNY.
-ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
-IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO BLAME
DIRTY TRICKS THAN IT IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HARD WORK.
DID HE GIVE HIS OPPONENTS
AMMUNITION TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR
NEGATIVE TACTICS?
YES.
DOES THAT OBSCURE THE FACT THAT
HE OUTFOXED THEM AT NEARLY EVERY
TURN?
NOT TO THOSE OF US WATCHING
CLOSELY.
-SOUTHERNERS LIKE A GOOD,
HARD-FOUGHT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
HE FIRST MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
ON A RACE BETWEEN
CARROLL CAMPBELL AND A DEMOCRAT
BY THE NAME OF MAX HELLER.
-MAX HELLER HAD BEEN A
IMMIGRANT.
HE WAS, AS A JEWISH TEENAGER
ESCAPING HITLER, AND HE WAS A
POPULAR MAYOR.
-LEE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ADVOCATES OF THE PUSH-PULL.
THE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS ARE
ROUTINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, "WELL, IF
YOU CAME TO BELIEVE THAT
GOVERNOR 'X' WAS A PEDOPHILE,
WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION?"
NOW, THE POLLER HASN'T SAID THAT
GOVERNOR "X" IS A PEDOPHILE,
SIMPLY PLANTED THE IDEA THAT IF
HE WERE...
-THEY DID A POLL WHICH ASKED,
"WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A JEW WHO
DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST?"
NO, THEY WOULDN'T.
-LEE WAS ACCUSED OF RECRUITING
A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, SORT OF
A REDNECK-TYPE CANDIDATE, WHO
MADE RELIGION AN ISSUE IN THAT
RACE.
HE SAID HE ENTERED THE RACE ON
HIS OWN, BUT NONE OF US REALLY
BELIEVE THAT.
-HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE,
AND HE ATTACKED MAX HELLER.
-I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
I BELIEVE HE DIED TO SAVE MY
SINS.
MR. HELLER DOES NOT.
-ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT ME?
-I THINK I'VE HEARD QUITE A
BIT ABOUT YOU.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LORD?
-WELL, I...
-I'M A LITTLE BIT PREJUDICED
TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THE LORD.
-LEE ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
HE DENIED THAT HE RECRUITED THIS
GUY, BUT NONE OF US BELIEVED IT.
LEE ATWATER DID NOT LEAVE HIS
FINGERPRINTS ON HIS DIRTY
TRICKS.
HE LIKES TO TAKE AN ISSUE AND
USE IT AS A WEDGE -- ABORTION.
HE WOULD USE RACE.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
THAT'S HOW LEE ATWATER OPERATED.
REAGAN DID POORLY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I DON'T THINK RONALD REAGAN
WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED IF HE
HAD LOST THE SOUTH CAROLINA
PRIMARY.
IT WAS PIVOTAL.
REAGAN HAD TO WIN.
-THE REAGAN CAMPAIGN NEEDS
OPERATIVES.
LEE ATWATER WANTED TO ROAR INTO
WASHINGTON AND ONTO THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL STAGE, BUT YOU GOT TO
GET PEOPLE TO WIN BIG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE.
-LEE ATWATER FIGURED THAT
CONNALLY WAS THEIR BIGGEST
THREAT.
LEE LEAKED THE STORY TO ME THAT
JOHN CONNALLY WAS TRYING TO BUY
THE BLACK VOTE.
THAT STORY GOT OUT THANKS TO ME,
AND IT PROBABLY KILLED CONNALLY.
HE SPENT $10 MILLION FOR ONE
DELEGATE.
LEE SAVED RONALD REAGAN'S
CANDIDACY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, LEE LAUGHED
ABOUT THAT STORY.
HE SAID, "BANDY, YOU GOT USED."
[ LAUGHS ]
-ANYTHING GOES.
TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO
HEAR.
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, MAKE IT UP.
MAKING UP STUFF.
HE USED TO GO BACK IN THE ROOM,
MAKE UP THESE POLLS.
I TELL YOU, HE'D COME BACK WITH
A POLL IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.
-GO BACK AND LOOK AT
RONALD REAGAN'S 1980 CAMPAIGN
FOR PRESIDENT.
WHERE DOES HE BEGIN?
IN PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI,
WHERE THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS
WERE MURDERED BY THE
KU KLUX KLAN AT THE LOCAL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
REAGAN, SPEAKING TO AN
EXCLUSIVELY WHITE AUDIENCE,
APPEALED TO THEIR MOST BASE
INSTINCTS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND LEE ATWATER LATER TALKED
ABOUT THAT IN AN INTERVIEW HE
HAD IN THE EARLY '80s.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IT USED TO BE
"NIGGER, NIGGER, NIGGER."
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.
YOU HAD RONALD REAGAN TALKING
ABOUT WELFARE QUEENS,
CODED LANGUAGE.
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES -- I MEAN,
THE SYMBOLISM IS SO OBVIOUS.
-STROM THURMOND WANTED TO MAKE
A CALL TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT ALL
THIS BOY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAD DONE.
IT WAS IN KEEPING WITH
LEE ATWATER'S NATURE TO HAVE IT
BE FOR SOMETHING AS BIG AS
GETTING INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
AND PLAYING AT THAT LEVEL.
THIS WAS A BIGGER CHALLENGE.
THIS WAS A BIGGER PRIZE.
-STROM THURMOND WAS TRYING TO
GET LEE A JOB IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS YOUNG
KID WITHOUT A REAL RéSUMé.
HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE.
HE WAS FIDGETY -- HANDS, LEGS,
EVERYTHING MOVING -- BUT THERE
WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES.
HE HAD THESE PIERCING EYES THAT,
YOU KNOW -- AS I OFTEN THOUGHT,
THOSE ARE THE EYES OF A KILLER.
THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS GONNA
GET WHAT HE WANTED.
HE SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU 20 HOURS
A DAY."
I SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T HAVE A
SLOT FOR YOU.
I DON'T HAVE A TITLE FOR YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA BE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE RUNG."
24 HOURS -- HE HAD FIGURED OUT
HOW TO DETAIL PEOPLE AND
CONFISCATE FURNITURE OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S OFFICES.
-WE'D BE OUT THERE, RUNNING
AROUND THE MEMORIALS, AND HE'D
JUST -- "THIS IS WHERE I MAKE MY
LIVING, THE MOST POWERFUL CITY
IN THE WORLD."
-HE WAS GRABBING AS MUCH LIFE
AS HE POSSIBLY COULD.
EVERYTHING THAT HE ATE --
EVERYTHING -- INCLUDING ICE
CREAM, HE DOUSED WITH AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HOT SAUCE.
HE SEARCHED THE WORLD TO FIND A
SAUCE HOTTER THAN THE SAUCE THAT
HE HAD.
TABASCO WAS, TO HIM, FOR WIMPS.
I WATCHED HIM GROW UP.
HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER --
HAD GREAT ENERGY.
NO ONE EVER OUT-WORKED HIM.
HE ATE HIS MEALS THERE.
HE WAS THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HE WORKED FOR ME FOR A YEAR.
ONE DAY, HE COMES IN.
HE SAYS, "I'M BRINGING UP MY
WIFE AND MY CHILD."
AND I SAID, "LEE, I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU WERE MARRIED.
YOU NEVER TALKED ABOUT --"
HE SAID, "WELL, THEY'RE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M GONNA BRING THEM UP."
-♪ BRIGHT LIGHTS ♪
♪ BIG CITY ♪
♪ GONE TO MY BABY'S HEAD ♪
-HIS HOUSE WAS LIKE A
MARX BROTHERS' MOVIE.
IT WAS JUST CHAOTIC.
ONE CULT MOVIE AFTER ANOTHER --
"ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE."
HE WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY AN
ENTOURAGE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING HE AND HIS
WIFE FOUGHT ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER HAD ANY
TIME ALONE FOR THEMSELVES AND
JUST WITH THEIR FAMILY.
-A LOT OF FAMILIES SUFFER IN
WASHINGTON.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
IF HE COULD HAVE SLEPT ON HIS
COUCH AND SHOWERED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
GONE HOME.
-I'VE MET A MILLION OF THEM --
LITTLE POLITICAL ERRAND BOY,
VERY AMBITIOUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
ARE STILL IVY LEAGUERS, FEELING
THAT THE SNOPES FAMILY HAD
INVADED, THAT HE HAD GONE
TOO FAR, TOO FAST.
IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION,
THEY DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
HE'S A GUY ON THE MAKE --
DEVIOUS, MANIPULATIVE.
-THAT NEED, THAT BURNING NEED
TO BECOME SOMETHING AND
TRANSFORM AND SHOW THEM.
LEE WAS SCRAPPING.
WHAT FORCES WILL DRIVE THIS
PERSON TO NEW HEIGHTS OR CRASH
THEM TO THE GREATEST DEPTHS?
HE KEPT LEARNING.
-I DO NOT EVER REMEMBER
SITTING IN A MEETING IN WHICH
SOMEONE DIDN'T BRING UP HOW
SUCH-AND-SUCH WOULD PLAY IN THE
PRESS.
I THINK THERE IS A
PREOCCUPATION, AND JUSTIFIABLY
SO, ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE
NATURE OF POWER IN AMERICA TODAY
WITH HOW "A STORY PLAYS OUT" ON
TELEVISION.
-HERE'S THIS INSECURE KID WHO
I'M SURE EVERY DAY HAD THAT
TOTAL IMPOSTOR FEAR.
"IS ED ROLLINS GONNA FIRE MY ASS
TODAY?
ARE THEY GONNA FIND OUT THAT I'M
REALLY NOT A PhD CANDIDATE?
IS SOMEONE GONNA WALK IN AND
SAY, 'IT'S ALL BULLSHIT, LEE.
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE'"?
ANYTHING HE HAD ACCESS TO, HE
WOULD ALWAYS GIVE IT TO SOME
REPORTER -- EVERYTHING WAS
LEAKED.
HE WAS A BIG SOURCE.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED.
-WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
-NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
-NATIONAL JOURNAL DID A
PROFILE, AND LEE HAD WRITTEN
THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF 26-0.
I SAID, "LEE, WE'VE NOT WON 26
RACES IN THE SOUTH SINCE THE
CIVIL WAR."
I SAID, "WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT
IS THAT?"
AND HE GOES, "IT'S MY RECORD
NOW.
IT'S IN THE NATIONAL JOURNAL."
THE MEDIA NEVER CAUGHT ON.
HE WAS A VERY GOOD CON MAN.
-THE BEST POLITICAL OPERATIVES
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PRESS.
IT'S EASY, IF YOU DON'T WATCH
YOURSELF, TO FALL INTO THAT,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU LIKE
PERSONALLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE
YOU.
-WELL, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A
VERY DAPPER DRESSER.
-THANK YOU.
-YOU GOT THE RIGHT COLLAR,
RIGHT TIE WITH THE SUIT, EVEN
DOWN TO THE SOCKS.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
-[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS
GAMING YOU?
-AN OPERATIVE NEVER COMES AND
SAYS, "HERE IS A STORY I'D LIKE
YOU TO RUN FOR ME."
BUT JUST IN PRIVATE
CONVERSATION, "DID YOU KNOW THIS
ABOUT SO-AND-SO?
WE'RE STILL CHECKING IT, MIND
YOU, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA
TURN OUT TO BE TRUE."
WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
BEATEN BY YOUR COMPETITION AND
WAIT TILL, YOU KNOW, THEY
ANNOUNCE IT.
THEY JUST PUT IT ON THE
CONVEYER BELT, AND YOU JUST RUN
IT OUT.
-AND I AIN'T GOING TO SIT HERE
AND SPIN Y'ALL.
THIS IS A HIGH-QUALITY NEWS
CONFERENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-HE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE FIGURE
TO COVER 'CAUSE HE COULD WINK
AND NOD WITH THE REPORTERS,
SAYING, "WE ALL KNOW WHAT A
PHONY DEAL THIS IS, RIGHT?"
BY SAYING IT'S ALL WRESTLING,
HE USED HIS OWN CYNICISM TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
-THERE'S A BILL IN THE SENATE
CALLED THE CLEAN CAMPAIGN ACT OF
1985.
IT'S INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE
SO-CALLED NEGATIVE POLITICAL
ADVERTISING.
-WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD WIND
UP DOING IF THIS BILL PASSES IS
POLLUTING THE AIR WITH THESE
KIND OF CANDY-CANE TYPE
COMMERCIALS THAT ARE OOEY AND
GOOEY.
THEY ARE POLLUTING THE
ATMOSPHERE MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
-REAGAN BENEFITED FROM HAVING
A SCRAPPER TO REMIND EVEN SOME
WAVERING REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY
SHOULD FEAR.
-WE HAD A KIND OF A RATING
SCALE OF, ONE, MEANING THAT THIS
IS THE KIND THE GUY YOU JUST GO
AND BLATANTLY INTIMIDATE IN HIS
DISTRICT...
-THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT
BEGINS TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS
SOUTHERN-ACCENTED, FAST-TALKING
KNIFE FIGHTER.
EVEN IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS A
RUBE, YOU DID NOT TAKE HIM
LIGHTLY.
-♪ DEAD MAN WALKING ♪
♪ DEAD MAN ♪
-I WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME HE
WOULDN'T BE LOYAL TO ME, TOLD ME
NOT TO PICK HIM, BUT I ADMIRED
HIS WORK ETHIC.
I ADMIRED WHERE HE CAME FROM.
"HOW ARE WE TWO GUYS HERE?
MY OLD MAN A SHIPYARD WORKER
FROM VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, YOUR
PARENTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE IN THE BIG LEAGUES
TOGETHER."
I MADE HIM MY DEPUTY.
LEE BECAME MY PROTECTOR, MY
ANTENNA.
HE WAS VERY LOYAL TO ME.
I TOLD HIM VERY EARLY ON,
"DON'T YOU GET ANY PIPE DREAMS
HERE THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE MY
PLACE BECAUSE YOU WON'T.
WE'RE A TEAM."
BUT IF YOU LOOKED IN HIS EYES,
YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE
WHO BASICALLY WAS GONNA GET WHAT
HE WANTED.
WHEN HE BETRAYED ME IN '84, IN
THE LAST FOUR WEEKS OF THE
CAMPAIGN, HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
WITH A PRODUCER FOR NBC, AND SO
HE CAME IN TO ME ONE DAY AND HE
SAID, "WOULD YOU GIVE THEM AN
INTERVIEW?"
NBC NEWS LED THAT NIGHT WITH THE
STORY THAT ED ROLLINS WAS
RUNNING A DIRTY OPS OPERATION.
-OUR SOURCES, ALL TOP
REPUBLICAN STAFFERS, SAY THERE
IS AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION LED
BY CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR ED ROLLINS
DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE
MONDALE/FERRARO CAMPAIGN.
-TOOK ME 35 SECONDS TO FIND
OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'D BROUGHT
THE PRODUCER IN.
IT WAS HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND.
LEE HAD PUT A SPEAR IN MY BACK.
THE DAY I WALKED IN HIS OFFICE
AFTER THIS THING, HE THOUGHT I
WAS GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF
HIM.
AND I TOLD HIM.
I SAID, "YOU EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THIS TO ME AGAIN, I'LL
FUCKING BEAT THE LIVING CRAP OUT
OF YOU.
I'LL FIND YOUR ASS, AND I'LL
BEAT THE LIVING FUCKING CRAP OUT
OF YOU."
-♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
♪ BUT IT'S SHARP LIKE A RAZOR
BLADE ♪
♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
-IT WAS JUST A TWO-YEAR EFFORT
TO DESTROY ME.
HE WANTED TO RUN BUSH'S
CAMPAIGN.
HE WORKED BUSH VERY HARD.
HE SAID, "GEORGE W. NEVER
TRUSTED YOU, SO I KEPT FEEDING
IT."
HE CLEARLY MADE IT THAT I WOULD
NEVER BE ANYWHERE IN THE BUSH
WORLD.
-EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING FOR
THE GREAT MAN'S ATTENTION, AND,
LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE KNIVES
FLASHED BRILLIANTLY FOR A YEAR
OR SO.
-I HAD PUT SO MUCH TRUST IN
HIM.
IN SPITE OF EVERYONE TELLING ME
YOU COULDN'T TRUST HIM,
I TRUSTED HIM.
-WHAT CREATES SOMEBODY WHO'S
THAT COLD-BLOODED ARE EVENTS IN
HIS BACKGROUND AND HIS
UPBRINGING THAT LEAVE THEM WITH
A VERY BLEAK, REMORSELESS VIEW
OF LIFE.
-HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT JOE
MUCH.
HIS MOTHER -- YOU KNOW, SHE HAD
A DEEP-FRYER, I THINK, FULL OF
HOT GREASE.
AND THE LITTLE KID -- YOU KNOW,
HE PULLED ON THE CORD AND PULLED
THE THING OVER AND...
YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
JOE MUCH.
-THE GREASE ON THE STOVE ENDED
UP ON JOE, AND IT KILLED HIM.
-LEE SAID HE HEARD HIS
BROTHER'S SCREAMS THE REST OF
HIS LIFE EVERY DAY.
HOW HAUNTING COULD THAT BE?
-HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS
LITTLE OR NO MERCY IN LIFE.
WHAT KIND OF GOD PRODUCES THIS?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THE GOOD SON
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, OF
TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE AND ACCESS
TO POWER AND MONEY, AND HERE
LEE ATWATER WAS, THE BAD SEED OF
THE ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
I THINK THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE
WAS BRUTALLY BROUGHT UP SHORT BY
THE BUSHES, WHEN LEE MAY HAVE
PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
INTO THE MANSION TO SIP THE
SHERRY.
THE BUSHES NEVER REGARDED HIM AS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HIRED
HELP AND A SOMEWHAT
UNTRUSTWORTHY MEMBER OF THE
HIRED HELP.
THEY COULD ALWAYS JETTISON HIM
IF THEY HAD TO, CUT HIM LOOSE IN
A SECOND.
AND LEE WAS PERFECTLY WILLING
BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM ENTRéE TO
THE WORLD OF POWER AND CELEBRITY
THAT HE SO CRAVED.
-LYNDON JOHNSON WOULD
HUMILIATE HIS AIDES BY HAVING A
MEETING WHILE HE SAT ON THE
TOILET AND DEFECATED.
ATWATER DECIDED TO OPEN HIS
PANTS AND URINATE WITH AN
ESQUIRE REPORTER,
DAVID REMNICK.
-LEE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO
ME BECAUSE ALL HE WAS DOING WAS
TALKING TO THE GUY WHILE HE WAS
TAKING A PISS, AND REMNICK WROTE
IT UP.
AND LEE SAID, "WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO, SAY 'THIS PISS
IS OFF THE RECORD'"?
BARBARA BUSH WAS VERY OFFENDED
BY HIS VULGARITY.
IT ALMOST COST LEE HIS JOB
RUNNING THE BUSH CAMPAIGN.
-HE HAD TO OVERCOME THE FAMILY
SUSPICION.
WHO WAS THIS UPSTART?
HE'S A KID.
SO THEN WHO ARRIVES IN TOWN?
GEORGE W. BUSH.
THE FAMILY LIKED THE FACT THEY
HAD ONE OF THEIR OWN KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON LEE.
AND LEE RESPONDED TO THAT BY
SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU COME AND
WORK WITH ME, WORK ALONGSIDE ME,
IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME, AND
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN THIS
CAMPAIGN."
-SO, HE'S GOT A GUY THERE
WHO'S LIVED A LOT CLOSER TO THE
EARTH THAN SOME OF HIS
RELATIVES.
HE AND LEE HIT IT OFF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-A TRUE TEST OF A GOOD
CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS TO BE ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
MY MOTHER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME A
SOUTH CAROLINA CRACKER...
LEE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-THEY WERE A MAGNIFYING FORCE.
THEY WERE BOTH DEEPLY
INTELLECTUAL AND WELL-READ.
-ATWATER SAID HE READ FOUR
BOOKS A MONTH.
THAT WAS BULLSHIT.
HE DIDN'T READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
HE HAD JIM PINKERTON READ THEM
AND TELL HIM WHAT THEY SAID.
HE READ, LIKE, THE CliffsNotes
FOR FOUR BOOKS A MONTH.
-AND MY NUMBER-ONE SOUL MATE
AND A GUY WHO'S WITH ME THICK
AND THIN -- GEORGE BUSH JR.
-HE'S GOT MOJO, LEADER OF THE
NEXT CAMPAIGN, THE EYES OF THE
WORLD UPON YOU.
THIS WAS AN EVEN BIGGER LEAP UP.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO MAKE THEM
MASTER POLITICIANS, OR IT'S
GONNA RUIN THEM.
IT'S EITHER GONNA SHOW THEIR WAY
TO VICTORY IN THE FUTURE OR SHOW
THEM TO THE DOOR.
-IRAN-CONTRA MUST HAVE BEEN
PERCEIVED BY ATWATER AS A VERY
SERIOUS THREAT, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST SCANDALS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND YOUR GUY IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
-A CHARGE HAS BEEN MADE THAT
THE UNITED STATES HAS SHIPPED
WEAPONS TO IRAN, TRAFFICKING
WITH TERRORISTS.
THOSE CHARGES ARE UTTERLY FALSE.
-IT'S A LIE.
IT'S A LIE.
I MEAN, PRESIDENTS LIE.
-GIVING WEAPONS TO OUR SWORN
ENEMY, IRAN, WHO WE'RE ALL
RALLYING THE SABERS ABOUT TODAY.
IT'S THE SAME IRAN.
-THEY WERE ALWAYS INTERVENING
ON BEHALF OF DRUG SMUGGLERS AND
TERRORISTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MORAL
STANDPOINT, IT'S INDEFENSIBLE.
BUT THEY WERE SO GOOD AT
CONTROLLING THE DISCOURSE.
-HE CAME OUT MONTHS LATER
AND ADMITTED.
-I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I
DID NOT TRADE ARMS FOR HOSTAGES.
MY HEART AND MY BEST INTENTIONS
STILL TELL ME THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE
TELL ME IT IS NOT.
-"THERE WERE SOME RENEGADES IN
THE WHITE HOUSE."
HE ACTED LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS WORKING IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
-I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
ANY DIVERSION OF FUNDS
TO THE CONTRAS.
-HE DESERVES OUR SUPPORT, NOT
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING
FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FACED
WITH THE DECISIONS HE HAD TO
MAKE.
-YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT AND THE
VICE PRESIDENT LYING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS,
DOCUMENTS BEING SHREDDED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?
BUT THEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAD IRANIAN PROBLEMS
WAS BECAUSE WE HAD OVERTHROWN
THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN IN 1953.
BUSH WASN'T THE ONLY CIA
DIRECTOR TO BE UP TO HIS NECK IN
DRUG-DEALING, MILITARY LEADERS
IN CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA.
IF YOU COULD AFFORD A UNIFORM
AND A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES AND
TOLD US YOU WERE ANTICOMMUNIST,
WE SUPPORTED YOU.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SHOWING NORIEGA
AROUND THE C.I.A. OFFICE.
IT WAS APPALLING.
TRUTH BE KNOWN, THE IRAN-CONTRA
THING IS THE THING THAT GOT ME
INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-VICE PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE CONTRA AID OR
NOT, SIR?
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-BUSH WAS REALLY DAMAGED GOODS
BECAUSE OF THE SENSE THAT HE WAS
INVOLVED IN A COVER-UP, SECRETLY
PROMOTING A WAR IN NICARAGUA
THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS OPPOSED.
AND JUST THE DEVIOUSNESS OF THE
WHOLE THING RAISED THE MOST
SERIOUS POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS INTEGRITY AND FITNESS.
-IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER YOUR
FRIENDS, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME
IS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT NOVEMBER IF
YOU ARE OUR STANDARD-BEARER AND
THESE DEMOCRATS GET AFTER YOU ON
THIS SUBJECT?
[ APPLAUSE ]
-PEOPLE WANT TO GET THIS
IRANIAN SITUATION BEHIND THEM.
THEY'RE TIRED OF IT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN TO
THINK ABOUT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR POCKETBOOKS TO
THINK ABOUT.
FARMERS HAVE THEIR CROPS TO
THINK ABOUT.
-HE KNEW THAT, IN ALL
PROBABILITY, HIS CANDIDATE HAD
BEEN UP TO HIS EYEBALLS IN THIS
ACTIVITY.
HE'D GET KNOCKED OUT OF THE GAME
PRETTY QUICK.
-THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY
NERVOUS MOMENTS.
-YOU SAID IF YOU HAD KNOWN
THIS WAS AN ARMS-FOR-HOSTAGES
SWAP THAT YOU WOULD HAVE OPPOSED
IT.
-EXACTLY.
MAY I ANSWER THAT?
-THAT WASN'T A QUESTION.
IT WAS A STATEMENT.
-IT WAS A STATEMENT, AND I'LL
ANSWER IT.
THE PRESIDENT CREATED THIS
PROGRAM AS TESTIFIED...
-IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY,
"THAT'S A LIE."
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT FOR A
WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS WHEN
YOU'RE IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW
AND A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING, AND THEY KNOW THIS.
THEY'LL JUST SIT THERE AND LIE
TO YOU.
-AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING LEE
HAD A PARTICULAR MASTERY OF IS
STAYING ON MESSAGE.
BUSH WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
HE WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE
THAT HE WAS IN THE LOOP.
THEY COULDN'T BREAK THAT STORY,
SO JUST DON'T SAY ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
-IT'S NOT FAIR TO JUDGE MY
WHOLE CAREER BY A REHASH ON
IRAN.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I
JUDGED YOUR CAREER BY THOSE
SEVEN MINUTES WHEN YOU WALKED
OFF THE SET IN NEW YORK?
-WELL, MR. --
-WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?
I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU, BUT I
DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR WHAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
-BUSH WAS LYING.
AND ELLIOT ABRAMS WAS LYING AND
CASPAR WEINBERGER WAS LYING AND
GEORGE SHULTZ WAS LYING.
-SOURCES IN OTHER CAMPAIGNS
SPECULATE BUSH'S STRATEGY MAY
HAVE BEEN TO SET UP RATHER, THE
VICE PRESIDENT ALWAYS PLANNING
TO GO ON THE ATTACK.
CBS NEWS CORRESPONDENT
TERENCE SMITH ASKED BUSH
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR LEE ATWATER
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
ATWATER LAUGHED AND THEN
ANSWERED, "WE NEVER TALK ABOUT
HOW WE MAKE SAUSAGE."
-ONCE YOU GET TO WASHINGTON
AND LEARN THE GAME, THE
CANDIDATES ARE, A LOT OF TIMES,
PUPPETS, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
BEHIND THE SCENES PULLING THE
STRINGS ON THESE GUYS.
IN COLLEGE, LEE TOTALLY DETESTED
SPORTS, EXCEPT WRESTLING.
HIS THING WAS, "THIS IS THE ONLY
HONEST SPORT OUT THERE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
EVERYBODY KNEW WRESTLING WAS
FAKE.
-HE WAS BASICALLY SAYING THAT
POLITICS IS PHONY, THAT
GOVERNMENT IS PHONY, THAT A LOT
OF PERSONAL LIFE IS PHONY.
AND "PHONY" WAS A BIG WORD WITH
HIM.
-HE MAY HAVE FELT THAT
WRESTLING WAS THE ONLY HONEST
SPORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO
OBVIOUSLY DISHONEST.
WHAT'S THERE TO ENTERTAIN,
WHAT'S THERE TO DISTRACT IS WHAT
COUNTS.
AND, ACTUALLY, THINGS ARE RUN ON
A MUCH MORE CYNICAL BASIS BY THE
PEOPLE AT THE TOP.
-ATWATER SAYS HE CAN'T RELAX
OR TAKE IT EASY BECAUSE HE'S
ALWAYS PREPARING FOR A MENTAL
SPARRING MATCH.
-YOU'RE ALWAYS IN A BATTLE OF
WITS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUNCH OF GUYS
OUT THERE TRYING TO OUTSMART YOU
AND TRYING TO STICK IT TO YOU,
AND YOUR JOB IS TO STICK IT TO
THEM FIRST.
-THE PLAN WAS PRETTY EASY --
WIN IOWA AND WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT DOLE.
-UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A
CAMPAIGN AND UNDER THE HOT
LIGHTS OF THE TELEVISION,
BOB DOLE MIGHT BE FORCED TO MAKE
AN ERROR.
LEE HAD THE CAMPAIGN THROW
THINGS AT THEIR CAMPAIGN TO
PRESS HIM.
-THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAID THIS
MORNING THAT SENATOR DOLE BROKE
THE JANUARY 13th TRUCE.
THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT --
-COME ON.
WE'RE NOT GONNA ANSWER -- I'M
NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS LIKE THIS.
-LEE PUT OUT SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT OTHERS WERE HEARING
VOICES EVERYWHERE.
AND HE GOT THEM OFF THEIR GAME
BY MAKING THEM ANGRY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MEDIA
BEAST CAN ONLY BE CHEWING ON ONE
ANKLE AT A TIME.
MAKE SURE THE ANKLE IS THE OTHER
GUY'S.
-YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF
SCURRILOUS, LAST-MINUTE,
DESPERATION TACTICS -- AND THIS
IS ONLY THE FIRST STATE.
-DID YOU, IN FACT, SPREAD ANY
FALSE RUMORS ABOUT
ELIZABETH DOLE?
-YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
-I DON'T KNOW.
-NO, I DID NOT. I DID NOT.
-BOB DOLE SAYS YOU DID.
-NO, I DID NOT.
-THIS ALWAYS FASCINATED LEE.
HE WAS IN A PROFESSION -- YOUR
CAREER COULD GET DASHED IN A
DAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT TOTALLY INTRIGUED
HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IOWA HAS TURNED THE
REPUBLICAN RACE UPSIDE-DOWN.
-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT GEORGE BUSH
IS DEEPLY DAMAGED, AND BOB HAS
TO BE CONSIDERED THE
FRONT-RUNNER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
-WHEN YOU FUCK UP IN THIS
ARENA, THE SPOTLIGHT IS
AMPLIFIED A THOUSAND TIMES.
-WASHINGTON CHEERS FOR TWO
THINGS -- THE WASHINGTON
REDSKINS TO WIN ON SUNDAY, AND
IT CHEERS FOR WHOEVER IS IN
POWER TO FAIL.
-ATWATER VOMITED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER THAT.
LOSING MADE HIM PHYSICALLY ILL.
IF THEY LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY
WERE DONE.
THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE
ABYSS.
I VISITED HIM IN HIS HOTEL
ROOM.
HE WAS NERVOUS ENERGY.
IT WAS SNOWING SO HARD OUTSIDE
THAT ATWATER'S RUNNING IN THE
STAIRWELL OF HIS HOTEL, UP AND
DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
-LEE ATWATER WILL EITHER
SOLIDIFY HIS IMAGE AS THE
POLITICAL WONDER BOY OR BE KNOWN
AS THE MAN WHO STEERED
PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER
GEORGE BUSH INTO THE GROUND.
REPORTS SURFACED THAT BUSH WAS
PREPARED TO FIRE ATWATER IF HE
LOST THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.
-SURE, WE'RE CONCERNED.
WE'RE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING DAY
AND NIGHT.
BUT IN THE END, GEORGE BUSH IS
GONNA WIN.
-THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD TO DO
SOMETHING THAT HE ISN'T
NATURALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
IT'S BEEN CALLED, WRONGLY,
NEGATIVE.
IT WASN'T NEGATIVE.
THIS IS PLAY BIG OR GO HOME.
-BUSH SAYS HE WON'T RAISE
TAXES, PERIOD.
DOLE STRADDLES.
HE'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOLE ACTUALLY ADVISED...
-READ MY LIPS.
NO NEW TAXES!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DOLE COULD NOT TAKE THE
"NO TAX INCREASE" PLEDGE.
IT KILLED HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUSH WAS LESS ETHICAL.
BUSH TOOK IT. HE LIED.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ BAND PLAYS "YANKEE DOODLE
DANDY" ]
-BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T SAY HOW WELL LEE ATWATER,
OUR GREAT CHAIRMAN, PERFORMED.
HE DID A SUPERB JOB, AND IT'S
NOT JUST 'CAUSE HE'S STANDING
HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S SOMETHING WONDERFUL
ABOUT FIGHTING BACK IN LIFE.
-WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO
HIM TO TURN HIM INTO A HIT MAN?
-HE WAS NOT A HIT MAN.
WHAT HE DID IN THAT CAMPAIGN WAS
DISCUSS ISSUES.
-BUSH HAD WON IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND TOM BROKAW ON
NBC WAS INTERVIEWING THE TWO OF
THEM.
-AND, SENATOR DOLE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO
THE VICE PRESIDENT?
-YEAH, STOP LYING ABOUT MY
RECORD.
-THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AND THE
TONE OF VOICE -- I INTERVIEWED
HIM LATER ABOUT IT, AND YOU
KNOW, HE SAID, "I LOST MY COOL,
AND IT COST ME.
YOU WORK FOR TWO YEARS OF YOUR
LIFE FOR SOMETHING, AND IT'S
TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SAY,
'GEE, HECK'?"
-WE'RE NOT GONNA COMMENT.
I DON'T COMMENT ON ATWATER.
-THE FACT THAT THE
VICE PRESIDENT GOT THE
NOMINATION SO OVERWHELMINGLY IS
VERY INDICATIVE OF THE KIND OF
SUPPORT HE'S GOT IN THIS PARTY.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME ONE HALF
OF THAT WINNING TANDEM, THE
HONORABLE JOHN BUSH --
GEORGE BUSH.
[ LAUGHS ]
GOD!
-THEY THOUGHT BUSH WAS A WIMP
AND A WUSS...
ATWATER WAS A HICK AND HACK.
-WITH HIS BIG POWERBOAT UP IN
MAINE AND HIS UPPER-CLASS
BACKGROUND AND BEING FROM YALE,
DO YOU THINK HE IS REALLY THE
GUY WHO'S GOING TO APPEAL TO THE
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS, THE
ORDINARY CITIZENS OF AMERICA?
-WELL, BUT YOU JUST NAMED A
BUNCH OF THINGS THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH ISSUES, AND
THIS IS GONNA BE A CAMPAIGN OF
ISSUES.
-PEOPLE SCOFFED AT THE ATWATER
ISSUES -- THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THE
PRISON FURLOUGHS.
WHO WOULD BUY THAT?
THIS IS SO IRRELEVANT.
-AND KEEP THIS COUNTRY GOING.
-WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT?!
-DEFICIT?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ABOUT IT.
-YEAH!
-I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PAYING
TOO LITTLE IN TAXES.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING TOO MUCH.
-[ SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY ]
-HURRAY!
[ CHEERS ]
[ ALL CHANTING "GO HOME, BUSH" ]
-POOR GEORGE.
HE CAN'T HELP IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER FOOT
IN HIS MOUTH.
[ LOUD LAUGHTER ]
-THEY ARE THE PARTY THAT TALKS
TOUGH ON DRUGS BUT DEALS SOFTLY
WITH DRUG-RUNNING DICTATORS.
AND GEORGE BUSH IS A DEAD DUCK.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DUKAKIS WINS BIG EVERYWHERE.
HE'S GONNA WIN IN A LANDSLIDE.
I THINK HE WILL WIN IN EVERY
PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
-THE GOVERNOR JUST CAME OUT
HERE AND SAID THAT MR. DUKAKIS
IS GONNA WIN BIG EVERYWHERE.
-WELL, I'M GLAD THEY HAVE THAT
KIND OF ATTITUDE BECAUSE THAT
LEADS TO THE KIND OF
OVERCONFIDENCE AND COCKINESS
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
UNHEALTHY ATTITUDE YOU CAN HAVE
IN POLITICS.
-WHO'S GONNA --
-BYE!
-WAIT, WAIT.
ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY?
WHEN ARE WE GONNA FIND OUT?
-THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
QUESTION.
I WILL CONTEMPLATE IT WHEN I GO
JOGGING.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-LEE'S FAVORITE STATEMENT WAS
"JUST PLAY DUMB AND KEEP
MOVING."
[ CROWD CHANTING "FOUR MORE
YEARS" ]
-THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
PROUDLY CASTS ALL ITS VOTES FOR
HER FAVORITE SON AND THE BEST
FATHER IN AMERICA, GEORGE BUSH.
-REPUBLICANS HAVE OFTEN BEEN
DISMISSED AS SLOW, DUMB, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
LEE LOVED EXAGGERATING THAT
IMAGE AND JUST OUTFOXING
EVERYBODY AROUND HIM.
-IN THE SOUTH, THAT'S CALLED
"SLOW-PLAYING 'EM."
BEING A SLOW TALKER AND
EASYGOING, WELL, A LOT OF
NORTHERNERS PERCEIVE THAT AS NOT
VERY BRIGHT.
SUCK THEM IN, YOU END UP
RUNNING ALL OVER THEM.
"YOU CAN RUN. YOU CAN RUN.
TELL MY BIG BOY WILLIE BROWN.
I'M STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS,
BABY.
I THINK I'M SINKING DOWN."
-THIS IS A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL
ELECTION.
IF WE LOSE THE PRESIDENCY THIS
TIME, WE LOSE IT ALL.
-RONALD REAGAN HAD TO HAVE
GEORGE BUSH IN OFFICE.
IF A DEMOCRAT WON, WE WOULD HAVE
A REAL LEGAL PRECEDING, AND
RONALD REAGAN COULD HAVE
GONE TO JAIL.
-DO YOU FEEL THAT
MICHAEL DUKAKIS SHOULD MAKE HIS
MEDICAL RECORDS PUBLIC?
-LOOK, I'M NOT GONNA PICK
ON AN INVALID.
-MR. PRESIDENT! MR. PRESIDENT!
-HE GOT AWAY WITH THOSE KIND
OF THINGS 'CAUSE HE DID IT IN A
SORT OF JOCULAR WAY WITH
HIS IRISH WIT.
THAT STATEMENT WAS ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN
AMERICA.
IMMEDIATELY, MICHAEL DUKAKIS'
NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP.
-HE TRIED TO GET ME TO WRITE
ABOUT GOVERNOR DUKAKIS HAVING
PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.
IT WAS REALLY A SLANDER.
HE THOUGHT MY WEAKNESS WAS THAT
IF I COULD GET AN EXCLUSIVE
STORY, I WOULD JUMP AT IT AND
BITE AT IT AND NOT BE AS CAREFUL
AS I SHOULD BE.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT I
WAS CAREFUL ENOUGH NOT TO GET
INVOLVED IN THAT ONE.
-DID YOU GUYS MEET LEE ATWATER
OUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER HERE?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-PIPE DOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-ENOUGH APPLAUSE.
IT GOES TO HIS HEAD.
-NO ONE HIRES PEOPLE LIKE
LEE ATWATER TO LOSE.
THERE ARE NO SILVER OR BRONZE
MEDALS IN THIS GAME.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU WIN.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING.
I'M A FORMER ALTAR BOY.
THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS THAT
RECRUITS ALTAR BOYS.
-YOU DO HAVE TO BE TOUGH TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF THEM,
AND YOU DO HAVE TO DO THINGS
THAT THE NORMAL PERSON MIGHT
SHRINK FROM.
BUT THAT'S IT.
WHERE'S THE LINE?
WANTING TO WIN MAKES PEOPLE DO
THINGS THAT THEY WOULDN'T
CONSIDER IN A NORMAL SENSE.
THEY WOULDN'T HIRE LEE ATWATER.
TO WIN, THOUGH, THAT'S WHAT IT
TAKES.
-EARLIER THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
SENATOR STEVE SYMMS OF IDAHO
SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF
REPORTS THAT KITTY DUKAKIS HAD
BURNED AN AMERICAN FLAG DURING
AN ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION IN THE
'60S.
-I SAID IT WAS AN ALLEGATION
THAT HAD BEEN TOLD TO ME.
-BUT FROM WHO, THOUGH?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT NATIONALLY.
WHO ACTUALLY SAID IT TO YOU?
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, SOMEBODY
NEEDS SOME KIND OF FACT.
-I WOULDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE
THE SOURCES.
-WHAT ABOUT PICTURES?
YOU MENTIONED PICTURES.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY PICTURES?
-NO, I HAVE NOT.
I SAID I HADN'T SEEN THEM.
I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SOME VERY
RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT THERE
ARE PICTURES FLOATING AROUND.
-THERE COULDN'T BE A
PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE THERE WAS
NEVER ANY SUCH INCIDENT.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
AND THERE IS NOBODY WHO LOVES
THE FLAG AS MUCH AS MICHAEL AND
MYSELF.
THAT FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF
FREEDOM, A SYMBOL OF WHAT THIS
COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
-WERE YOU AT A DEMONSTRATION
AT ANY TIME?
-NEVER. NEVER.
-WHEN YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR
HEELS AND YOU'RE DEFENDING
YOURSELF CONSTANTLY, IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE WRONG,
AND, THEREFORE, LEE'S CANDIDATE
USUALLY COMES OUT LOOKING LIKE
HE'S IN THE RIGHT.
-AND WHAT DOES DUKAKIS DO?
EVERY TIME HE STANDS UP, HE
ATTACKS GEORGE BUSH.
HE'S A HYPOCRITE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW IT, TOO.
THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE KIND
OF OUT-OF-TOUCH CROWD THEY ARE.
THEY PROBABLY SAT UP IN
BROOKLINE EATING BELGIAN ENDIVES
AND QUICHE OUT OF THE CAN AND
FIGURED, "WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS GO ATTACK..."
-QUICHE OUT OF A CAN!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
-SEE, IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE'S
A RING OF TRUTH TO IT.
THEY PROBABLY THINK, YOU KNOW,
DUKAKIS -- THEY WERE A BUNCH OF
ELITISTS.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, HE AND THE
FOLKS AROUND BUSH WERE TRYING TO
MAKE ME A KIND OF NORTHEAST
LIBERAL WHO WAS OUT OF TOUCH AND
THAT KIND OF A THING.
I MEAN, THE IRONY OF THIS IS
THAT...
YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUY WHO IS THE
SON OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME
OVER HERE AND LIVED THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
NOTHING AGAINST YANKEE BRAHMANS
WHO WERE HERE SINCE 1630.
-A NICE WASP KID, BORN IN
MILTON.
-AND TEXANS WANT A TEXAN FOR
PRESIDENT.
-TEXANS WANT A TEXAN AS
PRESIDENT, NOT SOMEONE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
-BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE LIVED DOWN IN -- GREW UP IN
CONNECTICUT.
-BUSH COULD EAT PORK RINDS,
BUT HE WAS A YALIE AND HE WAS AN
ELITE.
AND HE MAY HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS,
BUT PEOPLE STILL THOUGHT OF HIM
FROM CONNECTICUT.
LEE WAS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
THE COUNTRY.
-DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU I'M
NO TEXAN.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-LEE UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF
IMAGE AND HOW AMERICAN SYMBOLS
RESONATE WITH A LOT OF
SOUTHERNERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND DEMOCRATS TO THIS DAY
SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST
THEIR OWN INTERESTS BY
SUPPORTING THESE REPUBLICANS
WHEN, IN FACT, THE AUDACITY AND
ARROGANCE OF THAT IS PROUD
PATRIOTISM TRANSCENDS MONEY.
-SMILE.
-MR. PRESIDENT!
-THE QUESTION I REALLY WANT TO
HEAR HIM ANSWER IS, WHY IN THE
WORLD DID HE VETO THIS BILL
CALLING FOR THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO BE SAID IN OUR
CLASSROOMS?
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
GET DOWN HERE, DUKAKIS, AND
ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
-KIDS SALUTE THE FLAG EVERY
DAY.
IT'S PART OF THE LAW.
I'M ALL FOR IT.
THE QUESTION WAS, COULD YOU PUT
TEACHERS IN JAIL WHO REFUSED TO
LEAD THE PLEDGE?
SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES SAID YOU CAN'T DO
THAT.
-WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE?
IT'S JUST SHOWING THAT YOU
BELIEVE AND YOU STAND BEHIND
YOUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.
-EVERY ONE OF US COULD STAND
SOME MORE PATRIOTISM.
-WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
MR. BUSH THAT I WASN'T GONNA LET
HIM QUESTION MY PATRIOTISM.
-I'M NOT QUESTIONING HIS
PATRIOTISM.
I'M QUESTIONING HIS JUDGMENT.
-REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY
STRIDENT, ALMOST, IN ATTACKING
MIKE DUKAKIS.
-NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S
STRIDENT.
I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT'S A
MIS-ADJECTIVE.
I WOULD SAY STRONG.
-WHAT'S YOURS?
-WELL, MINE IS ISSUE
CLARIFICATION.
-I DON'T LIKE THEM TAKING MY
GUN.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T
TAKING PEOPLE'S GUNS AWAY IN
TEXAS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT'S
SON, NOW THE PRESIDENT, RAN
AROUND TEXAS TELLING THEM THAT
THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
-IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUNS
HERE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT AS WELL
BE A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
-TEXAS REPUBLICANS DIDN'T
WASTE A MINUTE.
FIVE MILLION LETTERS TOLD TEXAS
VOTERS THAT MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS
NOTHING BUT A NORTHEAST LIBERAL,
AND THAT'S A CUSS WORD FOR A LOT
OF TEXANS.
-A LIBERAL IS SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE
TAXES, MORE SPENDING, MORE
REGULATION, AND MORE
INTERFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
AND THE ONLY THING THEY WANT
LESS OF IS DEFENSE, AND THAT'S
THE ONE THING WE WANT MORE OF.
-IF YOU LET THE CAMPAIGN BE
ABOUT BUSH, YOU PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE LOST.
THE CAMPAIGN HAD TO BE ABOUT
THE VALUES YOU PROJECT ONTO
DUKAKIS.
