Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked

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Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked Page 39

by Chris Matthews


  McHugh, Drake (character), 81–82

  Magee, John Gillespie, Jr., 336

  “magic asterisk,” 175

  “malaise speech,” 7, 47

  Man of the House (O’Neill), 36–37, 365

  Marine One, 1, 67

  marines, U.S.:

  in Lebanon, 258, 262–68, 270–73, 277, 279–83, 293

  in Nicaragua, 262, 277, 354

  Markey, Edward, 252, 326

  Marvin, Lee, 89

  Maryknoll Sisters, 355–56

  Massachusetts, 29

  O’Neill’s political career in, 99–105

  O’Neill’s support of projects for, 108–9

  Master of Phones, 155

  Mathis, Johnny, 205

  Matthews, Chris, 50, 180

  assigned to O’Neill’s team, 58–63, 116–17

  at funeral of Sobhuza, 225–27

  as Capitol policeman, 21–22, 61, 150, 152

  as Carter speechwriter, 5, 6, 10, 14, 15, 24–25, 55, 58, 61, 67, 150, 151, 170, 201

  election defeat of, 23–24

  first meeting between O’Neill and, 60–61

  grandmother of, 21–22, 368

  idealism of, 18, 23

  Irish heritage of, 21–22

  journalism career of, 364

  as O’Neill’s administrative assistant, 18, 131, 140–41, 147, 148, 149–63, 184–86, 194–201, 210, 213–15, 219–20, 222, 230–34, 237–38, 240, 243, 251–52, 277–78, 282, 296–99, 303, 342, 368–69

  O’Neill’s anger at, 209–10, 296–99

  O’Neill’s regard for, 184

  parents of, 130–31

  path to politics of, 17–25

  in Peace Corps, 16, 18–20, 57, 368

  in revamping of O’Neill’s image, 56–59, 61, 140–41

  on winter break trip to Africa, 246, 251

  Matthews, Kathleen, 6, 15, 246, 299

  Matthews, Michael, 246

  Mbabama, Mr., 226

  Medicaid, 189

  Medicare, 4, 8, 244

  Meese, Edwin, 33, 127, 180, 360–61

  Meet the Press (TV show), 153

  Michel, Robert, 30–31, 120, 220, 230–31, 242, 293, 319, 320, 342

  military and defense spending, Reagan plan for, 27–28, 33, 43, 48, 63, 64, 69, 156, 183, 216

  Milius, Peter, 234

  Miller, Mildred Ann, see O’Neill, Mildred Ann Miller

  “mission creep,” 271

  Mitterrand, François, 316

  Moffett, Toby, 197

  Mondale, Walter, 288–92, 299–304

  Mondale “victory” party, 291

  Moscow, bipartisan delegation to, 320–22

  Moss, Frank, 21–22, 24, 61, 150

  Moyers, Bill, 196

  Moynihan, Daniel Patrick, 65, 67, 247, 331

  Mrazek, Bob, 239

  Mrs. Miniver (film), 82

  Munich Conference, 260

  Murtha, Jack, 156, 214, 215

  Muskie, Edmund, 24, 57, 65

  Muslims, in Lebanon, 264, 265

  “mutual assured destruction,” 310

  MX missile (Peacekeeper), 313, 317–20

  Nader, Ralph, 22, 62

  Namier, Lewis, 329

  NASA, 335

  National Association of Evangelicals, 313

  National Cathedral, 170

  National Commission on Social Security Reform (Greenspan Commission), 245–47

  National Conference of the Building and Construction Trades luncheon, 69

  National Council of Catholic Charities, 25

  national debt, 47

  raising ceiling on, 51–53

  National Press Club breakfasts, 126–27

  National Republican Congressional Committee, 31, 237

  National Security Council (NSC), 9, 315, 350, 360

  Navy, U.S., 204

  NBC, 214, 291

  Neville, Mike, 104

  New Deal, 11, 29, 30, 37, 57, 64, 86, 196, 213

  “new federalism,” 189

  New Hampshire, primary in, 3–4

  New Republic, 287–88, 296

  Newsweek, 353

  New York Times, xvi–xvii, 10, 11, 44, 46, 126, 137, 212, 216, 235–36, 240, 247, 248, 268, 280, 285–86, 299, 348

