True Tales From the Campaign Trail, Vol. 2: Stories Only Political Consultants Can Tell by Jerry Austin

Author:Jerry Austin [Austin, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, Political Process, Campaigns & Elections
ISBN: 9781629220178
Google: guJwzgEACAAJ
Publisher: University of Akron Press
Published: 2021-11-20T02:35:51+00:00

Convention Madness

Rick Rendon

In 1980, I was working as a field organizer for the Carter/Mondale reelection campaign. After the primaries were over we were all preparing for the National Democratic Convention in New York City.

I was brought back to Washington, DC, and became one of the delegate trackers. I was given eight states where I was supposed to track delegates. Basically my job was to make sure we didn’t lose any delegates to Ted Kennedy and make sure they would support President Carter’s platform on issues.

That is all I did that summer. I called up delegates. I befriended them. I sent them personal notes. I flew out to their state to meet with them. I did briefings with the delegations. I got to know their families. I took care of their every need.

During the convention I was on the floor running around from state to state with my little delegate book and I’m having a problem with the delegation in Wyoming.

We get word that the Kennedy folks are going to try to do a last-minute effort to open up the convention in the hope that some delegates would switch their support from Carter to Kennedy. The entire convention comes down to this one, really critical vote.

The trackers are all crowded into the delegate trailer where we had these point-to-point phones; direct lines so you could pick up a phone, dial a state delegation, and be connected to the head of the delegation—usually the governor.

Suddenly Hamilton Jordan comes into the trailer and says, “Ok everybody, the vote’s coming down shortly, we got any problems out there?”

And I said, “Yes, Hamilton, I think we have a problem with Wyoming.” Wyoming was one of my states. “It seems like we’re losing some delegates in Wyoming.”

Hamilton immediately says, “Son, get over to the command trailer.” If Hamilton Jordan tells you to run off a bridge, you’re going to run off the bridge.

I go running over to the command trailer. The most critical vote of the convention is coming down and I’m losing delegates! I burst into the command trailer, not even thinking about who was going to be there. I just burst right through the door and sitting around the table is the “high command”—Jody Powell, Walter Mondale, and Bob Strauss.

Strauss looks up at me and says, “Son, what are you doing?”

I’m so out of breath I can barely get the words out. “Sir, Mr. Strauss sir, Hamilton Jordan sent me over here to tell you that we’re having a problem with the delegates in Wyoming.”

Keep in mind that I’m only twenty-four years old and my only job that summer, the entire summer, was to keep my delegates in line. The last three months, I’ve flown across the country to meet with these delegates. I’ve had dinner with these delegates, I’ve sent them personal notes, birthday cards, you name it—I know everything about them.

Strauss says, “Son, get me the governor on the phone.”

I pick up the direct-line phone and call the Wyoming delegation. “Governor Herschler, Rick Rendon here, Bob Strauss would like to talk to you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.