IT WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE
CULTURE WAR.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TURNED
INTO A STEALTH PARTY THAT ARGUES
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMON MAN AND
GIVES ALL THE BENEFITS TO THE
WEALTHIEST 1/10 OF 1%.
IT ARGUES ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN
MORALITY POLICIES, ENGAGES IN
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRIVATE
BEHAVIOR.
HE USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE
ANTI-ABORTION FORCES AS THE
"EXTRA CHROMOSOME GROUP" AND THE
ONES WHO HAD A HAND COMING OUT
OF THEIR HEAD, OR A THIRD EYE,
YOU KNOW.
THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
THE MOST DEVOTED PEOPLE TO HIS
CAUSE.
-A LITTLE LOUDER!
-ONE THING LEE TOLD ME, BY THE
WAY, THOUGH, IS NEVER, EVER,
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN A FUNNY HAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I WAS THERE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
SHOW.
-MICHAEL DUKAKIS IS OPPOSED TO
VIRTUALLY EVERY DEFENSE SYSTEM
WE DEVELOPED.
-THE TANK AD WENT DOWN HIS
VOTING RECORD.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "NOW, WE'VE
GOT TO CHECK EVERY ONE OF THESE
POINTS."
I'M NOT CERTAIN WE DID.
-FIRST OF ALL, THE BUSH
CAMPAIGN WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THOSE
STATISTICS ON THE AIR IF THEY
WEREN'T CORRECT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT COMMERCIAL IS
MORE ABOUT DUKAKIS' RECORD.
-I WAS A GOVERNOR.
IF THERE WERE BILLS INVOLVING
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE IN
WASHINGTON, OBVIOUSLY, I
WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED ON THOSE.
I NEVER SERVED A DAY OF MY LIFE
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-IT'S WITH A GREAT DEAL OF
PRIDE THAT I INTRODUCE MY BIG
LITTLE BROTHER GEORGY.
DON'T --
[ CHEERS ]
I WANT YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.
FROM NOW ON -- GEORGE TOLD ME
THIS MORNING, HE DOES NOT WANT
TO BE REFERRED TO AS "JUNIOR."
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
HAVE PRIDE IN HIS FATHER AND WHO
HE IS, BUT GEORGE HAS DONE AN
OUTSTANDING JOB ON THIS
CAMPAIGN.
[ CRASH ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-DEMOCRATS!
-IT'S DEMOCRATS.
-ONE REASON MARVIN AND I AND
BROTHER JEB FROM THE STATE OF
FLORIDA ARE WORKING SO HARD IS
BECAUSE OUR DAD NEEDS A REAL
JOB.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-OUR NOW-PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS WAS A NEW LEVEL OF PLAYING
FIELD, AND HE WAS WATCHING A
MASTER IN LEE ATWATER.
-WHAT GEORGE W. SAW IN LEE WAS
AN ATTITUDE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
AFRAID TO EXPRESS THE FIRST TIME
HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.
PROBABLY WASN'T NEARLY
MANIPULATIVE AND COLD-BLOODED
ENOUGH.
HE WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PLEASE
HIS DAD, WHO HE SOMEWHAT
MISTAKENLY THOUGHT WAS A GOOD
GUY, UNCAPABLE OF TOUGH
POLITICS.
GEORGE W. WAS SAYING, "NOW I SEE
HOW THIS HAS TO BE DONE.
DO THE DEAL. DO THE DEED."
-SOMETIMES THE SONS CAN SAY
SOMETHING THEIR FATHERS CAN'T,
AND THAT IS, WE'RE COUNTING ON
YOU BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO GO
OUT THERE AND KICK SOME OF
MICHAEL DUKAKIS AND KICK IT
HARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ATWATER HAD A GENIUS FOR THE
STICKY ISSUE...
SIMPLE ENOUGH AND SCARY ENOUGH
THAT THE MEDIA COULD LATCH ON TO
IT.
-AS GOVERNOR, MICHAEL DUKAKIS
VETOED MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR
DRUG DEALERS.
HE VETOED THE DEATH PENALTY.
HIS REVOLVING-DOOR PRISON
POLICY GAVE WEEKEND FURLOUGHS TO
FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.
WHILE OUT, MANY COMMITTED OTHER
CRIMES, LIKE KIDNAPPING AND
RAPE, AND MANY ARE STILL AT
LARGE.
NOW MICHAEL DUKAKIS SAYS HE
WANTS TO DO FOR AMERICA WHAT
HE'S DONE FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
AMERICA CAN'T AFFORD THAT RISK.
-I WAS ANGRY.FFORD THAT RISK.
I WAS, LIKE, VERY ANGRY 'CAUSE I
SAW THROUGH IT RIGHT AWAY.
I SAW THE AD WHERE THEY HAD
THESE GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON,
AND THE BLACK GUY WAS THE ONLY
ONE WHO LOOKED UP AT THE CAMERA.
SO I SAID, "AH, THESE ARE
DIABOLICAL MINDS BEHIND THIS
THING."
-"THAT'S THE GUY TO BE AFRAID
OF."
THIS WAS CALCULATED TO EMPHASIZE
THE ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERE.
-RACE IS A POWDER KEG.
IT DESERVES TO BE, IN MANY WAYS.
AND LEE GOT CLOSE TO THAT POWDER
KEG AND, YOU KNOW, SETTING OFF
SPARKS NEARBY.
-THIS WAS A PIECE OF
LITERATURE THAT WAS BEING
DISTRIBUTED IN A NUMBER OF
STATES.
"ALL THE MURDERERS AND RAPISTS
AND DRUG PUSHERS AND CHILD
MOLESTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS VOTE
FOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS."
I THOUGHT IT WAS DESPICABLE.
-THEN THEY HAD THE RAPE
VICTIM, THIS WOMAN, GO ON TOUR
AND TALK ABOUT, IN EXPLICIT
DETAILS, WHAT HAPPENED DURING
THE RAPE.
SHE WAS RAPED TWICE.
-IT WAS A SO-CALLED
INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE AD WHERE
THEY SIMPLY USED HORTON'S FACE.
-ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
DESPITE A LIFE SENTENCE, HORTON
RECEIVED 10 WEEKEND PASSES FROM
PRISON.
HORTON FLED, KIDNAPPED A YOUNG
COUPLE, STABBING THE MAN AND
REPEATEDLY RAPING HIS
GIRLFRIEND.
-THE CANDIDATE AND THE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM DENY ANY
RESPONSIBILITY.
ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES THAT
BELIEVES IN THE TOOTH FAIRY.
-I JUST WONDER WHETHER THERE
ISN'T A TINGE OF RACISM.
-ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK MANY PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH KNOW WHAT RACE
WILLIE HORTON IS.
I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY
IRRELEVANT.
-I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK HE WAS USED PRIMARILY
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
LIKE LEE SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
YOU DON'T CALL THEM NIGGER,
NIGGER, NIGGER ANYMORE LIKE YOU
DID 30 YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO BE MORE
"SUBTLE" THAN THAT.
IT WASN'T VERY SUBTLE AT ALL TO
ME.
-EVERYBODY SAW HOW PROVOCATIVE
IT WAS, AND SO IT GOT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FREE
AIRTIME.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES "HOOKED
UP TO JUMPER CABLES" GOT
REPEATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES
WILLIE HORTON'S SCOWLING, ANGRY
FACE OF A KILLER WAS TELEVISED
ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE.
-THERE'S A STORY ABOUT A
FELLOW NAMED WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-MURDERER.
-CONVICTED MURDERER
WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-WEEKEND VACATIONS.
-THE WEEKEND PASSES.
-COLD-BLOODED.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-FIRST-DEGREE...
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-KILLER.
MURDERER.
-THEY RAPE PEOPLE.
-RAPED HIS WIFE.
-THEY MAUL PEOPLE.
-WILLIE HORTON WILL BECOME A
HOUSEHOLD NAME.
-NO MORE FURLOUGHS FOR PEOPLE
THAT RAPE, PILLAGE, AND PLUNDER!
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.
-DO YOU THINK THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL,
THOUGH, GIVES HINTS OF RACIAL
POLITICS?
-I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
-YOU DON'T HAVE A
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL ON THE
AIR?
-NO.
-A FURLOUGH PROGRAM
COMMERCIAL?
YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIME -- YOU
DON'T HAVE AN AD ON THE AIR
ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUE?
-NO.
-SO THERE'S NO PLAN IN THIS
CAMPAIGN AT ALL TO USE THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL AT ALL
TO APPEAL --
-WELL, THERE'S NO
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
I DO THINK THAT THE CRIMINAL
FURLOUGH PROGRAM THAT DUKAKIS
SUPPORTED, IN WHICH CONVICTED
MURDERERS WERE ALLOWED TO GO ON
WEEKEND FURLOUGH...
-I WENT INTO THE HEADQUARTERS
TO SEE ATWATER AT HIS REQUEST.
HE LOCKED THE OFFICE DOOR, AND
HE POPPED THE FAMOUS
WILLIE HORTON SPOT ONTO A
TELEVISION.
HE SAID, "I GOT A COUPLE BOYS
GOING TO PUT A COUPLE MILLION
DOLLARS UP FOR THIS
INDEPENDENT."
AND I SAID, "THAT'S A HUGE
MISTAKE.
YOU AND GEORGE BUSH WILL WEAR
THAT TO YOUR GRAVE.
IT'S A RACIST AD.
YOU'RE ALREADY WINNING THIS
ISSUE.
IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.
YOU'RE STEPPING OVER A LINE.
YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT."
AND HE SAID, "Y'ALL A PUSSY."
-THIS MALIGNANT, OVERWHELMING
IMAGE OF BLACK MEN -- WE WERE TO
BE FEARED.
RAISING LYNCH MOBS AGAINST THE
BLACK PEOPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HISTORICAL
ROLE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP IN THE
HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS
ATTRACTED TO FEAR.
I KNOW I LIKE HORROR MOVIES.
NOT ONLY POLITICIANS, BUT PEOPLE
WHO RUN THE MEDIA, WILL EXPLOIT
THIS.
-FEAR IS AN ATTENTION GETTER,
ANYTHING TO KEEP A STORY GOING.
-TERRORISTS, THE HISPANICS,
GAYS, COMMUNISTS.
-I WAS AMAZED THAT THE DUKAKIS
CAMP NEVER SEEMED TO FIND IT IN
THEM TO FORCEFULLY EXPLAIN THAT
THAT PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS
WAS COPIED AFTER A POPULAR STATE
WHOSE GOVERNOR WAS THE FIRST
GOVERNOR TO SIGN A LAW FOR
WEEKEND PRISONER RELEASE.
THAT GOVERNOR'S NAME WAS
RONALD REAGAN.
-TWO OF HIS FURLOUGHEES WENT
OUT AND MURDERED PEOPLE, AND HE
DEFENDED THE PROGRAM.
BUT I NEVER SAID THAT.
-WHY NOT?
-WASN'T GONNA RESPOND.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS
THE DECISION I MADE.
CRAZY, IN RETROSPECT. CRAZY.
[ FOLK MUSIC PLAYING ]
-IF YOU DON'T DEFEND YOURSELF
AND THEY'RE DOING NEGATIVE ADS
AGAINST YOU AND YOU JUST SAY,
"OH, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT
GAME, I'M GONNA BE POSITIVE,"
YOU ARE GONNA GET DESTROYED.
-RACE IS POISON, BUT IT'S
POISON THAT WORKS FOR THEIR
SIDE.
PEOPLE VOTE THEIR FEARS AND NOT
THEIR HOPES, AND LEE UNDERSTOOD
THAT.
-IT WAS BIZARRE THAT THE
WILLIE HORTON CASE BECAME THE
FOCUS OF THE ELECTION.
-THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND
GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS...
-THE PRESS LEARNED TO SPEAK
THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS
WITHOUT EVEN GETTING THEM
THROUGH THE FAX MACHINE.
-THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO
GOVERNOR DUKAKIS.
IF KITTY DUKAKIS WERE RAPED AND
MURDERED, WOULD YOU FAVOR AN
IRREVOCABLE DEATH PENALTY FOR
THE KILLER?
-NO, I DON'T, BERNARD, AND I
THINK YOU KNOW THAT I'VE...
-THE QUESTION WAS SO PERSONAL.
IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER, AND
I THOUGHT THAT BERNARD SHAW
CONTRIBUTED TO DUKAKIS LOSING
THAT ELECTION.
-[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, I KID AROUND AND SAY
IF I'D BEATEN THE OLD MAN, YOU'D
HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE KID.
SO MAYBE IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-I'VE SPOKEN OF 1,000 POINTS
OF LIGHT.
WE, AS A SOCIETY, MUST RISE UP
UNITED AND EXPRESS OUR
INTOLERANCE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CANNOT FREE
THEMSELVES OF ENSLAVEMENT TO
WHATEVER ADDICTION -- DRUGS,
WELFARE, THE DEMORALIZATION THAT
RULES THE SLUMS...
-"DEMORALIZATION THAT RULES
THE SLUMS"?
-THERE IS CRIME TO BE
CONQUERED, THE ROUGH CRIME OF
THE STREETS...
-IT'S JUST HYPOCRITICAL FOR
HIM TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WHEN, IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HE HAS
THIS DEMORALIZATION.
HIS SON ADMITS THAT HE HAD AN
ADDICTION PROBLEM WITH LIQUOR
AND WITH DRUGS.
THE BUSH DAUGHTERS.
YET THESE ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS
LECTURING AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
-THESE FOLKS SHOULD ALL HAVE
BEEN PUT AWAY IN JAIL, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
BECAUSE OF THEIR POWER AND
BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH WENT INTO
OFFICE AND HE GOT TO PICK THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE U.S.
ATTORNEYS, IT ALL GOT HUSHED UP.
AND GEORGE BUSH -- HE'S NOW THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, CHIEF
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-"W" LEARNED THAT THE ONLY
THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHO
WINS.
WHATEVER REALLY HAPPENED DOESN'T
MATTER.
THEY CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY,
AS PEOPLE IN THIS BUSH WHITE
HOUSE LATER SAID.
-LEE WAS THE FIRST GUY I EVER
HEARD WHO SAID THAT.
IT'S NOW KIND OF ROTE IN
POLITICS, BUT LEE WAS SAYING
EARLY, "PERCEPTION IS REALITY."
LEE WAS AHEAD OF THE PACK.
-REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.
THEY JUST WANT TO WIN ELECTIONS.
DEMOCRATS, I THINK, HAVE REALLY
SINCERE BELIEFS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL WRONG, MOST
OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE SINCERE.
NOBODY THOUGHT OF GEORGE W. BUSH
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
TILL LEE ATWATER PLANTED THE
SEEDS, AND THEN HE PLANTED IT
WITH HIS MAN IN AUSTIN,
KARL ROVE.
ATWATER'S A BIG MAN NOW.
-[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-RUNS ONE OF THE MOST RACIST
CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY, MARKETING
THE WEDGE BETWEEN WHITES AND
BLACKS, YET HE ADMIRED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE...
GOT UP IN BLACKFACE.
-HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE KLAN.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY PEOPLE
FELT ABOUT LEE ATWATER.
BUT HE TRULY LOVED ME AS A MAN
AND AS A BROTHER, AND HE TREATED
EVERYBODY ELSE THE SAME WAY.
HE LOVED EVERYBODY 'CAUSE HE
LOVED THE MUSIC THAT WE WERE
DOING.
-LEE DIDN'T HAVE A RACIST BONE
IN HIS BODY.
NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THE "N"
WORD.
WHEN IT CAME TO MUSIC AND HIS
DANCING -- YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY
THAT EVER SAW HIM DANCE OR
WHATEVER -- LEE WAS A BLACK
PERSON IN A WHITE BODY.
-♪ OH, YEAH ♪
-THAT INAUGURAL PARTY WAS THE
CULMINATION OF LEE ATWATER'S
LIFE.
HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
HE WAS THE STAR.
ALL THE HISTORY, ALL THE
YEARNINGS ALL CAME TOGETHER ON
THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS DANCING AS FAST AS HE
COULD.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
LAY AHEAD FOR HIM.
-ONE NETWORK CALLED YOU THE
ARCHITECT OF THE EVIL CAMPAIGN.
YOU ARE PROUD THIS MORNING OF
THE ACHIEVEMENT.
ARE YOU AS PROUD OF THE TACTICS?
-IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TRULY
THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING A
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, THEY WOULD
HAVE REACTED NEGATIVELY, AND I
THINK THAT --
-WELL, I DON'T -- LEE, IN
FAIRNESS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S
TRUE.
I MEAN, IN POLL AFTER POLL, THEY
DID SAY THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, SAYING MAYBE
THE LOWEST TURNOUT IN 64 YEARS,
AND FAULTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
-WAS IT YOU WHO TOLD
GEORGE BUSH, "YOU'VE GOT TO
RAISE FEAR OF BLACK MEN"?
-WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
-AND THEY DID WHAT THEY
NORMALLY DO WHEN SOMEBODY STANDS
UP AND FIGHTS FOR WHAT HE
BELIEVES IN, AND THAT'S TRY TO
DESTROY THEM PERSONALLY.
BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM A BIT.
HE JUST KEPT GOING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
-HE DESTROYED MICHAEL DUKAKIS.
THEY LOVED THAT.
THEY DESTROYED THE DEMOCRAT.
THEY'D ALL SIT AROUND AND, YOU
KNOW, TOAST THEMSELVES AT THEIR
HAPPY HOURS THAT THEY TOOK A MAN
DOWN.
-UPSETTING.
I WAS ANGRY -- A WHOLE BUNCH
OF -- OF EMOTIONAL FEELINGS.
THEY WERE FALSEHOODS.
THE UNTRUTH OF ALL THAT WAS
VERY DISHEARTENING.
-THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOING
NEGATIVE, HOW MUCH NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING, IS TROUBLING.
BUT THERE'S A TIME HERE WHEN
SOUND POLITICAL JUDGMENT SAYS
THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE STUFF
MIGHT WORK.
DID WE EVER DO IT? YEAH.
DID WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT
IT?
NO.
-GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
HAS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND HE'S NOT A DUMMY.
YOU COULDN'T BE AROUND
LEE ATWATER WITHOUT KNOWING HOW
HE DID IT.
-THOSE WERE RUMORS, AND THEY
WERE UNTRUE.
THERE WAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH FOR
ANY OF THAT.
HE WAS ABOVEBOARD AND
UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T ANSWER
THOSE CHARGES.
WE HAVE TO ANSWER CHARGES,
CORRECT?
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
-BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU NEVER SAW GEORGE BUSH I EVER
ASK HIM TO STOP.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY MADE HIM CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-LEE ATWATER LOOKS TO BECOME
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY
CHAIRMEN IN MODERN TIMES.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-WELL, HE TOLD ME, SITTING IN
HIS OFFICE, "IF THERE'S ONE JOB
THAT I THINK YOU'D BE GOOD AT,
IT'S THE JOB I USED TO HAVE."
SO I'M THINKING, "WOW -- C.I.A."
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN BAD THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YOU DID NOT NAME POLITICAL
OPERATIVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
-IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO TRY
TO RESHAPE THE PARTY IN YOUR
IMAGE, TO YOUR TACTICS?
-WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M REALLY A
LOVABLE GUY, AND I JUST HADN'T
GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY --
-I WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT YOU
PERSONALLY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR STYLE.
-BUT ACTUALLY, MY POLITICAL
STYLE IS LOVABLE...
-WHEN ATWATER BECAME THE RNC
CHAIRMAN, THIS POLITICAL PARTY
WAS TURNED OVER TO DIRTY TRICKS,
THE NEW SPIRIT OF KIND OF
RUTHLESS, WIN-AT-ANY-COST
REPUBLICANISM.
-HE ROSE TO A POSITION THAT
MANY OF US COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED HIM HOLDING.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME
RUNNING UP.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE BEING WITH A
MOVIE STAR.
LEE CALLS ME UP -- "COME ON OVER
TO MY OFFICE.
JAMES BROWN'S HERE."
MY LORD -- ROYALTY.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
SAY HELLO TO, ON GUITAR, THE
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY,
MR. LEE ATWATER...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE BLUES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN!
-JUST TAKE A SHOT OF THE BAND.
-YEAH.
-FIND THE REPUBLICAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYING
BLUES MUSIC ]
-THE FAME BECAME KIND OF
ALL-CONSUMING.
HE WAS ON AN INCREASINGLY
INTENSE SEARCH FOR THE BUZZ OF
FAME, THE HYPE.
LEE GOT ALL THESE THINGS.
-THAT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?
-I FELT LIKE HE TOOK SOME
SATISFACTION FROM IT, BUT NOT
ENOUGH TO BE HAPPY.
-LISTEN, LEE -- ALONG WITH
WILLIE DIXON AND
JOHN LEE HOOKER, YOU'RE ONE OF
MY MUSICAL IDOLS.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-ATWATER HAD PERCEIVED, LONG
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS DID, THAT THE BIGGEST
THREAT TO BUSH WAS A GUY FROM
ARKANSAS NAMED BILL CLINTON.
THE IDEA WAS TO DIRTY UP
CLINTON.
HE WOULD SIMPLY BE TOO DAMAGED
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
DISTRACT AND DIVERT.
-LEE RECOGNIZED THE THREAT OF
BILL CLINTON AND THE QUALITY OF
THE CANDIDATE AND TRIED TO TAKE
HIM OUT OF THE GAME AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
-THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS IS
EXTREMELY CYNICAL, SHALLOW.
THEY CARE ABOUT RIDICULE, THE
RUMOR THAT BLACKENS SOMEBODY'S
REPUTATION.
ALL THAT STUFF IS JUICY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL
SCANDAL, YOU WILL HAVE TO INVENT
A PHONY SCANDAL.
-YOU HAD ALL OF THESE WACKOS
OUT THERE FUNDING ALL OF THESE
CRAZY PROJECTS.
THAT ALL STARTED WITH
LEE ATWATER.
WHITEWATER WAS A LAND DEAL THAT
BILL CLINTON HAD INVESTED --
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER,
IT WAS LIKE $28,000 -- WHERE HE
LOST ALL OF HIS MONEY.
THE FIRST INDEPENDENT COUNCIL
SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
SO TO THINK THAT THEY PAID
KEN STARR AND HIS PERVERTED
INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW,
$70 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY?
THESE FOLKS BELIEVE YOU WIN AT
ALL COSTS.
-ATWATER STARTED TRANSFORMING
POLITICS INTO A SERIES OF
TABLOID MOMENTS IN A WAY THAT
WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FOR THE
REPUBLICANS.
-I'D WATCHED POLITICS FOUGHT
LIKE WAR UNDER LEE ATWATER.
I THINK IT'S HAD SOME BAD
EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRY.
HE'D HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET
EVERYTHING HE'D GOTTEN IN HIS
LIFE.
HE WASN'T GONNA STOP.
-I AIN'T CHANGED A BIT.
I'M THE SAME GUY I WAS THE DAY I
WALKED INTO POLITICS.
I'LL BE THE SAME GUY I AM THE
DAY I WALK OUT OF IT.
I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHAT
I AM, AND I DON'T DISAVOW
ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE.
-THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN
INCIDENT WHERE LEE WENT TO
HOWARD UNIVERSITY 'CAUSE HE GOT
ON THE BOARD, AND HE TOLD THEM
ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE WAS
GOING TO DO FOR THEM, LIKE
ORGANIZE A BLUES CONCERT FOR
THEM.
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
INTEREST AT ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY LISTENED TO
HIP-HOP.
SECOND OF ALL, THEY WERE TAKING
HIM SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF THE
POLITICAL.
HIS PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO FOOL
BLACK PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT
THEY HAD A PLACE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
[ CROWD SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
-♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ GET OUT, LEE ♪
-THE STUDENTS SAY THEY WON'T
END THEIR PROTEST UNTIL ATWATER
IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
-WE KNOW THE HORTON AD HAS
AMERICA THINKING THAT BLACK MEN
ARE RAPISTS OR MURDERERS.
-♪ ATWATER SNUCK IN BEHIND OUR
BACKS ♪
♪ WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE NO STUFF
LIKE THAT ♪
-IF THE HOWARD GROUP HAD GIVEN
HIM A CHANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE
LOVED HIM.
[ CROWD BOOING ]
-AND HE GOT BOOTED OUT.
THAT HURT LEE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
LEE WOULD COLLAPSE OCCASIONALLY.
THE GUY WOULD BE SO EXHAUSTED.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE
HILL -- WELL, ALL ARROWS GET
FIRED UP, RIGHT?
AND PEOPLE WERE GUNNING FOR HIM.
-REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN LEE ATWATER WAS RUSHED
TO A WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
YESTERDAY AFTER FAINTING DURING
A POLITICAL SPEECH.
DOCTORS FOUND A SMALL BRAIN
TUMOR.
SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT
ATWATER WILL UNDERGO RADIATION
TREATMENT.
-I'M VERY PLEASED TO GET BACK
TO MY WIFE, SALLY -- SHE'S GOING
TO HAVE A BABY NEXT MONTH -- AND
MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
I'VE MISSED THEM TREMENDOUSLY.
AND -- BUT AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
THIS REALLY DOES A LOT FOR YOU.
-WHAT DO THE DOCTORS SAY, LEE?
-MY PROBLEM CAN BE DONE AWAY
WITH AFTER SIX WEEKS OF
RADIATION TREATMENT.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-WHAT DOES YOUR SHIRT SAY?
-JUST SAY "MOE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONE OF MY INTELLECTUAL HEROES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE YOU, GANG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-HARD TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN.
TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE ON THE
WAY.
-WE HAD A THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD AT ODDS.
I'M ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
HE'S ON THE FOURTH FLOOR IN THE
SAME BUILDING.
SO, MARY CALLS DOWN TO ME AND I
GO RACING UP AND HE HOLDS MY
HAND AND HE'S SHAKING.
HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST -- HE'S
HAVING A SEIZURE.
AND SO I RIDE WITH HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL.
AND ON THE WAY OVER THERE, HE
JUST SAID, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
I CAN TRUST.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME."
HE SAID, "THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND
FINISH ME OFF.
PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME."
ALL THE HATRED JUST SORT OF GOES
OUT, AND I SAID, "LEE, I PROMISE
YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
-HE FOUGHT IT AND HE'D COME TO
WORK WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE AND
HE WAS PHYSICALLY DEBILITATED.
-HEY, BEN!
-MORNING, LEE. HOW ARE YOU?
-EVERYBODY DOING ALL RIGHT?
-THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW THEY COULD GET HIM OUT
AS THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN.
NO ONE CARED ABOUT HIM ANYMORE.
IT HAD TO BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL
FOR HIM.
EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN
WASHINGTON IS POWER.
AND WHEN THAT POWER IS GONE,
IT'S GONE.
-THEY FOUND A TUMOR, AND THEY
LITERALLY DRILLED A HOLE AND
DROPPED RADIATION TO BURN THE
TUMOR OUT.
THERE WAS A LEAD WALL, AND HE
WAS LITERALLY RADIOACTIVE.
-THE STEROIDS JUST BLEW HIS
FACE.
HE LOOKED LIKE THE MAN IN THE
MOON.
I MEAN, HE WAS REALLY
EMBARRASSED.
HE REALLY DID NOT WANT US TO SEE
HIM.
OH, VERY HARD...TO --
[CLEARS THROAT] TO SEE SOMEBODY
THAT STRONG BE THAT WEAK.
-"I RECALLED SUN TZU'S MAXIM,
'GET INSIDE THE HEAD OF YOUR
ENEMY.'
WE'D USED THAT TO SUCH EFFECT ON
BOB DOLE IN 1988.
NOW CANCER HAD USED IT ON ME."
-HORRIBLY ALONE, IN THAT
LEAD-LINED ROOM, RADIATION
PELLETS IN HIS HEAD -- HE
COULDN'T SPIN HIS WAY OUT OF
THAT.
THE GUY WHO HAD BEEN SO
UNWILLING TO REALLY BELIEVE IN
ANYTHING OTHER THAN POWER BEGAN
A FRANTIC SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL
MEANING.
-YOU'D BE WAITING IN THE HALL.
THERE'D BE RABBIS, WITCH
DOCTORS, BUDDHISTS, SHAMANS,
THESE RADICAL CATHOLIC PRIESTS.
HE TOLD ALL OF THEM HE WAS ON
BOARD.
HIS THEORY WAS, "IF ONE OF THESE
IS THE TRUE PATH,
I'LL BE ON IT."
-LEE WAS CONFRONTING SOME VERY
TROUBLING FACTS -- THAT, IN
WINNING, HE HAD HURT PEOPLE.
FEAR HAD BEEN PART OF HIS TOOL
KIT.
THAT FEAR CAME BACK ON HIM.
WHAT WAS NEXT FOR HIM IN THE
AFTERLIFE?
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS SHEER TERROR.
-WHILE LEE WAS GROWING UGLIER
ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE WAS A
REMARKABLE CHANGE INSIDE OF HIM.
-HE SAID, "CHUCK, I HAVE NEVER
READ A BIBLE IN MY LIFE, AND THE
FIRST THING I WANTED WAS AND THE
BIBLE."
HE TOLD ME THAT.
WOW.
-HE CAME BACK TO
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ONE VISIT.
-♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
[ GUITAR PLAYING BLUES MUSIC ]
♪ WELL, I'M BAD AS I CAN BE ♪
♪ I'LL BE... ♪
-PEOPLE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT.
"THAT'S LEE?"
-I HAD MONEY, I HAD POWER,
I HAD FAME, AND I HAD FORTUNE.
GUESS WHAT? IT MEANT NOTHING.
IT WAS ALL -- IT WAS ALL A
WASTE.
AND IN ONE DAY, I LEARNED WHAT
COUNTS, AND THAT'S YOU ALL --
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
-♪ PEOPLE, I ONCE WAS STRONG ♪
♪ HARD AND LEAN ♪
♪ NOW I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE ♪
♪ HOW I COULD BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ MMM ♪
-HERE'S A LETTER I RECEIVED
FROM LEE ATWATER.
HE SAYS, "MY ILLNESS HAS TAUGHT
ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF
HUMANITY, LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, AND
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE NEVER
UNDERSTOOD AND PROBABLY NEVER
HAD."
AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT LEE ATWATER WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN HE SAID,
"WHAT I'VE DONE WAS WRONG.
IT WAS BAD, AND BAD FOR THE
COUNTRY."
SINCE THEN, I'VE WRITTEN
ARTICLES ABOUT IT AND HOPING
THAT OTHERS WHO WANT TO BE LIKE
HIM IN POLITICS WOULD REALIZE
THAT LEE FINALLY SAID, "WE DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE."
-WHAT REALLY DISGUSTED ME
ABOUT LEE'S "DEATHBED"
PRONOUNCEMENTS WAS THAT HE WAS
PURPOSEFULLY, WILLFULLY
MIS-PORTRAYED.
IT WASN'T ABOUT, "I WANT TO GO
TO HEAVEN," OR, "I'M GONNA --"
SOME CONFESSIONAL OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
-IF ANYBODY SAID THAT THIS MAN
DID NOT APOLOGIZE, THEY LIED.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS ON HIS
DEATHBED.
I WAS THERE.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE SENT OUT
TELEGRAMS TO EVERYBODY THAT I
MIGHT HAVE HURT, EVEN TO
WILLIE HORTON."
-THEY HAD TO KILL THE
MESSENGER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
KILL THE MESSAGE.
THEY HAD TO TURN HIM INTO A
BOOGIE MAN, SATAN INCARNATE.
-LEE ATWATER MADE HIMSELF A
FIGURE OF DEMONOLOGY TO PSYCH
OUT HIS OPPONENTS AND TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO HIS
TACTICS.
AND THE SAD PART -- SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THE JUSTIFIED PART --
WAS THAT THE ROLE HE MADE FOR
HIMSELF ENDED UP LITERALLY
IMPRISONING HIM.
[ INTRO TO LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS'
"DEATH BELLS" PLAYS ]
-♪ SOUND LIKE I'M HEARING
MOANING ♪
-HE ALWAYS HAD A DRIVER, AND
WE'D JUST GET IN THE CAR AND
JUST RIDE.
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-"IN 1988, FIGHTING DUKAKIS, I
SAID THAT I WOULD STRIP THE BARK
OFF THE LITTLE BASTARD AND MAKE
WILLIE HORTON HIS RUNNING MATE.
I'M SORRY FOR BOTH STATEMENTS,
THE FIRST FOR ITS NAKED CRUELTY,
THE SECOND BECAUSE IT MAKES ME
SOUND RACIST, WHICH I AM NOT."
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-THERE WAS ONE VERSE IN THE
BIBLE THAT STUCK WITH LEE --
"WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE
HIS OWN SOUL?"
-♪ ...I WAS GONNA LEAVE ON A
CHARIOT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ♪
-AND THAT STUCK IN HIS CRAW.
-♪ WHAT KIND OF CHARIOT GONNA
TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE? ♪
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE DIED ON GOOD FRIDAY.
HE WAS BURIED ON APRIL FOOL'S
DAY -- BUT IT WAS EASTER
SUNDAY -- IN HIS JOGGING SUIT.
THERE'S LEE RIGHT THERE.
SEEKING REDEMPTION, AND YET HE
GOES OUT THUMBING HIS NOSE.
-HE WAS A KINGMAKER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS
MACHIAVELLIAN, AND HE WAS, IN
THE VERY BEST SENSE OF THAT
TERM.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
-THIS LITTLE GUY FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WAS BEING TREATED
LIKE A HEAD OF STATE.
I CRIED, AND I CRIED LIKE A
BABY.
EMOTION JUST POURED OUT OF ME.
THE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE LEGACY OF
THE GREATNESS.
IT'S THE LEGACY OF SORT OF ONE
OF THE EVILDOERS OF AMERICAN
POLITICS.
HE WASN'T THAT.
HE WAS AN INSECURE KID WHO GOT
TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES AND
GOT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE SHOWED THEM.
HE DEFINITELY SHOWED THEM.
-I, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
-IF LEE WAS ALIVE,
BILL CLINTON WOULD'VE NEVER GOT
ELECTED.
THAT WAS REALLY SAD TO SEE.
-WHEN YOU HAVE A TALENT AS
DEEP AS ATWATER'S AND ROVE'S,
YOU LOSE, BUT YOU DON'T LOSE.
LOSING A BATTLE IS NOT LOSING
THE WAR, AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY.
-...PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES...
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-CONGRATULATIONS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ROVE LEARNED THE TACTICS AT
THE KNEE OF LEE, MOVED INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
SERVICE OF A POLITICAL
OPERATIVE, AND I'D SAY THAT'S
NEW AND -- AND RATHER
FRIGHTENING.
-FALSE RUMORS, PLAYING THE
MEDIA, AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR.
LEE FINALLY SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
"IT'S ALL BULLSHIT."
TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
-HE WAS TELLING A STORY ABOUT
HOW THE LIVING BIBLE WAS WHAT
WAS GIVING HIM FAITH, AND I SAID
TO MARY, "I REALLY SINCERELY
HOPE THAT HE FOUND PEACE."
SHE SAID, "ED, WHEN WE WERE
CLEANING UP HIS THINGS
AFTERWARDS, THE BIBLE WAS STILL
WRAPPED IN THE CELLOPHANE, HAD
NEVER BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE
PACKAGE," WHICH JUST SORT OF
TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THERE WAS.
HE WAS SPINNING RIGHT TO THE
END.
[ MID-TEMPO BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]
-♪ THEY SEEN ME WALKING AS I
PASSED YOU BY ♪
♪ SCANDALIZED MY NAME, BABY,
BUT I WON'T CRY ♪
♪ GO UP AGAINST ME ♪
♪ SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
♪ WELL, YOU CAUGHT ME CRAWLING,
BABY, WHEN THE GRASS WAS HIGH ♪
♪ BUT I'M GONNA KEEP ON CRAWLING
TILL THE DAY I DIE ♪
♪ I'M A CRAWLING KING SNAKE ♪
♪ NOTHING TO FORGIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
[ NO SOUND ]
[GUNSHOTS]
[RAPID FIRE]
[TYPEWRITER CLICKS]
[TYPEWRITER DINGS]
[TYPEWRITER ROLLING UP]
[ DRUMMING ]
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE
THE WHOLE THING.
[ BAND PLAYS ]
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-...THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
-PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.
-♪ SO I'M A BAD BOY ♪
♪ I'M A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
HOME ♪
♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
-CAN YOU UNDERSTAND AMERICAN
POLITICS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
LEE ATWATER?
I BELIEVE NOT.
-HE COULDN'T TEACH ME RHYTHM,
BUT HE DID TEACH THE DEMOCRATS
TO SING THE BLUES, AND I BELIEVE
THEY'RE JUST STARTING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-HE MATTERED IN AMERICAN
POLITICS BECAUSE OF THE MAN HE
GOT ELECTED, BECAUSE OF THE
PARTY HE SHAPED.
HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY
TO GEORGE H.W.'S VICTORY BUT TO
HIS SON'S VICTORY.
-LEE ATWATER WAS PART MYTH,
PART SHOWMAN, AND PART
POLITICAL MASTERMIND.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HOW DO POLITICS REALLY WORK?
HOW DOES A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
REALLY WORK?
THE DEPTHS OF IT DESERVE TO BE
EXAMINED CLOSELY.
-RACIST.
-DISGUSTING.
-SCUMBAG POLITICS.
-GARBAGE.
-AND I'M A VERY LOVABLE GUY.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-GOSH, WHAT A PERSON MADE DUE
FOR A LIVING.
NOW, HE PLAYED BLUES.
HE MY MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I LIKE HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IT WAS A GREAT STORY NOT
BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
IT'S AMERICAN YEARNING AND
STRIVING TO BE ACCEPTED, TO BE
POWERFUL, TO BE GREAT, AND THE
PERSONAL RISKS OF DOING THAT.
LIFE GETS EVEN WITH YOU IN THE
END.
-PRIDE.
SIN.
REDEMPTION.
LEE WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE, AND
YOU HAD TO WONDER, WHAT NEXT?
I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS SOME
KIND OF GREEK TRAGEDY.
LEE ATWATER GREW UP IN A
STANDARD, SOUTHERN-LOOKING,
WHITE LIFE.
HE PIERCED THROUGH ALL THAT.
I'D HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS
GUY OPERATE AT THE GRADE-SCHOOL
LEVEL.
I MEAN [LAUGHS] THAT'S WHERE YOU
LEARN POLITICS.
-HE COULD JUST GET A CROWD
INTO A FRENZY.
WE WERE JUST A SO-SO BAND, BUT
WE HAD LEE, THE ONLY GUY I KNEW
WHO COULD DO A SPLIT.
-JUST THINK IF YOU'D HAVE
STAYED WITH THE UPSETTERS REVUE
WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BECOME.
-YEAH, I COULD HAVE BEEN
MAKING $65 A NIGHT.
-HE TOOK THIS ONE GUY AND RAN
HIM AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.
NOBODY HAD EVER HAD A CAMPAIGN
MANAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
-AND THEY WON!
YOU KNOW?
HE FIGURED OUT EARLY ON THAT
MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE
CANDIDATE BUT THE
BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY.
-WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I JUST SAY,
"WELL, IF THESE GUYS ARE THE
DEMOCRATS, I'M A REPUBLICAN."
-I ASKED LEE, WHY DID YOU GO
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE
FUDDY-DUD, COUNTRY-CLUB SET?
LEE SAID, "HEY, MAN, I HAVE A
LOT BETTER CHANCE AT DOING
SOMETHING IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY."
-IF THE GRAND OLD PARTY STAYED
KIND OF GRAND AND OLD, IT WASN'T
GONNA BE MUCH OF A PARTY.
IT HAD TO GO YOUNG.
WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULD GO INTO
THE WILDERNESS.
-THE POWER WAS JUST WAITING TO
BE WIELDED, AND HE WAS GONNA
WIELD IT.
-AT NEWBERRY COLLEGE, WHERE
I ATTEND, WE SIGNED UP OVER
12,000 SUPPORTERS FOR PRESIDENT
NIXON, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
RECORD AT THIS POINT.
-ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT HE
DIDN'T DECIDE TO BECOME A
DEMOCRAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST AS EASY FOR HIM.
HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS.
AND YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A
REBEL.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ENORMOUS
RICHES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
-LEE BUILT AN ARMY OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS ALL OVER THE STATE
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FIRST, HE TOOK OVER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN WENT
NATIONAL.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
THE LIBERAL ALLEGATION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
ONLY CARE ABOUT THE RICH OR
WE'RE CLOSET FASCISTS OR WE'RE
PEOPLE WHO HATE THE HUMAN RACE.
-FREE BOOK IF YOU SIGN UP FOR
ISLAMO-FASCISM AWARENESS WEEK.
-LEE ATWATER SHOWED THAT YOU
COULD BE A COLLEGE REPUBLICAN
AND BE COOL, HAVE MUSICAL
INTERESTS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A
PINSTRIPED SUIT OR A BOW TIE.
-WE ARE THE GRASSROOTS FORCE.
YOU KNOW, THE LIBERALS MAY HAVE
THE UNIONS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
AND WE'RE HIT WITH LIBERAL BIAS
FROM EVERY SINGLE PROFESSOR, SO
WE KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
YOU CAN'T LEARN THESE TYPE OF
THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S TOUGH AND IT'S DIRTY, OR IT
APPEARS TO BE DIRTY.
AND KARL ROVE IS A SHINING
EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS CAN DO.
-THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-1973 CONVENTION.
IT REALLY IS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN
THIS LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE
WITH A BUNCH OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS WHO, AT THE TIME,
SEEMED LIKE THE MOST IRRELEVANT
FIGURES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
-COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WERE --
WHERE I ACTUALLY FIRST MET
ATWATER, WE WERE IN DIFFERENT
FACTIONS.
HE WAS IN THE KARL ROVE FACTION.
-I REMEMBER ONE OF THE
GREATEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE, ONE
OF THE WILDEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE
WAS SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF
LEE ATWATER IN A FORD PINTO.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HIS TURN
TO TAKE OVER THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS
ANOTHER GUY NAMED
ROBERT EDGEWORTH, WHO WAS
ACTUALLY THE ONE IN LINE TO
SUCCEED.
THEY GOT INTO A TREMENDOUS,
NATIONWIDE BATTLE.
-THIS IS THE BIG SHOWDOWN IN
MY RACE FOR CHAIRMAN.
ALL THE BAD GUYS ARE THE OTHER
SIDE.
THE VOTE COUNT WAS EVENLY SPLIT.
WE WERE GONNA LOSE.
-IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT
EDGEWORTH ACTUALLY DID HAVE MORE
VOTES.
LEE ATWATER AND KARL ROVE USED
EVERY CONCEIVABLE TRICK.
BALLOTS ARE THROWN AWAY
UNFAIRLY.
-THERE'S NOTHING MORE VICIOUS
THAN A YOUNG REPUBLICAN FIGHT --
NOTHING, NOTHING.
-THE ELECTION WAS APPEALED TO
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING, HE GAVE
THE ELECTION TO ROVE.
YOU KNOW, ECHOES OF THE 2000
ELECTION IN FLORIDA WHERE THE
BALLOTS ARE DISPUTED AND THE
SUPREME COURT MAKES THE DECISION
ON A VERY DUBIOUS BASIS.
THAT WAS A PRETTY EARLY LESSON
FOR KARL ROVE FROM LEE THAT YOU
COULD PLAY THE HARDEST OF
HARDBALL AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
-I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT WHO I
AM, WHAT I AM, AND WHAT I DO.
IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER TEAM, I'M
GONNA TRY TO BEAT YOU.
-LEE SOMETIMES REMINDED ME OF
A WOLVERINE SORT OF CHEWING
THROUGH THE PLYWOOD, AND HE HAD
A VAGUELY MARSUPIAL LOOK ABOUT
HIM, ALWAYS SNIFFING THE AIR.
-I'VE WONDERED ABOUT WHERE
LEE'S STRIVING CAME FROM.
LEE GREW UP IN THIS BREW OF
RACIAL DIVIDES DRIVING THE
COUNTRY.
THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE
SOUTH'S RISE FROM THE ASHES.
AT ITS HEART, IT'S ABOUT
LEARNING LESSONS OF DEFEAT.
-THE SOUTH IS THE ONLY PART OF
THE UNITED STATES EVER
THOROUGHLY DEFEATED AND
HUMILIATED IN A WAR.
IT DOES CREATE A VERY VISCERAL
BACKLASH, AND ATWATER WAS ADEPT
AT TAPPING INTO THAT.
IT WAS A BACKLASHING OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN
YOU ARE.
-IT'S THIS CULTURAL RESENTMENT
THAT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH FEEL
BECAUSE THESE LIBERALS, THESE
SMARTASSES RUN EVERYTHING, AND
WE HAVE NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT FOR
THEM.
LEE'S FRIENDS SAID, "YOU GUYS
ALL THINK WE'RE DUMB.
YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF
PREJUDICE AGAINST US THAT YOU
ACCUSE US OF HAVING AGAINST
BLACK PEOPLE."
-THE BIG BOYS TRYING TO PUSH
US AROUND, TRYING TO REMIND US
HOW MUCH GREATER THEY ARE.
"WE'LL SHOW THEM."
WELL, LEE HAD A "WE'LL SHOW
THEM" KIND OF STRENGTH TO HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT AS WIDE AS HIS
BACKBONE.
RESENTMENT BECAME THE DESTINY OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
-I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER
EVEN GOTTEN INTO POLITICS IF IT
WEREN'T FOR STROM THURMOND.
THE PERSONAL INTEREST HE TOOK IN
ME AND MY CAREER...
-BEFORE STROM, HE WAS, YOU
KNOW, "WHERE IS THE NEXT PARTY
COMING?
LET'S GET DRUNK TONIGHT."
WORKING FOR THURMOND TRANSFORMED
LEE.
-MY GRANDFATHER HATED
STROM THURMOND WITH A PASSION.
AND I GREW UP WITH THAT SAME
HATE.