  New York Times Magazine, 161

  Nicaragua, U.S. intervention in, 262–63, 269, 276–77, 279, 346, 349–59

  Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance Forces, see Contras

  Nicholson, Arthur, 318–19

  Nixon, Richard, 7, 34, 35–36, 86, 107–8, 112, 135, 156, 247

  Noonan, Peggy, 336

  Normandy invasion, 299

  Norm (char.), 164

  North, Oliver, 350, 360

  North Carolina, University of, 18

  Northern Ireland, Protestant-Catholic issue in, 328, 329–35, 345

  Notre Dame, 4–5, 36–37, 81, 331

  Reagan’s commencement address at, 135–36

  Nowak, Henry, 221

  nuclear arms, 12, 309–13, 316

  talks with Soviets on, 308, 320–27, 363

  nuclear “freeze,” 312–13, 317, 326

  O’Brien, Elizabeth, 100

  O’Brien, Pat, 37, 76, 80–81, 135, 330

  obstructionism, 13

  common good vs., xvi, 161, 216

  O’Neill’s avoidance of, 30, 53, 197, 233

  O’Connell, “Moose,” 96

  O’Connor, Sandra Day, 146–47

  O’Donnell, Kirk, 50, 58–59, 62, 116, 118, 134, 143, 150, 152, 153, 161, 173, 181, 184, 185, 210, 222, 236, 238, 243–44, 277, 279, 299, 341–42, 367, 369

  oil, OPEC’s rise in price of, 9

  O’Neill, Christopher “Kip,” 58, 149–50, 296–97, 369

  O’Neill, James Edward “Tip,” 96

  O’Neill, Mary Rose, 96

  O’Neill, Mildred Ann Miller “Millie,” 34, 43–45, 47, 60, 74, 102–3, 106, 145, 179, 286, 325, 348

  O’Neill, Patrick, 99

  O’Neill, Susan, 54, 109

  O’Neill, Thomas P., III, xvi, xvii, 38, 335, 340, 369

  O’Neill, Thomas P., Jr. “Tip”:

  age issue for, 307, 367–68

  Australia junket of, 118–21

  authenticity of, 162–63, 174, 210

  in battles against Reagan, 61–62, 126–30, 133–47, 159–63, 184–87, 190, 227–41, 254–55

  in bipartisan cooperation with Reagan, xv-xvi, 30, 35, 39, 53, 203–4, 206, 216–23, 241, 242, 243–57, 264, 266–68, 270–75, 277–79, 317, 320–21, 338, 344–45, 362, 365–70

  as chief spokesman for Democrats, 47, 56, 59, 116, 140, 163

  childhood and early years of, 96–99

  children of, 106, 109; see also specific children

  death of, 370

  demagoguery charge against, 138–39, 141–42, 351

  Democratic congressional threat to, 303–7

  dinner in honor of, 340–41

  elected to House, 29

  first meeting between Reagan and, 36–38

  foreign policy stance of, 261–62

  and Gingrich, 295–96

  on government, 101–2, 133, 162, 174, 253

  on Grenada invasion, 258

  health and fitness issues of, 107, 158

  integrity of, xv, xvi, xvii, 192

  Irish heritage of, xvi, 35, 37, 40, 45, 49, 60, 95, 170, 203, 222, 240, 255, 298, 329–32, 341, 367, 369

  JFK and, 104–6

  last term of, 339–45

  on Lebanon, 271–73, 280–81

  legacy of, 364–70

  as majority whip, 110

  in Massachusetts politics, 99–105, 347

  midterm election strategy of, 227–41

  in Moscow delegation, 319–22

  in 1984 election, 284, 285–88, 292–307

  on Nixon, 107–8

  in Nixon impeachment, 111–12

  and Northern Ireland, 328, 329–35

  as outsider, 97–98

  on PATCO strike, 167–68

  personal appearance of, 31, 55
, 61, 107, 124, 141, 162–63, 181, 185, 239

  personal civility toward Reagan by, xvi, 35–38, 44–45, 49, 74, 124–25, 143, 160, 161, 203, 207, 222, 251, 274, 293, 299, 307, 331, 341, 345, 365–66

  political path of, 29, 59, 94, 95–113, 339

  political philosophy of, 95, 98, 100, 101–2, 132, 198, 247

  political rivalry between Reagan and, xv-xvi, 49, 133–47, 180, 254–55, 276–77, 279–83, 292–94, 345, 351, 353–58, 365–66

  political strategy of, 28, 63–65, 108, 129–30, 134, 182–87, 305–7, 319–20, 323–24, 344, 357

