The Real Romney

by Kranish, Michael

  One autumn day in 2011, Romney headlined a fund-raiser in a ballroom of a Marriott hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. J. W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., the chairman and CEO of Marriott International and a longtime friend, introduced him by celebrating his service on the company’s board of directors. He told the roughly 250 people there that Romney had helped save his company when it was facing economic difficulties. Now, Marriott said, he could do the same for the country. Among those in the audience was Dane McBride. Few people have a better insight into Romney’s development over the years. McBride had grown up as the only Mormon in his North Carolina high school. His childhood hero had been George Romney. Then, as a missionary, McBride had been paired with Mitt and believed from the start that this was a young man who would one day match his father’s ambition. He had attended Romney’s wedding, and they had both gone to BYU. Now he was supporting his friend in the biggest test of Romney’s life. Watching him that day in Maryland, McBride felt his mind wandering back across the years. “He was the same passionate person that I had known since we were nineteen years old,” he said.

  Back in those missionary days, Romney had learned how to speak carefully, to avoid coming across as some kind of extremist from a fringe religion, McBride said. He’d learned how to work in an environment in which he was the minority, the one swimming against the tide, the one who did not have the luxury of being doctrinaire or absolute. Flexibility, adaptability, humility—those were the essential skills. But in politics, McBride lamented, finding common ground “can be interpreted as being inauthentic.” That tag of inauthenticity remained a serious risk as Romney charged deeper into the 2012 race. And there were others. For one, could the multimillionaire persuade the everyman that he knows what it means to struggle? Romney and his campaign hoped that the moment—one of great economic anxiety—perfectly matched his turnaround message. If Romney couldn’t sell that, he couldn’t sell anything.

  Back in Salem, New Hampshire, Romney is delivering his closing argument in characteristically grandiose terms. The United States, he warns, must remain a beacon of strength and liberty in an uncertain world. “If we don’t,” he says, “freedom itself is at risk.”

  He lingers on the wood floor afterward, his face framed by a red-and-blue sign that reads, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR MITT. He signs a few baseballs, saying to no one in particular that he feels like a pro athlete, an aside that his sons would find especially hilarious. He crouches down to meet people at eye level. A woman in patriotic garb challenges him on tax cuts, but he dispatches her with a pointed retort. “If you want to raise taxes, that’s easy to do,” he says; just vote for a Democrat.

  Slowly he makes his way toward a side door. He doesn’t have time to shake every hand. Or sign every brochure. Or give a word to the press. He has one last deal to close, and there’s a lot of work still to do. Time to go.

  Acknowledgments

  The names of two coauthors appear on the front of this book, but this is, in many ways, the work of numerous reporters and editors over the years who have helped tell the story of Mitt Romney in the pages of The Boston Globe. We are proud to count ourselves among them.

  This book was edited by one of the best in the business, Mark S. Morrow, a Globe deputy managing editor. Mark’s guidance, insight, and grace are imprinted on every page. We are extraordinarily grateful for his leadership.

  Support for this project came from every level of the newspaper, starting with Martin Baron, the editor of the Globe, who saw the great value—and service—the paper could provide by writing an exhaustive and fair-minded book rooted in the Globe staff’s unparalleled knowledge of Romney’s life and career. We are thankful for his vision and devotion to the craft, and to Christopher M. Mayer, the Globe’s publisher, for his belief in, and support for, serious, in-depth journalism in all its forms. Other senior Globe editors, including Managing Editor Caleb Solomon, Deputy Managing Editor Christine S. Chinlund, and Metro Editor Jennifer Peter, have likewise stood behind us.

  The Real Romney would simply not have been possible without a critical group of fellow Globe writers and editors. Beth Healy, whose knowledge of Boston’s private equity world is without equal among reporters, was an indispensable partner, as was Brian C. Mooney, who devoted many weeks to capturing Romney’s Massachusetts political record. The skillful hands of Neil Swidey and Peter S. Canellos, who has long been an advocate for this project, built the foundation on which much of the book rests. Michael Paulson was a constant resource for our understanding of Romney’s faith and his missionary work in France. Bob Hohler’s deep dive into the 2002 Winter Olympics was instrumental. Stephanie Ebbert’s work on Romney as a youth, family man, and politician was invaluable. And Robert Gavin and Sacha Pfeiffer’s reporting on Romney’s business career helped immensely.