AND WHEN I MET LEE, I KNEW LEE
WAS CONNECTED TO HIM.
HE'S A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
HATES US.
-GOOD OLD STROM.
GOLLY -- 21 YEARS OLD, HAS SEX
WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF A
MAID THERE AT HIS HOUSE, AND
PRODUCES A CHILD.
AND TO COME OUT AND SAY "THE
BLOOD WILL RUN BEFORE WE
INTEGRATE" -- IT PERSONIFIES
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE HYPOCRISY OF RACISM.
-THE SOUTH IS AFRO-CELTIC.
IT'S WHERE YOU FIND THE CELTS
SETTLE AND WHERE THE AFRICANS
ARE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE SAME
PERSON WHO'S SAYING, "YES, SIR"
AND "YES, MA'AM" TO YOU CAN GO
AND GET LYNCH ROPE THE NEXT DAY.
SO, I MEAN, THE SOUTH IS
COMPLICATED.
-THE SOUTH HAS GOT THE SAME
THING AMERICA'S GOT, A
COMPLICATED HISTORY ON RACE.
THERE ARE REASONS TO HATE THINGS
ABOUT THE SOUTH AND STILL LOVE
THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY DEMOCRAT
PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT LEE
REALLY LEARNED IN HIS EARLY
RACES.
THEY EXISTED UP IN SOME ELITE
LAYER OF THE CLOUDS THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MOVED
PEOPLE TO FEEL.
THEY SLEPT WHILE LEE
OUTMANEUVERED.
-IT WAS A CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
I WAS A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.
HE CAME OUT AND, IN ACCOUNT OF
AN UNDERHANDED WAY, IN A SENSE,
HE GOT A REPORTER TO ASK HIM A
QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, "ISN'T IT
TRUE THAT TOM TURNIPSEED HAD
SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEM
AS A KID?"
HE WAS THE MASTER AT CREATING
LITTLE JUICY TIDBITS FOR THE
MEDIA.
-WELL, I SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES IN
REFERENCE TO A BOUT HE HAD HAD
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN COLLEGE,
WHICH HAD BEEN MADE PUBLIC TWO
YEARS BEFORE, SO I WASN'T
BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND.
-THAT GOT QUOTED ALL OVER FROM
KINGDOM COME DOWN HERE,
LEE ATWATER SAYING THAT --
ACCUSING TOM TURNIPSEED OF BEING
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
-HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
I'M LAUGHING NOW, BUT IT AIN'T
FUNNY.
-ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
-IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO BLAME
DIRTY TRICKS THAN IT IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HARD WORK.
DID HE GIVE HIS OPPONENTS
AMMUNITION TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR
NEGATIVE TACTICS?
YES.
DOES THAT OBSCURE THE FACT THAT
HE OUTFOXED THEM AT NEARLY EVERY
TURN?
NOT TO THOSE OF US WATCHING
CLOSELY.
-SOUTHERNERS LIKE A GOOD,
HARD-FOUGHT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
HE FIRST MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
ON A RACE BETWEEN
CARROLL CAMPBELL AND A DEMOCRAT
BY THE NAME OF MAX HELLER.
-MAX HELLER HAD BEEN A
IMMIGRANT.
HE WAS, AS A JEWISH TEENAGER
ESCAPING HITLER, AND HE WAS A
POPULAR MAYOR.
-LEE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ADVOCATES OF THE PUSH-PULL.
THE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS ARE
ROUTINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, "WELL, IF
YOU CAME TO BELIEVE THAT
GOVERNOR 'X' WAS A PEDOPHILE,
WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION?"
NOW, THE POLLER HASN'T SAID THAT
GOVERNOR "X" IS A PEDOPHILE,
SIMPLY PLANTED THE IDEA THAT IF
HE WERE...
-THEY DID A POLL WHICH ASKED,
"WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A JEW WHO
DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST?"
NO, THEY WOULDN'T.
-LEE WAS ACCUSED OF RECRUITING
A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, SORT OF
A REDNECK-TYPE CANDIDATE, WHO
MADE RELIGION AN ISSUE IN THAT
RACE.
HE SAID HE ENTERED THE RACE ON
HIS OWN, BUT NONE OF US REALLY
BELIEVE THAT.
-HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE,
AND HE ATTACKED MAX HELLER.
-I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
I BELIEVE HE DIED TO SAVE MY
SINS.
MR. HELLER DOES NOT.
-ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT ME?
-I THINK I'VE HEARD QUITE A
BIT ABOUT YOU.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LORD?
-WELL, I...
-I'M A LITTLE BIT PREJUDICED
TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THE LORD.
-LEE ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
HE DENIED THAT HE RECRUITED THIS
GUY, BUT NONE OF US BELIEVED IT.
LEE ATWATER DID NOT LEAVE HIS
FINGERPRINTS ON HIS DIRTY
TRICKS.
HE LIKES TO TAKE AN ISSUE AND
USE IT AS A WEDGE -- ABORTION.
HE WOULD USE RACE.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
THAT'S HOW LEE ATWATER OPERATED.
REAGAN DID POORLY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I DON'T THINK RONALD REAGAN
WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED IF HE
HAD LOST THE SOUTH CAROLINA
PRIMARY.
IT WAS PIVOTAL.
REAGAN HAD TO WIN.
-THE REAGAN CAMPAIGN NEEDS
OPERATIVES.
LEE ATWATER WANTED TO ROAR INTO
WASHINGTON AND ONTO THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL STAGE, BUT YOU GOT TO
GET PEOPLE TO WIN BIG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE.
-LEE ATWATER FIGURED THAT
CONNALLY WAS THEIR BIGGEST
THREAT.
LEE LEAKED THE STORY TO ME THAT
JOHN CONNALLY WAS TRYING TO BUY
THE BLACK VOTE.
THAT STORY GOT OUT THANKS TO ME,
AND IT PROBABLY KILLED CONNALLY.
HE SPENT $10 MILLION FOR ONE
DELEGATE.
LEE SAVED RONALD REAGAN'S
CANDIDACY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, LEE LAUGHED
ABOUT THAT STORY.
HE SAID, "BANDY, YOU GOT USED."
[ LAUGHS ]
-ANYTHING GOES.
TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO
HEAR.
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, MAKE IT UP.
MAKING UP STUFF.
HE USED TO GO BACK IN THE ROOM,
MAKE UP THESE POLLS.
I TELL YOU, HE'D COME BACK WITH
A POLL IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.
-GO BACK AND LOOK AT
RONALD REAGAN'S 1980 CAMPAIGN
FOR PRESIDENT.
WHERE DOES HE BEGIN?
IN PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI,
WHERE THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS
WERE MURDERED BY THE
KU KLUX KLAN AT THE LOCAL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
REAGAN, SPEAKING TO AN
EXCLUSIVELY WHITE AUDIENCE,
APPEALED TO THEIR MOST BASE
INSTINCTS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND LEE ATWATER LATER TALKED
ABOUT THAT IN AN INTERVIEW HE
HAD IN THE EARLY '80s.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IT USED TO BE
"NIGGER, NIGGER, NIGGER."
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.
YOU HAD RONALD REAGAN TALKING
ABOUT WELFARE QUEENS,
CODED LANGUAGE.
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES -- I MEAN,
THE SYMBOLISM IS SO OBVIOUS.
-STROM THURMOND WANTED TO MAKE
A CALL TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT ALL
THIS BOY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAD DONE.
IT WAS IN KEEPING WITH
LEE ATWATER'S NATURE TO HAVE IT
BE FOR SOMETHING AS BIG AS
GETTING INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
AND PLAYING AT THAT LEVEL.
THIS WAS A BIGGER CHALLENGE.
THIS WAS A BIGGER PRIZE.
-STROM THURMOND WAS TRYING TO
GET LEE A JOB IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS YOUNG
KID WITHOUT A REAL RéSUMé.
HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE.
HE WAS FIDGETY -- HANDS, LEGS,
EVERYTHING MOVING -- BUT THERE
WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES.
HE HAD THESE PIERCING EYES THAT,
YOU KNOW -- AS I OFTEN THOUGHT,
THOSE ARE THE EYES OF A KILLER.
THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS GONNA
GET WHAT HE WANTED.
HE SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU 20 HOURS
A DAY."
I SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T HAVE A
SLOT FOR YOU.
I DON'T HAVE A TITLE FOR YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA BE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE RUNG."
24 HOURS -- HE HAD FIGURED OUT
HOW TO DETAIL PEOPLE AND
CONFISCATE FURNITURE OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S OFFICES.
-WE'D BE OUT THERE, RUNNING
AROUND THE MEMORIALS, AND HE'D
JUST -- "THIS IS WHERE I MAKE MY
LIVING, THE MOST POWERFUL CITY
IN THE WORLD."
-HE WAS GRABBING AS MUCH LIFE
AS HE POSSIBLY COULD.
EVERYTHING THAT HE ATE --
EVERYTHING -- INCLUDING ICE
CREAM, HE DOUSED WITH AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HOT SAUCE.
HE SEARCHED THE WORLD TO FIND A
SAUCE HOTTER THAN THE SAUCE THAT
HE HAD.
TABASCO WAS, TO HIM, FOR WIMPS.
I WATCHED HIM GROW UP.
HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER --
HAD GREAT ENERGY.
NO ONE EVER OUT-WORKED HIM.
HE ATE HIS MEALS THERE.
HE WAS THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HE WORKED FOR ME FOR A YEAR.
ONE DAY, HE COMES IN.
HE SAYS, "I'M BRINGING UP MY
WIFE AND MY CHILD."
AND I SAID, "LEE, I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU WERE MARRIED.
YOU NEVER TALKED ABOUT --"
HE SAID, "WELL, THEY'RE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M GONNA BRING THEM UP."
-♪ BRIGHT LIGHTS ♪
♪ BIG CITY ♪
♪ GONE TO MY BABY'S HEAD ♪
-HIS HOUSE WAS LIKE A
MARX BROTHERS' MOVIE.
IT WAS JUST CHAOTIC.
ONE CULT MOVIE AFTER ANOTHER --
"ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE."
HE WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY AN
ENTOURAGE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING HE AND HIS
WIFE FOUGHT ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER HAD ANY
TIME ALONE FOR THEMSELVES AND
JUST WITH THEIR FAMILY.
-A LOT OF FAMILIES SUFFER IN
WASHINGTON.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
IF HE COULD HAVE SLEPT ON HIS
COUCH AND SHOWERED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
GONE HOME.
-I'VE MET A MILLION OF THEM --
LITTLE POLITICAL ERRAND BOY,
VERY AMBITIOUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
ARE STILL IVY LEAGUERS, FEELING
THAT THE SNOPES FAMILY HAD
INVADED, THAT HE HAD GONE
TOO FAR, TOO FAST.
IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION,
THEY DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
HE'S A GUY ON THE MAKE --
DEVIOUS, MANIPULATIVE.
-THAT NEED, THAT BURNING NEED
TO BECOME SOMETHING AND
TRANSFORM AND SHOW THEM.
LEE WAS SCRAPPING.
WHAT FORCES WILL DRIVE THIS
PERSON TO NEW HEIGHTS OR CRASH
THEM TO THE GREATEST DEPTHS?
HE KEPT LEARNING.
-I DO NOT EVER REMEMBER
SITTING IN A MEETING IN WHICH
SOMEONE DIDN'T BRING UP HOW
SUCH-AND-SUCH WOULD PLAY IN THE
PRESS.
I THINK THERE IS A
PREOCCUPATION, AND JUSTIFIABLY
SO, ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE
NATURE OF POWER IN AMERICA TODAY
WITH HOW "A STORY PLAYS OUT" ON
TELEVISION.
-HERE'S THIS INSECURE KID WHO
I'M SURE EVERY DAY HAD THAT
TOTAL IMPOSTOR FEAR.
"IS ED ROLLINS GONNA FIRE MY ASS
TODAY?
ARE THEY GONNA FIND OUT THAT I'M
REALLY NOT A PhD CANDIDATE?
IS SOMEONE GONNA WALK IN AND
SAY, 'IT'S ALL BULLSHIT, LEE.
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE'"?
ANYTHING HE HAD ACCESS TO, HE
WOULD ALWAYS GIVE IT TO SOME
REPORTER -- EVERYTHING WAS
LEAKED.
HE WAS A BIG SOURCE.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED.
-WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
-NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
-NATIONAL JOURNAL DID A
PROFILE, AND LEE HAD WRITTEN
THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF 26-0.
I SAID, "LEE, WE'VE NOT WON 26
RACES IN THE SOUTH SINCE THE
CIVIL WAR."
I SAID, "WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT
IS THAT?"
AND HE GOES, "IT'S MY RECORD
NOW.
IT'S IN THE NATIONAL JOURNAL."
THE MEDIA NEVER CAUGHT ON.
HE WAS A VERY GOOD CON MAN.
-THE BEST POLITICAL OPERATIVES
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PRESS.
IT'S EASY, IF YOU DON'T WATCH
YOURSELF, TO FALL INTO THAT,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU LIKE
PERSONALLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE
YOU.
-WELL, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A
VERY DAPPER DRESSER.
-THANK YOU.
-YOU GOT THE RIGHT COLLAR,
RIGHT TIE WITH THE SUIT, EVEN
DOWN TO THE SOCKS.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
-[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS
GAMING YOU?
-AN OPERATIVE NEVER COMES AND
SAYS, "HERE IS A STORY I'D LIKE
YOU TO RUN FOR ME."
BUT JUST IN PRIVATE
CONVERSATION, "DID YOU KNOW THIS
ABOUT SO-AND-SO?
WE'RE STILL CHECKING IT, MIND
YOU, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA
TURN OUT TO BE TRUE."
WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
BEATEN BY YOUR COMPETITION AND
WAIT TILL, YOU KNOW, THEY
ANNOUNCE IT.
THEY JUST PUT IT ON THE
CONVEYER BELT, AND YOU JUST RUN
IT OUT.
-AND I AIN'T GOING TO SIT HERE
AND SPIN Y'ALL.
THIS IS A HIGH-QUALITY NEWS
CONFERENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-HE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE FIGURE
TO COVER 'CAUSE HE COULD WINK
AND NOD WITH THE REPORTERS,
SAYING, "WE ALL KNOW WHAT A
PHONY DEAL THIS IS, RIGHT?"
BY SAYING IT'S ALL WRESTLING,
HE USED HIS OWN CYNICISM TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
-THERE'S A BILL IN THE SENATE
CALLED THE CLEAN CAMPAIGN ACT OF
1985.
IT'S INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE
SO-CALLED NEGATIVE POLITICAL
ADVERTISING.
-WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD WIND
UP DOING IF THIS BILL PASSES IS
POLLUTING THE AIR WITH THESE
KIND OF CANDY-CANE TYPE
COMMERCIALS THAT ARE OOEY AND
GOOEY.
THEY ARE POLLUTING THE
ATMOSPHERE MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
-REAGAN BENEFITED FROM HAVING
A SCRAPPER TO REMIND EVEN SOME
WAVERING REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY
SHOULD FEAR.
-WE HAD A KIND OF A RATING
SCALE OF, ONE, MEANING THAT THIS
IS THE KIND THE GUY YOU JUST GO
AND BLATANTLY INTIMIDATE IN HIS
DISTRICT...
-THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT
BEGINS TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS
SOUTHERN-ACCENTED, FAST-TALKING
KNIFE FIGHTER.
EVEN IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS A
RUBE, YOU DID NOT TAKE HIM
LIGHTLY.
-♪ DEAD MAN WALKING ♪
♪ DEAD MAN ♪
-I WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME HE
WOULDN'T BE LOYAL TO ME, TOLD ME
NOT TO PICK HIM, BUT I ADMIRED
HIS WORK ETHIC.
I ADMIRED WHERE HE CAME FROM.
"HOW ARE WE TWO GUYS HERE?
MY OLD MAN A SHIPYARD WORKER
FROM VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, YOUR
PARENTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE IN THE BIG LEAGUES
TOGETHER."
I MADE HIM MY DEPUTY.
LEE BECAME MY PROTECTOR, MY
ANTENNA.
HE WAS VERY LOYAL TO ME.
I TOLD HIM VERY EARLY ON,
"DON'T YOU GET ANY PIPE DREAMS
HERE THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE MY
PLACE BECAUSE YOU WON'T.
WE'RE A TEAM."
BUT IF YOU LOOKED IN HIS EYES,
YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE
WHO BASICALLY WAS GONNA GET WHAT
HE WANTED.
WHEN HE BETRAYED ME IN '84, IN
THE LAST FOUR WEEKS OF THE
CAMPAIGN, HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
WITH A PRODUCER FOR NBC, AND SO
HE CAME IN TO ME ONE DAY AND HE
SAID, "WOULD YOU GIVE THEM AN
INTERVIEW?"
NBC NEWS LED THAT NIGHT WITH THE
STORY THAT ED ROLLINS WAS
RUNNING A DIRTY OPS OPERATION.
-OUR SOURCES, ALL TOP
REPUBLICAN STAFFERS, SAY THERE
IS AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION LED
BY CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR ED ROLLINS
DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE
MONDALE/FERRARO CAMPAIGN.
-TOOK ME 35 SECONDS TO FIND
OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'D BROUGHT
THE PRODUCER IN.
IT WAS HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND.
LEE HAD PUT A SPEAR IN MY BACK.
THE DAY I WALKED IN HIS OFFICE
AFTER THIS THING, HE THOUGHT I
WAS GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF
HIM.
AND I TOLD HIM.
I SAID, "YOU EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THIS TO ME AGAIN, I'LL
FUCKING BEAT THE LIVING CRAP OUT
OF YOU.
I'LL FIND YOUR ASS, AND I'LL
BEAT THE LIVING FUCKING CRAP OUT
OF YOU."
-♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
♪ BUT IT'S SHARP LIKE A RAZOR
BLADE ♪
♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
-IT WAS JUST A TWO-YEAR EFFORT
TO DESTROY ME.
HE WANTED TO RUN BUSH'S
CAMPAIGN.
HE WORKED BUSH VERY HARD.
HE SAID, "GEORGE W. NEVER
TRUSTED YOU, SO I KEPT FEEDING
IT."
HE CLEARLY MADE IT THAT I WOULD
NEVER BE ANYWHERE IN THE BUSH
WORLD.
-EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING FOR
THE GREAT MAN'S ATTENTION, AND,
LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE KNIVES
FLASHED BRILLIANTLY FOR A YEAR
OR SO.
-I HAD PUT SO MUCH TRUST IN
HIM.
IN SPITE OF EVERYONE TELLING ME
YOU COULDN'T TRUST HIM,
I TRUSTED HIM.
-WHAT CREATES SOMEBODY WHO'S
THAT COLD-BLOODED ARE EVENTS IN
HIS BACKGROUND AND HIS
UPBRINGING THAT LEAVE THEM WITH
A VERY BLEAK, REMORSELESS VIEW
OF LIFE.
-HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT JOE
MUCH.
HIS MOTHER -- YOU KNOW, SHE HAD
A DEEP-FRYER, I THINK, FULL OF
HOT GREASE.
AND THE LITTLE KID -- YOU KNOW,
HE PULLED ON THE CORD AND PULLED
THE THING OVER AND...
YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
JOE MUCH.
-THE GREASE ON THE STOVE ENDED
UP ON JOE, AND IT KILLED HIM.
-LEE SAID HE HEARD HIS
BROTHER'S SCREAMS THE REST OF
HIS LIFE EVERY DAY.
HOW HAUNTING COULD THAT BE?
-HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS
LITTLE OR NO MERCY IN LIFE.
WHAT KIND OF GOD PRODUCES THIS?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THE GOOD SON
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, OF
TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE AND ACCESS
TO POWER AND MONEY, AND HERE
LEE ATWATER WAS, THE BAD SEED OF
THE ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
I THINK THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE
WAS BRUTALLY BROUGHT UP SHORT BY
THE BUSHES, WHEN LEE MAY HAVE
PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
INTO THE MANSION TO SIP THE
SHERRY.
THE BUSHES NEVER REGARDED HIM AS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HIRED
HELP AND A SOMEWHAT
UNTRUSTWORTHY MEMBER OF THE
HIRED HELP.
THEY COULD ALWAYS JETTISON HIM
IF THEY HAD TO, CUT HIM LOOSE IN
A SECOND.
AND LEE WAS PERFECTLY WILLING
BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM ENTRéE TO
THE WORLD OF POWER AND CELEBRITY
THAT HE SO CRAVED.
-LYNDON JOHNSON WOULD
HUMILIATE HIS AIDES BY HAVING A
MEETING WHILE HE SAT ON THE
TOILET AND DEFECATED.
ATWATER DECIDED TO OPEN HIS
PANTS AND URINATE WITH AN
ESQUIRE REPORTER,
DAVID REMNICK.
-LEE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO
ME BECAUSE ALL HE WAS DOING WAS
TALKING TO THE GUY WHILE HE WAS
TAKING A PISS, AND REMNICK WROTE
IT UP.
AND LEE SAID, "WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO, SAY 'THIS PISS
IS OFF THE RECORD'"?
BARBARA BUSH WAS VERY OFFENDED
BY HIS VULGARITY.
IT ALMOST COST LEE HIS JOB
RUNNING THE BUSH CAMPAIGN.
-HE HAD TO OVERCOME THE FAMILY
SUSPICION.
WHO WAS THIS UPSTART?
HE'S A KID.
SO THEN WHO ARRIVES IN TOWN?
GEORGE W. BUSH.
THE FAMILY LIKED THE FACT THEY
HAD ONE OF THEIR OWN KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON LEE.
AND LEE RESPONDED TO THAT BY
SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU COME AND
WORK WITH ME, WORK ALONGSIDE ME,
IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME, AND
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN THIS
CAMPAIGN."
-SO, HE'S GOT A GUY THERE
WHO'S LIVED A LOT CLOSER TO THE
EARTH THAN SOME OF HIS
RELATIVES.
HE AND LEE HIT IT OFF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-A TRUE TEST OF A GOOD
CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS TO BE ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
MY MOTHER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME A
SOUTH CAROLINA CRACKER...
LEE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-THEY WERE A MAGNIFYING FORCE.
THEY WERE BOTH DEEPLY
INTELLECTUAL AND WELL-READ.
-ATWATER SAID HE READ FOUR
BOOKS A MONTH.
THAT WAS BULLSHIT.
HE DIDN'T READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
HE HAD JIM PINKERTON READ THEM
AND TELL HIM WHAT THEY SAID.
HE READ, LIKE, THE CliffsNotes
FOR FOUR BOOKS A MONTH.
-AND MY NUMBER-ONE SOUL MATE
AND A GUY WHO'S WITH ME THICK
AND THIN -- GEORGE BUSH JR.
-HE'S GOT MOJO, LEADER OF THE
NEXT CAMPAIGN, THE EYES OF THE
WORLD UPON YOU.
THIS WAS AN EVEN BIGGER LEAP UP.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO MAKE THEM
MASTER POLITICIANS, OR IT'S
GONNA RUIN THEM.
IT'S EITHER GONNA SHOW THEIR WAY
TO VICTORY IN THE FUTURE OR SHOW
THEM TO THE DOOR.
-IRAN-CONTRA MUST HAVE BEEN
PERCEIVED BY ATWATER AS A VERY
SERIOUS THREAT, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST SCANDALS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND YOUR GUY IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
-A CHARGE HAS BEEN MADE THAT
THE UNITED STATES HAS SHIPPED
WEAPONS TO IRAN, TRAFFICKING
WITH TERRORISTS.
THOSE CHARGES ARE UTTERLY FALSE.
-IT'S A LIE.
IT'S A LIE.
I MEAN, PRESIDENTS LIE.
-GIVING WEAPONS TO OUR SWORN
ENEMY, IRAN, WHO WE'RE ALL
RALLYING THE SABERS ABOUT TODAY.
IT'S THE SAME IRAN.
-THEY WERE ALWAYS INTERVENING
ON BEHALF OF DRUG SMUGGLERS AND
TERRORISTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MORAL
STANDPOINT, IT'S INDEFENSIBLE.
BUT THEY WERE SO GOOD AT
CONTROLLING THE DISCOURSE.
-HE CAME OUT MONTHS LATER
AND ADMITTED.
-I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I
DID NOT TRADE ARMS FOR HOSTAGES.
MY HEART AND MY BEST INTENTIONS
STILL TELL ME THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE
TELL ME IT IS NOT.
-"THERE WERE SOME RENEGADES IN
THE WHITE HOUSE."
HE ACTED LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS WORKING IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
-I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
ANY DIVERSION OF FUNDS
TO THE CONTRAS.
-HE DESERVES OUR SUPPORT, NOT
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING
FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FACED
WITH THE DECISIONS HE HAD TO
MAKE.
-YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT AND THE
VICE PRESIDENT LYING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS,
DOCUMENTS BEING SHREDDED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?
BUT THEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAD IRANIAN PROBLEMS
WAS BECAUSE WE HAD OVERTHROWN
THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN IN 1953.
BUSH WASN'T THE ONLY CIA
DIRECTOR TO BE UP TO HIS NECK IN
DRUG-DEALING, MILITARY LEADERS
IN CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA.
IF YOU COULD AFFORD A UNIFORM
AND A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES AND
TOLD US YOU WERE ANTICOMMUNIST,
WE SUPPORTED YOU.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SHOWING NORIEGA
AROUND THE C.I.A. OFFICE.
IT WAS APPALLING.
TRUTH BE KNOWN, THE IRAN-CONTRA
THING IS THE THING THAT GOT ME
INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-VICE PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE CONTRA AID OR
NOT, SIR?
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-BUSH WAS REALLY DAMAGED GOODS
BECAUSE OF THE SENSE THAT HE WAS
INVOLVED IN A COVER-UP, SECRETLY
PROMOTING A WAR IN NICARAGUA
THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS OPPOSED.
AND JUST THE DEVIOUSNESS OF THE
WHOLE THING RAISED THE MOST
SERIOUS POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS INTEGRITY AND FITNESS.
-IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER YOUR
FRIENDS, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME
IS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT NOVEMBER IF
YOU ARE OUR STANDARD-BEARER AND
THESE DEMOCRATS GET AFTER YOU ON
THIS SUBJECT?
[ APPLAUSE ]
-PEOPLE WANT TO GET THIS
IRANIAN SITUATION BEHIND THEM.
THEY'RE TIRED OF IT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN TO
THINK ABOUT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR POCKETBOOKS TO
THINK ABOUT.
FARMERS HAVE THEIR CROPS TO
THINK ABOUT.
-HE KNEW THAT, IN ALL
PROBABILITY, HIS CANDIDATE HAD
BEEN UP TO HIS EYEBALLS IN THIS
ACTIVITY.
HE'D GET KNOCKED OUT OF THE GAME
PRETTY QUICK.
-THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY
NERVOUS MOMENTS.
-YOU SAID IF YOU HAD KNOWN
THIS WAS AN ARMS-FOR-HOSTAGES
SWAP THAT YOU WOULD HAVE OPPOSED
IT.
-EXACTLY.
MAY I ANSWER THAT?
-THAT WASN'T A QUESTION.
IT WAS A STATEMENT.
-IT WAS A STATEMENT, AND I'LL
ANSWER IT.
THE PRESIDENT CREATED THIS
PROGRAM AS TESTIFIED...
-IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY,
"THAT'S A LIE."
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT FOR A
WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS WHEN
YOU'RE IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW
AND A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING, AND THEY KNOW THIS.
THEY'LL JUST SIT THERE AND LIE
TO YOU.
-AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING LEE
HAD A PARTICULAR MASTERY OF IS
STAYING ON MESSAGE.
BUSH WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
HE WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE
THAT HE WAS IN THE LOOP.
THEY COULDN'T BREAK THAT STORY,
SO JUST DON'T SAY ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
-IT'S NOT FAIR TO JUDGE MY
WHOLE CAREER BY A REHASH ON
IRAN.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I
JUDGED YOUR CAREER BY THOSE
SEVEN MINUTES WHEN YOU WALKED
OFF THE SET IN NEW YORK?
-WELL, MR. --
-WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?
I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU, BUT I
DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR WHAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
-BUSH WAS LYING.
AND ELLIOT ABRAMS WAS LYING AND
CASPAR WEINBERGER WAS LYING AND
GEORGE SHULTZ WAS LYING.
-SOURCES IN OTHER CAMPAIGNS
SPECULATE BUSH'S STRATEGY MAY
HAVE BEEN TO SET UP RATHER, THE
VICE PRESIDENT ALWAYS PLANNING
TO GO ON THE ATTACK.
CBS NEWS CORRESPONDENT
TERENCE SMITH ASKED BUSH
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR LEE ATWATER
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
ATWATER LAUGHED AND THEN
ANSWERED, "WE NEVER TALK ABOUT
HOW WE MAKE SAUSAGE."
-ONCE YOU GET TO WASHINGTON
AND LEARN THE GAME, THE
CANDIDATES ARE, A LOT OF TIMES,
PUPPETS, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
BEHIND THE SCENES PULLING THE
STRINGS ON THESE GUYS.
IN COLLEGE, LEE TOTALLY DETESTED
SPORTS, EXCEPT WRESTLING.
HIS THING WAS, "THIS IS THE ONLY
HONEST SPORT OUT THERE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
EVERYBODY KNEW WRESTLING WAS
FAKE.
-HE WAS BASICALLY SAYING THAT
POLITICS IS PHONY, THAT
GOVERNMENT IS PHONY, THAT A LOT
OF PERSONAL LIFE IS PHONY.
AND "PHONY" WAS A BIG WORD WITH
HIM.
-HE MAY HAVE FELT THAT
WRESTLING WAS THE ONLY HONEST
SPORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO
OBVIOUSLY DISHONEST.
WHAT'S THERE TO ENTERTAIN,
WHAT'S THERE TO DISTRACT IS WHAT
COUNTS.
AND, ACTUALLY, THINGS ARE RUN ON
A MUCH MORE CYNICAL BASIS BY THE
PEOPLE AT THE TOP.
-ATWATER SAYS HE CAN'T RELAX
OR TAKE IT EASY BECAUSE HE'S
ALWAYS PREPARING FOR A MENTAL
SPARRING MATCH.
-YOU'RE ALWAYS IN A BATTLE OF
WITS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUNCH OF GUYS
OUT THERE TRYING TO OUTSMART YOU
AND TRYING TO STICK IT TO YOU,
AND YOUR JOB IS TO STICK IT TO
THEM FIRST.
-THE PLAN WAS PRETTY EASY --
WIN IOWA AND WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT DOLE.
-UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A
CAMPAIGN AND UNDER THE HOT
LIGHTS OF THE TELEVISION,
BOB DOLE MIGHT BE FORCED TO MAKE
AN ERROR.
LEE HAD THE CAMPAIGN THROW
THINGS AT THEIR CAMPAIGN TO
PRESS HIM.
-THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAID THIS
MORNING THAT SENATOR DOLE BROKE
THE JANUARY 13th TRUCE.
THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT --
-COME ON.
WE'RE NOT GONNA ANSWER -- I'M
NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS LIKE THIS.
-LEE PUT OUT SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT OTHERS WERE HEARING
VOICES EVERYWHERE.
AND HE GOT THEM OFF THEIR GAME
BY MAKING THEM ANGRY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MEDIA
BEAST CAN ONLY BE CHEWING ON ONE
ANKLE AT A TIME.
MAKE SURE THE ANKLE IS THE OTHER
GUY'S.
-YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF
SCURRILOUS, LAST-MINUTE,
DESPERATION TACTICS -- AND THIS
IS ONLY THE FIRST STATE.
-DID YOU, IN FACT, SPREAD ANY
FALSE RUMORS ABOUT
ELIZABETH DOLE?
-YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
-I DON'T KNOW.
-NO, I DID NOT. I DID NOT.
-BOB DOLE SAYS YOU DID.
-NO, I DID NOT.
-THIS ALWAYS FASCINATED LEE.
HE WAS IN A PROFESSION -- YOUR
CAREER COULD GET DASHED IN A
DAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT TOTALLY INTRIGUED
HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IOWA HAS TURNED THE
REPUBLICAN RACE UPSIDE-DOWN.
-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT GEORGE BUSH
IS DEEPLY DAMAGED, AND BOB HAS
TO BE CONSIDERED THE
FRONT-RUNNER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
-WHEN YOU FUCK UP IN THIS
ARENA, THE SPOTLIGHT IS
AMPLIFIED A THOUSAND TIMES.
-WASHINGTON CHEERS FOR TWO
THINGS -- THE WASHINGTON
REDSKINS TO WIN ON SUNDAY, AND
IT CHEERS FOR WHOEVER IS IN
POWER TO FAIL.
-ATWATER VOMITED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER THAT.
LOSING MADE HIM PHYSICALLY ILL.
IF THEY LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY
WERE DONE.
THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE
ABYSS.
I VISITED HIM IN HIS HOTEL
ROOM.
HE WAS NERVOUS ENERGY.
IT WAS SNOWING SO HARD OUTSIDE
THAT ATWATER'S RUNNING IN THE
STAIRWELL OF HIS HOTEL, UP AND
DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
-LEE ATWATER WILL EITHER
SOLIDIFY HIS IMAGE AS THE
POLITICAL WONDER BOY OR BE KNOWN
AS THE MAN WHO STEERED
PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER
GEORGE BUSH INTO THE GROUND.
REPORTS SURFACED THAT BUSH WAS
PREPARED TO FIRE ATWATER IF HE
LOST THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.
-SURE, WE'RE CONCERNED.
WE'RE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING DAY
AND NIGHT.
BUT IN THE END, GEORGE BUSH IS
GONNA WIN.
-THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD TO DO
SOMETHING THAT HE ISN'T
NATURALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
IT'S BEEN CALLED, WRONGLY,
NEGATIVE.
IT WASN'T NEGATIVE.
THIS IS PLAY BIG OR GO HOME.
-BUSH SAYS HE WON'T RAISE
TAXES, PERIOD.
DOLE STRADDLES.
HE'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOLE ACTUALLY ADVISED...
-READ MY LIPS.
NO NEW TAXES!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DOLE COULD NOT TAKE THE
"NO TAX INCREASE" PLEDGE.
IT KILLED HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUSH WAS LESS ETHICAL.
BUSH TOOK IT. HE LIED.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ BAND PLAYS "YANKEE DOODLE
DANDY" ]
-BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T SAY HOW WELL LEE ATWATER,
OUR GREAT CHAIRMAN, PERFORMED.
HE DID A SUPERB JOB, AND IT'S
NOT JUST 'CAUSE HE'S STANDING
HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S SOMETHING WONDERFUL
ABOUT FIGHTING BACK IN LIFE.
-WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO
HIM TO TURN HIM INTO A HIT MAN?
-HE WAS NOT A HIT MAN.
WHAT HE DID IN THAT CAMPAIGN WAS
DISCUSS ISSUES.
-BUSH HAD WON IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND TOM BROKAW ON
NBC WAS INTERVIEWING THE TWO OF
THEM.
-AND, SENATOR DOLE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO
THE VICE PRESIDENT?
-YEAH, STOP LYING ABOUT MY
RECORD.
-THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AND THE
TONE OF VOICE -- I INTERVIEWED
HIM LATER ABOUT IT, AND YOU
KNOW, HE SAID, "I LOST MY COOL,
AND IT COST ME.
YOU WORK FOR TWO YEARS OF YOUR
LIFE FOR SOMETHING, AND IT'S
TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SAY,
'GEE, HECK'?"
-WE'RE NOT GONNA COMMENT.
I DON'T COMMENT ON ATWATER.
-THE FACT THAT THE
VICE PRESIDENT GOT THE
NOMINATION SO OVERWHELMINGLY IS
VERY INDICATIVE OF THE KIND OF
SUPPORT HE'S GOT IN THIS PARTY.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME ONE HALF
OF THAT WINNING TANDEM, THE
HONORABLE JOHN BUSH --
GEORGE BUSH.
[ LAUGHS ]
GOD!
-THEY THOUGHT BUSH WAS A WIMP
AND A WUSS...
ATWATER WAS A HICK AND HACK.
-WITH HIS BIG POWERBOAT UP IN
MAINE AND HIS UPPER-CLASS
BACKGROUND AND BEING FROM YALE,
DO YOU THINK HE IS REALLY THE
GUY WHO'S GOING TO APPEAL TO THE
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS, THE
ORDINARY CITIZENS OF AMERICA?
-WELL, BUT YOU JUST NAMED A
BUNCH OF THINGS THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH ISSUES, AND
THIS IS GONNA BE A CAMPAIGN OF
ISSUES.
-PEOPLE SCOFFED AT THE ATWATER
ISSUES -- THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THE
PRISON FURLOUGHS.
WHO WOULD BUY THAT?
THIS IS SO IRRELEVANT.
-AND KEEP THIS COUNTRY GOING.
-WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT?!
-DEFICIT?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ABOUT IT.
-YEAH!
-I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PAYING
TOO LITTLE IN TAXES.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING TOO MUCH.
-[ SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY ]
-HURRAY!
[ CHEERS ]
[ ALL CHANTING "GO HOME, BUSH" ]
-POOR GEORGE.
HE CAN'T HELP IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER FOOT
IN HIS MOUTH.
[ LOUD LAUGHTER ]
-THEY ARE THE PARTY THAT TALKS
TOUGH ON DRUGS BUT DEALS SOFTLY
WITH DRUG-RUNNING DICTATORS.
AND GEORGE BUSH IS A DEAD DUCK.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DUKAKIS WINS BIG EVERYWHERE.
HE'S GONNA WIN IN A LANDSLIDE.
I THINK HE WILL WIN IN EVERY
PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
-THE GOVERNOR JUST CAME OUT
HERE AND SAID THAT MR. DUKAKIS
IS GONNA WIN BIG EVERYWHERE.
-WELL, I'M GLAD THEY HAVE THAT
KIND OF ATTITUDE BECAUSE THAT
LEADS TO THE KIND OF
OVERCONFIDENCE AND COCKINESS
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
UNHEALTHY ATTITUDE YOU CAN HAVE
IN POLITICS.
-WHO'S GONNA --
-BYE!
-WAIT, WAIT.
ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY?
WHEN ARE WE GONNA FIND OUT?
-THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
QUESTION.
I WILL CONTEMPLATE IT WHEN I GO
JOGGING.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-LEE'S FAVORITE STATEMENT WAS
"JUST PLAY DUMB AND KEEP
MOVING."
[ CROWD CHANTING "FOUR MORE
YEARS" ]
-THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
PROUDLY CASTS ALL ITS VOTES FOR
HER FAVORITE SON AND THE BEST
FATHER IN AMERICA, GEORGE BUSH.
-REPUBLICANS HAVE OFTEN BEEN
DISMISSED AS SLOW, DUMB, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
LEE LOVED EXAGGERATING THAT
IMAGE AND JUST OUTFOXING
EVERYBODY AROUND HIM.
-IN THE SOUTH, THAT'S CALLED
"SLOW-PLAYING 'EM."
BEING A SLOW TALKER AND
EASYGOING, WELL, A LOT OF
NORTHERNERS PERCEIVE THAT AS NOT
VERY BRIGHT.
SUCK THEM IN, YOU END UP
RUNNING ALL OVER THEM.
"YOU CAN RUN. YOU CAN RUN.
TELL MY BIG BOY WILLIE BROWN.
I'M STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS,
BABY.
I THINK I'M SINKING DOWN."
-THIS IS A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL
ELECTION.
IF WE LOSE THE PRESIDENCY THIS
TIME, WE LOSE IT ALL.
-RONALD REAGAN HAD TO HAVE
GEORGE BUSH IN OFFICE.
IF A DEMOCRAT WON, WE WOULD HAVE
A REAL LEGAL PRECEDING, AND
RONALD REAGAN COULD HAVE
GONE TO JAIL.
-DO YOU FEEL THAT
MICHAEL DUKAKIS SHOULD MAKE HIS
MEDICAL RECORDS PUBLIC?
-LOOK, I'M NOT GONNA PICK
ON AN INVALID.
-MR. PRESIDENT! MR. PRESIDENT!
-HE GOT AWAY WITH THOSE KIND
OF THINGS 'CAUSE HE DID IT IN A
SORT OF JOCULAR WAY WITH
HIS IRISH WIT.
THAT STATEMENT WAS ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN
AMERICA.
IMMEDIATELY, MICHAEL DUKAKIS'
NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP.
-HE TRIED TO GET ME TO WRITE
ABOUT GOVERNOR DUKAKIS HAVING
PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.
IT WAS REALLY A SLANDER.
HE THOUGHT MY WEAKNESS WAS THAT
IF I COULD GET AN EXCLUSIVE
STORY, I WOULD JUMP AT IT AND
BITE AT IT AND NOT BE AS CAREFUL
AS I SHOULD BE.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT I
WAS CAREFUL ENOUGH NOT TO GET
INVOLVED IN THAT ONE.
-DID YOU GUYS MEET LEE ATWATER
OUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER HERE?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-PIPE DOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-ENOUGH APPLAUSE.
IT GOES TO HIS HEAD.
-NO ONE HIRES PEOPLE LIKE
LEE ATWATER TO LOSE.
THERE ARE NO SILVER OR BRONZE
MEDALS IN THIS GAME.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU WIN.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING.
I'M A FORMER ALTAR BOY.
THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS THAT
RECRUITS ALTAR BOYS.
-YOU DO HAVE TO BE TOUGH TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF THEM,
AND YOU DO HAVE TO DO THINGS
THAT THE NORMAL PERSON MIGHT
SHRINK FROM.
BUT THAT'S IT.
WHERE'S THE LINE?
WANTING TO WIN MAKES PEOPLE DO
THINGS THAT THEY WOULDN'T
CONSIDER IN A NORMAL SENSE.
THEY WOULDN'T HIRE LEE ATWATER.
TO WIN, THOUGH, THAT'S WHAT IT
TAKES.
-EARLIER THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
SENATOR STEVE SYMMS OF IDAHO
SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF
REPORTS THAT KITTY DUKAKIS HAD
BURNED AN AMERICAN FLAG DURING
AN ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION IN THE
'60S.
-I SAID IT WAS AN ALLEGATION
THAT HAD BEEN TOLD TO ME.
-BUT FROM WHO, THOUGH?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT NATIONALLY.
WHO ACTUALLY SAID IT TO YOU?
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, SOMEBODY
NEEDS SOME KIND OF FACT.
-I WOULDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE
THE SOURCES.
-WHAT ABOUT PICTURES?
YOU MENTIONED PICTURES.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY PICTURES?
-NO, I HAVE NOT.
I SAID I HADN'T SEEN THEM.
I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SOME VERY
RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT THERE
ARE PICTURES FLOATING AROUND.
-THERE COULDN'T BE A
PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE THERE WAS
NEVER ANY SUCH INCIDENT.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
AND THERE IS NOBODY WHO LOVES
THE FLAG AS MUCH AS MICHAEL AND
MYSELF.
THAT FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF
FREEDOM, A SYMBOL OF WHAT THIS
COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
-WERE YOU AT A DEMONSTRATION
AT ANY TIME?
-NEVER. NEVER.
-WHEN YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR
HEELS AND YOU'RE DEFENDING
YOURSELF CONSTANTLY, IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE WRONG,
AND, THEREFORE, LEE'S CANDIDATE
USUALLY COMES OUT LOOKING LIKE
HE'S IN THE RIGHT.
-AND WHAT DOES DUKAKIS DO?
EVERY TIME HE STANDS UP, HE
ATTACKS GEORGE BUSH.
HE'S A HYPOCRITE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW IT, TOO.
THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE KIND
OF OUT-OF-TOUCH CROWD THEY ARE.
THEY PROBABLY SAT UP IN
BROOKLINE EATING BELGIAN ENDIVES
AND QUICHE OUT OF THE CAN AND
FIGURED, "WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS GO ATTACK..."
-QUICHE OUT OF A CAN!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
-SEE, IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE'S
A RING OF TRUTH TO IT.
THEY PROBABLY THINK, YOU KNOW,
DUKAKIS -- THEY WERE A BUNCH OF
ELITISTS.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, HE AND THE
FOLKS AROUND BUSH WERE TRYING TO
MAKE ME A KIND OF NORTHEAST
LIBERAL WHO WAS OUT OF TOUCH AND
THAT KIND OF A THING.
I MEAN, THE IRONY OF THIS IS
THAT...
YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUY WHO IS THE
SON OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME
OVER HERE AND LIVED THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
NOTHING AGAINST YANKEE BRAHMANS
WHO WERE HERE SINCE 1630.
-A NICE WASP KID, BORN IN
MILTON.
-AND TEXANS WANT A TEXAN FOR
PRESIDENT.
-TEXANS WANT A TEXAN AS
PRESIDENT, NOT SOMEONE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
-BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE LIVED DOWN IN -- GREW UP IN
CONNECTICUT.
-BUSH COULD EAT PORK RINDS,
BUT HE WAS A YALIE AND HE WAS AN
ELITE.
AND HE MAY HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS,
BUT PEOPLE STILL THOUGHT OF HIM
FROM CONNECTICUT.
LEE WAS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
THE COUNTRY.
-DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU I'M
NO TEXAN.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-LEE UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF
IMAGE AND HOW AMERICAN SYMBOLS
RESONATE WITH A LOT OF
SOUTHERNERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND DEMOCRATS TO THIS DAY
SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST
THEIR OWN INTERESTS BY
SUPPORTING THESE REPUBLICANS
WHEN, IN FACT, THE AUDACITY AND
ARROGANCE OF THAT IS PROUD
PATRIOTISM TRANSCENDS MONEY.
-SMILE.
-MR. PRESIDENT!
-THE QUESTION I REALLY WANT TO
HEAR HIM ANSWER IS, WHY IN THE
WORLD DID HE VETO THIS BILL
CALLING FOR THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO BE SAID IN OUR
CLASSROOMS?