  political style of, xvi–xvii, 51, 52–53, 55, 57, 106–7, 113, 155, 286–87, 288

  post-assassination attempt visit to Reagan by, 73–74

  pragmatism of, 30–31, 52, 122, 182

  predictions of political demise of, 161–63, 209

  professionalism of, 31, 54

  quips of, 37, 41–42, 125, 190, 211, 229, 234, 256, 302

  Reagan compared with, xv, 95, 96, 99, 127, 181, 185, 287–88, 329–30

  Reagan’s regard for, 179

  on Reagan’s strengths, 30, 44

  religious background of, 330

  resurgence of, 173–74, 183–84, 192, 225–41

  retirement of, 285–86, 339–40, 352, 368–69

  revamping image of, 56–59, 61–62, 140–43

  sixty-ninth birthday party of, 178–79

  sociability of, 96–97, 99, 106–7, 113, 119, 158, 178, 210

  and Soviet Union, 308, 317–26

  as Speaker, xv, 40, 108, 112, 116, 148, 153, 154, 186, 224, 346

  team of, 58–60, 153–54, 251

  toughness of, 108–9, 111–12, 126–27, 136–44, 146, 162, 255, 279

  in U.S House of Representatives, xv, 105–13

  O’Neill, Thomas Philip, Sr., 95, 100

  O’Neill, William, 96, 99

  Organization of American States, 269

  Ortega, Daniel, 350, 352–54

  pacifism, 203–4

  Pac-Man analogy, 233

  Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 263–64

  Panama, 262, 349

  Parr, Jerry, 2, 66, 67–68, 70–71

  partisanship:

  author’s fun with, 62–63

  blame in, 52

  polarization in, xvi

  patriotism, Reagan’s sense of, 6–7, 312

  patronage, 95–96

  Patterson, Jerry, 126

  payroll tax, 244, 246, 248, 249

  Peace Corps, 16, 18–20, 57, 368

  Peacekeeper, see MX missile

  Pearl Harbor attack, 82

  “Pennsylvania Corner,” 156

  Pentagon Papers, 22

  “people’s crusade,” 213

  Peoria bridge project, 231

  Pepper, Claude, 213

  Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 348

  Peterson, Cass, 150–51

  Pettigrew, Richard, 24

  Phoenix Park Hotel, 344

  Pickle, Jake, 168–69

  Pitts, Billy, 120, 295–96

  Plains, Ga., 1–2, 13, 14, 67

  Poindexter, John, 359

  polls, in 1980 election, 6, 10, 13

  Powell, Jody, xviii, 1, 10, 11–12, 13–14

  President’s Reorganization Project, 24

  press:

  function of, 186–87

  investigative, 119–20

  O’Neill’s regular appearances before, 54, 56, 62, 117, 122, 152, 154, 174, 185, 188, 189, 271, 274, 352, 356

  opposition to Reagan in, 281

  power of, 134

  Reagan’s honeymoon with, 54

  see also specific outlets

  Pretty Poison (film), 51

  Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike, 165–67, 170, 320

  public opinion:

  in favor of Reagan, 46–47, 65

  on Iran, 359

  on O’Neill, 161–62

  on Reagan, 196, 208

  in shift to Democrats, 191

  public works:

  bill, 253

  projects, 230–31

  Quayle, Dan, 369

  radio:

  Reagan’s career in, 79

  Reagan’s use of, 196, 234

  Rafshoon, Gerald “Jerry,” 2, 13, 38

  Rangel, Charlie, 304

  Rather, Dan, 301

  Raum, Tom, 236

  Rayburn, Sam, 36, 105, 261, 285

  Raymond (food vendor), 154–55

  Reagan, Jack, 78

  Reagan, Maureen, 282

  Reagan, Nancy, 28, 32, 34, 42, 45, 68, 72, 73, 79, 85, 114, 221, 253, 269, 280, 282, 302, 325, 370

  Reagan, Neil, 78

  Reagan, Nelle, 78

  Reagan, Ron, 85, 127, 179, 221, 310

  Reagan, Ronald, 76, 114, 180, 206, 224, 346, 362

  as affable, 38, 80, 89, 159, 178

  age issue of, 301–2, 307, 367–68

  in Air Traffic Controllers strike, 165–67

  Alzheimer’s disease suffered by, 370

  arrival in Washington of, xv, 28

  as SAG president, 86

  assassination attempt on, 66, 67–74, 114,, 115–18, 121, 122, 140, 161, 314, 340

  at Gym Dinner, 159

  birth and childhood of, 78–79

  on Challenger explosion, 335–37

  children of, 83, 85

  on communism in Hollywood, 87–89

  in cooperation with O’Neill, xv, xviii, 35, 39, 53, 203–4, 217–23, 242, 243–57, 365–70

  critics’ views of, xvi, 218–19

  death of, 369

  diary entries of, 46, 70, 121, 124, 145–46, 159, 160, 165, 168, 169, 170, 175, 188, 189, 200, 221, 249, 255, 257, 270, 280–81, 302, 314–16, 319–20, 352, 353, 357, 358–60