  At HarperCollins, our editor, Tim Duggan, understood the potential in the project from the start and, with skill and enthusiasm, guided it to swift completion. His assistant editor, Emily Cunningham, provided invaluable help and support throughout. Tina Andreadis and Beth Harper of HarperCollins publicity have championed the book with spirit, and John Jusino, Shannon Ceci, and Lynn Anderson were key partners in bringing it to light.

  Janice Page, the Globe’s book development guru, enthusiastically guided this project from the beginning, and the Globe’s literary agents, Lane Zachary and Todd Shuster of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, expertly brought the book to reality. We are also indebted to our fact checkers, Stephanie Vallejo and Matt Mahoney, whose sharp eyes never ceased to amaze us. The Globe’s chief librarian, Lisa Tuite, and her staff, including Jeremiah Manion, Charlie Smiley, and Marleen Lee, fielded countless research requests with vigor. Others who contributed significantly to the project’s success include Ann Silvio, Scott LaPierre, Thea Breite, and Julie Chazyn. Glen Johnson, the political editor of Boston.com, generously shared his wealth of Romney knowledge. Donald MacGillis, the Globe’s national political editor, and Michael J. Bailey, the deputy national political editor, were supportive at every stage. We have drawn on stories written by scores of Globe writers over the years, but a few names stand out: Mitchell Zuckoff, Ben Bradlee, Jr., Charles Stein, Frank Phillips, and Scot Lehigh. Carolyn Ryan and David Dahl also provided strong editorial leadership as Romney debuted on the national stage.

  The Globe’s publicist, Mary Zanor, as always, provided energetic support. Assistance also was provided by Malgosia Myc, assistant reference archivist at Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, and Anna Schuessler of the Stanford Daily. Archivists at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University also provided valuable help, as did Richard B. Anderson, Grant Bennett, and John Wright.

  We conducted more than one hundred interviews in 2011 for this book, many with people who had never previously talked publicly. From Stanford classmates and Bain Capital partners to Mormon leaders and 2008 campaign aides, we are deeply grateful to everyone who made time for us and saw the value in a complete, independent biography, including many sources who requested anonymity and whose names do not appear in this volume. Romney’s cousin Mike Romney graciously took Michael Kranish on a tour of the Mormon colony in Mexico established by the Romney family. Essdras M. Suarez, a Globe photographer, was a delightful companion in retracing the journey of Romney’s ancestors in the American Southwest and Mexico.

  From Michael Kranish:

  I am grateful to the Globe’s Washington bureau chief, Christopher Rowland, for allowing me to step aside from many daily duties and work on this project. He and my Washington colleagues were a source of much wisdom. They include Matt Viser, who followed Romney on the campaign trail; Donovan Slack, who monitored Romney’s campaign money; and Tracy Jan and Bryan Bender. I am also indebted to my family for allowing me to keep the “Author at Work” sign on the door and understanding the press of deadlines and passion for this type of project, as they have since I worked a similar project for the Globe about John Kerry and then for an independent book about Thomas Jefferson. My wife, Sylvia, and
daughters, Jessica and Laura, are always on my front page. My mother, Allye, who owned a Scandinavian design store one block from the White House, and my late father, Arthur, the first Washington journalist in the family, fostered my interest in presidential politics and history from the earliest days. To my fellow reporters and editors at the Globe, you are an inspiration, daily.

  From Scott Helman:

  I would like to thank my editors at the Globe magazine for freeing me, without complaint, to work on this book and seeing its value, starting with Anne V. Nelson and Doug Most, but also Francis Storrs, Veronica Chao, and Melissa Schorr. All have been enthusiastically supportive. My wife, Jessica, was a voice of love and support from the beginning, abiding, with my sons, Jonas and Eli, many nights and weekend days with me holed up in the attic. I’m forever indebted to my parents, Kay and Larry, whose midwestern values—and memories of Michigan’s George Romney, albeit from the superior state to the south—informed this book in more ways than they know. And to my Globe family—a heartfelt thank-you for all you’ve taught me.