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
GET DOWN HERE, DUKAKIS, AND
ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
-KIDS SALUTE THE FLAG EVERY
DAY.
IT'S PART OF THE LAW.
I'M ALL FOR IT.
THE QUESTION WAS, COULD YOU PUT
TEACHERS IN JAIL WHO REFUSED TO
LEAD THE PLEDGE?
SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES SAID YOU CAN'T DO
THAT.
-WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE?
IT'S JUST SHOWING THAT YOU
BELIEVE AND YOU STAND BEHIND
YOUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.
-EVERY ONE OF US COULD STAND
SOME MORE PATRIOTISM.
-WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
MR. BUSH THAT I WASN'T GONNA LET
HIM QUESTION MY PATRIOTISM.
-I'M NOT QUESTIONING HIS
PATRIOTISM.
I'M QUESTIONING HIS JUDGMENT.
-REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY
STRIDENT, ALMOST, IN ATTACKING
MIKE DUKAKIS.
-NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S
STRIDENT.
I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT'S A
MIS-ADJECTIVE.
I WOULD SAY STRONG.
-WHAT'S YOURS?
-WELL, MINE IS ISSUE
CLARIFICATION.
-I DON'T LIKE THEM TAKING MY
GUN.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T
TAKING PEOPLE'S GUNS AWAY IN
TEXAS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT'S
SON, NOW THE PRESIDENT, RAN
AROUND TEXAS TELLING THEM THAT
THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
-IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUNS
HERE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT AS WELL
BE A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
-TEXAS REPUBLICANS DIDN'T
WASTE A MINUTE.
FIVE MILLION LETTERS TOLD TEXAS
VOTERS THAT MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS
NOTHING BUT A NORTHEAST LIBERAL,
AND THAT'S A CUSS WORD FOR A LOT
OF TEXANS.
-A LIBERAL IS SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE
TAXES, MORE SPENDING, MORE
REGULATION, AND MORE
INTERFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
AND THE ONLY THING THEY WANT
LESS OF IS DEFENSE, AND THAT'S
THE ONE THING WE WANT MORE OF.
-IF YOU LET THE CAMPAIGN BE
ABOUT BUSH, YOU PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE LOST.
THE CAMPAIGN HAD TO BE ABOUT
THE VALUES YOU PROJECT ONTO
DUKAKIS.
IT WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE
CULTURE WAR.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TURNED
INTO A STEALTH PARTY THAT ARGUES
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMON MAN AND
GIVES ALL THE BENEFITS TO THE
WEALTHIEST 1/10 OF 1%.
IT ARGUES ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN
MORALITY POLICIES, ENGAGES IN
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRIVATE
BEHAVIOR.
HE USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE
ANTI-ABORTION FORCES AS THE
"EXTRA CHROMOSOME GROUP" AND THE
ONES WHO HAD A HAND COMING OUT
OF THEIR HEAD, OR A THIRD EYE,
YOU KNOW.
THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
THE MOST DEVOTED PEOPLE TO HIS
CAUSE.
-A LITTLE LOUDER!
-ONE THING LEE TOLD ME, BY THE
WAY, THOUGH, IS NEVER, EVER,
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN A FUNNY HAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I WAS THERE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
SHOW.
-MICHAEL DUKAKIS IS OPPOSED TO
VIRTUALLY EVERY DEFENSE SYSTEM
WE DEVELOPED.
-THE TANK AD WENT DOWN HIS
VOTING RECORD.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "NOW, WE'VE
GOT TO CHECK EVERY ONE OF THESE
POINTS."
I'M NOT CERTAIN WE DID.
-FIRST OF ALL, THE BUSH
CAMPAIGN WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THOSE
STATISTICS ON THE AIR IF THEY
WEREN'T CORRECT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT COMMERCIAL IS
MORE ABOUT DUKAKIS' RECORD.
-I WAS A GOVERNOR.
IF THERE WERE BILLS INVOLVING
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE IN
WASHINGTON, OBVIOUSLY, I
WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED ON THOSE.
I NEVER SERVED A DAY OF MY LIFE
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-IT'S WITH A GREAT DEAL OF
PRIDE THAT I INTRODUCE MY BIG
LITTLE BROTHER GEORGY.
DON'T --
[ CHEERS ]
I WANT YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.
FROM NOW ON -- GEORGE TOLD ME
THIS MORNING, HE DOES NOT WANT
TO BE REFERRED TO AS "JUNIOR."
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
HAVE PRIDE IN HIS FATHER AND WHO
HE IS, BUT GEORGE HAS DONE AN
OUTSTANDING JOB ON THIS
CAMPAIGN.
[ CRASH ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-DEMOCRATS!
-IT'S DEMOCRATS.
-ONE REASON MARVIN AND I AND
BROTHER JEB FROM THE STATE OF
FLORIDA ARE WORKING SO HARD IS
BECAUSE OUR DAD NEEDS A REAL
JOB.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-OUR NOW-PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS WAS A NEW LEVEL OF PLAYING
FIELD, AND HE WAS WATCHING A
MASTER IN LEE ATWATER.
-WHAT GEORGE W. SAW IN LEE WAS
AN ATTITUDE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
AFRAID TO EXPRESS THE FIRST TIME
HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.
PROBABLY WASN'T NEARLY
MANIPULATIVE AND COLD-BLOODED
ENOUGH.
HE WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PLEASE
HIS DAD, WHO HE SOMEWHAT
MISTAKENLY THOUGHT WAS A GOOD
GUY, UNCAPABLE OF TOUGH
POLITICS.
GEORGE W. WAS SAYING, "NOW I SEE
HOW THIS HAS TO BE DONE.
DO THE DEAL. DO THE DEED."
-SOMETIMES THE SONS CAN SAY
SOMETHING THEIR FATHERS CAN'T,
AND THAT IS, WE'RE COUNTING ON
YOU BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO GO
OUT THERE AND KICK SOME OF
MICHAEL DUKAKIS AND KICK IT
HARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ATWATER HAD A GENIUS FOR THE
STICKY ISSUE...
SIMPLE ENOUGH AND SCARY ENOUGH
THAT THE MEDIA COULD LATCH ON TO
IT.
-AS GOVERNOR, MICHAEL DUKAKIS
VETOED MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR
DRUG DEALERS.
HE VETOED THE DEATH PENALTY.
HIS REVOLVING-DOOR PRISON
POLICY GAVE WEEKEND FURLOUGHS TO
FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.
WHILE OUT, MANY COMMITTED OTHER
CRIMES, LIKE KIDNAPPING AND
RAPE, AND MANY ARE STILL AT
LARGE.
NOW MICHAEL DUKAKIS SAYS HE
WANTS TO DO FOR AMERICA WHAT
HE'S DONE FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
AMERICA CAN'T AFFORD THAT RISK.
-I WAS ANGRY.FFORD THAT RISK.
I WAS, LIKE, VERY ANGRY 'CAUSE I
SAW THROUGH IT RIGHT AWAY.
I SAW THE AD WHERE THEY HAD
THESE GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON,
AND THE BLACK GUY WAS THE ONLY
ONE WHO LOOKED UP AT THE CAMERA.
SO I SAID, "AH, THESE ARE
DIABOLICAL MINDS BEHIND THIS
THING."
-"THAT'S THE GUY TO BE AFRAID
OF."
THIS WAS CALCULATED TO EMPHASIZE
THE ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERE.
-RACE IS A POWDER KEG.
IT DESERVES TO BE, IN MANY WAYS.
AND LEE GOT CLOSE TO THAT POWDER
KEG AND, YOU KNOW, SETTING OFF
SPARKS NEARBY.
-THIS WAS A PIECE OF
LITERATURE THAT WAS BEING
DISTRIBUTED IN A NUMBER OF
STATES.
"ALL THE MURDERERS AND RAPISTS
AND DRUG PUSHERS AND CHILD
MOLESTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS VOTE
FOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS."
I THOUGHT IT WAS DESPICABLE.
-THEN THEY HAD THE RAPE
VICTIM, THIS WOMAN, GO ON TOUR
AND TALK ABOUT, IN EXPLICIT
DETAILS, WHAT HAPPENED DURING
THE RAPE.
SHE WAS RAPED TWICE.
-IT WAS A SO-CALLED
INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE AD WHERE
THEY SIMPLY USED HORTON'S FACE.
-ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
DESPITE A LIFE SENTENCE, HORTON
RECEIVED 10 WEEKEND PASSES FROM
PRISON.
HORTON FLED, KIDNAPPED A YOUNG
COUPLE, STABBING THE MAN AND
REPEATEDLY RAPING HIS
GIRLFRIEND.
-THE CANDIDATE AND THE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM DENY ANY
RESPONSIBILITY.
ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES THAT
BELIEVES IN THE TOOTH FAIRY.
-I JUST WONDER WHETHER THERE
ISN'T A TINGE OF RACISM.
-ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK MANY PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH KNOW WHAT RACE
WILLIE HORTON IS.
I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY
IRRELEVANT.
-I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK HE WAS USED PRIMARILY
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
LIKE LEE SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
YOU DON'T CALL THEM NIGGER,
NIGGER, NIGGER ANYMORE LIKE YOU
DID 30 YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO BE MORE
"SUBTLE" THAN THAT.
IT WASN'T VERY SUBTLE AT ALL TO
ME.
-EVERYBODY SAW HOW PROVOCATIVE
IT WAS, AND SO IT GOT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FREE
AIRTIME.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES "HOOKED
UP TO JUMPER CABLES" GOT
REPEATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES
WILLIE HORTON'S SCOWLING, ANGRY
FACE OF A KILLER WAS TELEVISED
ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE.
-THERE'S A STORY ABOUT A
FELLOW NAMED WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-MURDERER.
-CONVICTED MURDERER
WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-WEEKEND VACATIONS.
-THE WEEKEND PASSES.
-COLD-BLOODED.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-FIRST-DEGREE...
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-KILLER.
MURDERER.
-THEY RAPE PEOPLE.
-RAPED HIS WIFE.
-THEY MAUL PEOPLE.
-WILLIE HORTON WILL BECOME A
HOUSEHOLD NAME.
-NO MORE FURLOUGHS FOR PEOPLE
THAT RAPE, PILLAGE, AND PLUNDER!
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.
-DO YOU THINK THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL,
THOUGH, GIVES HINTS OF RACIAL
POLITICS?
-I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
-YOU DON'T HAVE A
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL ON THE
AIR?
-NO.
-A FURLOUGH PROGRAM
COMMERCIAL?
YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIME -- YOU
DON'T HAVE AN AD ON THE AIR
ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUE?
-NO.
-SO THERE'S NO PLAN IN THIS
CAMPAIGN AT ALL TO USE THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL AT ALL
TO APPEAL --
-WELL, THERE'S NO
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
I DO THINK THAT THE CRIMINAL
FURLOUGH PROGRAM THAT DUKAKIS
SUPPORTED, IN WHICH CONVICTED
MURDERERS WERE ALLOWED TO GO ON
WEEKEND FURLOUGH...
-I WENT INTO THE HEADQUARTERS
TO SEE ATWATER AT HIS REQUEST.
HE LOCKED THE OFFICE DOOR, AND
HE POPPED THE FAMOUS
WILLIE HORTON SPOT ONTO A
TELEVISION.
HE SAID, "I GOT A COUPLE BOYS
GOING TO PUT A COUPLE MILLION
DOLLARS UP FOR THIS
INDEPENDENT."
AND I SAID, "THAT'S A HUGE
MISTAKE.
YOU AND GEORGE BUSH WILL WEAR
THAT TO YOUR GRAVE.
IT'S A RACIST AD.
YOU'RE ALREADY WINNING THIS
ISSUE.
IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.
YOU'RE STEPPING OVER A LINE.
YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT."
AND HE SAID, "Y'ALL A PUSSY."
-THIS MALIGNANT, OVERWHELMING
IMAGE OF BLACK MEN -- WE WERE TO
BE FEARED.
RAISING LYNCH MOBS AGAINST THE
BLACK PEOPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HISTORICAL
ROLE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP IN THE
HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS
ATTRACTED TO FEAR.
I KNOW I LIKE HORROR MOVIES.
NOT ONLY POLITICIANS, BUT PEOPLE
WHO RUN THE MEDIA, WILL EXPLOIT
THIS.
-FEAR IS AN ATTENTION GETTER,
ANYTHING TO KEEP A STORY GOING.
-TERRORISTS, THE HISPANICS,
GAYS, COMMUNISTS.
-I WAS AMAZED THAT THE DUKAKIS
CAMP NEVER SEEMED TO FIND IT IN
THEM TO FORCEFULLY EXPLAIN THAT
THAT PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS
WAS COPIED AFTER A POPULAR STATE
WHOSE GOVERNOR WAS THE FIRST
GOVERNOR TO SIGN A LAW FOR
WEEKEND PRISONER RELEASE.
THAT GOVERNOR'S NAME WAS
RONALD REAGAN.
-TWO OF HIS FURLOUGHEES WENT
OUT AND MURDERED PEOPLE, AND HE
DEFENDED THE PROGRAM.
BUT I NEVER SAID THAT.
-WHY NOT?
-WASN'T GONNA RESPOND.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS
THE DECISION I MADE.
CRAZY, IN RETROSPECT. CRAZY.
[ FOLK MUSIC PLAYING ]
-IF YOU DON'T DEFEND YOURSELF
AND THEY'RE DOING NEGATIVE ADS
AGAINST YOU AND YOU JUST SAY,
"OH, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT
GAME, I'M GONNA BE POSITIVE,"
YOU ARE GONNA GET DESTROYED.
-RACE IS POISON, BUT IT'S
POISON THAT WORKS FOR THEIR
SIDE.
PEOPLE VOTE THEIR FEARS AND NOT
THEIR HOPES, AND LEE UNDERSTOOD
THAT.
-IT WAS BIZARRE THAT THE
WILLIE HORTON CASE BECAME THE
FOCUS OF THE ELECTION.
-THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND
GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS...
-THE PRESS LEARNED TO SPEAK
THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS
WITHOUT EVEN GETTING THEM
THROUGH THE FAX MACHINE.
-THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO
GOVERNOR DUKAKIS.
IF KITTY DUKAKIS WERE RAPED AND
MURDERED, WOULD YOU FAVOR AN
IRREVOCABLE DEATH PENALTY FOR
THE KILLER?
-NO, I DON'T, BERNARD, AND I
THINK YOU KNOW THAT I'VE...
-THE QUESTION WAS SO PERSONAL.
IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER, AND
I THOUGHT THAT BERNARD SHAW
CONTRIBUTED TO DUKAKIS LOSING
THAT ELECTION.
-[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, I KID AROUND AND SAY
IF I'D BEATEN THE OLD MAN, YOU'D
HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE KID.
SO MAYBE IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-I'VE SPOKEN OF 1,000 POINTS
OF LIGHT.
WE, AS A SOCIETY, MUST RISE UP
UNITED AND EXPRESS OUR
INTOLERANCE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CANNOT FREE
THEMSELVES OF ENSLAVEMENT TO
WHATEVER ADDICTION -- DRUGS,
WELFARE, THE DEMORALIZATION THAT
RULES THE SLUMS...
-"DEMORALIZATION THAT RULES
THE SLUMS"?
-THERE IS CRIME TO BE
CONQUERED, THE ROUGH CRIME OF
THE STREETS...
-IT'S JUST HYPOCRITICAL FOR
HIM TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WHEN, IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HE HAS
THIS DEMORALIZATION.
HIS SON ADMITS THAT HE HAD AN
ADDICTION PROBLEM WITH LIQUOR
AND WITH DRUGS.
THE BUSH DAUGHTERS.
YET THESE ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS
LECTURING AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
-THESE FOLKS SHOULD ALL HAVE
BEEN PUT AWAY IN JAIL, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
BECAUSE OF THEIR POWER AND
BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH WENT INTO
OFFICE AND HE GOT TO PICK THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE U.S.
ATTORNEYS, IT ALL GOT HUSHED UP.
AND GEORGE BUSH -- HE'S NOW THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, CHIEF
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-"W" LEARNED THAT THE ONLY
THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHO
WINS.
WHATEVER REALLY HAPPENED DOESN'T
MATTER.
THEY CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY,
AS PEOPLE IN THIS BUSH WHITE
HOUSE LATER SAID.
-LEE WAS THE FIRST GUY I EVER
HEARD WHO SAID THAT.
IT'S NOW KIND OF ROTE IN
POLITICS, BUT LEE WAS SAYING
EARLY, "PERCEPTION IS REALITY."
LEE WAS AHEAD OF THE PACK.
-REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.
THEY JUST WANT TO WIN ELECTIONS.
DEMOCRATS, I THINK, HAVE REALLY
SINCERE BELIEFS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL WRONG, MOST
OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE SINCERE.
NOBODY THOUGHT OF GEORGE W. BUSH
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
TILL LEE ATWATER PLANTED THE
SEEDS, AND THEN HE PLANTED IT
WITH HIS MAN IN AUSTIN,
KARL ROVE.
ATWATER'S A BIG MAN NOW.
-[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-RUNS ONE OF THE MOST RACIST
CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY, MARKETING
THE WEDGE BETWEEN WHITES AND
BLACKS, YET HE ADMIRED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE...
GOT UP IN BLACKFACE.
-HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE KLAN.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY PEOPLE
FELT ABOUT LEE ATWATER.
BUT HE TRULY LOVED ME AS A MAN
AND AS A BROTHER, AND HE TREATED
EVERYBODY ELSE THE SAME WAY.
HE LOVED EVERYBODY 'CAUSE HE
LOVED THE MUSIC THAT WE WERE
DOING.
-LEE DIDN'T HAVE A RACIST BONE
IN HIS BODY.
NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THE "N"
WORD.
WHEN IT CAME TO MUSIC AND HIS
DANCING -- YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY
THAT EVER SAW HIM DANCE OR
WHATEVER -- LEE WAS A BLACK
PERSON IN A WHITE BODY.
-♪ OH, YEAH ♪
-THAT INAUGURAL PARTY WAS THE
CULMINATION OF LEE ATWATER'S
LIFE.
HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
HE WAS THE STAR.
ALL THE HISTORY, ALL THE
YEARNINGS ALL CAME TOGETHER ON
THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS DANCING AS FAST AS HE
COULD.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
LAY AHEAD FOR HIM.
-ONE NETWORK CALLED YOU THE
ARCHITECT OF THE EVIL CAMPAIGN.
YOU ARE PROUD THIS MORNING OF
THE ACHIEVEMENT.
ARE YOU AS PROUD OF THE TACTICS?
-IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TRULY
THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING A
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, THEY WOULD
HAVE REACTED NEGATIVELY, AND I
THINK THAT --
-WELL, I DON'T -- LEE, IN
FAIRNESS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S
TRUE.
I MEAN, IN POLL AFTER POLL, THEY
DID SAY THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, SAYING MAYBE
THE LOWEST TURNOUT IN 64 YEARS,
AND FAULTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
-WAS IT YOU WHO TOLD
GEORGE BUSH, "YOU'VE GOT TO
RAISE FEAR OF BLACK MEN"?
-WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
-AND THEY DID WHAT THEY
NORMALLY DO WHEN SOMEBODY STANDS
UP AND FIGHTS FOR WHAT HE
BELIEVES IN, AND THAT'S TRY TO
DESTROY THEM PERSONALLY.
BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM A BIT.
HE JUST KEPT GOING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
-HE DESTROYED MICHAEL DUKAKIS.
THEY LOVED THAT.
THEY DESTROYED THE DEMOCRAT.
THEY'D ALL SIT AROUND AND, YOU
KNOW, TOAST THEMSELVES AT THEIR
HAPPY HOURS THAT THEY TOOK A MAN
DOWN.
-UPSETTING.
I WAS ANGRY -- A WHOLE BUNCH
OF -- OF EMOTIONAL FEELINGS.
THEY WERE FALSEHOODS.
THE UNTRUTH OF ALL THAT WAS
VERY DISHEARTENING.
-THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOING
NEGATIVE, HOW MUCH NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING, IS TROUBLING.
BUT THERE'S A TIME HERE WHEN
SOUND POLITICAL JUDGMENT SAYS
THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE STUFF
MIGHT WORK.
DID WE EVER DO IT? YEAH.
DID WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT
IT?
NO.
-GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
HAS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND HE'S NOT A DUMMY.
YOU COULDN'T BE AROUND
LEE ATWATER WITHOUT KNOWING HOW
HE DID IT.
-THOSE WERE RUMORS, AND THEY
WERE UNTRUE.
THERE WAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH FOR
ANY OF THAT.
HE WAS ABOVEBOARD AND
UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T ANSWER
THOSE CHARGES.
WE HAVE TO ANSWER CHARGES,
CORRECT?
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
-BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU NEVER SAW GEORGE BUSH I EVER
ASK HIM TO STOP.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY MADE HIM CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-LEE ATWATER LOOKS TO BECOME
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY
CHAIRMEN IN MODERN TIMES.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-WELL, HE TOLD ME, SITTING IN
HIS OFFICE, "IF THERE'S ONE JOB
THAT I THINK YOU'D BE GOOD AT,
IT'S THE JOB I USED TO HAVE."
SO I'M THINKING, "WOW -- C.I.A."
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN BAD THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YOU DID NOT NAME POLITICAL
OPERATIVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
-IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO TRY
TO RESHAPE THE PARTY IN YOUR
IMAGE, TO YOUR TACTICS?
-WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M REALLY A
LOVABLE GUY, AND I JUST HADN'T
GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY --
-I WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT YOU
PERSONALLY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR STYLE.
-BUT ACTUALLY, MY POLITICAL
STYLE IS LOVABLE...
-WHEN ATWATER BECAME THE RNC
CHAIRMAN, THIS POLITICAL PARTY
WAS TURNED OVER TO DIRTY TRICKS,
THE NEW SPIRIT OF KIND OF
RUTHLESS, WIN-AT-ANY-COST
REPUBLICANISM.
-HE ROSE TO A POSITION THAT
MANY OF US COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED HIM HOLDING.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME
RUNNING UP.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE BEING WITH A
MOVIE STAR.
LEE CALLS ME UP -- "COME ON OVER
TO MY OFFICE.
JAMES BROWN'S HERE."
MY LORD -- ROYALTY.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
SAY HELLO TO, ON GUITAR, THE
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY,
MR. LEE ATWATER...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE BLUES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN!
-JUST TAKE A SHOT OF THE BAND.
-YEAH.
-FIND THE REPUBLICAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYING
BLUES MUSIC ]
-THE FAME BECAME KIND OF
ALL-CONSUMING.
HE WAS ON AN INCREASINGLY
INTENSE SEARCH FOR THE BUZZ OF
FAME, THE HYPE.
LEE GOT ALL THESE THINGS.
-THAT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?
-I FELT LIKE HE TOOK SOME
SATISFACTION FROM IT, BUT NOT
ENOUGH TO BE HAPPY.
-LISTEN, LEE -- ALONG WITH
WILLIE DIXON AND
JOHN LEE HOOKER, YOU'RE ONE OF
MY MUSICAL IDOLS.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-ATWATER HAD PERCEIVED, LONG
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS DID, THAT THE BIGGEST
THREAT TO BUSH WAS A GUY FROM
ARKANSAS NAMED BILL CLINTON.
THE IDEA WAS TO DIRTY UP
CLINTON.
HE WOULD SIMPLY BE TOO DAMAGED
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
DISTRACT AND DIVERT.
-LEE RECOGNIZED THE THREAT OF
BILL CLINTON AND THE QUALITY OF
THE CANDIDATE AND TRIED TO TAKE
HIM OUT OF THE GAME AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
-THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS IS
EXTREMELY CYNICAL, SHALLOW.
THEY CARE ABOUT RIDICULE, THE
RUMOR THAT BLACKENS SOMEBODY'S
REPUTATION.
ALL THAT STUFF IS JUICY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL
SCANDAL, YOU WILL HAVE TO INVENT
A PHONY SCANDAL.
-YOU HAD ALL OF THESE WACKOS
OUT THERE FUNDING ALL OF THESE
CRAZY PROJECTS.
THAT ALL STARTED WITH
LEE ATWATER.
WHITEWATER WAS A LAND DEAL THAT
BILL CLINTON HAD INVESTED --
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER,
IT WAS LIKE $28,000 -- WHERE HE
LOST ALL OF HIS MONEY.
THE FIRST INDEPENDENT COUNCIL
SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
SO TO THINK THAT THEY PAID
KEN STARR AND HIS PERVERTED
INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW,
$70 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY?
THESE FOLKS BELIEVE YOU WIN AT
ALL COSTS.
-ATWATER STARTED TRANSFORMING
POLITICS INTO A SERIES OF
TABLOID MOMENTS IN A WAY THAT
WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FOR THE
REPUBLICANS.
-I'D WATCHED POLITICS FOUGHT
LIKE WAR UNDER LEE ATWATER.
I THINK IT'S HAD SOME BAD
EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRY.
HE'D HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET
EVERYTHING HE'D GOTTEN IN HIS
LIFE.
HE WASN'T GONNA STOP.
-I AIN'T CHANGED A BIT.
I'M THE SAME GUY I WAS THE DAY I
WALKED INTO POLITICS.
I'LL BE THE SAME GUY I AM THE
DAY I WALK OUT OF IT.
I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHAT
I AM, AND I DON'T DISAVOW
ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE.
-THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN
INCIDENT WHERE LEE WENT TO
HOWARD UNIVERSITY 'CAUSE HE GOT
ON THE BOARD, AND HE TOLD THEM
ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE WAS
GOING TO DO FOR THEM, LIKE
ORGANIZE A BLUES CONCERT FOR
THEM.
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
INTEREST AT ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY LISTENED TO
HIP-HOP.
SECOND OF ALL, THEY WERE TAKING
HIM SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF THE
POLITICAL.
HIS PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO FOOL
BLACK PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT
THEY HAD A PLACE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
[ CROWD SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
-♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ GET OUT, LEE ♪
-THE STUDENTS SAY THEY WON'T
END THEIR PROTEST UNTIL ATWATER
IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
-WE KNOW THE HORTON AD HAS
AMERICA THINKING THAT BLACK MEN
ARE RAPISTS OR MURDERERS.
-♪ ATWATER SNUCK IN BEHIND OUR
BACKS ♪
♪ WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE NO STUFF
LIKE THAT ♪
-IF THE HOWARD GROUP HAD GIVEN
HIM A CHANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE
LOVED HIM.
[ CROWD BOOING ]
-AND HE GOT BOOTED OUT.
THAT HURT LEE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
LEE WOULD COLLAPSE OCCASIONALLY.
THE GUY WOULD BE SO EXHAUSTED.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE
HILL -- WELL, ALL ARROWS GET
FIRED UP, RIGHT?
AND PEOPLE WERE GUNNING FOR HIM.
-REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN LEE ATWATER WAS RUSHED
TO A WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
YESTERDAY AFTER FAINTING DURING
A POLITICAL SPEECH.
DOCTORS FOUND A SMALL BRAIN
TUMOR.
SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT
ATWATER WILL UNDERGO RADIATION
TREATMENT.
-I'M VERY PLEASED TO GET BACK
TO MY WIFE, SALLY -- SHE'S GOING
TO HAVE A BABY NEXT MONTH -- AND
MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
I'VE MISSED THEM TREMENDOUSLY.
AND -- BUT AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
THIS REALLY DOES A LOT FOR YOU.
-WHAT DO THE DOCTORS SAY, LEE?
-MY PROBLEM CAN BE DONE AWAY
WITH AFTER SIX WEEKS OF
RADIATION TREATMENT.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-WHAT DOES YOUR SHIRT SAY?
-JUST SAY "MOE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONE OF MY INTELLECTUAL HEROES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE YOU, GANG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-HARD TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN.
TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE ON THE
WAY.
-WE HAD A THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD AT ODDS.
I'M ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
HE'S ON THE FOURTH FLOOR IN THE
SAME BUILDING.
SO, MARY CALLS DOWN TO ME AND I
GO RACING UP AND HE HOLDS MY
HAND AND HE'S SHAKING.
HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST -- HE'S
HAVING A SEIZURE.
AND SO I RIDE WITH HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL.
AND ON THE WAY OVER THERE, HE
JUST SAID, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
I CAN TRUST.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME."
HE SAID, "THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND
FINISH ME OFF.
PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME."
ALL THE HATRED JUST SORT OF GOES
OUT, AND I SAID, "LEE, I PROMISE
YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
-HE FOUGHT IT AND HE'D COME TO
WORK WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE AND
HE WAS PHYSICALLY DEBILITATED.
-HEY, BEN!
-MORNING, LEE. HOW ARE YOU?
-EVERYBODY DOING ALL RIGHT?
-THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW THEY COULD GET HIM OUT
AS THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN.
NO ONE CARED ABOUT HIM ANYMORE.
IT HAD TO BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL
FOR HIM.
EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN
WASHINGTON IS POWER.
AND WHEN THAT POWER IS GONE,
IT'S GONE.
-THEY FOUND A TUMOR, AND THEY
LITERALLY DRILLED A HOLE AND
DROPPED RADIATION TO BURN THE
TUMOR OUT.
THERE WAS A LEAD WALL, AND HE
WAS LITERALLY RADIOACTIVE.
-THE STEROIDS JUST BLEW HIS
FACE.
HE LOOKED LIKE THE MAN IN THE
MOON.
I MEAN, HE WAS REALLY
EMBARRASSED.
HE REALLY DID NOT WANT US TO SEE
HIM.
OH, VERY HARD...TO --
[CLEARS THROAT] TO SEE SOMEBODY
THAT STRONG BE THAT WEAK.
-"I RECALLED SUN TZU'S MAXIM,
'GET INSIDE THE HEAD OF YOUR
ENEMY.'
WE'D USED THAT TO SUCH EFFECT ON
BOB DOLE IN 1988.
NOW CANCER HAD USED IT ON ME."
-HORRIBLY ALONE, IN THAT
LEAD-LINED ROOM, RADIATION
PELLETS IN HIS HEAD -- HE
COULDN'T SPIN HIS WAY OUT OF
THAT.
THE GUY WHO HAD BEEN SO
UNWILLING TO REALLY BELIEVE IN
ANYTHING OTHER THAN POWER BEGAN
A FRANTIC SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL
MEANING.
-YOU'D BE WAITING IN THE HALL.
THERE'D BE RABBIS, WITCH
DOCTORS, BUDDHISTS, SHAMANS,
THESE RADICAL CATHOLIC PRIESTS.
HE TOLD ALL OF THEM HE WAS ON
BOARD.
HIS THEORY WAS, "IF ONE OF THESE
IS THE TRUE PATH,
I'LL BE ON IT."
-LEE WAS CONFRONTING SOME VERY
TROUBLING FACTS -- THAT, IN
WINNING, HE HAD HURT PEOPLE.
FEAR HAD BEEN PART OF HIS TOOL
KIT.
THAT FEAR CAME BACK ON HIM.
WHAT WAS NEXT FOR HIM IN THE
AFTERLIFE?
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS SHEER TERROR.
-WHILE LEE WAS GROWING UGLIER
ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE WAS A
REMARKABLE CHANGE INSIDE OF HIM.
-HE SAID, "CHUCK, I HAVE NEVER
READ A BIBLE IN MY LIFE, AND THE
FIRST THING I WANTED WAS AND THE
BIBLE."
HE TOLD ME THAT.
WOW.
-HE CAME BACK TO
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ONE VISIT.
-♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
[ GUITAR PLAYING BLUES MUSIC ]
♪ WELL, I'M BAD AS I CAN BE ♪
♪ I'LL BE... ♪
-PEOPLE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT.
"THAT'S LEE?"
-I HAD MONEY, I HAD POWER,
I HAD FAME, AND I HAD FORTUNE.
GUESS WHAT? IT MEANT NOTHING.
IT WAS ALL -- IT WAS ALL A
WASTE.
AND IN ONE DAY, I LEARNED WHAT
COUNTS, AND THAT'S YOU ALL --
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
-♪ PEOPLE, I ONCE WAS STRONG ♪
♪ HARD AND LEAN ♪
♪ NOW I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE ♪
♪ HOW I COULD BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ MMM ♪
-HERE'S A LETTER I RECEIVED
FROM LEE ATWATER.
HE SAYS, "MY ILLNESS HAS TAUGHT
ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF
HUMANITY, LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, AND
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE NEVER
UNDERSTOOD AND PROBABLY NEVER
HAD."
AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT LEE ATWATER WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN HE SAID,
"WHAT I'VE DONE WAS WRONG.
IT WAS BAD, AND BAD FOR THE
COUNTRY."
SINCE THEN, I'VE WRITTEN
ARTICLES ABOUT IT AND HOPING
THAT OTHERS WHO WANT TO BE LIKE
HIM IN POLITICS WOULD REALIZE
THAT LEE FINALLY SAID, "WE DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE."
-WHAT REALLY DISGUSTED ME
ABOUT LEE'S "DEATHBED"
PRONOUNCEMENTS WAS THAT HE WAS
PURPOSEFULLY, WILLFULLY
MIS-PORTRAYED.
IT WASN'T ABOUT, "I WANT TO GO
TO HEAVEN," OR, "I'M GONNA --"
SOME CONFESSIONAL OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
-IF ANYBODY SAID THAT THIS MAN
DID NOT APOLOGIZE, THEY LIED.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS ON HIS
DEATHBED.
I WAS THERE.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE SENT OUT
TELEGRAMS TO EVERYBODY THAT I
MIGHT HAVE HURT, EVEN TO
WILLIE HORTON."
-THEY HAD TO KILL THE
MESSENGER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
KILL THE MESSAGE.
THEY HAD TO TURN HIM INTO A
BOOGIE MAN, SATAN INCARNATE.
-LEE ATWATER MADE HIMSELF A
FIGURE OF DEMONOLOGY TO PSYCH
OUT HIS OPPONENTS AND TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO HIS
TACTICS.
AND THE SAD PART -- SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THE JUSTIFIED PART --
WAS THAT THE ROLE HE MADE FOR
HIMSELF ENDED UP LITERALLY
IMPRISONING HIM.
[ INTRO TO LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS'
"DEATH BELLS" PLAYS ]
-♪ SOUND LIKE I'M HEARING
MOANING ♪
-HE ALWAYS HAD A DRIVER, AND
WE'D JUST GET IN THE CAR AND
JUST RIDE.
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-"IN 1988, FIGHTING DUKAKIS, I
SAID THAT I WOULD STRIP THE BARK
OFF THE LITTLE BASTARD AND MAKE
WILLIE HORTON HIS RUNNING MATE.
I'M SORRY FOR BOTH STATEMENTS,
THE FIRST FOR ITS NAKED CRUELTY,
THE SECOND BECAUSE IT MAKES ME
SOUND RACIST, WHICH I AM NOT."
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-THERE WAS ONE VERSE IN THE
BIBLE THAT STUCK WITH LEE --
"WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE
HIS OWN SOUL?"
-♪ ...I WAS GONNA LEAVE ON A
CHARIOT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ♪
-AND THAT STUCK IN HIS CRAW.
-♪ WHAT KIND OF CHARIOT GONNA
TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE? ♪
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE DIED ON GOOD FRIDAY.
HE WAS BURIED ON APRIL FOOL'S
DAY -- BUT IT WAS EASTER
SUNDAY -- IN HIS JOGGING SUIT.
THERE'S LEE RIGHT THERE.
SEEKING REDEMPTION, AND YET HE
GOES OUT THUMBING HIS NOSE.
-HE WAS A KINGMAKER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS
MACHIAVELLIAN, AND HE WAS, IN
THE VERY BEST SENSE OF THAT
TERM.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
-THIS LITTLE GUY FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WAS BEING TREATED
LIKE A HEAD OF STATE.
I CRIED, AND I CRIED LIKE A
BABY.
EMOTION JUST POURED OUT OF ME.
THE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE LEGACY OF
THE GREATNESS.
IT'S THE LEGACY OF SORT OF ONE
OF THE EVILDOERS OF AMERICAN
POLITICS.
HE WASN'T THAT.
HE WAS AN INSECURE KID WHO GOT
TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES AND
GOT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE SHOWED THEM.
HE DEFINITELY SHOWED THEM.
-I, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
-IF LEE WAS ALIVE,
BILL CLINTON WOULD'VE NEVER GOT
ELECTED.
THAT WAS REALLY SAD TO SEE.
-WHEN YOU HAVE A TALENT AS
DEEP AS ATWATER'S AND ROVE'S,
YOU LOSE, BUT YOU DON'T LOSE.
LOSING A BATTLE IS NOT LOSING
THE WAR, AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY.
-...PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES...
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-CONGRATULATIONS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ROVE LEARNED THE TACTICS AT
THE KNEE OF LEE, MOVED INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
SERVICE OF A POLITICAL
OPERATIVE, AND I'D SAY THAT'S
NEW AND -- AND RATHER
FRIGHTENING.
-FALSE RUMORS, PLAYING THE
MEDIA, AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR.
LEE FINALLY SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
"IT'S ALL BULLSHIT."
TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
-HE WAS TELLING A STORY ABOUT
HOW THE LIVING BIBLE WAS WHAT
WAS GIVING HIM FAITH, AND I SAID
TO MARY, "I REALLY SINCERELY
HOPE THAT HE FOUND PEACE."
SHE SAID, "ED, WHEN WE WERE
CLEANING UP HIS THINGS
AFTERWARDS, THE BIBLE WAS STILL
WRAPPED IN THE CELLOPHANE, HAD
NEVER BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE
PACKAGE," WHICH JUST SORT OF
TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THERE WAS.
HE WAS SPINNING RIGHT TO THE
END.
[ MID-TEMPO BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]
-♪ THEY SEEN ME WALKING AS I
PASSED YOU BY ♪
♪ SCANDALIZED MY NAME, BABY,
BUT I WON'T CRY ♪
♪ GO UP AGAINST ME ♪
♪ SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
♪ WELL, YOU CAUGHT ME CRAWLING,
BABY, WHEN THE GRASS WAS HIGH ♪
♪ BUT I'M GONNA KEEP ON CRAWLING
TILL THE DAY I DIE ♪
♪ I'M A CRAWLING KING SNAKE ♪
♪ NOTHING TO FORGIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
[GUNSHOTS]
[RAPID FIRE]
[TYPEWRITER CLICKS]
[TYPEWRITER DINGS]
[TYPEWRITER ROLLING UP]
[ DRUMMING ]
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE
THE WHOLE THING.
[ BAND PLAYS ]
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-...THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
-PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.
-♪ SO I'M A BAD BOY ♪
♪ I'M A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
HOME ♪
♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
-CAN YOU UNDERSTAND AMERICAN
POLITICS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
LEE ATWATER?
I BELIEVE NOT.
-HE COULDN'T TEACH ME RHYTHM,
BUT HE DID TEACH THE DEMOCRATS
TO SING THE BLUES, AND I BELIEVE
THEY'RE JUST STARTING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-HE MATTERED IN AMERICAN
POLITICS BECAUSE OF THE MAN HE
GOT ELECTED, BECAUSE OF THE
PARTY HE SHAPED.
HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY
TO GEORGE H.W.'S VICTORY BUT TO
HIS SON'S VICTORY.
-LEE ATWATER WAS PART MYTH,
PART SHOWMAN, AND PART
POLITICAL MASTERMIND.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HOW DO POLITICS REALLY WORK?
HOW DOES A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
REALLY WORK?
THE DEPTHS OF IT DESERVE TO BE
EXAMINED CLOSELY.
-RACIST.
-DISGUSTING.
-SCUMBAG POLITICS.
-GARBAGE.
-AND I'M A VERY LOVABLE GUY.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-GOSH, WHAT A PERSON MADE DUE
FOR A LIVING.
NOW, HE PLAYED BLUES.
HE MY MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I LIKE HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IT WAS A GREAT STORY NOT
BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
IT'S AMERICAN YEARNING AND
STRIVING TO BE ACCEPTED, TO BE
POWERFUL, TO BE GREAT, AND THE
PERSONAL RISKS OF DOING THAT.
LIFE GETS EVEN WITH YOU IN THE
END.
-PRIDE.
SIN.
REDEMPTION.
LEE WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE, AND
YOU HAD TO WONDER, WHAT NEXT?
I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS SOME
KIND OF GREEK TRAGEDY.
LEE ATWATER GREW UP IN A
STANDARD, SOUTHERN-LOOKING,
WHITE LIFE.
HE PIERCED THROUGH ALL THAT.
I'D HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS
GUY OPERATE AT THE GRADE-SCHOOL
LEVEL.
I MEAN [LAUGHS] THAT'S WHERE YOU
LEARN POLITICS.
-HE COULD JUST GET A CROWD
INTO A FRENZY.
WE WERE JUST A SO-SO BAND, BUT
WE HAD LEE, THE ONLY GUY I KNEW
WHO COULD DO A SPLIT.
-JUST THINK IF YOU'D HAVE
STAYED WITH THE UPSETTERS REVUE
WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BECOME.
-YEAH, I COULD HAVE BEEN
MAKING $65 A NIGHT.
-HE TOOK THIS ONE GUY AND RAN
HIM AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.
NOBODY HAD EVER HAD A CAMPAIGN
MANAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
-AND THEY WON!
YOU KNOW?
HE FIGURED OUT EARLY ON THAT
MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE
CANDIDATE BUT THE
BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY.
-WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I JUST SAY,
"WELL, IF THESE GUYS ARE THE
DEMOCRATS, I'M A REPUBLICAN."
-I ASKED LEE, WHY DID YOU GO
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE
FUDDY-DUD, COUNTRY-CLUB SET?
LEE SAID, "HEY, MAN, I HAVE A
LOT BETTER CHANCE AT DOING
SOMETHING IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY."
-IF THE GRAND OLD PARTY STAYED
KIND OF GRAND AND OLD, IT WASN'T
GONNA BE MUCH OF A PARTY.
IT HAD TO GO YOUNG.
WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULD GO INTO
THE WILDERNESS.
-THE POWER WAS JUST WAITING TO
BE WIELDED, AND HE WAS GONNA
WIELD IT.
-AT NEWBERRY COLLEGE, WHERE
I ATTEND, WE SIGNED UP OVER
12,000 SUPPORTERS FOR PRESIDENT
NIXON, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
RECORD AT THIS POINT.
-ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT HE
DIDN'T DECIDE TO BECOME A
DEMOCRAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST AS EASY FOR HIM.
HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS.
AND YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A
REBEL.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ENORMOUS
RICHES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
-LEE BUILT AN ARMY OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS ALL OVER THE STATE
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FIRST, HE TOOK OVER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN WENT
NATIONAL.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
THE LIBERAL ALLEGATION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
ONLY CARE ABOUT THE RICH OR
WE'RE CLOSET FASCISTS OR WE'RE
PEOPLE WHO HATE THE HUMAN RACE.
-FREE BOOK IF YOU SIGN UP FOR
ISLAMO-FASCISM AWARENESS WEEK.
-LEE ATWATER SHOWED THAT YOU
COULD BE A COLLEGE REPUBLICAN
AND BE COOL, HAVE MUSICAL
INTERESTS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A
PINSTRIPED SUIT OR A BOW TIE.
-WE ARE THE GRASSROOTS FORCE.
YOU KNOW, THE LIBERALS MAY HAVE
THE UNIONS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
AND WE'RE HIT WITH LIBERAL BIAS
FROM EVERY SINGLE PROFESSOR, SO
WE KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
YOU CAN'T LEARN THESE TYPE OF
THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S TOUGH AND IT'S DIRTY, OR IT
APPEARS TO BE DIRTY.
AND KARL ROVE IS A SHINING
EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS CAN DO.
-THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-1973 CONVENTION.
IT REALLY IS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN
THIS LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE
WITH A BUNCH OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS WHO, AT THE TIME,
SEEMED LIKE THE MOST IRRELEVANT
FIGURES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
-COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WERE --
WHERE I ACTUALLY FIRST MET
ATWATER, WE WERE IN DIFFERENT
FACTIONS.
HE WAS IN THE KARL ROVE FACTION.
-I REMEMBER ONE OF THE
GREATEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE, ONE
OF THE WILDEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE
WAS SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF
LEE ATWATER IN A FORD PINTO.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HIS TURN
TO TAKE OVER THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS
ANOTHER GUY NAMED
ROBERT EDGEWORTH, WHO WAS
ACTUALLY THE ONE IN LINE TO
SUCCEED.
THEY GOT INTO A TREMENDOUS,
NATIONWIDE BATTLE.
-THIS IS THE BIG SHOWDOWN IN
MY RACE FOR CHAIRMAN.
ALL THE BAD GUYS ARE THE OTHER
SIDE.
THE VOTE COUNT WAS EVENLY SPLIT.
WE WERE GONNA LOSE.
-IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT
EDGEWORTH ACTUALLY DID HAVE MORE
VOTES.
LEE ATWATER AND KARL ROVE USED
EVERY CONCEIVABLE TRICK.
BALLOTS ARE THROWN AWAY
UNFAIRLY.
-THERE'S NOTHING MORE VICIOUS
THAN A YOUNG REPUBLICAN FIGHT --
NOTHING, NOTHING.
-THE ELECTION WAS APPEALED TO
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING, HE GAVE
THE ELECTION TO ROVE.
YOU KNOW, ECHOES OF THE 2000
ELECTION IN FLORIDA WHERE THE
BALLOTS ARE DISPUTED AND THE
SUPREME COURT MAKES THE DECISION
ON A VERY DUBIOUS BASIS.
THAT WAS A PRETTY EARLY LESSON
FOR KARL ROVE FROM LEE THAT YOU
COULD PLAY THE HARDEST OF
HARDBALL AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
-I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT WHO I
AM, WHAT I AM, AND WHAT I DO.
IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER TEAM, I'M
GONNA TRY TO BEAT YOU.