  “Dutch” nickname of, 78, 80, 84

  early obstacles of, 77–79

  economic strategy of, see economy, Reagan’s plan for

  elite image of, 137–38, 160, 182, 187, 189–90, 254

  first election of, 27, 349, 357

  first inauguration of, xv, 30, 38–39, 44, 51, 67, 151

  first meeting between O’Neill and, 36–38

  “Gipper” nickname of, 4, 135–36

  Gorbachev’s summit meetings with, 317, 323–27, 363–64

  on government, 26, 39, 69, 90, 156, 253

  as governor of California, 2, 8, 33, 37, 77, 91, 188

  in Grenada invasion, 258, 268–70, 274–79, 342, 349

  hard line style of, 165–67

  heroic image of, 115–31, 135–36, 257

  Hollywood career of, xvi, 2, 3, 4–5, 8, 31, 33, 38, 68, 77, 79–90, 98, 188, 260, 330

  on ideal of democracy, 260

  integrity of, xv, xvi–xvii

  Irish heritage of, xv, xvi, 5, 37, 40, 45, 49, 78, 80, 89, 201, 203, 222, 255, 298, 299, 329–32, 341, 367

  legacy of, 363–70

  media savvy of, 6, 8, 55, 140, 184, 187, 253, 299

  midterm election strategy of, 228–41

  military service of, 82–83

  national visibilty of, 90

  1980 presidential victory of, 2–12

  in 1984 election, 285–88, 291–94, 296, 298–99, 301–2, 304

  and Northern Ireland, 328, 329–35

  on nuclear weapons, 308, 309–10

  O’Neill compared to, xv, 95, 96, 99, 127, 181, 185, 287–88, 329–30

  on O’Neill’s career, 340–41

  O’Neill’s envy of, 77, 86

  O’Neill’s regard for, 178

  personal civility toward O’Neill by, xvi, 35–38, 45–46, 49, 142, 145, 178, 203–4, 207, 222, 233–34, 299, 340–41, 345, 365–66

  political path of, 27–39, 84–93, 98, 134–35, 312

  political philosophy of, 4, 12, 33, 48–49, 75, 132, 198, 247

  political rivalry between O’Neill and, xv-xvi, 49, 133–47, 254–55, 282–83, 294, 345, 351, 353–58, 365–66

  political style of, xvi–xvii, 3, 128, 145, 218–19, 287–88, 299

>   presidency assumed by, xvi, 27, 30–39, 40

  “public” vs. “private,” 85–86

  quips of, 3–4, 5, 72, 115, 138, 161, 190, 233–34, 253, 333, 340

  religious background of, 330

  role-playing of, 3, 5, 6, 32, 33–34, 72, 92, 126, 197, 232, 253, 296

  Saturday radio addresses of, 196–97

  second inauguration of, 307

  self-awareness of, 31–32

  self-invention of, 4–5, 48, 92

  seventieth birthday of, 44

  seventy-second birthday of, 253

  sociability of, 28, 34, 96

  and Soviet Union, 308, 309–27

  star power of, 54, 325

  State of the Union addresses of, 187–89, 251–54, 281, 293, 335, 340

  Stockman’s betrayal of, 174–77

  troubling signs for, 168–79

  underestimation of, 2–4, 41, 91

  worldview of, 259–60

  Reagan administration, team of aides in, 30–33, 58

  Reagan Democrats, 4–6

  Reaganomics, see economy, Reagan’s plan for

  “Reagan’s Faithful Allies” (Dole), 247

  recession, 172–73, 183, 196, 227, 240

  “Redneck Row,” 124, 155–56

  Regan, Donald, 172, 344, 356, 361

  Regula, Ralph, 119

  Reid, Harry, 22

  “Repeal O’Neill” button, 239

  Republican National Committee, 213

  Republican National Convention, of 1980, 5

  Republicans, Republican Party

  O’Neill lampooned in TV ad of, 31, 120, 143, 181

  partisan propaganda against, 62–63

  Reagan’s transition to, 90–91

  Senate control by, 28, 30, 55, 171

  Reston, James, 240–41, 279–80

  Reykjavik, Iceland, Reagan-Gorbachev summit in, 326–27, 363

  Rhodesian Railways, 19

  Rich, Spencer, 237

  Roberts, Steven V., 137–38, 216

  Robinson, Betty, 214

  Rockne, Knute, 4, 37, 80–81

  Rogers, David, 118, 163, 280, 350

  Rogers, Roy, 5

  Roosevelt, Franklin, 11, 53, 82, 86, 100–101, 140, 178, 234, 337, 364

  Rostenkowski, Dan “Rosty,” 109–10, 119, 160, 193, 245–46, 250, 304, 306–7, 341–43

  Roth, William, 195, 211

  Rubenstein, David, 12

  Sadat, Anwar, assassination of, 170–71

  St. George, Grenada, 277–78

  St. George’s University School of Medicine, 268–70, 274–79

  St. Louis Browns, 96

  St. Patrick’s Day luncheons, 331–32

  Saltonstall, Leverett, 108

  Sandinistas, 263, 349

  Sandino, Augusto César, 262–63

  San Francisco, Calif., Democratic convention in, 299–301

  San Francisco Examiner, 364

  Santa Fe Trail (film), 82

  Saudi Arabia, 350

  Schmidt, Helmut, 314

  Schweiker, Richard, 130

 

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