  Notes

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

  Prologue

  6 “There is no leader”: A. F. Mahan, “Busy George Romney Can’t Resist Challenge,” Associated Press, February 8, 1962.

  7 “Politics is like washing diapers”: Niraj Warikoo, “Wife of Former Governor Had Opinions of Her Own,” Detroit Free Press, July 8, 1998.

  Chapter 1: Praying for a Miracle

  11 Now, in 1946: Neil Swidey, “Lessons of the Father,” The Boston Globe Magazine, August 13, 2006.

  11 She needed a major operation: George Romney, letter to his family, March 13, 1947. Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, call number 852178 Aa 2.

  12 “I remember my father’s face”: Interview with Jane Romney, 2006.

  12 “long and heated arguments”: Clark Raymond Mollenhoff, George Romney, Mormon in Politics (New York: Meredith Press, 1968), 44.

  12 “never marry him”: Ibid., 45.

  13 “Miss Lenore LaFount”: “Inspiring Lives: George Romney,” http://byutv.org/watch/31c61253-ffe4-42ad-808d-e3b3486c1c7e#!page=2&season=All-Seasons.

  13 “the biggest sale”: George W. Romney, The Concerns of a Citizen (New York: Putnam, 1968), 259.

  13 “never had any regrets”: “Fate Changed Mrs. Romney’s Plan to Become a Film Star,” The Holland (Michigan) Evening Sentinel, February 24, 1962, p. 4.

  13 “This was the legend”: Interview with Jane Romney.

  13 He left his lobbyist job: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 44–48.

  14 “We consider it a blessing”: George Romney, letter to his family, March 13, 1947, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, call number 852178 Aa 2.

  15 In 1953: “Republicans: The Citizen’s Candidate,” Time, November 16, 1962, www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829375,00.html.

  15 “We’re going to make”: Mitt Romney, Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games (Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 2007), 11.

  15 One of the keys: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 118–119.

  16 “If Ramblers are such great cars”: Interview with Scott Romney, 2007.

  16 thirty miles per gallon: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 103; “Autos: Gamble on the Rambler,” Time, December 19, 1955; U.S. Department of Transportation, “Summary of Fuel Economy Performance,” April 28, 2011, www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/rulemaking/pdf/cafe/2011_Summary_Report.pdf.

  16 30-cents-per-gallon gas: The price of gas was about 30 cents a gallon in 1955. The inflation calculation comes from www.westegg.com/inflation/.

  17 “It was more like”: Romney, Turnaround, 11–12.

  17 When Mitt was fourteen years old: Arthur O’Shea and Bert Emanuele, “Mormons: Each a Teacher, Each Taught,” Detroit Free Press, April 16, 1961.

  17 “Dream and dream big”: Romney, The Concerns of a Citizen, 263–267.

  17–18 “I grew up idolizing him”: Romney, Turnaround, 11.

  18 “Dad was more settled”: Interview with Jane Romney. George Romney appeared on the cover of Time on November 16, 1962.

  18 “a real breakthrough”: “Back at the Mansion,” Time, January 11, 1963.

  18 “the Bickersons”: Interview with Tagg Romney, 2007.

  18 “a loner”: Brock Brower, “Puzzling Front Runner,” Life, May 5, 1967.

  19 Mitt wanted no repeat: Jack Thomas, “Ann Romney’s Sweetheart Deal,” The Boston Globe, October 20, 1994.

  19 “Mitt’s more like”: Interview with Jane Romney.

  19 When George held: Neil Swidey and Michael Paulson, “Touched by Tragedy, a Leader Emerges from a Life of Privilege,” The Boston Globe, June 24, 2007.

  20 “one of the most enchanted”: www.cranbrookart.edu/Pages/History.html.