-LEE SOMETIMES REMINDED ME OF
A WOLVERINE SORT OF CHEWING
THROUGH THE PLYWOOD, AND HE HAD
A VAGUELY MARSUPIAL LOOK ABOUT
HIM, ALWAYS SNIFFING THE AIR.
-I'VE WONDERED ABOUT WHERE
LEE'S STRIVING CAME FROM.
LEE GREW UP IN THIS BREW OF
RACIAL DIVIDES DRIVING THE
COUNTRY.
THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE
SOUTH'S RISE FROM THE ASHES.
AT ITS HEART, IT'S ABOUT
LEARNING LESSONS OF DEFEAT.
-THE SOUTH IS THE ONLY PART OF
THE UNITED STATES EVER
THOROUGHLY DEFEATED AND
HUMILIATED IN A WAR.
IT DOES CREATE A VERY VISCERAL
BACKLASH, AND ATWATER WAS ADEPT
AT TAPPING INTO THAT.
IT WAS A BACKLASHING OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN
YOU ARE.
-IT'S THIS CULTURAL RESENTMENT
THAT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH FEEL
BECAUSE THESE LIBERALS, THESE
SMARTASSES RUN EVERYTHING, AND
WE HAVE NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT FOR
THEM.
LEE'S FRIENDS SAID, "YOU GUYS
ALL THINK WE'RE DUMB.
YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF
PREJUDICE AGAINST US THAT YOU
ACCUSE US OF HAVING AGAINST
BLACK PEOPLE."
-THE BIG BOYS TRYING TO PUSH
US AROUND, TRYING TO REMIND US
HOW MUCH GREATER THEY ARE.
"WE'LL SHOW THEM."
WELL, LEE HAD A "WE'LL SHOW
THEM" KIND OF STRENGTH TO HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT AS WIDE AS HIS
BACKBONE.
RESENTMENT BECAME THE DESTINY OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
-I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER
EVEN GOTTEN INTO POLITICS IF IT
WEREN'T FOR STROM THURMOND.
THE PERSONAL INTEREST HE TOOK IN
ME AND MY CAREER...
-BEFORE STROM, HE WAS, YOU
KNOW, "WHERE IS THE NEXT PARTY
COMING?
LET'S GET DRUNK TONIGHT."
WORKING FOR THURMOND TRANSFORMED
LEE.
-MY GRANDFATHER HATED
STROM THURMOND WITH A PASSION.
AND I GREW UP WITH THAT SAME
HATE.
AND WHEN I MET LEE, I KNEW LEE
WAS CONNECTED TO HIM.
HE'S A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
HATES US.
-GOOD OLD STROM.
GOLLY -- 21 YEARS OLD, HAS SEX
WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF A
MAID THERE AT HIS HOUSE, AND
PRODUCES A CHILD.
AND TO COME OUT AND SAY "THE
BLOOD WILL RUN BEFORE WE
INTEGRATE" -- IT PERSONIFIES
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE HYPOCRISY OF RACISM.
-THE SOUTH IS AFRO-CELTIC.
IT'S WHERE YOU FIND THE CELTS
SETTLE AND WHERE THE AFRICANS
ARE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE SAME
PERSON WHO'S SAYING, "YES, SIR"
AND "YES, MA'AM" TO YOU CAN GO
AND GET LYNCH ROPE THE NEXT DAY.
SO, I MEAN, THE SOUTH IS
COMPLICATED.
-THE SOUTH HAS GOT THE SAME
THING AMERICA'S GOT, A
COMPLICATED HISTORY ON RACE.
THERE ARE REASONS TO HATE THINGS
ABOUT THE SOUTH AND STILL LOVE
THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY DEMOCRAT
PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT LEE
REALLY LEARNED IN HIS EARLY
RACES.
THEY EXISTED UP IN SOME ELITE
LAYER OF THE CLOUDS THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MOVED
PEOPLE TO FEEL.
THEY SLEPT WHILE LEE
OUTMANEUVERED.
-IT WAS A CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
I WAS A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.
HE CAME OUT AND, IN ACCOUNT OF
AN UNDERHANDED WAY, IN A SENSE,
HE GOT A REPORTER TO ASK HIM A
QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, "ISN'T IT
TRUE THAT TOM TURNIPSEED HAD
SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEM
AS A KID?"
HE WAS THE MASTER AT CREATING
LITTLE JUICY TIDBITS FOR THE
MEDIA.
-WELL, I SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES IN
REFERENCE TO A BOUT HE HAD HAD
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN COLLEGE,
WHICH HAD BEEN MADE PUBLIC TWO
YEARS BEFORE, SO I WASN'T
BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND.
-THAT GOT QUOTED ALL OVER FROM
KINGDOM COME DOWN HERE,
LEE ATWATER SAYING THAT --
ACCUSING TOM TURNIPSEED OF BEING
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
-HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
I'M LAUGHING NOW, BUT IT AIN'T
FUNNY.
-ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
-IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO BLAME
DIRTY TRICKS THAN IT IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HARD WORK.
DID HE GIVE HIS OPPONENTS
AMMUNITION TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR
NEGATIVE TACTICS?
YES.
DOES THAT OBSCURE THE FACT THAT
HE OUTFOXED THEM AT NEARLY EVERY
TURN?
NOT TO THOSE OF US WATCHING
CLOSELY.
-SOUTHERNERS LIKE A GOOD,
HARD-FOUGHT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
HE FIRST MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
ON A RACE BETWEEN
CARROLL CAMPBELL AND A DEMOCRAT
BY THE NAME OF MAX HELLER.
-MAX HELLER HAD BEEN A
IMMIGRANT.
HE WAS, AS A JEWISH TEENAGER
ESCAPING HITLER, AND HE WAS A
POPULAR MAYOR.
-LEE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ADVOCATES OF THE PUSH-PULL.
THE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS ARE
ROUTINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, "WELL, IF
YOU CAME TO BELIEVE THAT
GOVERNOR 'X' WAS A PEDOPHILE,
WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION?"
NOW, THE POLLER HASN'T SAID THAT
GOVERNOR "X" IS A PEDOPHILE,
SIMPLY PLANTED THE IDEA THAT IF
HE WERE...
-THEY DID A POLL WHICH ASKED,
"WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A JEW WHO
DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST?"
NO, THEY WOULDN'T.
-LEE WAS ACCUSED OF RECRUITING
A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, SORT OF
A REDNECK-TYPE CANDIDATE, WHO
MADE RELIGION AN ISSUE IN THAT
RACE.
HE SAID HE ENTERED THE RACE ON
HIS OWN, BUT NONE OF US REALLY
BELIEVE THAT.
-HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE,
AND HE ATTACKED MAX HELLER.
-I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
I BELIEVE HE DIED TO SAVE MY
SINS.
MR. HELLER DOES NOT.
-ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT ME?
-I THINK I'VE HEARD QUITE A
BIT ABOUT YOU.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LORD?
-WELL, I...
-I'M A LITTLE BIT PREJUDICED
TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THE LORD.
-LEE ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
HE DENIED THAT HE RECRUITED THIS
GUY, BUT NONE OF US BELIEVED IT.
LEE ATWATER DID NOT LEAVE HIS
FINGERPRINTS ON HIS DIRTY
TRICKS.
HE LIKES TO TAKE AN ISSUE AND
USE IT AS A WEDGE -- ABORTION.
HE WOULD USE RACE.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
THAT'S HOW LEE ATWATER OPERATED.
REAGAN DID POORLY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I DON'T THINK RONALD REAGAN
WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED IF HE
HAD LOST THE SOUTH CAROLINA
PRIMARY.
IT WAS PIVOTAL.
REAGAN HAD TO WIN.
-THE REAGAN CAMPAIGN NEEDS
OPERATIVES.
LEE ATWATER WANTED TO ROAR INTO
WASHINGTON AND ONTO THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL STAGE, BUT YOU GOT TO
GET PEOPLE TO WIN BIG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE.
-LEE ATWATER FIGURED THAT
CONNALLY WAS THEIR BIGGEST
THREAT.
LEE LEAKED THE STORY TO ME THAT
JOHN CONNALLY WAS TRYING TO BUY
THE BLACK VOTE.
THAT STORY GOT OUT THANKS TO ME,
AND IT PROBABLY KILLED CONNALLY.
HE SPENT $10 MILLION FOR ONE
DELEGATE.
LEE SAVED RONALD REAGAN'S
CANDIDACY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, LEE LAUGHED
ABOUT THAT STORY.
HE SAID, "BANDY, YOU GOT USED."
[ LAUGHS ]
-ANYTHING GOES.
TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO
HEAR.
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, MAKE IT UP.
MAKING UP STUFF.
HE USED TO GO BACK IN THE ROOM,
MAKE UP THESE POLLS.
I TELL YOU, HE'D COME BACK WITH
A POLL IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.
-GO BACK AND LOOK AT
RONALD REAGAN'S 1980 CAMPAIGN
FOR PRESIDENT.
WHERE DOES HE BEGIN?
IN PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI,
WHERE THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS
WERE MURDERED BY THE
KU KLUX KLAN AT THE LOCAL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
REAGAN, SPEAKING TO AN
EXCLUSIVELY WHITE AUDIENCE,
APPEALED TO THEIR MOST BASE
INSTINCTS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND LEE ATWATER LATER TALKED
ABOUT THAT IN AN INTERVIEW HE
HAD IN THE EARLY '80s.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IT USED TO BE
"NIGGER, NIGGER, NIGGER."
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.
YOU HAD RONALD REAGAN TALKING
ABOUT WELFARE QUEENS,
CODED LANGUAGE.
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES -- I MEAN,
THE SYMBOLISM IS SO OBVIOUS.
-STROM THURMOND WANTED TO MAKE
A CALL TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT ALL
THIS BOY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAD DONE.
IT WAS IN KEEPING WITH
LEE ATWATER'S NATURE TO HAVE IT
BE FOR SOMETHING AS BIG AS
GETTING INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
AND PLAYING AT THAT LEVEL.
THIS WAS A BIGGER CHALLENGE.
THIS WAS A BIGGER PRIZE.
-STROM THURMOND WAS TRYING TO
GET LEE A JOB IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS YOUNG
KID WITHOUT A REAL RéSUMé.
HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE.
HE WAS FIDGETY -- HANDS, LEGS,
EVERYTHING MOVING -- BUT THERE
WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES.
HE HAD THESE PIERCING EYES THAT,
YOU KNOW -- AS I OFTEN THOUGHT,
THOSE ARE THE EYES OF A KILLER.
THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS GONNA
GET WHAT HE WANTED.
HE SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU 20 HOURS
A DAY."
I SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T HAVE A
SLOT FOR YOU.
I DON'T HAVE A TITLE FOR YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA BE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE RUNG."
24 HOURS -- HE HAD FIGURED OUT
HOW TO DETAIL PEOPLE AND
CONFISCATE FURNITURE OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S OFFICES.
-WE'D BE OUT THERE, RUNNING
AROUND THE MEMORIALS, AND HE'D
JUST -- "THIS IS WHERE I MAKE MY
LIVING, THE MOST POWERFUL CITY
IN THE WORLD."
-HE WAS GRABBING AS MUCH LIFE
AS HE POSSIBLY COULD.
EVERYTHING THAT HE ATE --
EVERYTHING -- INCLUDING ICE
CREAM, HE DOUSED WITH AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HOT SAUCE.
HE SEARCHED THE WORLD TO FIND A
SAUCE HOTTER THAN THE SAUCE THAT
HE HAD.
TABASCO WAS, TO HIM, FOR WIMPS.
I WATCHED HIM GROW UP.
HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER --
HAD GREAT ENERGY.
NO ONE EVER OUT-WORKED HIM.
HE ATE HIS MEALS THERE.
HE WAS THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HE WORKED FOR ME FOR A YEAR.
ONE DAY, HE COMES IN.
HE SAYS, "I'M BRINGING UP MY
WIFE AND MY CHILD."
AND I SAID, "LEE, I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU WERE MARRIED.
YOU NEVER TALKED ABOUT --"
HE SAID, "WELL, THEY'RE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M GONNA BRING THEM UP."
-♪ BRIGHT LIGHTS ♪
♪ BIG CITY ♪
♪ GONE TO MY BABY'S HEAD ♪
-HIS HOUSE WAS LIKE A
MARX BROTHERS' MOVIE.
IT WAS JUST CHAOTIC.
ONE CULT MOVIE AFTER ANOTHER --
"ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE."
HE WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY AN
ENTOURAGE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING HE AND HIS
WIFE FOUGHT ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER HAD ANY
TIME ALONE FOR THEMSELVES AND
JUST WITH THEIR FAMILY.
-A LOT OF FAMILIES SUFFER IN
WASHINGTON.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
IF HE COULD HAVE SLEPT ON HIS
COUCH AND SHOWERED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
GONE HOME.
-I'VE MET A MILLION OF THEM --
LITTLE POLITICAL ERRAND BOY,
VERY AMBITIOUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
ARE STILL IVY LEAGUERS, FEELING
THAT THE SNOPES FAMILY HAD
INVADED, THAT HE HAD GONE
TOO FAR, TOO FAST.
IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION,
THEY DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
HE'S A GUY ON THE MAKE --
DEVIOUS, MANIPULATIVE.
-THAT NEED, THAT BURNING NEED
TO BECOME SOMETHING AND
TRANSFORM AND SHOW THEM.
LEE WAS SCRAPPING.
WHAT FORCES WILL DRIVE THIS
PERSON TO NEW HEIGHTS OR CRASH
THEM TO THE GREATEST DEPTHS?
HE KEPT LEARNING.
-I DO NOT EVER REMEMBER
SITTING IN A MEETING IN WHICH
SOMEONE DIDN'T BRING UP HOW
SUCH-AND-SUCH WOULD PLAY IN THE
PRESS.
I THINK THERE IS A
PREOCCUPATION, AND JUSTIFIABLY
SO, ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE
NATURE OF POWER IN AMERICA TODAY
WITH HOW "A STORY PLAYS OUT" ON
TELEVISION.
-HERE'S THIS INSECURE KID WHO
I'M SURE EVERY DAY HAD THAT
TOTAL IMPOSTOR FEAR.
"IS ED ROLLINS GONNA FIRE MY ASS
TODAY?
ARE THEY GONNA FIND OUT THAT I'M
REALLY NOT A PhD CANDIDATE?
IS SOMEONE GONNA WALK IN AND
SAY, 'IT'S ALL BULLSHIT, LEE.
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE'"?
ANYTHING HE HAD ACCESS TO, HE
WOULD ALWAYS GIVE IT TO SOME
REPORTER -- EVERYTHING WAS
LEAKED.
HE WAS A BIG SOURCE.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED.
-WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
-NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
-NATIONAL JOURNAL DID A
PROFILE, AND LEE HAD WRITTEN
THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF 26-0.
I SAID, "LEE, WE'VE NOT WON 26
RACES IN THE SOUTH SINCE THE
CIVIL WAR."
I SAID, "WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT
IS THAT?"
AND HE GOES, "IT'S MY RECORD
NOW.
IT'S IN THE NATIONAL JOURNAL."
THE MEDIA NEVER CAUGHT ON.
HE WAS A VERY GOOD CON MAN.
-THE BEST POLITICAL OPERATIVES
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PRESS.
IT'S EASY, IF YOU DON'T WATCH
YOURSELF, TO FALL INTO THAT,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU LIKE
PERSONALLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE
YOU.
-WELL, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A
VERY DAPPER DRESSER.
-THANK YOU.
-YOU GOT THE RIGHT COLLAR,
RIGHT TIE WITH THE SUIT, EVEN
DOWN TO THE SOCKS.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
-[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS
GAMING YOU?
-AN OPERATIVE NEVER COMES AND
SAYS, "HERE IS A STORY I'D LIKE
YOU TO RUN FOR ME."
BUT JUST IN PRIVATE
CONVERSATION, "DID YOU KNOW THIS
ABOUT SO-AND-SO?
WE'RE STILL CHECKING IT, MIND
YOU, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA
TURN OUT TO BE TRUE."
WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
BEATEN BY YOUR COMPETITION AND
WAIT TILL, YOU KNOW, THEY
ANNOUNCE IT.
THEY JUST PUT IT ON THE
CONVEYER BELT, AND YOU JUST RUN
IT OUT.
-AND I AIN'T GOING TO SIT HERE
AND SPIN Y'ALL.
THIS IS A HIGH-QUALITY NEWS
CONFERENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-HE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE FIGURE
TO COVER 'CAUSE HE COULD WINK
AND NOD WITH THE REPORTERS,
SAYING, "WE ALL KNOW WHAT A
PHONY DEAL THIS IS, RIGHT?"
BY SAYING IT'S ALL WRESTLING,
HE USED HIS OWN CYNICISM TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
-THERE'S A BILL IN THE SENATE
CALLED THE CLEAN CAMPAIGN ACT OF
1985.
IT'S INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE
SO-CALLED NEGATIVE POLITICAL
ADVERTISING.
-WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD WIND
UP DOING IF THIS BILL PASSES IS
POLLUTING THE AIR WITH THESE
KIND OF CANDY-CANE TYPE
COMMERCIALS THAT ARE OOEY AND
GOOEY.
THEY ARE POLLUTING THE
ATMOSPHERE MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
-REAGAN BENEFITED FROM HAVING
A SCRAPPER TO REMIND EVEN SOME
WAVERING REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY
SHOULD FEAR.
-WE HAD A KIND OF A RATING
SCALE OF, ONE, MEANING THAT THIS
IS THE KIND THE GUY YOU JUST GO
AND BLATANTLY INTIMIDATE IN HIS
DISTRICT...
-THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT
BEGINS TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS
SOUTHERN-ACCENTED, FAST-TALKING
KNIFE FIGHTER.
EVEN IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS A
RUBE, YOU DID NOT TAKE HIM
LIGHTLY.
-♪ DEAD MAN WALKING ♪
♪ DEAD MAN ♪
-I WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME HE
WOULDN'T BE LOYAL TO ME, TOLD ME
NOT TO PICK HIM, BUT I ADMIRED
HIS WORK ETHIC.
I ADMIRED WHERE HE CAME FROM.
"HOW ARE WE TWO GUYS HERE?
MY OLD MAN A SHIPYARD WORKER
FROM VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, YOUR
PARENTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE IN THE BIG LEAGUES
TOGETHER."
I MADE HIM MY DEPUTY.
LEE BECAME MY PROTECTOR, MY
ANTENNA.
HE WAS VERY LOYAL TO ME.
I TOLD HIM VERY EARLY ON,
"DON'T YOU GET ANY PIPE DREAMS
HERE THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE MY
PLACE BECAUSE YOU WON'T.
WE'RE A TEAM."
BUT IF YOU LOOKED IN HIS EYES,
YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE
WHO BASICALLY WAS GONNA GET WHAT
HE WANTED.
WHEN HE BETRAYED ME IN '84, IN
THE LAST FOUR WEEKS OF THE
CAMPAIGN, HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
WITH A PRODUCER FOR NBC, AND SO
HE CAME IN TO ME ONE DAY AND HE
SAID, "WOULD YOU GIVE THEM AN
INTERVIEW?"
NBC NEWS LED THAT NIGHT WITH THE
STORY THAT ED ROLLINS WAS
RUNNING A DIRTY OPS OPERATION.
-OUR SOURCES, ALL TOP
REPUBLICAN STAFFERS, SAY THERE
IS AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION LED
BY CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR ED ROLLINS
DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE
MONDALE/FERRARO CAMPAIGN.
-TOOK ME 35 SECONDS TO FIND
OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'D BROUGHT
THE PRODUCER IN.
IT WAS HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND.
LEE HAD PUT A SPEAR IN MY BACK.
THE DAY I WALKED IN HIS OFFICE
AFTER THIS THING, HE THOUGHT I
WAS GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF
HIM.
AND I TOLD HIM.
I SAID, "YOU EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THIS TO ME AGAIN, I'LL
FUCKING BEAT THE LIVING CRAP OUT
OF YOU.
I'LL FIND YOUR ASS, AND I'LL
BEAT THE LIVING FUCKING CRAP OUT
OF YOU."
-♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
♪ BUT IT'S SHARP LIKE A RAZOR
BLADE ♪
♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
-IT WAS JUST A TWO-YEAR EFFORT
TO DESTROY ME.
HE WANTED TO RUN BUSH'S
CAMPAIGN.
HE WORKED BUSH VERY HARD.
HE SAID, "GEORGE W. NEVER
TRUSTED YOU, SO I KEPT FEEDING
IT."
HE CLEARLY MADE IT THAT I WOULD
NEVER BE ANYWHERE IN THE BUSH
WORLD.
-EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING FOR
THE GREAT MAN'S ATTENTION, AND,
LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE KNIVES
FLASHED BRILLIANTLY FOR A YEAR
OR SO.
-I HAD PUT SO MUCH TRUST IN
HIM.
IN SPITE OF EVERYONE TELLING ME
YOU COULDN'T TRUST HIM,
I TRUSTED HIM.
-WHAT CREATES SOMEBODY WHO'S
THAT COLD-BLOODED ARE EVENTS IN
HIS BACKGROUND AND HIS
UPBRINGING THAT LEAVE THEM WITH
A VERY BLEAK, REMORSELESS VIEW
OF LIFE.
-HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT JOE
MUCH.
HIS MOTHER -- YOU KNOW, SHE HAD
A DEEP-FRYER, I THINK, FULL OF
HOT GREASE.
AND THE LITTLE KID -- YOU KNOW,
HE PULLED ON THE CORD AND PULLED
THE THING OVER AND...
YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
JOE MUCH.
-THE GREASE ON THE STOVE ENDED
UP ON JOE, AND IT KILLED HIM.
-LEE SAID HE HEARD HIS
BROTHER'S SCREAMS THE REST OF
HIS LIFE EVERY DAY.
HOW HAUNTING COULD THAT BE?
-HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS
LITTLE OR NO MERCY IN LIFE.
WHAT KIND OF GOD PRODUCES THIS?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THE GOOD SON
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, OF
TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE AND ACCESS
TO POWER AND MONEY, AND HERE
LEE ATWATER WAS, THE BAD SEED OF
THE ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
I THINK THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE
WAS BRUTALLY BROUGHT UP SHORT BY
THE BUSHES, WHEN LEE MAY HAVE
PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
INTO THE MANSION TO SIP THE
SHERRY.
THE BUSHES NEVER REGARDED HIM AS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HIRED
HELP AND A SOMEWHAT
UNTRUSTWORTHY MEMBER OF THE
HIRED HELP.
THEY COULD ALWAYS JETTISON HIM
IF THEY HAD TO, CUT HIM LOOSE IN
A SECOND.
AND LEE WAS PERFECTLY WILLING
BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM ENTRéE TO
THE WORLD OF POWER AND CELEBRITY
THAT HE SO CRAVED.
-LYNDON JOHNSON WOULD
HUMILIATE HIS AIDES BY HAVING A
MEETING WHILE HE SAT ON THE
TOILET AND DEFECATED.
ATWATER DECIDED TO OPEN HIS
PANTS AND URINATE WITH AN
ESQUIRE REPORTER,
DAVID REMNICK.
-LEE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO
ME BECAUSE ALL HE WAS DOING WAS
TALKING TO THE GUY WHILE HE WAS
TAKING A PISS, AND REMNICK WROTE
IT UP.
AND LEE SAID, "WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO, SAY 'THIS PISS
IS OFF THE RECORD'"?
BARBARA BUSH WAS VERY OFFENDED
BY HIS VULGARITY.
IT ALMOST COST LEE HIS JOB
RUNNING THE BUSH CAMPAIGN.
-HE HAD TO OVERCOME THE FAMILY
SUSPICION.
WHO WAS THIS UPSTART?
HE'S A KID.
SO THEN WHO ARRIVES IN TOWN?
GEORGE W. BUSH.
THE FAMILY LIKED THE FACT THEY
HAD ONE OF THEIR OWN KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON LEE.
AND LEE RESPONDED TO THAT BY
SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU COME AND
WORK WITH ME, WORK ALONGSIDE ME,
IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME, AND
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN THIS
CAMPAIGN."
-SO, HE'S GOT A GUY THERE
WHO'S LIVED A LOT CLOSER TO THE
EARTH THAN SOME OF HIS
RELATIVES.
HE AND LEE HIT IT OFF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-A TRUE TEST OF A GOOD
CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS TO BE ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
MY MOTHER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME A
SOUTH CAROLINA CRACKER...
LEE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-THEY WERE A MAGNIFYING FORCE.
THEY WERE BOTH DEEPLY
INTELLECTUAL AND WELL-READ.
-ATWATER SAID HE READ FOUR
BOOKS A MONTH.
THAT WAS BULLSHIT.
HE DIDN'T READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
HE HAD JIM PINKERTON READ THEM
AND TELL HIM WHAT THEY SAID.
HE READ, LIKE, THE CliffsNotes
FOR FOUR BOOKS A MONTH.
-AND MY NUMBER-ONE SOUL MATE
AND A GUY WHO'S WITH ME THICK
AND THIN -- GEORGE BUSH JR.
-HE'S GOT MOJO, LEADER OF THE
NEXT CAMPAIGN, THE EYES OF THE
WORLD UPON YOU.
THIS WAS AN EVEN BIGGER LEAP UP.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO MAKE THEM
MASTER POLITICIANS, OR IT'S
GONNA RUIN THEM.
IT'S EITHER GONNA SHOW THEIR WAY
TO VICTORY IN THE FUTURE OR SHOW
THEM TO THE DOOR.
-IRAN-CONTRA MUST HAVE BEEN
PERCEIVED BY ATWATER AS A VERY
SERIOUS THREAT, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST SCANDALS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND YOUR GUY IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
-A CHARGE HAS BEEN MADE THAT
THE UNITED STATES HAS SHIPPED
WEAPONS TO IRAN, TRAFFICKING
WITH TERRORISTS.
THOSE CHARGES ARE UTTERLY FALSE.
-IT'S A LIE.
IT'S A LIE.
I MEAN, PRESIDENTS LIE.
-GIVING WEAPONS TO OUR SWORN
ENEMY, IRAN, WHO WE'RE ALL
RALLYING THE SABERS ABOUT TODAY.
IT'S THE SAME IRAN.
-THEY WERE ALWAYS INTERVENING
ON BEHALF OF DRUG SMUGGLERS AND
TERRORISTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MORAL
STANDPOINT, IT'S INDEFENSIBLE.
BUT THEY WERE SO GOOD AT
CONTROLLING THE DISCOURSE.
-HE CAME OUT MONTHS LATER
AND ADMITTED.
-I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I
DID NOT TRADE ARMS FOR HOSTAGES.
MY HEART AND MY BEST INTENTIONS
STILL TELL ME THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE
TELL ME IT IS NOT.
-"THERE WERE SOME RENEGADES IN
THE WHITE HOUSE."
HE ACTED LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS WORKING IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
-I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
ANY DIVERSION OF FUNDS
TO THE CONTRAS.
-HE DESERVES OUR SUPPORT, NOT
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING
FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FACED
WITH THE DECISIONS HE HAD TO
MAKE.
-YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT AND THE
VICE PRESIDENT LYING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS,
DOCUMENTS BEING SHREDDED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?
BUT THEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAD IRANIAN PROBLEMS
WAS BECAUSE WE HAD OVERTHROWN
THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN IN 1953.
BUSH WASN'T THE ONLY CIA
DIRECTOR TO BE UP TO HIS NECK IN
DRUG-DEALING, MILITARY LEADERS
IN CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA.
IF YOU COULD AFFORD A UNIFORM
AND A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES AND
TOLD US YOU WERE ANTICOMMUNIST,
WE SUPPORTED YOU.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SHOWING NORIEGA
AROUND THE C.I.A. OFFICE.
IT WAS APPALLING.
TRUTH BE KNOWN, THE IRAN-CONTRA
THING IS THE THING THAT GOT ME
INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-VICE PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE CONTRA AID OR
NOT, SIR?
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-BUSH WAS REALLY DAMAGED GOODS
BECAUSE OF THE SENSE THAT HE WAS
INVOLVED IN A COVER-UP, SECRETLY
PROMOTING A WAR IN NICARAGUA
THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS OPPOSED.
AND JUST THE DEVIOUSNESS OF THE
WHOLE THING RAISED THE MOST
SERIOUS POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS INTEGRITY AND FITNESS.
-IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER YOUR
FRIENDS, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME
IS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT NOVEMBER IF
YOU ARE OUR STANDARD-BEARER AND
THESE DEMOCRATS GET AFTER YOU ON
THIS SUBJECT?
[ APPLAUSE ]
-PEOPLE WANT TO GET THIS
IRANIAN SITUATION BEHIND THEM.
THEY'RE TIRED OF IT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN TO
THINK ABOUT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR POCKETBOOKS TO
THINK ABOUT.
FARMERS HAVE THEIR CROPS TO
THINK ABOUT.
-HE KNEW THAT, IN ALL
PROBABILITY, HIS CANDIDATE HAD
BEEN UP TO HIS EYEBALLS IN THIS
ACTIVITY.
HE'D GET KNOCKED OUT OF THE GAME
PRETTY QUICK.
-THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY
NERVOUS MOMENTS.
-YOU SAID IF YOU HAD KNOWN
THIS WAS AN ARMS-FOR-HOSTAGES
SWAP THAT YOU WOULD HAVE OPPOSED
IT.
-EXACTLY.
MAY I ANSWER THAT?
-THAT WASN'T A QUESTION.
IT WAS A STATEMENT.
-IT WAS A STATEMENT, AND I'LL
ANSWER IT.
THE PRESIDENT CREATED THIS
PROGRAM AS TESTIFIED...
-IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY,
"THAT'S A LIE."
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT FOR A
WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS WHEN
YOU'RE IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW
AND A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING, AND THEY KNOW THIS.
THEY'LL JUST SIT THERE AND LIE
TO YOU.
-AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING LEE
HAD A PARTICULAR MASTERY OF IS
STAYING ON MESSAGE.
BUSH WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
HE WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE
THAT HE WAS IN THE LOOP.
THEY COULDN'T BREAK THAT STORY,
SO JUST DON'T SAY ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
-IT'S NOT FAIR TO JUDGE MY
WHOLE CAREER BY A REHASH ON
IRAN.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I
JUDGED YOUR CAREER BY THOSE
SEVEN MINUTES WHEN YOU WALKED
OFF THE SET IN NEW YORK?
-WELL, MR. --
-WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?
I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU, BUT I
DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR WHAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
-BUSH WAS LYING.
AND ELLIOT ABRAMS WAS LYING AND
CASPAR WEINBERGER WAS LYING AND
GEORGE SHULTZ WAS LYING.
-SOURCES IN OTHER CAMPAIGNS
SPECULATE BUSH'S STRATEGY MAY
HAVE BEEN TO SET UP RATHER, THE
VICE PRESIDENT ALWAYS PLANNING
TO GO ON THE ATTACK.
CBS NEWS CORRESPONDENT
TERENCE SMITH ASKED BUSH
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR LEE ATWATER
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
ATWATER LAUGHED AND THEN
ANSWERED, "WE NEVER TALK ABOUT
HOW WE MAKE SAUSAGE."
-ONCE YOU GET TO WASHINGTON
AND LEARN THE GAME, THE
CANDIDATES ARE, A LOT OF TIMES,
PUPPETS, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
BEHIND THE SCENES PULLING THE
STRINGS ON THESE GUYS.
IN COLLEGE, LEE TOTALLY DETESTED
SPORTS, EXCEPT WRESTLING.
HIS THING WAS, "THIS IS THE ONLY
HONEST SPORT OUT THERE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
EVERYBODY KNEW WRESTLING WAS
FAKE.
-HE WAS BASICALLY SAYING THAT
POLITICS IS PHONY, THAT
GOVERNMENT IS PHONY, THAT A LOT
OF PERSONAL LIFE IS PHONY.
AND "PHONY" WAS A BIG WORD WITH
HIM.
-HE MAY HAVE FELT THAT
WRESTLING WAS THE ONLY HONEST
SPORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO
OBVIOUSLY DISHONEST.
WHAT'S THERE TO ENTERTAIN,
WHAT'S THERE TO DISTRACT IS WHAT
COUNTS.
AND, ACTUALLY, THINGS ARE RUN ON
A MUCH MORE CYNICAL BASIS BY THE
PEOPLE AT THE TOP.
-ATWATER SAYS HE CAN'T RELAX
OR TAKE IT EASY BECAUSE HE'S
ALWAYS PREPARING FOR A MENTAL
SPARRING MATCH.
-YOU'RE ALWAYS IN A BATTLE OF
WITS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUNCH OF GUYS
OUT THERE TRYING TO OUTSMART YOU
AND TRYING TO STICK IT TO YOU,
AND YOUR JOB IS TO STICK IT TO
THEM FIRST.
-THE PLAN WAS PRETTY EASY --
WIN IOWA AND WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT DOLE.
-UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A
CAMPAIGN AND UNDER THE HOT
LIGHTS OF THE TELEVISION,
BOB DOLE MIGHT BE FORCED TO MAKE
AN ERROR.
LEE HAD THE CAMPAIGN THROW
THINGS AT THEIR CAMPAIGN TO
PRESS HIM.
-THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAID THIS
MORNING THAT SENATOR DOLE BROKE
THE JANUARY 13th TRUCE.
THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT --
-COME ON.
WE'RE NOT GONNA ANSWER -- I'M
NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS LIKE THIS.
-LEE PUT OUT SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT OTHERS WERE HEARING
VOICES EVERYWHERE.
AND HE GOT THEM OFF THEIR GAME
BY MAKING THEM ANGRY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MEDIA
BEAST CAN ONLY BE CHEWING ON ONE
ANKLE AT A TIME.
MAKE SURE THE ANKLE IS THE OTHER
GUY'S.
-YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF
SCURRILOUS, LAST-MINUTE,
DESPERATION TACTICS -- AND THIS
IS ONLY THE FIRST STATE.
-DID YOU, IN FACT, SPREAD ANY
FALSE RUMORS ABOUT
ELIZABETH DOLE?
-YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
-I DON'T KNOW.
-NO, I DID NOT. I DID NOT.
-BOB DOLE SAYS YOU DID.
-NO, I DID NOT.
-THIS ALWAYS FASCINATED LEE.
HE WAS IN A PROFESSION -- YOUR
CAREER COULD GET DASHED IN A
DAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT TOTALLY INTRIGUED
HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IOWA HAS TURNED THE
REPUBLICAN RACE UPSIDE-DOWN.
-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT GEORGE BUSH
IS DEEPLY DAMAGED, AND BOB HAS
TO BE CONSIDERED THE
FRONT-RUNNER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
-WHEN YOU FUCK UP IN THIS
ARENA, THE SPOTLIGHT IS
AMPLIFIED A THOUSAND TIMES.
-WASHINGTON CHEERS FOR TWO
THINGS -- THE WASHINGTON
REDSKINS TO WIN ON SUNDAY, AND
IT CHEERS FOR WHOEVER IS IN
POWER TO FAIL.
-ATWATER VOMITED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER THAT.
LOSING MADE HIM PHYSICALLY ILL.
IF THEY LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY
WERE DONE.
THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE
ABYSS.
I VISITED HIM IN HIS HOTEL
ROOM.
HE WAS NERVOUS ENERGY.
IT WAS SNOWING SO HARD OUTSIDE
THAT ATWATER'S RUNNING IN THE
STAIRWELL OF HIS HOTEL, UP AND
DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
-LEE ATWATER WILL EITHER
SOLIDIFY HIS IMAGE AS THE
POLITICAL WONDER BOY OR BE KNOWN
AS THE MAN WHO STEERED
PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER
GEORGE BUSH INTO THE GROUND.
REPORTS SURFACED THAT BUSH WAS
PREPARED TO FIRE ATWATER IF HE
LOST THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.
-SURE, WE'RE CONCERNED.
WE'RE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING DAY
AND NIGHT.
BUT IN THE END, GEORGE BUSH IS
GONNA WIN.
-THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD TO DO
SOMETHING THAT HE ISN'T
NATURALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
IT'S BEEN CALLED, WRONGLY,
NEGATIVE.
IT WASN'T NEGATIVE.
THIS IS PLAY BIG OR GO HOME.
-BUSH SAYS HE WON'T RAISE
TAXES, PERIOD.
DOLE STRADDLES.
HE'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOLE ACTUALLY ADVISED...
-READ MY LIPS.
NO NEW TAXES!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DOLE COULD NOT TAKE THE
"NO TAX INCREASE" PLEDGE.
IT KILLED HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUSH WAS LESS ETHICAL.
BUSH TOOK IT. HE LIED.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ BAND PLAYS "YANKEE DOODLE
DANDY" ]
-BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T SAY HOW WELL LEE ATWATER,
OUR GREAT CHAIRMAN, PERFORMED.
HE DID A SUPERB JOB, AND IT'S
NOT JUST 'CAUSE HE'S STANDING
HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S SOMETHING WONDERFUL
ABOUT FIGHTING BACK IN LIFE.
-WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO
HIM TO TURN HIM INTO A HIT MAN?
-HE WAS NOT A HIT MAN.
WHAT HE DID IN THAT CAMPAIGN WAS
DISCUSS ISSUES.
-BUSH HAD WON IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND TOM BROKAW ON
NBC WAS INTERVIEWING THE TWO OF
THEM.
-AND, SENATOR DOLE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO
THE VICE PRESIDENT?
-YEAH, STOP LYING ABOUT MY
RECORD.
-THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AND THE
TONE OF VOICE -- I INTERVIEWED
HIM LATER ABOUT IT, AND YOU
KNOW, HE SAID, "I LOST MY COOL,
AND IT COST ME.
YOU WORK FOR TWO YEARS OF YOUR
LIFE FOR SOMETHING, AND IT'S
TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SAY,
'GEE, HECK'?"
-WE'RE NOT GONNA COMMENT.
I DON'T COMMENT ON ATWATER.
-THE FACT THAT THE
VICE PRESIDENT GOT THE
NOMINATION SO OVERWHELMINGLY IS
VERY INDICATIVE OF THE KIND OF
SUPPORT HE'S GOT IN THIS PARTY.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME ONE HALF
OF THAT WINNING TANDEM, THE
HONORABLE JOHN BUSH --
GEORGE BUSH.
[ LAUGHS ]
GOD!
-THEY THOUGHT BUSH WAS A WIMP
AND A WUSS...
ATWATER WAS A HICK AND HACK.
-WITH HIS BIG POWERBOAT UP IN
MAINE AND HIS UPPER-CLASS
BACKGROUND AND BEING FROM YALE,
DO YOU THINK HE IS REALLY THE
GUY WHO'S GOING TO APPEAL TO THE
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS, THE
ORDINARY CITIZENS OF AMERICA?
-WELL, BUT YOU JUST NAMED A
BUNCH OF THINGS THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH ISSUES, AND
THIS IS GONNA BE A CAMPAIGN OF
ISSUES.
-PEOPLE SCOFFED AT THE ATWATER
ISSUES -- THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THE
PRISON FURLOUGHS.
WHO WOULD BUY THAT?
THIS IS SO IRRELEVANT.
-AND KEEP THIS COUNTRY GOING.
-WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT?!
-DEFICIT?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ABOUT IT.
-YEAH!
-I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PAYING
TOO LITTLE IN TAXES.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING TOO MUCH.
-[ SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY ]
-HURRAY!
[ CHEERS ]
[ ALL CHANTING "GO HOME, BUSH" ]
-POOR GEORGE.
HE CAN'T HELP IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER FOOT
IN HIS MOUTH.
[ LOUD LAUGHTER ]
-THEY ARE THE PARTY THAT TALKS
TOUGH ON DRUGS BUT DEALS SOFTLY
WITH DRUG-RUNNING DICTATORS.
AND GEORGE BUSH IS A DEAD DUCK.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DUKAKIS WINS BIG EVERYWHERE.
HE'S GONNA WIN IN A LANDSLIDE.
I THINK HE WILL WIN IN EVERY
PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
-THE GOVERNOR JUST CAME OUT
HERE AND SAID THAT MR. DUKAKIS
IS GONNA WIN BIG EVERYWHERE.
-WELL, I'M GLAD THEY HAVE THAT
KIND OF ATTITUDE BECAUSE THAT
LEADS TO THE KIND OF
OVERCONFIDENCE AND COCKINESS
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
UNHEALTHY ATTITUDE YOU CAN HAVE
IN POLITICS.
-WHO'S GONNA --
-BYE!
-WAIT, WAIT.
ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY?
WHEN ARE WE GONNA FIND OUT?
-THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
QUESTION.
I WILL CONTEMPLATE IT WHEN I GO
JOGGING.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-LEE'S FAVORITE STATEMENT WAS
"JUST PLAY DUMB AND KEEP
MOVING."
[ CROWD CHANTING "FOUR MORE
YEARS" ]
-THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
PROUDLY CASTS ALL ITS VOTES FOR
HER FAVORITE SON AND THE BEST
FATHER IN AMERICA, GEORGE BUSH.
-REPUBLICANS HAVE OFTEN BEEN
DISMISSED AS SLOW, DUMB, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
LEE LOVED EXAGGERATING THAT
IMAGE AND JUST OUTFOXING
EVERYBODY AROUND HIM.
-IN THE SOUTH, THAT'S CALLED
"SLOW-PLAYING 'EM."
BEING A SLOW TALKER AND
EASYGOING, WELL, A LOT OF
NORTHERNERS PERCEIVE THAT AS NOT
VERY BRIGHT.
SUCK THEM IN, YOU END UP
RUNNING ALL OVER THEM.
"YOU CAN RUN. YOU CAN RUN.
TELL MY BIG BOY WILLIE BROWN.
I'M STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS,
BABY.
I THINK I'M SINKING DOWN."
-THIS IS A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL
ELECTION.
IF WE LOSE THE PRESIDENCY THIS
TIME, WE LOSE IT ALL.
-RONALD REAGAN HAD TO HAVE
GEORGE BUSH IN OFFICE.
IF A DEMOCRAT WON, WE WOULD HAVE
A REAL LEGAL PRECEDING, AND
RONALD REAGAN COULD HAVE
GONE TO JAIL.
-DO YOU FEEL THAT
MICHAEL DUKAKIS SHOULD MAKE HIS
MEDICAL RECORDS PUBLIC?
-LOOK, I'M NOT GONNA PICK
ON AN INVALID.
-MR. PRESIDENT! MR. PRESIDENT!
-HE GOT AWAY WITH THOSE KIND
OF THINGS 'CAUSE HE DID IT IN A
SORT OF JOCULAR WAY WITH
HIS IRISH WIT.
THAT STATEMENT WAS ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN
AMERICA.
IMMEDIATELY, MICHAEL DUKAKIS'
NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP.
-HE TRIED TO GET ME TO WRITE
ABOUT GOVERNOR DUKAKIS HAVING
PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.
IT WAS REALLY A SLANDER.
HE THOUGHT MY WEAKNESS WAS THAT
IF I COULD GET AN EXCLUSIVE
STORY, I WOULD JUMP AT IT AND
BITE AT IT AND NOT BE AS CAREFUL
AS I SHOULD BE.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT I
WAS CAREFUL ENOUGH NOT TO GET
INVOLVED IN THAT ONE.
-DID YOU GUYS MEET LEE ATWATER
OUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER HERE?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-PIPE DOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-ENOUGH APPLAUSE.
IT GOES TO HIS HEAD.
-NO ONE HIRES PEOPLE LIKE
LEE ATWATER TO LOSE.
THERE ARE NO SILVER OR BRONZE
MEDALS IN THIS GAME.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU WIN.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING.
I'M A FORMER ALTAR BOY.
THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS THAT
RECRUITS ALTAR BOYS.
-YOU DO HAVE TO BE TOUGH TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF THEM,
AND YOU DO HAVE TO DO THINGS
THAT THE NORMAL PERSON MIGHT
SHRINK FROM.
BUT THAT'S IT.
WHERE'S THE LINE?
WANTING TO WIN MAKES PEOPLE DO
THINGS THAT THEY WOULDN'T
CONSIDER IN A NORMAL SENSE.
THEY WOULDN'T HIRE LEE ATWATER.
TO WIN, THOUGH, THAT'S WHAT IT
TAKES.
-EARLIER THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
SENATOR STEVE SYMMS OF IDAHO
SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF
REPORTS THAT KITTY DUKAKIS HAD
BURNED AN AMERICAN FLAG DURING
AN ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION IN THE
'60S.
-I SAID IT WAS AN ALLEGATION
THAT HAD BEEN TOLD TO ME.
-BUT FROM WHO, THOUGH?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT NATIONALLY.
WHO ACTUALLY SAID IT TO YOU?
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, SOMEBODY
NEEDS SOME KIND OF FACT.
-I WOULDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE
THE SOURCES.
-WHAT ABOUT PICTURES?
YOU MENTIONED PICTURES.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY PICTURES?
-NO, I HAVE NOT.
I SAID I HADN'T SEEN THEM.
I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SOME VERY
RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT THERE
ARE PICTURES FLOATING AROUND.
-THERE COULDN'T BE A
PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE THERE WAS
NEVER ANY SUCH INCIDENT.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
AND THERE IS NOBODY WHO LOVES
THE FLAG AS MUCH AS MICHAEL AND
MYSELF.
THAT FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF
FREEDOM, A SYMBOL OF WHAT THIS
COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
-WERE YOU AT A DEMONSTRATION
AT ANY TIME?
-NEVER. NEVER.
-WHEN YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR
HEELS AND YOU'RE DEFENDING
YOURSELF CONSTANTLY, IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE WRONG,
AND, THEREFORE, LEE'S CANDIDATE
USUALLY COMES OUT LOOKING LIKE
HE'S IN THE RIGHT.
-AND WHAT DOES DUKAKIS DO?
