Additional information
by Dick Wirthlin (Author), Wynton C. Hall (With)
The outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes following Ronald Reagan's death demonstrated the love and admiration people still have for our nation's 40th president. Now, in this affectionate memoir, Reagan's chief political strategist and friend for 36 years offers a fascinating close-up portrait of the Great Communicator. Taking us inside the 1980 and 1984 presidential campaigns and beyond, Dick Wirthlin shares illuminating anecdotes, off-the-record remarks, and private moments that reveal the true Ronald Reagan. Through it all, Wirthlin points out the unique qualities and talents that made Reagan such a strong leader-and such a great communicator. For anyone who has fond memories of the late president, this admiring reminiscence brilliantly conjures up the strong values, gregarious charm, and all-American optimism that made Ronald Reagan great.
Front Jacket
This is not a book about what I did for Ronald Reagan, but about what he did for the world. . . . Those of us who were at Reagan's side from the beginning will tell you that he gave us more than we ever imagined. We will tell you that our lives are forever better for having worked in his shadow. And we will mean it.
-Dick Wirthlin
Ronald Reagan was a man of tremendous vision, strong moral character, and unwavering patriotism. The public outpouring of love and admiration at his passing shows just how beloved America's fortieth president was. The legacy he leaves behind was built over many long years of personal and professional ups and downs. And while speechwriters, chiefs of staff, and media advisors came and went during his political career, Dick Wirthlin-the strategic genius behind Reagan's greatest victories-was there with Reagan through it all.
Reagan once told a reporter, "When Dick Wirthlin speaks, I listen!" Now, Wirthlin speaks for Reagan one more time in The Greatest Communicator, a heartfelt personal reminiscence of the man Wirthlin respected and admired without reservation. He shares candid stories of Reagan no one else can tell, drawing on treasured memories of their many private moments and shared experiences, as well as an immense trove of files and notes.
From his first meeting with Governor Reagan in the fall of 1968, Wirthlin could see that this man was different. Some politicians love policy; Ronald Reagan loved people. Wirthlin was impressed by Reagan's warmth, his lack of pretense, his humble spirit, and, above all, his desire to build a strong and secure base for America's future. Here, Wirthlin reveals how Reagan forged a special relationship with the American people through his greatest gift: the extraordinary ability to communicate both publicly and privately, changing lives-and indeed, the world-with words.
Wirthlin shares the many lessons Reagan taught him, taking us on a behind-the-scenes journey through milestones in Reagan's political career: the 1976 loss to President Gerald Ford in the primary, one of the GOP's closest fights in modern history and the only time Reagan ever tasted electoral defeat; the tense meetings, awkward moments, high-stakes debates, and tough decisions on the road to winning the White House; the landslide victories of 1980 and 1984; and the reflective moments with Reagan to which only Wirthlin was witness. He also reveals how he unlocked one of the master communicator's greatest secrets: Reagan's rhetorical method that won over the hearts and minds of Democrats.
Brimming with affection, humor, and remarkable honesty, The Greatest Communicator is a shining tribute to the man Wirthlin was honored to serve for over two decades-and the dear lifelong friend he will never forget.
Back Jacket
Advance Praise
"For twenty years, Ronald Reagan relied upon Dick Wirthlin as his pollster, chief political strategist, and increasingly, as his trusted friend. Dick has waited until now to tell the inside story, but the wait has been more than worth it."
-David Gergen
"A lot of people claim to have been in Reagan's inner circle; Dick Wirthlin truly was. . . . must-reading for anyone who admired President Reagan."
-Lyn Nofziger
"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the inner workings of President Reagan's ability to communicate-and how he accomplished so much."
-Edwin Meese
"Dick Wirthlin was there at the beginning of the Ronald Reagan prairie fire that began with the speech for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and spread across the nation with the election to the presidency in 1980. . . . His recollections are a valuable part of the real history of the Reagan revolution."
-Michael Deaver
"A window into the secrets of Reagan's success . . . with a level of intimacy and grace that only comes from someone who was there from the beginning to see it from the inside."
-James Carville
"Was anybody more important to the Reagan revolution than Dick Wirthlin?. . . The president trusted him, in fact, thought the world of him, as did so many of us who worked with him on three presidential campaigns and in the White House years. He has quite a story to tell."
-Tony Dolan, author of the "Evil Empire" speech
"No one knew and understood Ronald Reagan the leader better than Dick Wirthlin . . . a smart and insightful book, indispensable to understanding Reagan."
-Fred Barnes, executive editor, The Weekly Standard, and cohost, The Beltway Boys, FOX News
Author Biography
DICK WIRTHLIN was Ronald Reagan's chief strategist and pollster from 1968 to 1988, including his 1980 and 1984 presidential campaigns. He is founder of Wirthlin Worldwide, an international strategic opinion research and consulting firm he created in 1969. Wirthlin has appeared on virtually every news television program, including FOX News, Larry King Live, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Good Morning America, and others.
WYNTON C. HALL is an award-winning presidential scholar and speechwriter. His published work has appeared in "The New York Times, USA Today," and "The Washington Times."