  20 “He was tall”: Swidey and Paulson, “Touched by Tragedy, a Leader Emerges from a Life of Privilege.”

  20 “Mitt is doing well”: Mitt Romney 1961 report card, Cranbrook School, www.boston.com/news/daily/24/romney_reportcard.pdf.

  21 “He came up to the car”: Interview with Graham McDonald, 2011.

  21 “was genuinely distressed”: Interview with Gregg Dearth, 2011.

  22 “It was definitely looked upon”: Interview with Sidney Barthwell, 2011. Barthwell, the lone black in Romney’s class, went on to become a magistrate judge in Michigan as well as a successful runner.

  22 had cramped up: Interview with Graham McDonald.

  22 “It is something”: Interview with Gregg Dearth.

  22 running through the New Hampshire woods: “Ad Watch: Romney’s ‘Leadership’ and Lakeside Jog,” The Washington Post, August 8, 2007, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/channel–08/2007/08/ad_watch_romneys_leadership_an.html.

  22 George agreed to work with: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 163–167, 173; recession information at http://recession.org/history/early-1960s-recession.

  23 “You know, I think”: “Cover Story,” New England Cable News, October 31, 2002.

  23 George decided: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 167.

  23 “I would introduce myself”: Romney, Turnaround, 12.

  23 “You can’t find”: Tom Wicker, “Kennedy Assails G.O.P. over Trade; in Detroit Speech, He Says Republicans Impeded Bill,” The New York Times, October 7, 1962.

  23 But even President Kennedy: Romney would have many interactions later in life with the Kennedy family. He would lose a Senate race to President Kennedy’s brother Edward but then, as governor, work with him on health care legislation.

  24 a pamphlet: “Who Is the Real George Romney?” (Detroit: Michigan AFL-CIO, 1966).

  24 “too much as a business party”: “The Citizen’s Candidate,” Time, November 16, 1962.

  24 “Romney Son”: Swidey and Paulson, “Touched by Tragedy, a Leader Emerges from a Life of Privilege.”

  24 “It was lots more fun”: “Mitt Romney Keeps Vigil as Clock Is Running Out; Hears Dad Argue, Win Point with Solons,” The Benton Harbor (Michigan) News-Palladium, December 19, 1963.

  25 “They would hug”: Interview with Dick Milliman, 2007.

  25 “like living in a drama”: Interview with Jane Romney.

  25 “The rights of some”: Mollenhoff, George Romney, 235.

  25 “Dogmatic ideological parties”: Ibid., 230.

  26 “A liberal in his treatment”: “BYUtv—Inspiring Lives: George Romney,” http://byutv.org/watch/31c61253-ffe4-42ad-808d-e3b3486c1c7e#!page=2&season=All-Seasons.

  26 When Mitt was asked: Mitt Romney, appearance on Meet the Press, December 16, 2007. During the same appearance, Romney incorrectly said that his father had marched with Martin Luther King, Jr.

  27 “It was primarily”: Interview with Sidney Barthwell, Jr.

  27 During one of his father’s: Interview with Scott Romney.

  28 Mitt had first met Ann: “Mitt Talks About Ann,” http://web.archive
.org/web/20080215013646/http://www.mittromney.com/Learn-About-Mitt/Photo-Album/The-Romney-Family/Mittxs_Tribute_to_Ann.

  28 “I caught his eye”: Thomas, “Ann Romney’s Sweetheart Deal.”

  28 “I fell in love”: Mitt Romney campaign ad, 2002.

  28 Mitt learned to keep up: Thomas, “Ann Romney’s Sweetheart Deal.”

  28 “no matter where he was”: Ibid.

  29 Her father: “Mitt Romney Marries Ann Davies,” The New York Times, March 22, 1969.

  29 “creative genius”: Thomas, “Ann Romney’s Sweetheart Deal.”

  29 “Dad,” said Ann’s older brother: Interview with Roderick Davies, 2007.

  30 “What,” she asked: Interview with Mitt Romney, 2007.