EVERY TIME HE STANDS UP, HE
ATTACKS GEORGE BUSH.
HE'S A HYPOCRITE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW IT, TOO.
THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE KIND
OF OUT-OF-TOUCH CROWD THEY ARE.
THEY PROBABLY SAT UP IN
BROOKLINE EATING BELGIAN ENDIVES
AND QUICHE OUT OF THE CAN AND
FIGURED, "WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS GO ATTACK..."
-QUICHE OUT OF A CAN!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
-SEE, IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE'S
A RING OF TRUTH TO IT.
THEY PROBABLY THINK, YOU KNOW,
DUKAKIS -- THEY WERE A BUNCH OF
ELITISTS.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, HE AND THE
FOLKS AROUND BUSH WERE TRYING TO
MAKE ME A KIND OF NORTHEAST
LIBERAL WHO WAS OUT OF TOUCH AND
THAT KIND OF A THING.
I MEAN, THE IRONY OF THIS IS
THAT...
YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUY WHO IS THE
SON OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME
OVER HERE AND LIVED THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
NOTHING AGAINST YANKEE BRAHMANS
WHO WERE HERE SINCE 1630.
-A NICE WASP KID, BORN IN
MILTON.
-AND TEXANS WANT A TEXAN FOR
PRESIDENT.
-TEXANS WANT A TEXAN AS
PRESIDENT, NOT SOMEONE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
-BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE LIVED DOWN IN -- GREW UP IN
CONNECTICUT.
-BUSH COULD EAT PORK RINDS,
BUT HE WAS A YALIE AND HE WAS AN
ELITE.
AND HE MAY HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS,
BUT PEOPLE STILL THOUGHT OF HIM
FROM CONNECTICUT.
LEE WAS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
THE COUNTRY.
-DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU I'M
NO TEXAN.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-LEE UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF
IMAGE AND HOW AMERICAN SYMBOLS
RESONATE WITH A LOT OF
SOUTHERNERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND DEMOCRATS TO THIS DAY
SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST
THEIR OWN INTERESTS BY
SUPPORTING THESE REPUBLICANS
WHEN, IN FACT, THE AUDACITY AND
ARROGANCE OF THAT IS PROUD
PATRIOTISM TRANSCENDS MONEY.
-SMILE.
-MR. PRESIDENT!
-THE QUESTION I REALLY WANT TO
HEAR HIM ANSWER IS, WHY IN THE
WORLD DID HE VETO THIS BILL
CALLING FOR THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO BE SAID IN OUR
CLASSROOMS?
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
GET DOWN HERE, DUKAKIS, AND
ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
-KIDS SALUTE THE FLAG EVERY
DAY.
IT'S PART OF THE LAW.
I'M ALL FOR IT.
THE QUESTION WAS, COULD YOU PUT
TEACHERS IN JAIL WHO REFUSED TO
LEAD THE PLEDGE?
SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES SAID YOU CAN'T DO
THAT.
-WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE?
IT'S JUST SHOWING THAT YOU
BELIEVE AND YOU STAND BEHIND
YOUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.
-EVERY ONE OF US COULD STAND
SOME MORE PATRIOTISM.
-WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
MR. BUSH THAT I WASN'T GONNA LET
HIM QUESTION MY PATRIOTISM.
-I'M NOT QUESTIONING HIS
PATRIOTISM.
I'M QUESTIONING HIS JUDGMENT.
-REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY
STRIDENT, ALMOST, IN ATTACKING
MIKE DUKAKIS.
-NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S
STRIDENT.
I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT'S A
MIS-ADJECTIVE.
I WOULD SAY STRONG.
-WHAT'S YOURS?
-WELL, MINE IS ISSUE
CLARIFICATION.
-I DON'T LIKE THEM TAKING MY
GUN.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T
TAKING PEOPLE'S GUNS AWAY IN
TEXAS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT'S
SON, NOW THE PRESIDENT, RAN
AROUND TEXAS TELLING THEM THAT
THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
-IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUNS
HERE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT AS WELL
BE A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
-TEXAS REPUBLICANS DIDN'T
WASTE A MINUTE.
FIVE MILLION LETTERS TOLD TEXAS
VOTERS THAT MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS
NOTHING BUT A NORTHEAST LIBERAL,
AND THAT'S A CUSS WORD FOR A LOT
OF TEXANS.
-A LIBERAL IS SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE
TAXES, MORE SPENDING, MORE
REGULATION, AND MORE
INTERFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
AND THE ONLY THING THEY WANT
LESS OF IS DEFENSE, AND THAT'S
THE ONE THING WE WANT MORE OF.
-IF YOU LET THE CAMPAIGN BE
ABOUT BUSH, YOU PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE LOST.
THE CAMPAIGN HAD TO BE ABOUT
THE VALUES YOU PROJECT ONTO
DUKAKIS.
IT WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE
CULTURE WAR.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TURNED
INTO A STEALTH PARTY THAT ARGUES
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMON MAN AND
GIVES ALL THE BENEFITS TO THE
WEALTHIEST 1/10 OF 1%.
IT ARGUES ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN
MORALITY POLICIES, ENGAGES IN
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRIVATE
BEHAVIOR.
HE USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE
ANTI-ABORTION FORCES AS THE
"EXTRA CHROMOSOME GROUP" AND THE
ONES WHO HAD A HAND COMING OUT
OF THEIR HEAD, OR A THIRD EYE,
YOU KNOW.
THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
THE MOST DEVOTED PEOPLE TO HIS
CAUSE.
-A LITTLE LOUDER!
-ONE THING LEE TOLD ME, BY THE
WAY, THOUGH, IS NEVER, EVER,
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN A FUNNY HAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I WAS THERE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
SHOW.
-MICHAEL DUKAKIS IS OPPOSED TO
VIRTUALLY EVERY DEFENSE SYSTEM
WE DEVELOPED.
-THE TANK AD WENT DOWN HIS
VOTING RECORD.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "NOW, WE'VE
GOT TO CHECK EVERY ONE OF THESE
POINTS."
I'M NOT CERTAIN WE DID.
-FIRST OF ALL, THE BUSH
CAMPAIGN WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THOSE
STATISTICS ON THE AIR IF THEY
WEREN'T CORRECT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT COMMERCIAL IS
MORE ABOUT DUKAKIS' RECORD.
-I WAS A GOVERNOR.
IF THERE WERE BILLS INVOLVING
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE IN
WASHINGTON, OBVIOUSLY, I
WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED ON THOSE.
I NEVER SERVED A DAY OF MY LIFE
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-IT'S WITH A GREAT DEAL OF
PRIDE THAT I INTRODUCE MY BIG
LITTLE BROTHER GEORGY.
DON'T --
[ CHEERS ]
I WANT YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.
FROM NOW ON -- GEORGE TOLD ME
THIS MORNING, HE DOES NOT WANT
TO BE REFERRED TO AS "JUNIOR."
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
HAVE PRIDE IN HIS FATHER AND WHO
HE IS, BUT GEORGE HAS DONE AN
OUTSTANDING JOB ON THIS
CAMPAIGN.
[ CRASH ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-DEMOCRATS!
-IT'S DEMOCRATS.
-ONE REASON MARVIN AND I AND
BROTHER JEB FROM THE STATE OF
FLORIDA ARE WORKING SO HARD IS
BECAUSE OUR DAD NEEDS A REAL
JOB.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-OUR NOW-PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS WAS A NEW LEVEL OF PLAYING
FIELD, AND HE WAS WATCHING A
MASTER IN LEE ATWATER.
-WHAT GEORGE W. SAW IN LEE WAS
AN ATTITUDE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
AFRAID TO EXPRESS THE FIRST TIME
HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.
PROBABLY WASN'T NEARLY
MANIPULATIVE AND COLD-BLOODED
ENOUGH.
HE WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PLEASE
HIS DAD, WHO HE SOMEWHAT
MISTAKENLY THOUGHT WAS A GOOD
GUY, UNCAPABLE OF TOUGH
POLITICS.
GEORGE W. WAS SAYING, "NOW I SEE
HOW THIS HAS TO BE DONE.
DO THE DEAL. DO THE DEED."
-SOMETIMES THE SONS CAN SAY
SOMETHING THEIR FATHERS CAN'T,
AND THAT IS, WE'RE COUNTING ON
YOU BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO GO
OUT THERE AND KICK SOME OF
MICHAEL DUKAKIS AND KICK IT
HARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ATWATER HAD A GENIUS FOR THE
STICKY ISSUE...
SIMPLE ENOUGH AND SCARY ENOUGH
THAT THE MEDIA COULD LATCH ON TO
IT.
-AS GOVERNOR, MICHAEL DUKAKIS
VETOED MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR
DRUG DEALERS.
HE VETOED THE DEATH PENALTY.
HIS REVOLVING-DOOR PRISON
POLICY GAVE WEEKEND FURLOUGHS TO
FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.
WHILE OUT, MANY COMMITTED OTHER
CRIMES, LIKE KIDNAPPING AND
RAPE, AND MANY ARE STILL AT
LARGE.
NOW MICHAEL DUKAKIS SAYS HE
WANTS TO DO FOR AMERICA WHAT
HE'S DONE FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
AMERICA CAN'T AFFORD THAT RISK.
-I WAS ANGRY.FFORD THAT RISK.
I WAS, LIKE, VERY ANGRY 'CAUSE I
SAW THROUGH IT RIGHT AWAY.
I SAW THE AD WHERE THEY HAD
THESE GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON,
AND THE BLACK GUY WAS THE ONLY
ONE WHO LOOKED UP AT THE CAMERA.
SO I SAID, "AH, THESE ARE
DIABOLICAL MINDS BEHIND THIS
THING."
-"THAT'S THE GUY TO BE AFRAID
OF."
THIS WAS CALCULATED TO EMPHASIZE
THE ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERE.
-RACE IS A POWDER KEG.
IT DESERVES TO BE, IN MANY WAYS.
AND LEE GOT CLOSE TO THAT POWDER
KEG AND, YOU KNOW, SETTING OFF
SPARKS NEARBY.
-THIS WAS A PIECE OF
LITERATURE THAT WAS BEING
DISTRIBUTED IN A NUMBER OF
STATES.
"ALL THE MURDERERS AND RAPISTS
AND DRUG PUSHERS AND CHILD
MOLESTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS VOTE
FOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS."
I THOUGHT IT WAS DESPICABLE.
-THEN THEY HAD THE RAPE
VICTIM, THIS WOMAN, GO ON TOUR
AND TALK ABOUT, IN EXPLICIT
DETAILS, WHAT HAPPENED DURING
THE RAPE.
SHE WAS RAPED TWICE.
-IT WAS A SO-CALLED
INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE AD WHERE
THEY SIMPLY USED HORTON'S FACE.
-ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
DESPITE A LIFE SENTENCE, HORTON
RECEIVED 10 WEEKEND PASSES FROM
PRISON.
HORTON FLED, KIDNAPPED A YOUNG
COUPLE, STABBING THE MAN AND
REPEATEDLY RAPING HIS
GIRLFRIEND.
-THE CANDIDATE AND THE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM DENY ANY
RESPONSIBILITY.
ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES THAT
BELIEVES IN THE TOOTH FAIRY.
-I JUST WONDER WHETHER THERE
ISN'T A TINGE OF RACISM.
-ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK MANY PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH KNOW WHAT RACE
WILLIE HORTON IS.
I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY
IRRELEVANT.
-I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK HE WAS USED PRIMARILY
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
LIKE LEE SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
YOU DON'T CALL THEM NIGGER,
NIGGER, NIGGER ANYMORE LIKE YOU
DID 30 YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO BE MORE
"SUBTLE" THAN THAT.
IT WASN'T VERY SUBTLE AT ALL TO
ME.
-EVERYBODY SAW HOW PROVOCATIVE
IT WAS, AND SO IT GOT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FREE
AIRTIME.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES "HOOKED
UP TO JUMPER CABLES" GOT
REPEATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES
WILLIE HORTON'S SCOWLING, ANGRY
FACE OF A KILLER WAS TELEVISED
ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE.
-THERE'S A STORY ABOUT A
FELLOW NAMED WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-MURDERER.
-CONVICTED MURDERER
WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-WEEKEND VACATIONS.
-THE WEEKEND PASSES.
-COLD-BLOODED.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-FIRST-DEGREE...
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-KILLER.
MURDERER.
-THEY RAPE PEOPLE.
-RAPED HIS WIFE.
-THEY MAUL PEOPLE.
-WILLIE HORTON WILL BECOME A
HOUSEHOLD NAME.
-NO MORE FURLOUGHS FOR PEOPLE
THAT RAPE, PILLAGE, AND PLUNDER!
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.
-DO YOU THINK THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL,
THOUGH, GIVES HINTS OF RACIAL
POLITICS?
-I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
-YOU DON'T HAVE A
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL ON THE
AIR?
-NO.
-A FURLOUGH PROGRAM
COMMERCIAL?
YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIME -- YOU
DON'T HAVE AN AD ON THE AIR
ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUE?
-NO.
-SO THERE'S NO PLAN IN THIS
CAMPAIGN AT ALL TO USE THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL AT ALL
TO APPEAL --
-WELL, THERE'S NO
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
I DO THINK THAT THE CRIMINAL
FURLOUGH PROGRAM THAT DUKAKIS
SUPPORTED, IN WHICH CONVICTED
MURDERERS WERE ALLOWED TO GO ON
WEEKEND FURLOUGH...
-I WENT INTO THE HEADQUARTERS
TO SEE ATWATER AT HIS REQUEST.
HE LOCKED THE OFFICE DOOR, AND
HE POPPED THE FAMOUS
WILLIE HORTON SPOT ONTO A
TELEVISION.
HE SAID, "I GOT A COUPLE BOYS
GOING TO PUT A COUPLE MILLION
DOLLARS UP FOR THIS
INDEPENDENT."
AND I SAID, "THAT'S A HUGE
MISTAKE.
YOU AND GEORGE BUSH WILL WEAR
THAT TO YOUR GRAVE.
IT'S A RACIST AD.
YOU'RE ALREADY WINNING THIS
ISSUE.
IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.
YOU'RE STEPPING OVER A LINE.
YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT."
AND HE SAID, "Y'ALL A PUSSY."
-THIS MALIGNANT, OVERWHELMING
IMAGE OF BLACK MEN -- WE WERE TO
BE FEARED.
RAISING LYNCH MOBS AGAINST THE
BLACK PEOPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HISTORICAL
ROLE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP IN THE
HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS
ATTRACTED TO FEAR.
I KNOW I LIKE HORROR MOVIES.
NOT ONLY POLITICIANS, BUT PEOPLE
WHO RUN THE MEDIA, WILL EXPLOIT
THIS.
-FEAR IS AN ATTENTION GETTER,
ANYTHING TO KEEP A STORY GOING.
-TERRORISTS, THE HISPANICS,
GAYS, COMMUNISTS.
-I WAS AMAZED THAT THE DUKAKIS
CAMP NEVER SEEMED TO FIND IT IN
THEM TO FORCEFULLY EXPLAIN THAT
THAT PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS
WAS COPIED AFTER A POPULAR STATE
WHOSE GOVERNOR WAS THE FIRST
GOVERNOR TO SIGN A LAW FOR
WEEKEND PRISONER RELEASE.
THAT GOVERNOR'S NAME WAS
RONALD REAGAN.
-TWO OF HIS FURLOUGHEES WENT
OUT AND MURDERED PEOPLE, AND HE
DEFENDED THE PROGRAM.
BUT I NEVER SAID THAT.
-WHY NOT?
-WASN'T GONNA RESPOND.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS
THE DECISION I MADE.
CRAZY, IN RETROSPECT. CRAZY.
[ FOLK MUSIC PLAYING ]
-IF YOU DON'T DEFEND YOURSELF
AND THEY'RE DOING NEGATIVE ADS
AGAINST YOU AND YOU JUST SAY,
"OH, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT
GAME, I'M GONNA BE POSITIVE,"
YOU ARE GONNA GET DESTROYED.
-RACE IS POISON, BUT IT'S
POISON THAT WORKS FOR THEIR
SIDE.
PEOPLE VOTE THEIR FEARS AND NOT
THEIR HOPES, AND LEE UNDERSTOOD
THAT.
-IT WAS BIZARRE THAT THE
WILLIE HORTON CASE BECAME THE
FOCUS OF THE ELECTION.
-THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND
GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS...
-THE PRESS LEARNED TO SPEAK
THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS
WITHOUT EVEN GETTING THEM
THROUGH THE FAX MACHINE.
-THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO
GOVERNOR DUKAKIS.
IF KITTY DUKAKIS WERE RAPED AND
MURDERED, WOULD YOU FAVOR AN
IRREVOCABLE DEATH PENALTY FOR
THE KILLER?
-NO, I DON'T, BERNARD, AND I
THINK YOU KNOW THAT I'VE...
-THE QUESTION WAS SO PERSONAL.
IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER, AND
I THOUGHT THAT BERNARD SHAW
CONTRIBUTED TO DUKAKIS LOSING
THAT ELECTION.
-[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, I KID AROUND AND SAY
IF I'D BEATEN THE OLD MAN, YOU'D
HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE KID.
SO MAYBE IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-I'VE SPOKEN OF 1,000 POINTS
OF LIGHT.
WE, AS A SOCIETY, MUST RISE UP
UNITED AND EXPRESS OUR
INTOLERANCE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CANNOT FREE
THEMSELVES OF ENSLAVEMENT TO
WHATEVER ADDICTION -- DRUGS,
WELFARE, THE DEMORALIZATION THAT
RULES THE SLUMS...
-"DEMORALIZATION THAT RULES
THE SLUMS"?
-THERE IS CRIME TO BE
CONQUERED, THE ROUGH CRIME OF
THE STREETS...
-IT'S JUST HYPOCRITICAL FOR
HIM TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WHEN, IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HE HAS
THIS DEMORALIZATION.
HIS SON ADMITS THAT HE HAD AN
ADDICTION PROBLEM WITH LIQUOR
AND WITH DRUGS.
THE BUSH DAUGHTERS.
YET THESE ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS
LECTURING AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
-THESE FOLKS SHOULD ALL HAVE
BEEN PUT AWAY IN JAIL, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
BECAUSE OF THEIR POWER AND
BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH WENT INTO
OFFICE AND HE GOT TO PICK THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE U.S.
ATTORNEYS, IT ALL GOT HUSHED UP.
AND GEORGE BUSH -- HE'S NOW THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, CHIEF
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-"W" LEARNED THAT THE ONLY
THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHO
WINS.
WHATEVER REALLY HAPPENED DOESN'T
MATTER.
THEY CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY,
AS PEOPLE IN THIS BUSH WHITE
HOUSE LATER SAID.
-LEE WAS THE FIRST GUY I EVER
HEARD WHO SAID THAT.
IT'S NOW KIND OF ROTE IN
POLITICS, BUT LEE WAS SAYING
EARLY, "PERCEPTION IS REALITY."
LEE WAS AHEAD OF THE PACK.
-REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.
THEY JUST WANT TO WIN ELECTIONS.
DEMOCRATS, I THINK, HAVE REALLY
SINCERE BELIEFS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL WRONG, MOST
OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE SINCERE.
NOBODY THOUGHT OF GEORGE W. BUSH
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
TILL LEE ATWATER PLANTED THE
SEEDS, AND THEN HE PLANTED IT
WITH HIS MAN IN AUSTIN,
KARL ROVE.
ATWATER'S A BIG MAN NOW.
-[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-RUNS ONE OF THE MOST RACIST
CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY, MARKETING
THE WEDGE BETWEEN WHITES AND
BLACKS, YET HE ADMIRED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE...
GOT UP IN BLACKFACE.
-HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE KLAN.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY PEOPLE
FELT ABOUT LEE ATWATER.
BUT HE TRULY LOVED ME AS A MAN
AND AS A BROTHER, AND HE TREATED
EVERYBODY ELSE THE SAME WAY.
HE LOVED EVERYBODY 'CAUSE HE
LOVED THE MUSIC THAT WE WERE
DOING.
-LEE DIDN'T HAVE A RACIST BONE
IN HIS BODY.
NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THE "N"
WORD.
WHEN IT CAME TO MUSIC AND HIS
DANCING -- YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY
THAT EVER SAW HIM DANCE OR
WHATEVER -- LEE WAS A BLACK
PERSON IN A WHITE BODY.
-♪ OH, YEAH ♪
-THAT INAUGURAL PARTY WAS THE
CULMINATION OF LEE ATWATER'S
LIFE.
HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
HE WAS THE STAR.
ALL THE HISTORY, ALL THE
YEARNINGS ALL CAME TOGETHER ON
THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS DANCING AS FAST AS HE
COULD.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
LAY AHEAD FOR HIM.
-ONE NETWORK CALLED YOU THE
ARCHITECT OF THE EVIL CAMPAIGN.
YOU ARE PROUD THIS MORNING OF
THE ACHIEVEMENT.
ARE YOU AS PROUD OF THE TACTICS?
-IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TRULY
THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING A
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, THEY WOULD
HAVE REACTED NEGATIVELY, AND I
THINK THAT --
-WELL, I DON'T -- LEE, IN
FAIRNESS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S
TRUE.
I MEAN, IN POLL AFTER POLL, THEY
DID SAY THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, SAYING MAYBE
THE LOWEST TURNOUT IN 64 YEARS,
AND FAULTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
-WAS IT YOU WHO TOLD
GEORGE BUSH, "YOU'VE GOT TO
RAISE FEAR OF BLACK MEN"?
-WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
-AND THEY DID WHAT THEY
NORMALLY DO WHEN SOMEBODY STANDS
UP AND FIGHTS FOR WHAT HE
BELIEVES IN, AND THAT'S TRY TO
DESTROY THEM PERSONALLY.
BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM A BIT.
HE JUST KEPT GOING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
-HE DESTROYED MICHAEL DUKAKIS.
THEY LOVED THAT.
THEY DESTROYED THE DEMOCRAT.
THEY'D ALL SIT AROUND AND, YOU
KNOW, TOAST THEMSELVES AT THEIR
HAPPY HOURS THAT THEY TOOK A MAN
DOWN.
-UPSETTING.
I WAS ANGRY -- A WHOLE BUNCH
OF -- OF EMOTIONAL FEELINGS.
THEY WERE FALSEHOODS.
THE UNTRUTH OF ALL THAT WAS
VERY DISHEARTENING.
-THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOING
NEGATIVE, HOW MUCH NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING, IS TROUBLING.
BUT THERE'S A TIME HERE WHEN
SOUND POLITICAL JUDGMENT SAYS
THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE STUFF
MIGHT WORK.
DID WE EVER DO IT? YEAH.
DID WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT
IT?
NO.
-GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
HAS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND HE'S NOT A DUMMY.
YOU COULDN'T BE AROUND
LEE ATWATER WITHOUT KNOWING HOW
HE DID IT.
-THOSE WERE RUMORS, AND THEY
WERE UNTRUE.
THERE WAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH FOR
ANY OF THAT.
HE WAS ABOVEBOARD AND
UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T ANSWER
THOSE CHARGES.
WE HAVE TO ANSWER CHARGES,
CORRECT?
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
-BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU NEVER SAW GEORGE BUSH I EVER
ASK HIM TO STOP.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY MADE HIM CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-LEE ATWATER LOOKS TO BECOME
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY
CHAIRMEN IN MODERN TIMES.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-WELL, HE TOLD ME, SITTING IN
HIS OFFICE, "IF THERE'S ONE JOB
THAT I THINK YOU'D BE GOOD AT,
IT'S THE JOB I USED TO HAVE."
SO I'M THINKING, "WOW -- C.I.A."
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN BAD THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YOU DID NOT NAME POLITICAL
OPERATIVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
-IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO TRY
TO RESHAPE THE PARTY IN YOUR
IMAGE, TO YOUR TACTICS?
-WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M REALLY A
LOVABLE GUY, AND I JUST HADN'T
GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY --
-I WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT YOU
PERSONALLY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR STYLE.
-BUT ACTUALLY, MY POLITICAL
STYLE IS LOVABLE...
-WHEN ATWATER BECAME THE RNC
CHAIRMAN, THIS POLITICAL PARTY
WAS TURNED OVER TO DIRTY TRICKS,
THE NEW SPIRIT OF KIND OF
RUTHLESS, WIN-AT-ANY-COST
REPUBLICANISM.
-HE ROSE TO A POSITION THAT
MANY OF US COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED HIM HOLDING.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME
RUNNING UP.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE BEING WITH A
MOVIE STAR.
LEE CALLS ME UP -- "COME ON OVER
TO MY OFFICE.
JAMES BROWN'S HERE."
MY LORD -- ROYALTY.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
SAY HELLO TO, ON GUITAR, THE
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY,
MR. LEE ATWATER...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE BLUES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN!
-JUST TAKE A SHOT OF THE BAND.
-YEAH.
-FIND THE REPUBLICAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYING
BLUES MUSIC ]
-THE FAME BECAME KIND OF
ALL-CONSUMING.
HE WAS ON AN INCREASINGLY
INTENSE SEARCH FOR THE BUZZ OF
FAME, THE HYPE.
LEE GOT ALL THESE THINGS.
-THAT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?
-I FELT LIKE HE TOOK SOME
SATISFACTION FROM IT, BUT NOT
ENOUGH TO BE HAPPY.
-LISTEN, LEE -- ALONG WITH
WILLIE DIXON AND
JOHN LEE HOOKER, YOU'RE ONE OF
MY MUSICAL IDOLS.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-ATWATER HAD PERCEIVED, LONG
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS DID, THAT THE BIGGEST
THREAT TO BUSH WAS A GUY FROM
ARKANSAS NAMED BILL CLINTON.
THE IDEA WAS TO DIRTY UP
CLINTON.
HE WOULD SIMPLY BE TOO DAMAGED
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
DISTRACT AND DIVERT.
-LEE RECOGNIZED THE THREAT OF
BILL CLINTON AND THE QUALITY OF
THE CANDIDATE AND TRIED TO TAKE
HIM OUT OF THE GAME AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
-THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS IS
EXTREMELY CYNICAL, SHALLOW.
THEY CARE ABOUT RIDICULE, THE
RUMOR THAT BLACKENS SOMEBODY'S
REPUTATION.
ALL THAT STUFF IS JUICY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL
SCANDAL, YOU WILL HAVE TO INVENT
A PHONY SCANDAL.
-YOU HAD ALL OF THESE WACKOS
OUT THERE FUNDING ALL OF THESE
CRAZY PROJECTS.
THAT ALL STARTED WITH
LEE ATWATER.
WHITEWATER WAS A LAND DEAL THAT
BILL CLINTON HAD INVESTED --
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER,
IT WAS LIKE $28,000 -- WHERE HE
LOST ALL OF HIS MONEY.
THE FIRST INDEPENDENT COUNCIL
SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
SO TO THINK THAT THEY PAID
KEN STARR AND HIS PERVERTED
INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW,
$70 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY?
THESE FOLKS BELIEVE YOU WIN AT
ALL COSTS.
-ATWATER STARTED TRANSFORMING
POLITICS INTO A SERIES OF
TABLOID MOMENTS IN A WAY THAT
WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FOR THE
REPUBLICANS.
-I'D WATCHED POLITICS FOUGHT
LIKE WAR UNDER LEE ATWATER.
I THINK IT'S HAD SOME BAD
EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRY.
HE'D HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET
EVERYTHING HE'D GOTTEN IN HIS
LIFE.
HE WASN'T GONNA STOP.
-I AIN'T CHANGED A BIT.
I'M THE SAME GUY I WAS THE DAY I
WALKED INTO POLITICS.
I'LL BE THE SAME GUY I AM THE
DAY I WALK OUT OF IT.
I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHAT
I AM, AND I DON'T DISAVOW
ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE.
-THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN
INCIDENT WHERE LEE WENT TO
HOWARD UNIVERSITY 'CAUSE HE GOT
ON THE BOARD, AND HE TOLD THEM
ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE WAS
GOING TO DO FOR THEM, LIKE
ORGANIZE A BLUES CONCERT FOR
THEM.
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
INTEREST AT ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY LISTENED TO
HIP-HOP.
SECOND OF ALL, THEY WERE TAKING
HIM SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF THE
POLITICAL.
HIS PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO FOOL
BLACK PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT
THEY HAD A PLACE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
[ CROWD SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
-♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ GET OUT, LEE ♪
-THE STUDENTS SAY THEY WON'T
END THEIR PROTEST UNTIL ATWATER
IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
-WE KNOW THE HORTON AD HAS
AMERICA THINKING THAT BLACK MEN
ARE RAPISTS OR MURDERERS.
-♪ ATWATER SNUCK IN BEHIND OUR
BACKS ♪
♪ WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE NO STUFF
LIKE THAT ♪
-IF THE HOWARD GROUP HAD GIVEN
HIM A CHANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE
LOVED HIM.
[ CROWD BOOING ]
-AND HE GOT BOOTED OUT.
THAT HURT LEE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
LEE WOULD COLLAPSE OCCASIONALLY.
THE GUY WOULD BE SO EXHAUSTED.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE
HILL -- WELL, ALL ARROWS GET
FIRED UP, RIGHT?
AND PEOPLE WERE GUNNING FOR HIM.
-REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN LEE ATWATER WAS RUSHED
TO A WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
YESTERDAY AFTER FAINTING DURING
A POLITICAL SPEECH.
DOCTORS FOUND A SMALL BRAIN
TUMOR.
SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT
ATWATER WILL UNDERGO RADIATION
TREATMENT.
-I'M VERY PLEASED TO GET BACK
TO MY WIFE, SALLY -- SHE'S GOING
TO HAVE A BABY NEXT MONTH -- AND
MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
I'VE MISSED THEM TREMENDOUSLY.
AND -- BUT AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
THIS REALLY DOES A LOT FOR YOU.
-WHAT DO THE DOCTORS SAY, LEE?
-MY PROBLEM CAN BE DONE AWAY
WITH AFTER SIX WEEKS OF
RADIATION TREATMENT.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-WHAT DOES YOUR SHIRT SAY?
-JUST SAY "MOE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONE OF MY INTELLECTUAL HEROES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE YOU, GANG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-HARD TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN.
TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE ON THE
WAY.
-WE HAD A THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD AT ODDS.
I'M ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
HE'S ON THE FOURTH FLOOR IN THE
SAME BUILDING.
SO, MARY CALLS DOWN TO ME AND I
GO RACING UP AND HE HOLDS MY
HAND AND HE'S SHAKING.
HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST -- HE'S
HAVING A SEIZURE.
AND SO I RIDE WITH HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL.
AND ON THE WAY OVER THERE, HE
JUST SAID, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
I CAN TRUST.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME."
HE SAID, "THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND
FINISH ME OFF.
PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME."
ALL THE HATRED JUST SORT OF GOES
OUT, AND I SAID, "LEE, I PROMISE
YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
-HE FOUGHT IT AND HE'D COME TO
WORK WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE AND
HE WAS PHYSICALLY DEBILITATED.
-HEY, BEN!
-MORNING, LEE. HOW ARE YOU?
-EVERYBODY DOING ALL RIGHT?
-THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW THEY COULD GET HIM OUT
AS THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN.
NO ONE CARED ABOUT HIM ANYMORE.
IT HAD TO BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL
FOR HIM.
EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN
WASHINGTON IS POWER.
AND WHEN THAT POWER IS GONE,
IT'S GONE.
-THEY FOUND A TUMOR, AND THEY
LITERALLY DRILLED A HOLE AND
DROPPED RADIATION TO BURN THE
TUMOR OUT.
THERE WAS A LEAD WALL, AND HE
WAS LITERALLY RADIOACTIVE.
-THE STEROIDS JUST BLEW HIS
FACE.
HE LOOKED LIKE THE MAN IN THE
MOON.
I MEAN, HE WAS REALLY
EMBARRASSED.
HE REALLY DID NOT WANT US TO SEE
HIM.
OH, VERY HARD...TO --
[CLEARS THROAT] TO SEE SOMEBODY
THAT STRONG BE THAT WEAK.
-"I RECALLED SUN TZU'S MAXIM,
'GET INSIDE THE HEAD OF YOUR
ENEMY.'
WE'D USED THAT TO SUCH EFFECT ON
BOB DOLE IN 1988.
NOW CANCER HAD USED IT ON ME."
-HORRIBLY ALONE, IN THAT
LEAD-LINED ROOM, RADIATION
PELLETS IN HIS HEAD -- HE
COULDN'T SPIN HIS WAY OUT OF
THAT.
THE GUY WHO HAD BEEN SO
UNWILLING TO REALLY BELIEVE IN
ANYTHING OTHER THAN POWER BEGAN
A FRANTIC SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL
MEANING.
-YOU'D BE WAITING IN THE HALL.
THERE'D BE RABBIS, WITCH
DOCTORS, BUDDHISTS, SHAMANS,
THESE RADICAL CATHOLIC PRIESTS.
HE TOLD ALL OF THEM HE WAS ON
BOARD.
HIS THEORY WAS, "IF ONE OF THESE
IS THE TRUE PATH,
I'LL BE ON IT."
-LEE WAS CONFRONTING SOME VERY
TROUBLING FACTS -- THAT, IN
WINNING, HE HAD HURT PEOPLE.
FEAR HAD BEEN PART OF HIS TOOL
KIT.
THAT FEAR CAME BACK ON HIM.
WHAT WAS NEXT FOR HIM IN THE
AFTERLIFE?
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS SHEER TERROR.
-WHILE LEE WAS GROWING UGLIER
ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE WAS A
REMARKABLE CHANGE INSIDE OF HIM.
-HE SAID, "CHUCK, I HAVE NEVER
READ A BIBLE IN MY LIFE, AND THE
FIRST THING I WANTED WAS AND THE
BIBLE."
HE TOLD ME THAT.
WOW.
-HE CAME BACK TO
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ONE VISIT.
-♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
[ GUITAR PLAYING BLUES MUSIC ]
♪ WELL, I'M BAD AS I CAN BE ♪
♪ I'LL BE... ♪
-PEOPLE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT.
"THAT'S LEE?"
-I HAD MONEY, I HAD POWER,
I HAD FAME, AND I HAD FORTUNE.
GUESS WHAT? IT MEANT NOTHING.
IT WAS ALL -- IT WAS ALL A
WASTE.
AND IN ONE DAY, I LEARNED WHAT
COUNTS, AND THAT'S YOU ALL --
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
-♪ PEOPLE, I ONCE WAS STRONG ♪
♪ HARD AND LEAN ♪
♪ NOW I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE ♪
♪ HOW I COULD BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ MMM ♪
-HERE'S A LETTER I RECEIVED
FROM LEE ATWATER.
HE SAYS, "MY ILLNESS HAS TAUGHT
ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF
HUMANITY, LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, AND
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE NEVER
UNDERSTOOD AND PROBABLY NEVER
HAD."
AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT LEE ATWATER WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN HE SAID,
"WHAT I'VE DONE WAS WRONG.
IT WAS BAD, AND BAD FOR THE
COUNTRY."
SINCE THEN, I'VE WRITTEN
ARTICLES ABOUT IT AND HOPING
THAT OTHERS WHO WANT TO BE LIKE
HIM IN POLITICS WOULD REALIZE
THAT LEE FINALLY SAID, "WE DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE."
-WHAT REALLY DISGUSTED ME
ABOUT LEE'S "DEATHBED"
PRONOUNCEMENTS WAS THAT HE WAS
PURPOSEFULLY, WILLFULLY
MIS-PORTRAYED.
IT WASN'T ABOUT, "I WANT TO GO
TO HEAVEN," OR, "I'M GONNA --"
SOME CONFESSIONAL OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
-IF ANYBODY SAID THAT THIS MAN
DID NOT APOLOGIZE, THEY LIED.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS ON HIS
DEATHBED.
I WAS THERE.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE SENT OUT
TELEGRAMS TO EVERYBODY THAT I
MIGHT HAVE HURT, EVEN TO
WILLIE HORTON."
-THEY HAD TO KILL THE
MESSENGER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
KILL THE MESSAGE.
THEY HAD TO TURN HIM INTO A
BOOGIE MAN, SATAN INCARNATE.
-LEE ATWATER MADE HIMSELF A
FIGURE OF DEMONOLOGY TO PSYCH
OUT HIS OPPONENTS AND TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO HIS
TACTICS.
AND THE SAD PART -- SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THE JUSTIFIED PART --
WAS THAT THE ROLE HE MADE FOR
HIMSELF ENDED UP LITERALLY
IMPRISONING HIM.
[ INTRO TO LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS'
"DEATH BELLS" PLAYS ]
-♪ SOUND LIKE I'M HEARING
MOANING ♪
-HE ALWAYS HAD A DRIVER, AND
WE'D JUST GET IN THE CAR AND
JUST RIDE.
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-"IN 1988, FIGHTING DUKAKIS, I
SAID THAT I WOULD STRIP THE BARK
OFF THE LITTLE BASTARD AND MAKE
WILLIE HORTON HIS RUNNING MATE.
I'M SORRY FOR BOTH STATEMENTS,
THE FIRST FOR ITS NAKED CRUELTY,
THE SECOND BECAUSE IT MAKES ME
SOUND RACIST, WHICH I AM NOT."
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-THERE WAS ONE VERSE IN THE
BIBLE THAT STUCK WITH LEE --
"WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE
HIS OWN SOUL?"
-♪ ...I WAS GONNA LEAVE ON A
CHARIOT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ♪
-AND THAT STUCK IN HIS CRAW.
-♪ WHAT KIND OF CHARIOT GONNA
TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE? ♪
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE DIED ON GOOD FRIDAY.
HE WAS BURIED ON APRIL FOOL'S
DAY -- BUT IT WAS EASTER
SUNDAY -- IN HIS JOGGING SUIT.
THERE'S LEE RIGHT THERE.
SEEKING REDEMPTION, AND YET HE
GOES OUT THUMBING HIS NOSE.
-HE WAS A KINGMAKER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS
MACHIAVELLIAN, AND HE WAS, IN
THE VERY BEST SENSE OF THAT
TERM.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
-THIS LITTLE GUY FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WAS BEING TREATED
LIKE A HEAD OF STATE.
I CRIED, AND I CRIED LIKE A
BABY.
EMOTION JUST POURED OUT OF ME.
THE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE LEGACY OF
THE GREATNESS.
IT'S THE LEGACY OF SORT OF ONE
OF THE EVILDOERS OF AMERICAN
POLITICS.
HE WASN'T THAT.
HE WAS AN INSECURE KID WHO GOT
TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES AND
GOT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE SHOWED THEM.
HE DEFINITELY SHOWED THEM.
-I, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
-IF LEE WAS ALIVE,
BILL CLINTON WOULD'VE NEVER GOT
ELECTED.
THAT WAS REALLY SAD TO SEE.
-WHEN YOU HAVE A TALENT AS
DEEP AS ATWATER'S AND ROVE'S,
YOU LOSE, BUT YOU DON'T LOSE.
LOSING A BATTLE IS NOT LOSING
THE WAR, AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY.
-...PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES...
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-CONGRATULATIONS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ROVE LEARNED THE TACTICS AT
THE KNEE OF LEE, MOVED INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
SERVICE OF A POLITICAL
OPERATIVE, AND I'D SAY THAT'S
NEW AND -- AND RATHER
FRIGHTENING.
-FALSE RUMORS, PLAYING THE
MEDIA, AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR.
LEE FINALLY SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
"IT'S ALL BULLSHIT."
TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
-HE WAS TELLING A STORY ABOUT
HOW THE LIVING BIBLE WAS WHAT
WAS GIVING HIM FAITH, AND I SAID
TO MARY, "I REALLY SINCERELY
HOPE THAT HE FOUND PEACE."
SHE SAID, "ED, WHEN WE WERE
CLEANING UP HIS THINGS
AFTERWARDS, THE BIBLE WAS STILL
WRAPPED IN THE CELLOPHANE, HAD
NEVER BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE
PACKAGE," WHICH JUST SORT OF
TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THERE WAS.
HE WAS SPINNING RIGHT TO THE
END.
[ MID-TEMPO BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]
-♪ THEY SEEN ME WALKING AS I
PASSED YOU BY ♪
♪ SCANDALIZED MY NAME, BABY,
BUT I WON'T CRY ♪
♪ GO UP AGAINST ME ♪
♪ SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
♪ WELL, YOU CAUGHT ME CRAWLING,
BABY, WHEN THE GRASS WAS HIGH ♪
♪ BUT I'M GONNA KEEP ON CRAWLING
TILL THE DAY I DIE ♪
♪ I'M A CRAWLING KING SNAKE ♪
♪ NOTHING TO FORGIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
[ NO SOUND ]
[GUNSHOTS]
[RAPID FIRE]
[TYPEWRITER CLICKS]
[TYPEWRITER DINGS]
[TYPEWRITER ROLLING UP]
[ DRUMMING ]
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE
THE WHOLE THING.
[ BAND PLAYS ]
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-I, RONALD REAGAN, DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR...
-...THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
-PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-SO HELP ME GOD.
-YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.
-♪ SO I'M A BAD BOY ♪
♪ I'M A LONG, LONG WAY FROM
HOME ♪
♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
-CAN YOU UNDERSTAND AMERICAN
POLITICS IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
LEE ATWATER?
I BELIEVE NOT.
-HE COULDN'T TEACH ME RHYTHM,
BUT HE DID TEACH THE DEMOCRATS
TO SING THE BLUES, AND I BELIEVE
THEY'RE JUST STARTING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-HE MATTERED IN AMERICAN
POLITICS BECAUSE OF THE MAN HE
GOT ELECTED, BECAUSE OF THE
PARTY HE SHAPED.
HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY
TO GEORGE H.W.'S VICTORY BUT TO
HIS SON'S VICTORY.
-LEE ATWATER WAS PART MYTH,
PART SHOWMAN, AND PART
POLITICAL MASTERMIND.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HOW DO POLITICS REALLY WORK?
HOW DOES A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
REALLY WORK?
THE DEPTHS OF IT DESERVE TO BE
EXAMINED CLOSELY.
-RACIST.
-DISGUSTING.
-SCUMBAG POLITICS.
-GARBAGE.
-AND I'M A VERY LOVABLE GUY.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-GOSH, WHAT A PERSON MADE DUE
FOR A LIVING.
NOW, HE PLAYED BLUES.
HE MY MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I LIKE HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IT WAS A GREAT STORY NOT
BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
IT'S AMERICAN YEARNING AND
STRIVING TO BE ACCEPTED, TO BE
POWERFUL, TO BE GREAT, AND THE
PERSONAL RISKS OF DOING THAT.
LIFE GETS EVEN WITH YOU IN THE
END.
-PRIDE.
SIN.
REDEMPTION.
LEE WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE, AND
YOU HAD TO WONDER, WHAT NEXT?
I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS SOME
KIND OF GREEK TRAGEDY.
LEE ATWATER GREW UP IN A
STANDARD, SOUTHERN-LOOKING,
WHITE LIFE.
HE PIERCED THROUGH ALL THAT.
I'D HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THIS
GUY OPERATE AT THE GRADE-SCHOOL
LEVEL.
I MEAN [LAUGHS] THAT'S WHERE YOU
LEARN POLITICS.
-HE COULD JUST GET A CROWD
INTO A FRENZY.
WE WERE JUST A SO-SO BAND, BUT
WE HAD LEE, THE ONLY GUY I KNEW
WHO COULD DO A SPLIT.
-JUST THINK IF YOU'D HAVE
STAYED WITH THE UPSETTERS REVUE
WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BECOME.
-YEAH, I COULD HAVE BEEN
MAKING $65 A NIGHT.
-HE TOOK THIS ONE GUY AND RAN
HIM AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.
NOBODY HAD EVER HAD A CAMPAIGN
MANAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
-AND THEY WON!
YOU KNOW?
HE FIGURED OUT EARLY ON THAT
MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE
CANDIDATE BUT THE
BEHIND-THE-SCENES GUY.
-WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I JUST SAY,
"WELL, IF THESE GUYS ARE THE
DEMOCRATS, I'M A REPUBLICAN."
-I ASKED LEE, WHY DID YOU GO
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE
FUDDY-DUD, COUNTRY-CLUB SET?
LEE SAID, "HEY, MAN, I HAVE A
LOT BETTER CHANCE AT DOING
SOMETHING IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY."
-IF THE GRAND OLD PARTY STAYED
KIND OF GRAND AND OLD, IT WASN'T
GONNA BE MUCH OF A PARTY.
IT HAD TO GO YOUNG.
WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULD GO INTO
THE WILDERNESS.
-THE POWER WAS JUST WAITING TO
BE WIELDED, AND HE WAS GONNA
WIELD IT.
-AT NEWBERRY COLLEGE, WHERE
I ATTEND, WE SIGNED UP OVER
12,000 SUPPORTERS FOR PRESIDENT
NIXON, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
RECORD AT THIS POINT.
-ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT HE
DIDN'T DECIDE TO BECOME A
DEMOCRAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST AS EASY FOR HIM.
HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE ANY OF
THOSE THINGS.
AND YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A
REBEL.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ENORMOUS
RICHES.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
-LEE BUILT AN ARMY OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS ALL OVER THE STATE
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FIRST, HE TOOK OVER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEN WENT
NATIONAL.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.
THE LIBERAL ALLEGATION HAS
ALWAYS BEEN, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
ONLY CARE ABOUT THE RICH OR
WE'RE CLOSET FASCISTS OR WE'RE
PEOPLE WHO HATE THE HUMAN RACE.
-FREE BOOK IF YOU SIGN UP FOR
ISLAMO-FASCISM AWARENESS WEEK.
-LEE ATWATER SHOWED THAT YOU
COULD BE A COLLEGE REPUBLICAN
AND BE COOL, HAVE MUSICAL
INTERESTS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A
PINSTRIPED SUIT OR A BOW TIE.
-WE ARE THE GRASSROOTS FORCE.
YOU KNOW, THE LIBERALS MAY HAVE
THE UNIONS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
AND WE'RE HIT WITH LIBERAL BIAS
FROM EVERY SINGLE PROFESSOR, SO
WE KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
YOU CAN'T LEARN THESE TYPE OF
THINGS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S TOUGH AND IT'S DIRTY, OR IT
APPEARS TO BE DIRTY.
AND KARL ROVE IS A SHINING
EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS CAN DO.
-THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-1973 CONVENTION.
IT REALLY IS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN
THIS LITTLE OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE
WITH A BUNCH OF COLLEGE
REPUBLICANS WHO, AT THE TIME,
SEEMED LIKE THE MOST IRRELEVANT
FIGURES IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
-COLLEGE REPUBLICANS WERE --
WHERE I ACTUALLY FIRST MET
ATWATER, WE WERE IN DIFFERENT
FACTIONS.
HE WAS IN THE KARL ROVE FACTION.
-I REMEMBER ONE OF THE
GREATEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE, ONE
OF THE WILDEST WEEKS OF MY LIFE
WAS SPENT IN THE COMPANY OF
LEE ATWATER IN A FORD PINTO.
-ROVE WAS THE PROTEGE OF
LEE ATWATER.
HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HIS TURN
TO TAKE OVER THE NATIONAL
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.
THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WAS
ANOTHER GUY NAMED
ROBERT EDGEWORTH, WHO WAS
ACTUALLY THE ONE IN LINE TO
SUCCEED.
THEY GOT INTO A TREMENDOUS,
NATIONWIDE BATTLE.
-THIS IS THE BIG SHOWDOWN IN
MY RACE FOR CHAIRMAN.
ALL THE BAD GUYS ARE THE OTHER
SIDE.
THE VOTE COUNT WAS EVENLY SPLIT.
WE WERE GONNA LOSE.
-IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT
EDGEWORTH ACTUALLY DID HAVE MORE
VOTES.
LEE ATWATER AND KARL ROVE USED
EVERY CONCEIVABLE TRICK.
BALLOTS ARE THROWN AWAY
UNFAIRLY.
-THERE'S NOTHING MORE VICIOUS
THAN A YOUNG REPUBLICAN FIGHT --
NOTHING, NOTHING.
-THE ELECTION WAS APPEALED TO
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING, HE GAVE
THE ELECTION TO ROVE.
YOU KNOW, ECHOES OF THE 2000
ELECTION IN FLORIDA WHERE THE
BALLOTS ARE DISPUTED AND THE
SUPREME COURT MAKES THE DECISION
ON A VERY DUBIOUS BASIS.
THAT WAS A PRETTY EARLY LESSON
FOR KARL ROVE FROM LEE THAT YOU
COULD PLAY THE HARDEST OF
HARDBALL AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
-I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT WHO I
AM, WHAT I AM, AND WHAT I DO.
IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER TEAM, I'M
GONNA TRY TO BEAT YOU.
-LEE SOMETIMES REMINDED ME OF
A WOLVERINE SORT OF CHEWING
THROUGH THE PLYWOOD, AND HE HAD
A VAGUELY MARSUPIAL LOOK ABOUT
HIM, ALWAYS SNIFFING THE AIR.
-I'VE WONDERED ABOUT WHERE
LEE'S STRIVING CAME FROM.
LEE GREW UP IN THIS BREW OF
RACIAL DIVIDES DRIVING THE
COUNTRY.
THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THE
SOUTH'S RISE FROM THE ASHES.
AT ITS HEART, IT'S ABOUT
LEARNING LESSONS OF DEFEAT.
-THE SOUTH IS THE ONLY PART OF
THE UNITED STATES EVER
THOROUGHLY DEFEATED AND
HUMILIATED IN A WAR.
IT DOES CREATE A VERY VISCERAL
BACKLASH, AND ATWATER WAS ADEPT
AT TAPPING INTO THAT.
IT WAS A BACKLASHING OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN
YOU ARE.
-IT'S THIS CULTURAL RESENTMENT
THAT PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH FEEL
BECAUSE THESE LIBERALS, THESE
SMARTASSES RUN EVERYTHING, AND
WE HAVE NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT FOR
THEM.
LEE'S FRIENDS SAID, "YOU GUYS
ALL THINK WE'RE DUMB.
YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF
PREJUDICE AGAINST US THAT YOU
ACCUSE US OF HAVING AGAINST
BLACK PEOPLE."
-THE BIG BOYS TRYING TO PUSH
US AROUND, TRYING TO REMIND US
HOW MUCH GREATER THEY ARE.
"WE'LL SHOW THEM."
WELL, LEE HAD A "WE'LL SHOW
THEM" KIND OF STRENGTH TO HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT AS WIDE AS HIS
BACKBONE.
RESENTMENT BECAME THE DESTINY OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
-I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER
EVEN GOTTEN INTO POLITICS IF IT
WEREN'T FOR STROM THURMOND.
THE PERSONAL INTEREST HE TOOK IN
ME AND MY CAREER...
-BEFORE STROM, HE WAS, YOU
KNOW, "WHERE IS THE NEXT PARTY
COMING?
LET'S GET DRUNK TONIGHT."
WORKING FOR THURMOND TRANSFORMED
LEE.
-MY GRANDFATHER HATED
STROM THURMOND WITH A PASSION.
AND I GREW UP WITH THAT SAME
HATE.
AND WHEN I MET LEE, I KNEW LEE
WAS CONNECTED TO HIM.
HE'S A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
HATES US.
-GOOD OLD STROM.
GOLLY -- 21 YEARS OLD, HAS SEX
WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF A
MAID THERE AT HIS HOUSE, AND
PRODUCES A CHILD.
AND TO COME OUT AND SAY "THE
BLOOD WILL RUN BEFORE WE
INTEGRATE" -- IT PERSONIFIES
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE HYPOCRISY OF RACISM.
-THE SOUTH IS AFRO-CELTIC.
IT'S WHERE YOU FIND THE CELTS
SETTLE AND WHERE THE AFRICANS
ARE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE SAME
PERSON WHO'S SAYING, "YES, SIR"
AND "YES, MA'AM" TO YOU CAN GO
AND GET LYNCH ROPE THE NEXT DAY.
SO, I MEAN, THE SOUTH IS
COMPLICATED.
-THE SOUTH HAS GOT THE SAME
THING AMERICA'S GOT, A
COMPLICATED HISTORY ON RACE.
THERE ARE REASONS TO HATE THINGS
ABOUT THE SOUTH AND STILL LOVE
THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY DEMOCRAT
PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT LEE
REALLY LEARNED IN HIS EARLY
RACES.
THEY EXISTED UP IN SOME ELITE
LAYER OF THE CLOUDS THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MOVED
PEOPLE TO FEEL.
THEY SLEPT WHILE LEE
OUTMANEUVERED.
-IT WAS A CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
I WAS A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.
HE CAME OUT AND, IN ACCOUNT OF
AN UNDERHANDED WAY, IN A SENSE,
HE GOT A REPORTER TO ASK HIM A
QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, "ISN'T IT
TRUE THAT TOM TURNIPSEED HAD
SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEM
AS A KID?"
HE WAS THE MASTER AT CREATING
LITTLE JUICY TIDBITS FOR THE
MEDIA.
-WELL, I SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES IN
REFERENCE TO A BOUT HE HAD HAD
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN COLLEGE,
WHICH HAD BEEN MADE PUBLIC TWO
YEARS BEFORE, SO I WASN'T
BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND.
-THAT GOT QUOTED ALL OVER FROM
KINGDOM COME DOWN HERE,
LEE ATWATER SAYING THAT --
ACCUSING TOM TURNIPSEED OF BEING
HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
-HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES.
I'M LAUGHING NOW, BUT IT AIN'T
FUNNY.
-ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
-IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO BLAME
DIRTY TRICKS THAN IT IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HARD WORK.
DID HE GIVE HIS OPPONENTS
AMMUNITION TO CRITICIZE HIM FOR
NEGATIVE TACTICS?
YES.
DOES THAT OBSCURE THE FACT THAT
HE OUTFOXED THEM AT NEARLY EVERY
TURN?
NOT TO THOSE OF US WATCHING
CLOSELY.
-SOUTHERNERS LIKE A GOOD,
HARD-FOUGHT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
HE FIRST MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
ON A RACE BETWEEN
CARROLL CAMPBELL AND A DEMOCRAT
BY THE NAME OF MAX HELLER.
-MAX HELLER HAD BEEN A
IMMIGRANT.
HE WAS, AS A JEWISH TEENAGER
ESCAPING HITLER, AND HE WAS A
POPULAR MAYOR.
-LEE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
ADVOCATES OF THE PUSH-PULL.
THE FIRST FEW QUESTIONS ARE
ROUTINE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS, "WELL, IF
YOU CAME TO BELIEVE THAT
GOVERNOR 'X' WAS A PEDOPHILE,
WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR OPINION?"
NOW, THE POLLER HASN'T SAID THAT
GOVERNOR "X" IS A PEDOPHILE,
SIMPLY PLANTED THE IDEA THAT IF
HE WERE...
-THEY DID A POLL WHICH ASKED,
"WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A JEW WHO
DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST?"
NO, THEY WOULDN'T.
-LEE WAS ACCUSED OF RECRUITING
A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, SORT OF
A REDNECK-TYPE CANDIDATE, WHO
MADE RELIGION AN ISSUE IN THAT
RACE.
HE SAID HE ENTERED THE RACE ON
HIS OWN, BUT NONE OF US REALLY
BELIEVE THAT.
-HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE,
AND HE ATTACKED MAX HELLER.
-I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
I BELIEVE HE DIED TO SAVE MY
SINS.
MR. HELLER DOES NOT.
-ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT ME?
-I THINK I'VE HEARD QUITE A
BIT ABOUT YOU.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LORD?
-WELL, I...
-I'M A LITTLE BIT PREJUDICED
TOWARDS PEOPLE AND THE LORD.
-LEE ATWATER'S CANDIDATE WON.
HE DENIED THAT HE RECRUITED THIS
GUY, BUT NONE OF US BELIEVED IT.
LEE ATWATER DID NOT LEAVE HIS
FINGERPRINTS ON HIS DIRTY
TRICKS.
HE LIKES TO TAKE AN ISSUE AND
USE IT AS A WEDGE -- ABORTION.
HE WOULD USE RACE.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
THAT'S HOW LEE ATWATER OPERATED.
REAGAN DID POORLY IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I DON'T THINK RONALD REAGAN
WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED IF HE
HAD LOST THE SOUTH CAROLINA
PRIMARY.
IT WAS PIVOTAL.
REAGAN HAD TO WIN.
-THE REAGAN CAMPAIGN NEEDS
OPERATIVES.
LEE ATWATER WANTED TO ROAR INTO
WASHINGTON AND ONTO THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL STAGE, BUT YOU GOT TO
GET PEOPLE TO WIN BIG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE.
-LEE ATWATER FIGURED THAT
CONNALLY WAS THEIR BIGGEST
THREAT.
LEE LEAKED THE STORY TO ME THAT
JOHN CONNALLY WAS TRYING TO BUY
THE BLACK VOTE.
THAT STORY GOT OUT THANKS TO ME,
AND IT PROBABLY KILLED CONNALLY.
HE SPENT $10 MILLION FOR ONE
DELEGATE.
LEE SAVED RONALD REAGAN'S
CANDIDACY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, LEE LAUGHED
ABOUT THAT STORY.
HE SAID, "BANDY, YOU GOT USED."
[ LAUGHS ]
-ANYTHING GOES.
TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO
HEAR.
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, MAKE IT UP.
MAKING UP STUFF.
HE USED TO GO BACK IN THE ROOM,
MAKE UP THESE POLLS.
I TELL YOU, HE'D COME BACK WITH
A POLL IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR.
-GO BACK AND LOOK AT
RONALD REAGAN'S 1980 CAMPAIGN
FOR PRESIDENT.
WHERE DOES HE BEGIN?
IN PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI,
WHERE THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS
WERE MURDERED BY THE
KU KLUX KLAN AT THE LOCAL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
REAGAN, SPEAKING TO AN
EXCLUSIVELY WHITE AUDIENCE,
APPEALED TO THEIR MOST BASE
INSTINCTS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND LEE ATWATER LATER TALKED
ABOUT THAT IN AN INTERVIEW HE
HAD IN THE EARLY '80s.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IT USED TO BE
"NIGGER, NIGGER, NIGGER."
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.
YOU HAD RONALD REAGAN TALKING
ABOUT WELFARE QUEENS,
CODED LANGUAGE.
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES -- I MEAN,
THE SYMBOLISM IS SO OBVIOUS.
-STROM THURMOND WANTED TO MAKE
A CALL TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT ALL
THIS BOY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAD DONE.
IT WAS IN KEEPING WITH
LEE ATWATER'S NATURE TO HAVE IT
BE FOR SOMETHING AS BIG AS
GETTING INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
AND PLAYING AT THAT LEVEL.
THIS WAS A BIGGER CHALLENGE.
THIS WAS A BIGGER PRIZE.
-STROM THURMOND WAS TRYING TO
GET LEE A JOB IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS YOUNG
KID WITHOUT A REAL RéSUMé.
HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE.
HE WAS FIDGETY -- HANDS, LEGS,
EVERYTHING MOVING -- BUT THERE
WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES.
HE HAD THESE PIERCING EYES THAT,
YOU KNOW -- AS I OFTEN THOUGHT,
THOSE ARE THE EYES OF A KILLER.
THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS GONNA
GET WHAT HE WANTED.
HE SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU 20 HOURS
A DAY."
I SAID TO HIM, "I DON'T HAVE A
SLOT FOR YOU.
I DON'T HAVE A TITLE FOR YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA BE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE RUNG."
24 HOURS -- HE HAD FIGURED OUT
HOW TO DETAIL PEOPLE AND
CONFISCATE FURNITURE OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S OFFICES.
-WE'D BE OUT THERE, RUNNING
AROUND THE MEMORIALS, AND HE'D
JUST -- "THIS IS WHERE I MAKE MY
LIVING, THE MOST POWERFUL CITY
IN THE WORLD."
-HE WAS GRABBING AS MUCH LIFE
AS HE POSSIBLY COULD.
EVERYTHING THAT HE ATE --
EVERYTHING -- INCLUDING ICE
CREAM, HE DOUSED WITH AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HOT SAUCE.
HE SEARCHED THE WORLD TO FIND A
SAUCE HOTTER THAN THE SAUCE THAT
HE HAD.
TABASCO WAS, TO HIM, FOR WIMPS.
I WATCHED HIM GROW UP.
HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER --
HAD GREAT ENERGY.
NO ONE EVER OUT-WORKED HIM.
HE ATE HIS MEALS THERE.
HE WAS THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HE WORKED FOR ME FOR A YEAR.
ONE DAY, HE COMES IN.
HE SAYS, "I'M BRINGING UP MY
WIFE AND MY CHILD."
AND I SAID, "LEE, I DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW YOU WERE MARRIED.
YOU NEVER TALKED ABOUT --"
HE SAID, "WELL, THEY'RE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M GONNA BRING THEM UP."
-♪ BRIGHT LIGHTS ♪
♪ BIG CITY ♪
♪ GONE TO MY BABY'S HEAD ♪
-HIS HOUSE WAS LIKE A
MARX BROTHERS' MOVIE.
IT WAS JUST CHAOTIC.
ONE CULT MOVIE AFTER ANOTHER --
"ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE."
HE WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY AN
ENTOURAGE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING HE AND HIS
WIFE FOUGHT ABOUT.
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER HAD ANY
TIME ALONE FOR THEMSELVES AND
JUST WITH THEIR FAMILY.
-A LOT OF FAMILIES SUFFER IN
WASHINGTON.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
IF HE COULD HAVE SLEPT ON HIS
COUCH AND SHOWERED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
GONE HOME.
-I'VE MET A MILLION OF THEM --
LITTLE POLITICAL ERRAND BOY,
VERY AMBITIOUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
ARE STILL IVY LEAGUERS, FEELING
THAT THE SNOPES FAMILY HAD
INVADED, THAT HE HAD GONE
TOO FAR, TOO FAST.
IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION,
THEY DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
HE'S A GUY ON THE MAKE --
DEVIOUS, MANIPULATIVE.
-THAT NEED, THAT BURNING NEED
TO BECOME SOMETHING AND
TRANSFORM AND SHOW THEM.
LEE WAS SCRAPPING.
WHAT FORCES WILL DRIVE THIS
PERSON TO NEW HEIGHTS OR CRASH
THEM TO THE GREATEST DEPTHS?
HE KEPT LEARNING.
-I DO NOT EVER REMEMBER
SITTING IN A MEETING IN WHICH
SOMEONE DIDN'T BRING UP HOW
SUCH-AND-SUCH WOULD PLAY IN THE
PRESS.
I THINK THERE IS A
PREOCCUPATION, AND JUSTIFIABLY
SO, ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE
NATURE OF POWER IN AMERICA TODAY
WITH HOW "A STORY PLAYS OUT" ON
TELEVISION.
-HERE'S THIS INSECURE KID WHO
I'M SURE EVERY DAY HAD THAT
TOTAL IMPOSTOR FEAR.
"IS ED ROLLINS GONNA FIRE MY ASS
TODAY?
ARE THEY GONNA FIND OUT THAT I'M
REALLY NOT A PhD CANDIDATE?
IS SOMEONE GONNA WALK IN AND
SAY, 'IT'S ALL BULLSHIT, LEE.
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE'"?
ANYTHING HE HAD ACCESS TO, HE
WOULD ALWAYS GIVE IT TO SOME
REPORTER -- EVERYTHING WAS
LEAKED.
HE WAS A BIG SOURCE.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED.
-WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?
-NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
-NATIONAL JOURNAL DID A
PROFILE, AND LEE HAD WRITTEN
THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF 26-0.
I SAID, "LEE, WE'VE NOT WON 26
RACES IN THE SOUTH SINCE THE
CIVIL WAR."
I SAID, "WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT
IS THAT?"
AND HE GOES, "IT'S MY RECORD
NOW.
IT'S IN THE NATIONAL JOURNAL."
THE MEDIA NEVER CAUGHT ON.
HE WAS A VERY GOOD CON MAN.
-THE BEST POLITICAL OPERATIVES
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PRESS.
IT'S EASY, IF YOU DON'T WATCH
YOURSELF, TO FALL INTO THAT,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE DEALING
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU LIKE
PERSONALLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE
YOU.
-WELL, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A
VERY DAPPER DRESSER.
-THANK YOU.
-YOU GOT THE RIGHT COLLAR,
RIGHT TIE WITH THE SUIT, EVEN
DOWN TO THE SOCKS.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
-[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY IS
GAMING YOU?
-AN OPERATIVE NEVER COMES AND
SAYS, "HERE IS A STORY I'D LIKE
YOU TO RUN FOR ME."
BUT JUST IN PRIVATE
CONVERSATION, "DID YOU KNOW THIS
ABOUT SO-AND-SO?
WE'RE STILL CHECKING IT, MIND
YOU, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA
TURN OUT TO BE TRUE."
WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
BEATEN BY YOUR COMPETITION AND
WAIT TILL, YOU KNOW, THEY
ANNOUNCE IT.
THEY JUST PUT IT ON THE
CONVEYER BELT, AND YOU JUST RUN
IT OUT.
-AND I AIN'T GOING TO SIT HERE
AND SPIN Y'ALL.
THIS IS A HIGH-QUALITY NEWS
CONFERENCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-HE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE FIGURE
TO COVER 'CAUSE HE COULD WINK
AND NOD WITH THE REPORTERS,
SAYING, "WE ALL KNOW WHAT A
PHONY DEAL THIS IS, RIGHT?"
BY SAYING IT'S ALL WRESTLING,
HE USED HIS OWN CYNICISM TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
-THERE'S A BILL IN THE SENATE
CALLED THE CLEAN CAMPAIGN ACT OF
1985.
IT'S INTENDED TO RESTRICT THE
SO-CALLED NEGATIVE POLITICAL
ADVERTISING.
-WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD WIND
UP DOING IF THIS BILL PASSES IS
POLLUTING THE AIR WITH THESE
KIND OF CANDY-CANE TYPE
COMMERCIALS THAT ARE OOEY AND
GOOEY.
THEY ARE POLLUTING THE
ATMOSPHERE MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE.
-REAGAN BENEFITED FROM HAVING
A SCRAPPER TO REMIND EVEN SOME
WAVERING REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY
SHOULD FEAR.
-WE HAD A KIND OF A RATING
SCALE OF, ONE, MEANING THAT THIS
IS THE KIND THE GUY YOU JUST GO
AND BLATANTLY INTIMIDATE IN HIS
DISTRICT...
-THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT
BEGINS TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS
SOUTHERN-ACCENTED, FAST-TALKING
KNIFE FIGHTER.
EVEN IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS A
RUBE, YOU DID NOT TAKE HIM
LIGHTLY.
-♪ DEAD MAN WALKING ♪
♪ DEAD MAN ♪
-I WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME HE
WOULDN'T BE LOYAL TO ME, TOLD ME
NOT TO PICK HIM, BUT I ADMIRED
HIS WORK ETHIC.
I ADMIRED WHERE HE CAME FROM.
"HOW ARE WE TWO GUYS HERE?
MY OLD MAN A SHIPYARD WORKER
FROM VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, YOUR
PARENTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE IN THE BIG LEAGUES
TOGETHER."
I MADE HIM MY DEPUTY.
LEE BECAME MY PROTECTOR, MY
ANTENNA.
HE WAS VERY LOYAL TO ME.
I TOLD HIM VERY EARLY ON,
"DON'T YOU GET ANY PIPE DREAMS
HERE THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE MY
PLACE BECAUSE YOU WON'T.
WE'RE A TEAM."
BUT IF YOU LOOKED IN HIS EYES,
YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE
WHO BASICALLY WAS GONNA GET WHAT
HE WANTED.
WHEN HE BETRAYED ME IN '84, IN
THE LAST FOUR WEEKS OF THE
CAMPAIGN, HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
WITH A PRODUCER FOR NBC, AND SO
HE CAME IN TO ME ONE DAY AND HE
SAID, "WOULD YOU GIVE THEM AN
INTERVIEW?"
NBC NEWS LED THAT NIGHT WITH THE
STORY THAT ED ROLLINS WAS
RUNNING A DIRTY OPS OPERATION.
-OUR SOURCES, ALL TOP
REPUBLICAN STAFFERS, SAY THERE
IS AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION LED
BY CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR ED ROLLINS
DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE
MONDALE/FERRARO CAMPAIGN.
-TOOK ME 35 SECONDS TO FIND
OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'D BROUGHT
THE PRODUCER IN.
IT WAS HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND.
LEE HAD PUT A SPEAR IN MY BACK.
THE DAY I WALKED IN HIS OFFICE
AFTER THIS THING, HE THOUGHT I
WAS GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF
HIM.
AND I TOLD HIM.
I SAID, "YOU EVER DO ANYTHING
LIKE THIS TO ME AGAIN, I'LL
FUCKING BEAT THE LIVING CRAP OUT
OF YOU.
I'LL FIND YOUR ASS, AND I'LL
BEAT THE LIVING FUCKING CRAP OUT
OF YOU."
-♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
♪ BUT IT'S SHARP LIKE A RAZOR
BLADE ♪
♪ LOVE IS LIKE A GAME ♪
-IT WAS JUST A TWO-YEAR EFFORT
TO DESTROY ME.
HE WANTED TO RUN BUSH'S
CAMPAIGN.
HE WORKED BUSH VERY HARD.
HE SAID, "GEORGE W. NEVER
TRUSTED YOU, SO I KEPT FEEDING
IT."
HE CLEARLY MADE IT THAT I WOULD
NEVER BE ANYWHERE IN THE BUSH
WORLD.
-EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING FOR
THE GREAT MAN'S ATTENTION, AND,
LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE KNIVES
FLASHED BRILLIANTLY FOR A YEAR
OR SO.
-I HAD PUT SO MUCH TRUST IN
HIM.
IN SPITE OF EVERYONE TELLING ME
YOU COULDN'T TRUST HIM,
I TRUSTED HIM.
-WHAT CREATES SOMEBODY WHO'S
THAT COLD-BLOODED ARE EVENTS IN
HIS BACKGROUND AND HIS
UPBRINGING THAT LEAVE THEM WITH
A VERY BLEAK, REMORSELESS VIEW
OF LIFE.
-HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT JOE
MUCH.
HIS MOTHER -- YOU KNOW, SHE HAD
A DEEP-FRYER, I THINK, FULL OF
HOT GREASE.
AND THE LITTLE KID -- YOU KNOW,
HE PULLED ON THE CORD AND PULLED
THE THING OVER AND...
YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
JOE MUCH.
-THE GREASE ON THE STOVE ENDED
UP ON JOE, AND IT KILLED HIM.
-LEE SAID HE HEARD HIS
BROTHER'S SCREAMS THE REST OF
HIS LIFE EVERY DAY.
HOW HAUNTING COULD THAT BE?
-HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS
LITTLE OR NO MERCY IN LIFE.
WHAT KIND OF GOD PRODUCES THIS?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THE GOOD SON
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, OF
TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE AND ACCESS
TO POWER AND MONEY, AND HERE
LEE ATWATER WAS, THE BAD SEED OF
THE ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT.
I THINK THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE
WAS BRUTALLY BROUGHT UP SHORT BY
THE BUSHES, WHEN LEE MAY HAVE
PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
INTO THE MANSION TO SIP THE
SHERRY.
THE BUSHES NEVER REGARDED HIM AS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HIRED
HELP AND A SOMEWHAT
UNTRUSTWORTHY MEMBER OF THE
HIRED HELP.
THEY COULD ALWAYS JETTISON HIM
IF THEY HAD TO, CUT HIM LOOSE IN
A SECOND.
AND LEE WAS PERFECTLY WILLING
BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM ENTRéE TO
THE WORLD OF POWER AND CELEBRITY
THAT HE SO CRAVED.
-LYNDON JOHNSON WOULD
HUMILIATE HIS AIDES BY HAVING A
MEETING WHILE HE SAT ON THE
TOILET AND DEFECATED.
ATWATER DECIDED TO OPEN HIS
PANTS AND URINATE WITH AN
ESQUIRE REPORTER,
DAVID REMNICK.
-LEE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO
ME BECAUSE ALL HE WAS DOING WAS
TALKING TO THE GUY WHILE HE WAS
TAKING A PISS, AND REMNICK WROTE
IT UP.
AND LEE SAID, "WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO, SAY 'THIS PISS
IS OFF THE RECORD'"?
BARBARA BUSH WAS VERY OFFENDED
BY HIS VULGARITY.
IT ALMOST COST LEE HIS JOB
RUNNING THE BUSH CAMPAIGN.
-HE HAD TO OVERCOME THE FAMILY
SUSPICION.
WHO WAS THIS UPSTART?
HE'S A KID.
SO THEN WHO ARRIVES IN TOWN?
GEORGE W. BUSH.
THE FAMILY LIKED THE FACT THEY
HAD ONE OF THEIR OWN KEEPING A
CLOSE EYE ON LEE.
AND LEE RESPONDED TO THAT BY
SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU COME AND
WORK WITH ME, WORK ALONGSIDE ME,
IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME, AND
LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN THIS
CAMPAIGN."
-SO, HE'S GOT A GUY THERE
WHO'S LIVED A LOT CLOSER TO THE
EARTH THAN SOME OF HIS
RELATIVES.
HE AND LEE HIT IT OFF.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-A TRUE TEST OF A GOOD
CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS TO BE ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
MY MOTHER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME A
SOUTH CAROLINA CRACKER...
LEE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-THEY WERE A MAGNIFYING FORCE.
THEY WERE BOTH DEEPLY
INTELLECTUAL AND WELL-READ.
-ATWATER SAID HE READ FOUR
BOOKS A MONTH.
THAT WAS BULLSHIT.
HE DIDN'T READ ONE BOOK A MONTH.
HE HAD JIM PINKERTON READ THEM
AND TELL HIM WHAT THEY SAID.
HE READ, LIKE, THE CliffsNotes
FOR FOUR BOOKS A MONTH.
-AND MY NUMBER-ONE SOUL MATE
AND A GUY WHO'S WITH ME THICK
AND THIN -- GEORGE BUSH JR.
-HE'S GOT MOJO, LEADER OF THE
NEXT CAMPAIGN, THE EYES OF THE
WORLD UPON YOU.
THIS WAS AN EVEN BIGGER LEAP UP.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO MAKE THEM
MASTER POLITICIANS, OR IT'S
GONNA RUIN THEM.
IT'S EITHER GONNA SHOW THEIR WAY
TO VICTORY IN THE FUTURE OR SHOW
THEM TO THE DOOR.
-IRAN-CONTRA MUST HAVE BEEN
PERCEIVED BY ATWATER AS A VERY
SERIOUS THREAT, ONE OF THE
BIGGEST SCANDALS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND YOUR GUY IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
-A CHARGE HAS BEEN MADE THAT
THE UNITED STATES HAS SHIPPED
WEAPONS TO IRAN, TRAFFICKING
WITH TERRORISTS.
THOSE CHARGES ARE UTTERLY FALSE.
-IT'S A LIE.
IT'S A LIE.
I MEAN, PRESIDENTS LIE.
-GIVING WEAPONS TO OUR SWORN
ENEMY, IRAN, WHO WE'RE ALL
RALLYING THE SABERS ABOUT TODAY.
IT'S THE SAME IRAN.
-THEY WERE ALWAYS INTERVENING
ON BEHALF OF DRUG SMUGGLERS AND
TERRORISTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MORAL
STANDPOINT, IT'S INDEFENSIBLE.
BUT THEY WERE SO GOOD AT
CONTROLLING THE DISCOURSE.
-HE CAME OUT MONTHS LATER
AND ADMITTED.
-I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I
DID NOT TRADE ARMS FOR HOSTAGES.
MY HEART AND MY BEST INTENTIONS
STILL TELL ME THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE
TELL ME IT IS NOT.
-"THERE WERE SOME RENEGADES IN
THE WHITE HOUSE."
HE ACTED LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE
DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS WORKING IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
-I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
ANY DIVERSION OF FUNDS
TO THE CONTRAS.
-HE DESERVES OUR SUPPORT, NOT
MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING
FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FACED
WITH THE DECISIONS HE HAD TO
MAKE.
-YOU HAD THE PRESIDENT AND THE
VICE PRESIDENT LYING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS,
DOCUMENTS BEING SHREDDED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?
BUT THEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAD IRANIAN PROBLEMS
WAS BECAUSE WE HAD OVERTHROWN
THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN IN 1953.
BUSH WASN'T THE ONLY CIA
DIRECTOR TO BE UP TO HIS NECK IN
DRUG-DEALING, MILITARY LEADERS
IN CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA.
IF YOU COULD AFFORD A UNIFORM
AND A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES AND
TOLD US YOU WERE ANTICOMMUNIST,
WE SUPPORTED YOU.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES SHOWING NORIEGA
AROUND THE C.I.A. OFFICE.
IT WAS APPALLING.
TRUTH BE KNOWN, THE IRAN-CONTRA
THING IS THE THING THAT GOT ME
INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-VICE PRESIDENT BUSH, DID YOU
KNOW ABOUT THE CONTRA AID OR
NOT, SIR?
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
-BUSH WAS REALLY DAMAGED GOODS
BECAUSE OF THE SENSE THAT HE WAS
INVOLVED IN A COVER-UP, SECRETLY
PROMOTING A WAR IN NICARAGUA
THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS OPPOSED.
AND JUST THE DEVIOUSNESS OF THE
WHOLE THING RAISED THE MOST
SERIOUS POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
HIS INTEGRITY AND FITNESS.
-IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER YOUR
FRIENDS, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME
IS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT NOVEMBER IF
YOU ARE OUR STANDARD-BEARER AND
THESE DEMOCRATS GET AFTER YOU ON
THIS SUBJECT?
[ APPLAUSE ]
-PEOPLE WANT TO GET THIS
IRANIAN SITUATION BEHIND THEM.
THEY'RE TIRED OF IT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHILDREN TO
THINK ABOUT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR POCKETBOOKS TO
THINK ABOUT.
FARMERS HAVE THEIR CROPS TO
THINK ABOUT.
-HE KNEW THAT, IN ALL
PROBABILITY, HIS CANDIDATE HAD
BEEN UP TO HIS EYEBALLS IN THIS
ACTIVITY.
HE'D GET KNOCKED OUT OF THE GAME
PRETTY QUICK.
-THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY
NERVOUS MOMENTS.
-YOU SAID IF YOU HAD KNOWN
THIS WAS AN ARMS-FOR-HOSTAGES
SWAP THAT YOU WOULD HAVE OPPOSED
IT.
-EXACTLY.
MAY I ANSWER THAT?
-THAT WASN'T A QUESTION.
IT WAS A STATEMENT.
-IT WAS A STATEMENT, AND I'LL
ANSWER IT.
THE PRESIDENT CREATED THIS
PROGRAM AS TESTIFIED...
-IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY,
"THAT'S A LIE."
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT FOR A
WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS WHEN
YOU'RE IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW
AND A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING, AND THEY KNOW THIS.
THEY'LL JUST SIT THERE AND LIE
TO YOU.
-AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING LEE
HAD A PARTICULAR MASTERY OF IS
STAYING ON MESSAGE.
BUSH WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
HE WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE
THAT HE WAS IN THE LOOP.
THEY COULDN'T BREAK THAT STORY,
SO JUST DON'T SAY ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
-IT'S NOT FAIR TO JUDGE MY
WHOLE CAREER BY A REHASH ON
IRAN.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I
JUDGED YOUR CAREER BY THOSE
SEVEN MINUTES WHEN YOU WALKED
OFF THE SET IN NEW YORK?
-WELL, MR. --
-WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?
I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU, BUT I
DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR WHAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
-BUSH WAS LYING.
AND ELLIOT ABRAMS WAS LYING AND
CASPAR WEINBERGER WAS LYING AND
GEORGE SHULTZ WAS LYING.
-SOURCES IN OTHER CAMPAIGNS
SPECULATE BUSH'S STRATEGY MAY
HAVE BEEN TO SET UP RATHER, THE
VICE PRESIDENT ALWAYS PLANNING
TO GO ON THE ATTACK.
CBS NEWS CORRESPONDENT
TERENCE SMITH ASKED BUSH
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR LEE ATWATER
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
ATWATER LAUGHED AND THEN
ANSWERED, "WE NEVER TALK ABOUT
HOW WE MAKE SAUSAGE."
-ONCE YOU GET TO WASHINGTON
AND LEARN THE GAME, THE
CANDIDATES ARE, A LOT OF TIMES,
PUPPETS, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
BEHIND THE SCENES PULLING THE
STRINGS ON THESE GUYS.
IN COLLEGE, LEE TOTALLY DETESTED
SPORTS, EXCEPT WRESTLING.
HIS THING WAS, "THIS IS THE ONLY
HONEST SPORT OUT THERE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
EVERYBODY KNEW WRESTLING WAS
FAKE.
-HE WAS BASICALLY SAYING THAT
POLITICS IS PHONY, THAT
GOVERNMENT IS PHONY, THAT A LOT
OF PERSONAL LIFE IS PHONY.
AND "PHONY" WAS A BIG WORD WITH
HIM.
-HE MAY HAVE FELT THAT
WRESTLING WAS THE ONLY HONEST
SPORT BECAUSE IT WAS SO
OBVIOUSLY DISHONEST.
WHAT'S THERE TO ENTERTAIN,
WHAT'S THERE TO DISTRACT IS WHAT
COUNTS.
AND, ACTUALLY, THINGS ARE RUN ON
A MUCH MORE CYNICAL BASIS BY THE
PEOPLE AT THE TOP.
-ATWATER SAYS HE CAN'T RELAX
OR TAKE IT EASY BECAUSE HE'S
ALWAYS PREPARING FOR A MENTAL
SPARRING MATCH.
-YOU'RE ALWAYS IN A BATTLE OF
WITS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUNCH OF GUYS
OUT THERE TRYING TO OUTSMART YOU
AND TRYING TO STICK IT TO YOU,
AND YOUR JOB IS TO STICK IT TO
THEM FIRST.
-THE PLAN WAS PRETTY EASY --
WIN IOWA AND WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT DOLE.
-UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A
CAMPAIGN AND UNDER THE HOT
LIGHTS OF THE TELEVISION,
BOB DOLE MIGHT BE FORCED TO MAKE
AN ERROR.
LEE HAD THE CAMPAIGN THROW
THINGS AT THEIR CAMPAIGN TO
PRESS HIM.
-THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAID THIS
MORNING THAT SENATOR DOLE BROKE
THE JANUARY 13th TRUCE.
THE BUSH CAMPAIGN SAYS THAT --
-COME ON.
WE'RE NOT GONNA ANSWER -- I'M
NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS LIKE THIS.
-LEE PUT OUT SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT OTHERS WERE HEARING
VOICES EVERYWHERE.
AND HE GOT THEM OFF THEIR GAME
BY MAKING THEM ANGRY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MEDIA
BEAST CAN ONLY BE CHEWING ON ONE
ANKLE AT A TIME.
MAKE SURE THE ANKLE IS THE OTHER
GUY'S.
-YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF
SCURRILOUS, LAST-MINUTE,
DESPERATION TACTICS -- AND THIS
IS ONLY THE FIRST STATE.
-DID YOU, IN FACT, SPREAD ANY
FALSE RUMORS ABOUT
ELIZABETH DOLE?
-YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
-I DON'T KNOW.
-NO, I DID NOT. I DID NOT.
-BOB DOLE SAYS YOU DID.
-NO, I DID NOT.
-THIS ALWAYS FASCINATED LEE.
HE WAS IN A PROFESSION -- YOUR
CAREER COULD GET DASHED IN A
DAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT TOTALLY INTRIGUED
HIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-IOWA HAS TURNED THE
REPUBLICAN RACE UPSIDE-DOWN.
-IT'S OBVIOUS THAT GEORGE BUSH
IS DEEPLY DAMAGED, AND BOB HAS
TO BE CONSIDERED THE
FRONT-RUNNER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
-WHEN YOU FUCK UP IN THIS
ARENA, THE SPOTLIGHT IS
AMPLIFIED A THOUSAND TIMES.
-WASHINGTON CHEERS FOR TWO
THINGS -- THE WASHINGTON
REDSKINS TO WIN ON SUNDAY, AND
IT CHEERS FOR WHOEVER IS IN
POWER TO FAIL.
-ATWATER VOMITED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER THAT.
LOSING MADE HIM PHYSICALLY ILL.
IF THEY LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY
WERE DONE.
THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE
ABYSS.
I VISITED HIM IN HIS HOTEL
ROOM.
HE WAS NERVOUS ENERGY.
IT WAS SNOWING SO HARD OUTSIDE
THAT ATWATER'S RUNNING IN THE
STAIRWELL OF HIS HOTEL, UP AND
DOWN, UP AND DOWN.
-LEE ATWATER WILL EITHER
SOLIDIFY HIS IMAGE AS THE
POLITICAL WONDER BOY OR BE KNOWN
AS THE MAN WHO STEERED
PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER
GEORGE BUSH INTO THE GROUND.
REPORTS SURFACED THAT BUSH WAS
PREPARED TO FIRE ATWATER IF HE
LOST THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.
-SURE, WE'RE CONCERNED.
WE'RE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING DAY
AND NIGHT.
BUT IN THE END, GEORGE BUSH IS
GONNA WIN.
-THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD TO DO
SOMETHING THAT HE ISN'T
NATURALLY COMFORTABLE WITH.
IT'S BEEN CALLED, WRONGLY,
NEGATIVE.
IT WASN'T NEGATIVE.
THIS IS PLAY BIG OR GO HOME.
-BUSH SAYS HE WON'T RAISE
TAXES, PERIOD.
DOLE STRADDLES.
HE'S BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOLE ACTUALLY ADVISED...
-READ MY LIPS.
NO NEW TAXES!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DOLE COULD NOT TAKE THE
"NO TAX INCREASE" PLEDGE.
IT KILLED HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUSH WAS LESS ETHICAL.
BUSH TOOK IT. HE LIED.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ BAND PLAYS "YANKEE DOODLE
DANDY" ]
-BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T SAY HOW WELL LEE ATWATER,
OUR GREAT CHAIRMAN, PERFORMED.
HE DID A SUPERB JOB, AND IT'S
NOT JUST 'CAUSE HE'S STANDING
HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S SOMETHING WONDERFUL
ABOUT FIGHTING BACK IN LIFE.
-WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO
HIM TO TURN HIM INTO A HIT MAN?
-HE WAS NOT A HIT MAN.
WHAT HE DID IN THAT CAMPAIGN WAS
DISCUSS ISSUES.
-BUSH HAD WON IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND TOM BROKAW ON
NBC WAS INTERVIEWING THE TWO OF
THEM.
-AND, SENATOR DOLE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO
THE VICE PRESIDENT?
-YEAH, STOP LYING ABOUT MY
RECORD.
-THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AND THE
TONE OF VOICE -- I INTERVIEWED
HIM LATER ABOUT IT, AND YOU
KNOW, HE SAID, "I LOST MY COOL,
AND IT COST ME.
YOU WORK FOR TWO YEARS OF YOUR
LIFE FOR SOMETHING, AND IT'S
TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SAY,
'GEE, HECK'?"
-WE'RE NOT GONNA COMMENT.
I DON'T COMMENT ON ATWATER.
-THE FACT THAT THE
VICE PRESIDENT GOT THE
NOMINATION SO OVERWHELMINGLY IS
VERY INDICATIVE OF THE KIND OF
SUPPORT HE'S GOT IN THIS PARTY.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME ONE HALF
OF THAT WINNING TANDEM, THE
HONORABLE JOHN BUSH --
GEORGE BUSH.
[ LAUGHS ]
GOD!
-THEY THOUGHT BUSH WAS A WIMP
AND A WUSS...
ATWATER WAS A HICK AND HACK.
-WITH HIS BIG POWERBOAT UP IN
MAINE AND HIS UPPER-CLASS
BACKGROUND AND BEING FROM YALE,
DO YOU THINK HE IS REALLY THE
GUY WHO'S GOING TO APPEAL TO THE
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS, THE
ORDINARY CITIZENS OF AMERICA?
-WELL, BUT YOU JUST NAMED A
BUNCH OF THINGS THAT HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH ISSUES, AND
THIS IS GONNA BE A CAMPAIGN OF
ISSUES.
-PEOPLE SCOFFED AT THE ATWATER
ISSUES -- THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THE
PRISON FURLOUGHS.
WHO WOULD BUY THAT?
THIS IS SO IRRELEVANT.
-AND KEEP THIS COUNTRY GOING.
-WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT?!
-DEFICIT?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ABOUT IT.
-YEAH!
-I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PAYING
TOO LITTLE IN TAXES.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING TOO MUCH.
-[ SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY ]
-HURRAY!
[ CHEERS ]
[ ALL CHANTING "GO HOME, BUSH" ]
-POOR GEORGE.
HE CAN'T HELP IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE WAS BORN WITH A SILVER FOOT
IN HIS MOUTH.
[ LOUD LAUGHTER ]
-THEY ARE THE PARTY THAT TALKS
TOUGH ON DRUGS BUT DEALS SOFTLY
WITH DRUG-RUNNING DICTATORS.
AND GEORGE BUSH IS A DEAD DUCK.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-DUKAKIS WINS BIG EVERYWHERE.
HE'S GONNA WIN IN A LANDSLIDE.
I THINK HE WILL WIN IN EVERY
PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
-THE GOVERNOR JUST CAME OUT
HERE AND SAID THAT MR. DUKAKIS
IS GONNA WIN BIG EVERYWHERE.
-WELL, I'M GLAD THEY HAVE THAT
KIND OF ATTITUDE BECAUSE THAT
LEADS TO THE KIND OF
OVERCONFIDENCE AND COCKINESS
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
UNHEALTHY ATTITUDE YOU CAN HAVE
IN POLITICS.
-WHO'S GONNA --
-BYE!
-WAIT, WAIT.
ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENCY?
WHEN ARE WE GONNA FIND OUT?
-THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
QUESTION.
I WILL CONTEMPLATE IT WHEN I GO
JOGGING.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-LEE'S FAVORITE STATEMENT WAS
"JUST PLAY DUMB AND KEEP
MOVING."
[ CROWD CHANTING "FOUR MORE
YEARS" ]
-THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS
PROUDLY CASTS ALL ITS VOTES FOR
HER FAVORITE SON AND THE BEST
FATHER IN AMERICA, GEORGE BUSH.
-REPUBLICANS HAVE OFTEN BEEN
DISMISSED AS SLOW, DUMB, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS ARE
SUCCESSFUL.
LEE LOVED EXAGGERATING THAT
IMAGE AND JUST OUTFOXING
EVERYBODY AROUND HIM.
-IN THE SOUTH, THAT'S CALLED
"SLOW-PLAYING 'EM."
BEING A SLOW TALKER AND
EASYGOING, WELL, A LOT OF
NORTHERNERS PERCEIVE THAT AS NOT
VERY BRIGHT.
SUCK THEM IN, YOU END UP
RUNNING ALL OVER THEM.
"YOU CAN RUN. YOU CAN RUN.
TELL MY BIG BOY WILLIE BROWN.
I'M STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS,
BABY.
I THINK I'M SINKING DOWN."
-THIS IS A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL
ELECTION.
IF WE LOSE THE PRESIDENCY THIS
TIME, WE LOSE IT ALL.
-RONALD REAGAN HAD TO HAVE
GEORGE BUSH IN OFFICE.
IF A DEMOCRAT WON, WE WOULD HAVE
A REAL LEGAL PRECEDING, AND
RONALD REAGAN COULD HAVE
GONE TO JAIL.
-DO YOU FEEL THAT
MICHAEL DUKAKIS SHOULD MAKE HIS
MEDICAL RECORDS PUBLIC?
-LOOK, I'M NOT GONNA PICK
ON AN INVALID.
-MR. PRESIDENT! MR. PRESIDENT!
-HE GOT AWAY WITH THOSE KIND
OF THINGS 'CAUSE HE DID IT IN A
SORT OF JOCULAR WAY WITH
HIS IRISH WIT.
THAT STATEMENT WAS ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN
AMERICA.
IMMEDIATELY, MICHAEL DUKAKIS'
NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP.
-HE TRIED TO GET ME TO WRITE
ABOUT GOVERNOR DUKAKIS HAVING
PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.
IT WAS REALLY A SLANDER.
HE THOUGHT MY WEAKNESS WAS THAT
IF I COULD GET AN EXCLUSIVE
STORY, I WOULD JUMP AT IT AND
BITE AT IT AND NOT BE AS CAREFUL
AS I SHOULD BE.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT I
WAS CAREFUL ENOUGH NOT TO GET
INVOLVED IN THAT ONE.
-DID YOU GUYS MEET LEE ATWATER
OUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER HERE?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-PIPE DOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-ENOUGH APPLAUSE.
IT GOES TO HIS HEAD.
-NO ONE HIRES PEOPLE LIKE
LEE ATWATER TO LOSE.
THERE ARE NO SILVER OR BRONZE
MEDALS IN THIS GAME.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU WIN.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING.
I'M A FORMER ALTAR BOY.
THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS THAT
RECRUITS ALTAR BOYS.
-YOU DO HAVE TO BE TOUGH TO
WIN THE PRESIDENCY.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF THEM,
AND YOU DO HAVE TO DO THINGS
THAT THE NORMAL PERSON MIGHT
SHRINK FROM.
BUT THAT'S IT.
WHERE'S THE LINE?
WANTING TO WIN MAKES PEOPLE DO
THINGS THAT THEY WOULDN'T
CONSIDER IN A NORMAL SENSE.
THEY WOULDN'T HIRE LEE ATWATER.
TO WIN, THOUGH, THAT'S WHAT IT
TAKES.
-EARLIER THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN
SENATOR STEVE SYMMS OF IDAHO
SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD OF
REPORTS THAT KITTY DUKAKIS HAD
BURNED AN AMERICAN FLAG DURING
AN ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION IN THE
'60S.
-I SAID IT WAS AN ALLEGATION
THAT HAD BEEN TOLD TO ME.
-BUT FROM WHO, THOUGH?
SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT NATIONALLY.
WHO ACTUALLY SAID IT TO YOU?
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, SOMEBODY
NEEDS SOME KIND OF FACT.
-I WOULDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE
THE SOURCES.
-WHAT ABOUT PICTURES?
YOU MENTIONED PICTURES.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY PICTURES?
-NO, I HAVE NOT.
I SAID I HADN'T SEEN THEM.
I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SOME VERY
RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT THERE
ARE PICTURES FLOATING AROUND.
-THERE COULDN'T BE A
PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE THERE WAS
NEVER ANY SUCH INCIDENT.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN.
AND THERE IS NOBODY WHO LOVES
THE FLAG AS MUCH AS MICHAEL AND
MYSELF.
THAT FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF
FREEDOM, A SYMBOL OF WHAT THIS
COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
-WERE YOU AT A DEMONSTRATION
AT ANY TIME?
-NEVER. NEVER.
-WHEN YOU'RE BACK ON YOUR
HEELS AND YOU'RE DEFENDING
YOURSELF CONSTANTLY, IT KIND OF
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE WRONG,
AND, THEREFORE, LEE'S CANDIDATE
USUALLY COMES OUT LOOKING LIKE
HE'S IN THE RIGHT.
-AND WHAT DOES DUKAKIS DO?
EVERY TIME HE STANDS UP, HE
ATTACKS GEORGE BUSH.
HE'S A HYPOCRITE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW IT, TOO.
THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE KIND
OF OUT-OF-TOUCH CROWD THEY ARE.
THEY PROBABLY SAT UP IN
BROOKLINE EATING BELGIAN ENDIVES
AND QUICHE OUT OF THE CAN AND
FIGURED, "WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS GO ATTACK..."
-QUICHE OUT OF A CAN!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
-SEE, IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE'S
A RING OF TRUTH TO IT.
THEY PROBABLY THINK, YOU KNOW,
DUKAKIS -- THEY WERE A BUNCH OF
ELITISTS.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, HE AND THE
FOLKS AROUND BUSH WERE TRYING TO
MAKE ME A KIND OF NORTHEAST
LIBERAL WHO WAS OUT OF TOUCH AND
THAT KIND OF A THING.
I MEAN, THE IRONY OF THIS IS
THAT...
YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUY WHO IS THE
SON OF GREEK IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME
OVER HERE AND LIVED THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
NOTHING AGAINST YANKEE BRAHMANS
WHO WERE HERE SINCE 1630.
-A NICE WASP KID, BORN IN
MILTON.
-AND TEXANS WANT A TEXAN FOR
PRESIDENT.
-TEXANS WANT A TEXAN AS
PRESIDENT, NOT SOMEONE FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
-BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE LIVED DOWN IN -- GREW UP IN
CONNECTICUT.
-BUSH COULD EAT PORK RINDS,
BUT HE WAS A YALIE AND HE WAS AN
ELITE.
AND HE MAY HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS,
BUT PEOPLE STILL THOUGHT OF HIM
FROM CONNECTICUT.
LEE WAS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
THE COUNTRY.
-DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU I'M
NO TEXAN.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-LEE UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF
IMAGE AND HOW AMERICAN SYMBOLS
RESONATE WITH A LOT OF
SOUTHERNERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND DEMOCRATS TO THIS DAY
SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST
THEIR OWN INTERESTS BY
SUPPORTING THESE REPUBLICANS
WHEN, IN FACT, THE AUDACITY AND
ARROGANCE OF THAT IS PROUD
PATRIOTISM TRANSCENDS MONEY.
-SMILE.
-MR. PRESIDENT!
-THE QUESTION I REALLY WANT TO
HEAR HIM ANSWER IS, WHY IN THE
WORLD DID HE VETO THIS BILL
CALLING FOR THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO BE SAID IN OUR
CLASSROOMS?
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
GET DOWN HERE, DUKAKIS, AND
ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
-KIDS SALUTE THE FLAG EVERY
DAY.
IT'S PART OF THE LAW.
I'M ALL FOR IT.
THE QUESTION WAS, COULD YOU PUT
TEACHERS IN JAIL WHO REFUSED TO
LEAD THE PLEDGE?
SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES SAID YOU CAN'T DO
THAT.
-WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE?
IT'S JUST SHOWING THAT YOU
BELIEVE AND YOU STAND BEHIND
YOUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.
-EVERY ONE OF US COULD STAND
SOME MORE PATRIOTISM.
-WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS
TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
MR. BUSH THAT I WASN'T GONNA LET
HIM QUESTION MY PATRIOTISM.
-I'M NOT QUESTIONING HIS
PATRIOTISM.
I'M QUESTIONING HIS JUDGMENT.
-REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY
STRIDENT, ALMOST, IN ATTACKING
MIKE DUKAKIS.
-NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S
STRIDENT.
I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT'S A
MIS-ADJECTIVE.
I WOULD SAY STRONG.
-WHAT'S YOURS?
-WELL, MINE IS ISSUE
CLARIFICATION.
-I DON'T LIKE THEM TAKING MY
GUN.
-WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T
TAKING PEOPLE'S GUNS AWAY IN
TEXAS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT'S
SON, NOW THE PRESIDENT, RAN
AROUND TEXAS TELLING THEM THAT
THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.
-IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUNS
HERE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT AS WELL
BE A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
-TEXAS REPUBLICANS DIDN'T
WASTE A MINUTE.
FIVE MILLION LETTERS TOLD TEXAS
VOTERS THAT MICHAEL DUKAKIS WAS
NOTHING BUT A NORTHEAST LIBERAL,
AND THAT'S A CUSS WORD FOR A LOT
OF TEXANS.
-A LIBERAL IS SOMEBODY WHO
WANTS MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE
TAXES, MORE SPENDING, MORE
REGULATION, AND MORE
INTERFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
AND THE ONLY THING THEY WANT
LESS OF IS DEFENSE, AND THAT'S
THE ONE THING WE WANT MORE OF.
-IF YOU LET THE CAMPAIGN BE
ABOUT BUSH, YOU PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE LOST.
THE CAMPAIGN HAD TO BE ABOUT
THE VALUES YOU PROJECT ONTO
DUKAKIS.
IT WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE
CULTURE WAR.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TURNED
INTO A STEALTH PARTY THAT ARGUES
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMON MAN AND
GIVES ALL THE BENEFITS TO THE
WEALTHIEST 1/10 OF 1%.
IT ARGUES ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN
MORALITY POLICIES, ENGAGES IN
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRIVATE
BEHAVIOR.
HE USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE
ANTI-ABORTION FORCES AS THE
"EXTRA CHROMOSOME GROUP" AND THE
ONES WHO HAD A HAND COMING OUT
OF THEIR HEAD, OR A THIRD EYE,
YOU KNOW.
THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
THE MOST DEVOTED PEOPLE TO HIS
CAUSE.
-A LITTLE LOUDER!
-ONE THING LEE TOLD ME, BY THE
WAY, THOUGH, IS NEVER, EVER,
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHED IN A FUNNY HAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I WAS THERE.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
SHOW.
-MICHAEL DUKAKIS IS OPPOSED TO
VIRTUALLY EVERY DEFENSE SYSTEM
WE DEVELOPED.
-THE TANK AD WENT DOWN HIS
VOTING RECORD.
I REMEMBER THINKING, "NOW, WE'VE
GOT TO CHECK EVERY ONE OF THESE
POINTS."
I'M NOT CERTAIN WE DID.
-FIRST OF ALL, THE BUSH
CAMPAIGN WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THOSE
STATISTICS ON THE AIR IF THEY
WEREN'T CORRECT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT COMMERCIAL IS
MORE ABOUT DUKAKIS' RECORD.
-I WAS A GOVERNOR.
IF THERE WERE BILLS INVOLVING
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE IN
WASHINGTON, OBVIOUSLY, I
WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED ON THOSE.
I NEVER SERVED A DAY OF MY LIFE
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
-IT'S WITH A GREAT DEAL OF
PRIDE THAT I INTRODUCE MY BIG
LITTLE BROTHER GEORGY.
DON'T --
[ CHEERS ]
I WANT YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.
FROM NOW ON -- GEORGE TOLD ME
THIS MORNING, HE DOES NOT WANT
TO BE REFERRED TO AS "JUNIOR."
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
HAVE PRIDE IN HIS FATHER AND WHO
HE IS, BUT GEORGE HAS DONE AN
OUTSTANDING JOB ON THIS
CAMPAIGN.
[ CRASH ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
-DEMOCRATS!
-IT'S DEMOCRATS.
-ONE REASON MARVIN AND I AND
BROTHER JEB FROM THE STATE OF
FLORIDA ARE WORKING SO HARD IS
BECAUSE OUR DAD NEEDS A REAL
JOB.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-OUR NOW-PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT POLITICS.
THIS WAS A NEW LEVEL OF PLAYING
FIELD, AND HE WAS WATCHING A
MASTER IN LEE ATWATER.
-WHAT GEORGE W. SAW IN LEE WAS
AN ATTITUDE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
AFRAID TO EXPRESS THE FIRST TIME
HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.
PROBABLY WASN'T NEARLY
MANIPULATIVE AND COLD-BLOODED
ENOUGH.
HE WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO PLEASE
HIS DAD, WHO HE SOMEWHAT
MISTAKENLY THOUGHT WAS A GOOD
GUY, UNCAPABLE OF TOUGH
POLITICS.
GEORGE W. WAS SAYING, "NOW I SEE
HOW THIS HAS TO BE DONE.
DO THE DEAL. DO THE DEED."
-SOMETIMES THE SONS CAN SAY
SOMETHING THEIR FATHERS CAN'T,
AND THAT IS, WE'RE COUNTING ON
YOU BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO GO
OUT THERE AND KICK SOME OF
MICHAEL DUKAKIS AND KICK IT
HARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ATWATER HAD A GENIUS FOR THE
STICKY ISSUE...
SIMPLE ENOUGH AND SCARY ENOUGH
THAT THE MEDIA COULD LATCH ON TO
IT.
-AS GOVERNOR, MICHAEL DUKAKIS
VETOED MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR
DRUG DEALERS.
HE VETOED THE DEATH PENALTY.
HIS REVOLVING-DOOR PRISON
POLICY GAVE WEEKEND FURLOUGHS TO
FIRST-DEGREE MURDERERS NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.
WHILE OUT, MANY COMMITTED OTHER
CRIMES, LIKE KIDNAPPING AND
RAPE, AND MANY ARE STILL AT
LARGE.
NOW MICHAEL DUKAKIS SAYS HE
WANTS TO DO FOR AMERICA WHAT
HE'S DONE FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
AMERICA CAN'T AFFORD THAT RISK.
-I WAS ANGRY.FFORD THAT RISK.
I WAS, LIKE, VERY ANGRY 'CAUSE I
SAW THROUGH IT RIGHT AWAY.
I SAW THE AD WHERE THEY HAD
THESE GUYS COMING OUT OF PRISON,
AND THE BLACK GUY WAS THE ONLY
ONE WHO LOOKED UP AT THE CAMERA.
SO I SAID, "AH, THESE ARE
DIABOLICAL MINDS BEHIND THIS
THING."
-"THAT'S THE GUY TO BE AFRAID
OF."
THIS WAS CALCULATED TO EMPHASIZE
THE ONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERE.
-RACE IS A POWDER KEG.
IT DESERVES TO BE, IN MANY WAYS.
AND LEE GOT CLOSE TO THAT POWDER
KEG AND, YOU KNOW, SETTING OFF
SPARKS NEARBY.
-THIS WAS A PIECE OF
LITERATURE THAT WAS BEING
DISTRIBUTED IN A NUMBER OF
STATES.
"ALL THE MURDERERS AND RAPISTS
AND DRUG PUSHERS AND CHILD
MOLESTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS VOTE
FOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS."
I THOUGHT IT WAS DESPICABLE.
-THEN THEY HAD THE RAPE
VICTIM, THIS WOMAN, GO ON TOUR
AND TALK ABOUT, IN EXPLICIT
DETAILS, WHAT HAPPENED DURING
THE RAPE.
SHE WAS RAPED TWICE.
-IT WAS A SO-CALLED
INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE AD WHERE
THEY SIMPLY USED HORTON'S FACE.
-ONE WAS WILLIE HORTON, WHO
MURDERED A BOY IN A ROBBERY,
STABBING HIM 19 TIMES.
DESPITE A LIFE SENTENCE, HORTON
RECEIVED 10 WEEKEND PASSES FROM
PRISON.
HORTON FLED, KIDNAPPED A YOUNG
COUPLE, STABBING THE MAN AND
REPEATEDLY RAPING HIS
GIRLFRIEND.
-THE CANDIDATE AND THE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM DENY ANY
RESPONSIBILITY.
ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES THAT
BELIEVES IN THE TOOTH FAIRY.
-I JUST WONDER WHETHER THERE
ISN'T A TINGE OF RACISM.
-ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DON'T EVEN THINK MANY PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH KNOW WHAT RACE
WILLIE HORTON IS.
I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY
IRRELEVANT.
-I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK HE WAS USED PRIMARILY
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
LIKE LEE SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
YOU DON'T CALL THEM NIGGER,
NIGGER, NIGGER ANYMORE LIKE YOU
DID 30 YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO BE MORE
"SUBTLE" THAN THAT.
IT WASN'T VERY SUBTLE AT ALL TO
ME.
-EVERYBODY SAW HOW PROVOCATIVE
IT WAS, AND SO IT GOT A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FREE
AIRTIME.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES "HOOKED
UP TO JUMPER CABLES" GOT
REPEATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES
WILLIE HORTON'S SCOWLING, ANGRY
FACE OF A KILLER WAS TELEVISED
ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE.
-THERE'S A STORY ABOUT A
FELLOW NAMED WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-MURDERER.
-CONVICTED MURDERER
WILLIE HORTON.
-WILLIE HORTON.
-WEEKEND VACATIONS.
-THE WEEKEND PASSES.
-COLD-BLOODED.
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-FIRST-DEGREE...
-CONVICTED MURDERER.
-KILLER.
MURDERER.
-THEY RAPE PEOPLE.
-RAPED HIS WIFE.
-THEY MAUL PEOPLE.
-WILLIE HORTON WILL BECOME A
HOUSEHOLD NAME.
-NO MORE FURLOUGHS FOR PEOPLE
THAT RAPE, PILLAGE, AND PLUNDER!
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.
-DO YOU THINK THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL,
THOUGH, GIVES HINTS OF RACIAL
POLITICS?
-I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
-YOU DON'T HAVE A
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL ON THE
AIR?
-NO.
-A FURLOUGH PROGRAM
COMMERCIAL?
YOU DON'T HAVE A CRIME -- YOU
DON'T HAVE AN AD ON THE AIR
ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUE?
-NO.
-SO THERE'S NO PLAN IN THIS
CAMPAIGN AT ALL TO USE THE
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL AT ALL
TO APPEAL --
-WELL, THERE'S NO
WILLIE HORTON COMMERCIAL.
I DO THINK THAT THE CRIMINAL
FURLOUGH PROGRAM THAT DUKAKIS
SUPPORTED, IN WHICH CONVICTED
MURDERERS WERE ALLOWED TO GO ON
WEEKEND FURLOUGH...
-I WENT INTO THE HEADQUARTERS
TO SEE ATWATER AT HIS REQUEST.
HE LOCKED THE OFFICE DOOR, AND
HE POPPED THE FAMOUS
WILLIE HORTON SPOT ONTO A
TELEVISION.
HE SAID, "I GOT A COUPLE BOYS
GOING TO PUT A COUPLE MILLION
DOLLARS UP FOR THIS
INDEPENDENT."
AND I SAID, "THAT'S A HUGE
MISTAKE.
YOU AND GEORGE BUSH WILL WEAR
THAT TO YOUR GRAVE.
IT'S A RACIST AD.
YOU'RE ALREADY WINNING THIS
ISSUE.
IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.
YOU'RE STEPPING OVER A LINE.
YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT."
AND HE SAID, "Y'ALL A PUSSY."
-THIS MALIGNANT, OVERWHELMING
IMAGE OF BLACK MEN -- WE WERE TO
BE FEARED.
RAISING LYNCH MOBS AGAINST THE
BLACK PEOPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN THE HISTORICAL
ROLE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP IN THE
HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS
ATTRACTED TO FEAR.
I KNOW I LIKE HORROR MOVIES.
NOT ONLY POLITICIANS, BUT PEOPLE
WHO RUN THE MEDIA, WILL EXPLOIT
THIS.
-FEAR IS AN ATTENTION GETTER,
ANYTHING TO KEEP A STORY GOING.
-TERRORISTS, THE HISPANICS,
GAYS, COMMUNISTS.
-I WAS AMAZED THAT THE DUKAKIS
CAMP NEVER SEEMED TO FIND IT IN
THEM TO FORCEFULLY EXPLAIN THAT
THAT PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS
WAS COPIED AFTER A POPULAR STATE
WHOSE GOVERNOR WAS THE FIRST
GOVERNOR TO SIGN A LAW FOR
WEEKEND PRISONER RELEASE.
THAT GOVERNOR'S NAME WAS
RONALD REAGAN.
-TWO OF HIS FURLOUGHEES WENT
OUT AND MURDERED PEOPLE, AND HE
DEFENDED THE PROGRAM.
BUT I NEVER SAID THAT.
-WHY NOT?
-WASN'T GONNA RESPOND.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE -- THAT WAS
THE DECISION I MADE.
CRAZY, IN RETROSPECT. CRAZY.
[ FOLK MUSIC PLAYING ]
-IF YOU DON'T DEFEND YOURSELF
AND THEY'RE DOING NEGATIVE ADS
AGAINST YOU AND YOU JUST SAY,
"OH, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT
GAME, I'M GONNA BE POSITIVE,"
YOU ARE GONNA GET DESTROYED.
-RACE IS POISON, BUT IT'S
POISON THAT WORKS FOR THEIR
SIDE.
PEOPLE VOTE THEIR FEARS AND NOT
THEIR HOPES, AND LEE UNDERSTOOD
THAT.
-IT WAS BIZARRE THAT THE
WILLIE HORTON CASE BECAME THE
FOCUS OF THE ELECTION.
-THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND
GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS...
-THE PRESS LEARNED TO SPEAK
THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS
WITHOUT EVEN GETTING THEM
THROUGH THE FAX MACHINE.
-THE FIRST QUESTION GOES TO
GOVERNOR DUKAKIS.
IF KITTY DUKAKIS WERE RAPED AND
MURDERED, WOULD YOU FAVOR AN
IRREVOCABLE DEATH PENALTY FOR
THE KILLER?
-NO, I DON'T, BERNARD, AND I
THINK YOU KNOW THAT I'VE...
-THE QUESTION WAS SO PERSONAL.
IT WAS TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER, AND
I THOUGHT THAT BERNARD SHAW
CONTRIBUTED TO DUKAKIS LOSING
THAT ELECTION.
-[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, I KID AROUND AND SAY
IF I'D BEATEN THE OLD MAN, YOU'D
HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE KID.
SO MAYBE IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-I'VE SPOKEN OF 1,000 POINTS
OF LIGHT.
WE, AS A SOCIETY, MUST RISE UP
UNITED AND EXPRESS OUR
INTOLERANCE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CANNOT FREE
THEMSELVES OF ENSLAVEMENT TO
WHATEVER ADDICTION -- DRUGS,
WELFARE, THE DEMORALIZATION THAT
RULES THE SLUMS...
-"DEMORALIZATION THAT RULES
THE SLUMS"?
-THERE IS CRIME TO BE
CONQUERED, THE ROUGH CRIME OF
THE STREETS...
-IT'S JUST HYPOCRITICAL FOR
HIM TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT
WHEN, IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HE HAS
THIS DEMORALIZATION.
HIS SON ADMITS THAT HE HAD AN
ADDICTION PROBLEM WITH LIQUOR
AND WITH DRUGS.
THE BUSH DAUGHTERS.
YET THESE ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS
LECTURING AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ABOUT FAMILY VALUES.
-THESE FOLKS SHOULD ALL HAVE
BEEN PUT AWAY IN JAIL, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
BECAUSE OF THEIR POWER AND
BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH WENT INTO
OFFICE AND HE GOT TO PICK THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE U.S.
ATTORNEYS, IT ALL GOT HUSHED UP.
AND GEORGE BUSH -- HE'S NOW THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, CHIEF
LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-"W" LEARNED THAT THE ONLY
THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHO
WINS.
WHATEVER REALLY HAPPENED DOESN'T
MATTER.
THEY CREATE THEIR OWN REALITY,
AS PEOPLE IN THIS BUSH WHITE
HOUSE LATER SAID.
-LEE WAS THE FIRST GUY I EVER
HEARD WHO SAID THAT.
IT'S NOW KIND OF ROTE IN
POLITICS, BUT LEE WAS SAYING
EARLY, "PERCEPTION IS REALITY."
LEE WAS AHEAD OF THE PACK.
-REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.
THEY JUST WANT TO WIN ELECTIONS.
DEMOCRATS, I THINK, HAVE REALLY
SINCERE BELIEFS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL WRONG, MOST
OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE SINCERE.
NOBODY THOUGHT OF GEORGE W. BUSH
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
TILL LEE ATWATER PLANTED THE
SEEDS, AND THEN HE PLANTED IT
WITH HIS MAN IN AUSTIN,
KARL ROVE.
ATWATER'S A BIG MAN NOW.
-[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ INDISTINCT SINGING ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
-RUNS ONE OF THE MOST RACIST
CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY, MARKETING
THE WEDGE BETWEEN WHITES AND
BLACKS, YET HE ADMIRED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE...
GOT UP IN BLACKFACE.
-HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE KLAN.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY PEOPLE
FELT ABOUT LEE ATWATER.
BUT HE TRULY LOVED ME AS A MAN
AND AS A BROTHER, AND HE TREATED
EVERYBODY ELSE THE SAME WAY.
HE LOVED EVERYBODY 'CAUSE HE
LOVED THE MUSIC THAT WE WERE
DOING.
-LEE DIDN'T HAVE A RACIST BONE
IN HIS BODY.
NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THE "N"
WORD.
WHEN IT CAME TO MUSIC AND HIS
DANCING -- YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY
THAT EVER SAW HIM DANCE OR
WHATEVER -- LEE WAS A BLACK
PERSON IN A WHITE BODY.
-♪ OH, YEAH ♪
-THAT INAUGURAL PARTY WAS THE
CULMINATION OF LEE ATWATER'S
LIFE.
HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
HE WAS THE STAR.
ALL THE HISTORY, ALL THE
YEARNINGS ALL CAME TOGETHER ON
THAT NIGHT.
HE WAS DANCING AS FAST AS HE
COULD.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
LAY AHEAD FOR HIM.
-ONE NETWORK CALLED YOU THE
ARCHITECT OF THE EVIL CAMPAIGN.
YOU ARE PROUD THIS MORNING OF
THE ACHIEVEMENT.
ARE YOU AS PROUD OF THE TACTICS?
-IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TRULY
THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING A
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, THEY WOULD
HAVE REACTED NEGATIVELY, AND I
THINK THAT --
-WELL, I DON'T -- LEE, IN
FAIRNESS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S
TRUE.
I MEAN, IN POLL AFTER POLL, THEY
DID SAY THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, SAYING MAYBE
THE LOWEST TURNOUT IN 64 YEARS,
AND FAULTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
-WAS IT YOU WHO TOLD
GEORGE BUSH, "YOU'VE GOT TO
RAISE FEAR OF BLACK MEN"?
-WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
-AND THEY DID WHAT THEY
NORMALLY DO WHEN SOMEBODY STANDS
UP AND FIGHTS FOR WHAT HE
BELIEVES IN, AND THAT'S TRY TO
DESTROY THEM PERSONALLY.
BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM A BIT.
HE JUST KEPT GOING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
-HE DESTROYED MICHAEL DUKAKIS.
THEY LOVED THAT.
THEY DESTROYED THE DEMOCRAT.
THEY'D ALL SIT AROUND AND, YOU
KNOW, TOAST THEMSELVES AT THEIR
HAPPY HOURS THAT THEY TOOK A MAN
DOWN.
-UPSETTING.
I WAS ANGRY -- A WHOLE BUNCH
OF -- OF EMOTIONAL FEELINGS.
THEY WERE FALSEHOODS.
THE UNTRUTH OF ALL THAT WAS
VERY DISHEARTENING.
-THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF GOING
NEGATIVE, HOW MUCH NEGATIVE
CAMPAIGNING, IS TROUBLING.
BUT THERE'S A TIME HERE WHEN
SOUND POLITICAL JUDGMENT SAYS
THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE STUFF
MIGHT WORK.
DID WE EVER DO IT? YEAH.
DID WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT
IT?
NO.
-GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH
HAS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND HE'S NOT A DUMMY.
YOU COULDN'T BE AROUND
LEE ATWATER WITHOUT KNOWING HOW
HE DID IT.
-THOSE WERE RUMORS, AND THEY
WERE UNTRUE.
THERE WAS NO BASIS IN TRUTH FOR
ANY OF THAT.
HE WAS ABOVEBOARD AND
UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T ANSWER
THOSE CHARGES.
WE HAVE TO ANSWER CHARGES,
CORRECT?
-YEAH.
-[ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
-BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU NEVER SAW GEORGE BUSH I EVER
ASK HIM TO STOP.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY MADE HIM CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-LEE ATWATER LOOKS TO BECOME
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY
CHAIRMEN IN MODERN TIMES.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-WELL, HE TOLD ME, SITTING IN
HIS OFFICE, "IF THERE'S ONE JOB
THAT I THINK YOU'D BE GOOD AT,
IT'S THE JOB I USED TO HAVE."
SO I'M THINKING, "WOW -- C.I.A."
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN BAD THERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YOU DID NOT NAME POLITICAL
OPERATIVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
-IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO TRY
TO RESHAPE THE PARTY IN YOUR
IMAGE, TO YOUR TACTICS?
-WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M REALLY A
LOVABLE GUY, AND I JUST HADN'T
GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY --
-I WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT YOU
PERSONALLY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR STYLE.
-BUT ACTUALLY, MY POLITICAL
STYLE IS LOVABLE...
-WHEN ATWATER BECAME THE RNC
CHAIRMAN, THIS POLITICAL PARTY
WAS TURNED OVER TO DIRTY TRICKS,
THE NEW SPIRIT OF KIND OF
RUTHLESS, WIN-AT-ANY-COST
REPUBLICANISM.
-HE ROSE TO A POSITION THAT
MANY OF US COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED HIM HOLDING.
-♪ MOVE ON UP ♪
-PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME
RUNNING UP.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE BEING WITH A
MOVIE STAR.
LEE CALLS ME UP -- "COME ON OVER
TO MY OFFICE.
JAMES BROWN'S HERE."
MY LORD -- ROYALTY.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
SAY HELLO TO, ON GUITAR, THE
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY,
MR. LEE ATWATER...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE BLUES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN!
-JUST TAKE A SHOT OF THE BAND.
-YEAH.
-FIND THE REPUBLICAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYING
BLUES MUSIC ]
-THE FAME BECAME KIND OF
ALL-CONSUMING.
HE WAS ON AN INCREASINGLY
INTENSE SEARCH FOR THE BUZZ OF
FAME, THE HYPE.
LEE GOT ALL THESE THINGS.
-THAT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?
-I FELT LIKE HE TOOK SOME
SATISFACTION FROM IT, BUT NOT
ENOUGH TO BE HAPPY.
-LISTEN, LEE -- ALONG WITH
WILLIE DIXON AND
JOHN LEE HOOKER, YOU'RE ONE OF
MY MUSICAL IDOLS.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-ATWATER HAD PERCEIVED, LONG
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS DID, THAT THE BIGGEST
THREAT TO BUSH WAS A GUY FROM
ARKANSAS NAMED BILL CLINTON.
THE IDEA WAS TO DIRTY UP
CLINTON.
HE WOULD SIMPLY BE TOO DAMAGED
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
DISTRACT AND DIVERT.
-LEE RECOGNIZED THE THREAT OF
BILL CLINTON AND THE QUALITY OF
THE CANDIDATE AND TRIED TO TAKE
HIM OUT OF THE GAME AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
-THE WASHINGTON PRESS CORPS IS
EXTREMELY CYNICAL, SHALLOW.
THEY CARE ABOUT RIDICULE, THE
RUMOR THAT BLACKENS SOMEBODY'S
REPUTATION.
ALL THAT STUFF IS JUICY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL
SCANDAL, YOU WILL HAVE TO INVENT
A PHONY SCANDAL.
-YOU HAD ALL OF THESE WACKOS
OUT THERE FUNDING ALL OF THESE
CRAZY PROJECTS.
THAT ALL STARTED WITH
LEE ATWATER.
WHITEWATER WAS A LAND DEAL THAT
BILL CLINTON HAD INVESTED --
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER,
IT WAS LIKE $28,000 -- WHERE HE
LOST ALL OF HIS MONEY.
THE FIRST INDEPENDENT COUNCIL
SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
SO TO THINK THAT THEY PAID
KEN STARR AND HIS PERVERTED
INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW,
$70 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY?
THESE FOLKS BELIEVE YOU WIN AT
ALL COSTS.
-ATWATER STARTED TRANSFORMING
POLITICS INTO A SERIES OF
TABLOID MOMENTS IN A WAY THAT
WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FOR THE
REPUBLICANS.
-I'D WATCHED POLITICS FOUGHT
LIKE WAR UNDER LEE ATWATER.
I THINK IT'S HAD SOME BAD
EFFECTS ON THE COUNTRY.
HE'D HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET
EVERYTHING HE'D GOTTEN IN HIS
LIFE.
HE WASN'T GONNA STOP.
-I AIN'T CHANGED A BIT.
I'M THE SAME GUY I WAS THE DAY I
WALKED INTO POLITICS.
I'LL BE THE SAME GUY I AM THE
DAY I WALK OUT OF IT.
I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHAT
I AM, AND I DON'T DISAVOW
ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE.
-THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN
INCIDENT WHERE LEE WENT TO
HOWARD UNIVERSITY 'CAUSE HE GOT
ON THE BOARD, AND HE TOLD THEM
ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE WAS
GOING TO DO FOR THEM, LIKE
ORGANIZE A BLUES CONCERT FOR
THEM.
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
INTEREST AT ALL.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY LISTENED TO
HIP-HOP.
SECOND OF ALL, THEY WERE TAKING
HIM SERIOUSLY IN TERMS OF THE
POLITICAL.
HIS PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO FOOL
BLACK PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT
THEY HAD A PLACE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
[ CROWD SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
-♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ LEE GOT TO GO ♪
♪ GET OUT, LEE ♪
-THE STUDENTS SAY THEY WON'T
END THEIR PROTEST UNTIL ATWATER
IS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
-WE KNOW THE HORTON AD HAS
AMERICA THINKING THAT BLACK MEN
ARE RAPISTS OR MURDERERS.
-♪ ATWATER SNUCK IN BEHIND OUR
BACKS ♪
♪ WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE NO STUFF
LIKE THAT ♪
-IF THE HOWARD GROUP HAD GIVEN
HIM A CHANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE
LOVED HIM.
[ CROWD BOOING ]
-AND HE GOT BOOTED OUT.
THAT HURT LEE.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
LEE WOULD COLLAPSE OCCASIONALLY.
THE GUY WOULD BE SO EXHAUSTED.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE
HILL -- WELL, ALL ARROWS GET
FIRED UP, RIGHT?
AND PEOPLE WERE GUNNING FOR HIM.
-REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN LEE ATWATER WAS RUSHED
TO A WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
YESTERDAY AFTER FAINTING DURING
A POLITICAL SPEECH.
DOCTORS FOUND A SMALL BRAIN
TUMOR.
SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT
ATWATER WILL UNDERGO RADIATION
TREATMENT.
-I'M VERY PLEASED TO GET BACK
TO MY WIFE, SALLY -- SHE'S GOING
TO HAVE A BABY NEXT MONTH -- AND
MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
I'VE MISSED THEM TREMENDOUSLY.
AND -- BUT AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
THIS REALLY DOES A LOT FOR YOU.
-WHAT DO THE DOCTORS SAY, LEE?
-MY PROBLEM CAN BE DONE AWAY
WITH AFTER SIX WEEKS OF
RADIATION TREATMENT.
SEE YOU, GANG.
-WHAT DOES YOUR SHIRT SAY?
-JUST SAY "MOE."
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONE OF MY INTELLECTUAL HEROES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE YOU, GANG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-HARD TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN.
TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE ON THE
WAY.
-WE HAD A THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD AT ODDS.
I'M ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
HE'S ON THE FOURTH FLOOR IN THE
SAME BUILDING.
SO, MARY CALLS DOWN TO ME AND I
GO RACING UP AND HE HOLDS MY
HAND AND HE'S SHAKING.
HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST -- HE'S
HAVING A SEIZURE.
AND SO I RIDE WITH HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL.
AND ON THE WAY OVER THERE, HE
JUST SAID, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
I CAN TRUST.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME."
HE SAID, "THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND
FINISH ME OFF.
PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME."
ALL THE HATRED JUST SORT OF GOES
OUT, AND I SAID, "LEE, I PROMISE
YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
-HE FOUGHT IT AND HE'D COME TO
WORK WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE AND
HE WAS PHYSICALLY DEBILITATED.
-HEY, BEN!
-MORNING, LEE. HOW ARE YOU?
-EVERYBODY DOING ALL RIGHT?
-THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW THEY COULD GET HIM OUT
AS THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN.
NO ONE CARED ABOUT HIM ANYMORE.
IT HAD TO BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL
FOR HIM.
EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN
WASHINGTON IS POWER.
AND WHEN THAT POWER IS GONE,
IT'S GONE.
-THEY FOUND A TUMOR, AND THEY
LITERALLY DRILLED A HOLE AND
DROPPED RADIATION TO BURN THE
TUMOR OUT.
THERE WAS A LEAD WALL, AND HE
WAS LITERALLY RADIOACTIVE.
-THE STEROIDS JUST BLEW HIS
FACE.
HE LOOKED LIKE THE MAN IN THE
MOON.
I MEAN, HE WAS REALLY
EMBARRASSED.
HE REALLY DID NOT WANT US TO SEE
HIM.
OH, VERY HARD...TO --
[CLEARS THROAT] TO SEE SOMEBODY
THAT STRONG BE THAT WEAK.
-"I RECALLED SUN TZU'S MAXIM,
'GET INSIDE THE HEAD OF YOUR
ENEMY.'
WE'D USED THAT TO SUCH EFFECT ON
BOB DOLE IN 1988.
NOW CANCER HAD USED IT ON ME."
-HORRIBLY ALONE, IN THAT
LEAD-LINED ROOM, RADIATION
PELLETS IN HIS HEAD -- HE
COULDN'T SPIN HIS WAY OUT OF
THAT.
THE GUY WHO HAD BEEN SO
UNWILLING TO REALLY BELIEVE IN
ANYTHING OTHER THAN POWER BEGAN
A FRANTIC SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL
MEANING.
-YOU'D BE WAITING IN THE HALL.
THERE'D BE RABBIS, WITCH
DOCTORS, BUDDHISTS, SHAMANS,
THESE RADICAL CATHOLIC PRIESTS.
HE TOLD ALL OF THEM HE WAS ON
BOARD.
HIS THEORY WAS, "IF ONE OF THESE
IS THE TRUE PATH,
I'LL BE ON IT."
-LEE WAS CONFRONTING SOME VERY
TROUBLING FACTS -- THAT, IN
WINNING, HE HAD HURT PEOPLE.
FEAR HAD BEEN PART OF HIS TOOL
KIT.
THAT FEAR CAME BACK ON HIM.
WHAT WAS NEXT FOR HIM IN THE
AFTERLIFE?
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
HE DESCRIBED IT AS SHEER TERROR.
-WHILE LEE WAS GROWING UGLIER
ON THE OUTSIDE, THERE WAS A
REMARKABLE CHANGE INSIDE OF HIM.
-HE SAID, "CHUCK, I HAVE NEVER
READ A BIBLE IN MY LIFE, AND THE
FIRST THING I WANTED WAS AND THE
BIBLE."
HE TOLD ME THAT.
WOW.
-HE CAME BACK TO
SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ONE VISIT.
-♪ WELL, I'M A BAD BOY ♪
[ GUITAR PLAYING BLUES MUSIC ]
♪ WELL, I'M BAD AS I CAN BE ♪
♪ I'LL BE... ♪
-PEOPLE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
IT.
"THAT'S LEE?"
-I HAD MONEY, I HAD POWER,
I HAD FAME, AND I HAD FORTUNE.
GUESS WHAT? IT MEANT NOTHING.
IT WAS ALL -- IT WAS ALL A
WASTE.
AND IN ONE DAY, I LEARNED WHAT
COUNTS, AND THAT'S YOU ALL --
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
-♪ PEOPLE, I ONCE WAS STRONG ♪
♪ HARD AND LEAN ♪
♪ NOW I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE ♪
♪ HOW I COULD BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ MMM ♪
-HERE'S A LETTER I RECEIVED
FROM LEE ATWATER.
HE SAYS, "MY ILLNESS HAS TAUGHT
ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF
HUMANITY, LOVE, BROTHERHOOD, AND
RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE NEVER
UNDERSTOOD AND PROBABLY NEVER
HAD."
AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE THAT LEE ATWATER WAS
TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN HE SAID,
"WHAT I'VE DONE WAS WRONG.
IT WAS BAD, AND BAD FOR THE
COUNTRY."
SINCE THEN, I'VE WRITTEN
ARTICLES ABOUT IT AND HOPING
THAT OTHERS WHO WANT TO BE LIKE
HIM IN POLITICS WOULD REALIZE
THAT LEE FINALLY SAID, "WE DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE."
-WHAT REALLY DISGUSTED ME
ABOUT LEE'S "DEATHBED"
PRONOUNCEMENTS WAS THAT HE WAS
PURPOSEFULLY, WILLFULLY
MIS-PORTRAYED.
IT WASN'T ABOUT, "I WANT TO GO
TO HEAVEN," OR, "I'M GONNA --"
SOME CONFESSIONAL OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
-IF ANYBODY SAID THAT THIS MAN
DID NOT APOLOGIZE, THEY LIED.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS ON HIS
DEATHBED.
I WAS THERE.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE SENT OUT
TELEGRAMS TO EVERYBODY THAT I
MIGHT HAVE HURT, EVEN TO
WILLIE HORTON."
-THEY HAD TO KILL THE
MESSENGER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
KILL THE MESSAGE.
THEY HAD TO TURN HIM INTO A
BOOGIE MAN, SATAN INCARNATE.
-LEE ATWATER MADE HIMSELF A
FIGURE OF DEMONOLOGY TO PSYCH
OUT HIS OPPONENTS AND TO
ANESTHETIZE PEOPLE TO HIS
TACTICS.
AND THE SAD PART -- SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THE JUSTIFIED PART --
WAS THAT THE ROLE HE MADE FOR
HIMSELF ENDED UP LITERALLY
IMPRISONING HIM.
[ INTRO TO LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS'
"DEATH BELLS" PLAYS ]
-♪ SOUND LIKE I'M HEARING
MOANING ♪
-HE ALWAYS HAD A DRIVER, AND
WE'D JUST GET IN THE CAR AND
JUST RIDE.
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-"IN 1988, FIGHTING DUKAKIS, I
SAID THAT I WOULD STRIP THE BARK
OFF THE LITTLE BASTARD AND MAKE
WILLIE HORTON HIS RUNNING MATE.
I'M SORRY FOR BOTH STATEMENTS,
THE FIRST FOR ITS NAKED CRUELTY,
THE SECOND BECAUSE IT MAKES ME
SOUND RACIST, WHICH I AM NOT."
-♪ DEATH BELLS RINGING ALL IN
MY HEAD ♪
-THERE WAS ONE VERSE IN THE
BIBLE THAT STUCK WITH LEE --
"WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE
HIS OWN SOUL?"
-♪ ...I WAS GONNA LEAVE ON A
CHARIOT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ♪
-AND THAT STUCK IN HIS CRAW.
-♪ WHAT KIND OF CHARIOT GONNA
TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE? ♪
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE DIED ON GOOD FRIDAY.
HE WAS BURIED ON APRIL FOOL'S
DAY -- BUT IT WAS EASTER
SUNDAY -- IN HIS JOGGING SUIT.
THERE'S LEE RIGHT THERE.
SEEKING REDEMPTION, AND YET HE
GOES OUT THUMBING HIS NOSE.
-HE WAS A KINGMAKER.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
-HE REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS
MACHIAVELLIAN, AND HE WAS, IN
THE VERY BEST SENSE OF THAT
TERM.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
-THIS LITTLE GUY FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WAS BEING TREATED
LIKE A HEAD OF STATE.
I CRIED, AND I CRIED LIKE A
BABY.
EMOTION JUST POURED OUT OF ME.
THE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE LEGACY OF
THE GREATNESS.
IT'S THE LEGACY OF SORT OF ONE
OF THE EVILDOERS OF AMERICAN
POLITICS.
HE WASN'T THAT.
HE WAS AN INSECURE KID WHO GOT
TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES AND
GOT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
HE SHOWED THEM.
HE DEFINITELY SHOWED THEM.
-I, WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...
-IF LEE WAS ALIVE,
BILL CLINTON WOULD'VE NEVER GOT
ELECTED.
THAT WAS REALLY SAD TO SEE.
-WHEN YOU HAVE A TALENT AS
DEEP AS ATWATER'S AND ROVE'S,
YOU LOSE, BUT YOU DON'T LOSE.
LOSING A BATTLE IS NOT LOSING
THE WAR, AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY.
-...PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES...
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-...SO HELP ME GOD.
-CONGRATULATIONS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-ROVE LEARNED THE TACTICS AT
THE KNEE OF LEE, MOVED INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
SERVICE OF A POLITICAL
OPERATIVE, AND I'D SAY THAT'S
NEW AND -- AND RATHER
FRIGHTENING.
-FALSE RUMORS, PLAYING THE
MEDIA, AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR.
LEE FINALLY SAID BEFORE HE DIED,
"IT'S ALL BULLSHIT."
TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
-HE WAS TELLING A STORY ABOUT
HOW THE LIVING BIBLE WAS WHAT
WAS GIVING HIM FAITH, AND I SAID
TO MARY, "I REALLY SINCERELY
HOPE THAT HE FOUND PEACE."
SHE SAID, "ED, WHEN WE WERE
CLEANING UP HIS THINGS
AFTERWARDS, THE BIBLE WAS STILL
WRAPPED IN THE CELLOPHANE, HAD
NEVER BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE
PACKAGE," WHICH JUST SORT OF
TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THERE WAS.
HE WAS SPINNING RIGHT TO THE
END.
[ MID-TEMPO BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]
-♪ THEY SEEN ME WALKING AS I
PASSED YOU BY ♪
♪ SCANDALIZED MY NAME, BABY,
BUT I WON'T CRY ♪
♪ GO UP AGAINST ME ♪
♪ SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪
♪ WELL, YOU CAUGHT ME CRAWLING,
BABY, WHEN THE GRASS WAS HIGH ♪
♪ BUT I'M GONNA KEEP ON CRAWLING
TILL THE DAY I DIE ♪
♪ I'M A CRAWLING KING SNAKE ♪
♪ NOTHING TO FORGIVE ♪
♪ I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE, AND I
LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE ♪