Published By: All Right Magazine on October 13, 2008

By RICK ROBINSON

It’s
silly season in America.

With political pundits counting down the days until the 2008 Presidential
election, the candidates are doing all they can to garner a vote here or there.
The level of pandering and groveling borders on the absurd.

As candidates continue this battle, for some unknown reason, celebrities feel
the need to weigh in on the battle. Apparently, the candidates and their
campaign machines feel that the voters are so shallow that appearing on stage
with a well known celebrity or sports figure will somehow make them seem more
common.

Apparently,
families across America were on the edge of their collective seats waiting to
see whom Lindsay Lohan was supporting to be the leader of the free world.

On the other hand, Stephen Baldwin’s declaration that he will leave the country
if Obama wins cuts both ways. Many loyal McCain supporters are willing to vote
for Obama if they can be sure that when Stephen leaves, he would take his
brothers with him.

The dream of disappearing Baldwins notwithstanding, my general observation from
three decades in politics is that endorsements don’t really matter. Voters pay
attention to the Baldwins and Lohans of the world, but only for some intrinsic
entertainment value. They do not shift great blocks of voters.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.  The greatest exception was when the largest of figures, Ted Williams, came to
New England and changed the course of the 1988 Republican Presidential primary.

As Vice President under President Ronald Reagan, George Bush was the presumptive favorite in 1988 to gain the GOP presidential nomination. He had spent eight years carefully planning his run. A victory was presumed by most party leaders and political pundits. His aides had declared him invincible. After all, before being chosen as the Veep nominee eight years earlier, George Bush had beaten Ronald Reagan in Iowa. And now he had nearly a decade of service as Vice President, setting the stage the stage for an easy victory. Or would it?

Unfortunately,
Vice President George Bush had failed to recognize that his party had changed
over his two terms at the White House. The changing nature of Reagan’s
Republican Party had left an opening for others to claim that they had the
conservative credentials to serve Reagan’s third term.

Although Barry Goldwater was supporting Bush, Senate Leader Bob Dole, Congressman Jack Kemp and former Delaware Governor Pierre “Pete” du Pont were splitting the old Goldwater wing of the party. The man who had declared that he was constitutionally in charge at the White House when President Reagan had been shot, General Al Haig, went after the pro-hawk, anti-commie Republicans. And, a television minister, Rev. Pat Robertson, challenged all of them with something he called his “Christian Coalition” of Republican voters.

The Bush campaign didn’t recognize the divide quickly enough. The Vice President went to Iowa again ready to again declare that that “Big Mo” was behind him. However, on a cold night in Des Moines, momentum was not with Bush. Bush got beat by Dole. Not only did he get beat, but he finished a disappointing third behind Robertson.

The political sharks were circling when George
Bush flew to snowy New Hampshire. The once invincible candidate for President
had finished third in Iowa and was behind in the polls in New Hampshire. The
Union Leader endorsed Pete du Pont and, its longtime publisher, William Loeb,
called Bush a wimp. Early in the week Haig dropped out and endorsed Dole,
calling him “head and shoulders” above Bush in leadership abilities.

Speechwriters, pollsters and consultants gathered to sharpen the message. If Bush lost New Hampshire, the campaign was over.

The decision was made. Bush needed to quit being the “old eastern establishment” candidate and get out with the folks. He had convinced a Texas Congressional district that he was one of them. He could do the same thing in New Hampshire.

In steps Ted Williams.  George Bush had met Williams, the icon of professional baseball and New England, when they trained together as WWII aviators at the Chapel Hill Naval Air Station in 1942. Bush was 18 years old at the time. Williams, on leave from the Red Sox, was 24. They forged a friendship that lasted a lifetime.

There are many stories as to how Ted Williams came to fly to New Hampshire during the second week of February 1988. Some say that the Bush campaign sent for him. Others say that he went of his own accord.

According to an old DC lobbyist who met The Splendid Splinter at Logan Airport, Williams came on his own dime. In fact, according to Capitol Hill bar lore (which in DC is as good as any volume of history found in the Library of Congress), Williams came on such short notice that the lobbyist had to stop at Sears to pick up a heavy jacket for Williams to weather the effects of a severe snow storm which had hit unexpectedly the day before.

Williams arrived backstage at the day’s rally before the Vice President’s motorcade. When Bush did arrive, he was clearly agitated. He exited the car while uncharacteristically chewing out a staff member.

As Bush yelled at the staffer about his falling poll numbers, a figure larger than New England itself caught his attention.

“Any problems, Mr. Vice President?” asked Williams.

“Not now,” smiled Bush in reply. “Everything’s going to be fine now.”

The warm up speeches were in progress when Ted Williams strode onto the stage. Without even a simple introduction, the crowd went wild – standing, cheering, chanting for several minutes. “Teddy Ballgame” stood there and soaked in the adulation. He was never formally introduced. He didn’t have to be. Everyone in the crowd knew who he was.
He gave a simple introduction of Bush and with that introduction, the momentum of the entire election changed. “Big Mo” was now truly with George Bush.

For the next several days, everywhere George Bush appeared, Ted Williams was at his side. They went to a dog sled race in Laconia. At fishing show in Manchester, Bush said that he might as well not have existed. Wherever they went, Williams drew huge crowds and asked them to vote for his old pilot buddy George Bush.

Bush won New Hampshire by 9 points over Dole and went on to win the Republican nomination. A fresh television message attacking Dole’s voting record on taxes contributed to the turn around. But none can argue that Ted Williams hit a blast in those final days in New Hampshire that drove George Bush safely home.

President George Bush presented Ted Williams with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Later, on the day of the 1991 All Star Game, President Bush celebrated the 50th anniversary of what many consider the greatest season of baseball ever with a Rose Garden ceremony. On the verge of war, in 1941, Ted Williams went 6 for 8 in the final game of the season to finish with a .406 batting average and “Joltin’” Joe DiMaggio won the MVP.

Upon receiving his commendation that day, DiMaggio gave a speech with the same stage presence he was so prone to project throughout his lifetime. Somehow he made each of in the Rose Garden feel ashamed to even be in his presence. Then Teddy Ballgame received his commendation.
He stood with the President, larger than life, and simply exclaimed: “I’ve always realized what a lucky guy I’ve been
in my life. I was born in America. I was a Marine and I served my country, and
I’m very, very proud of that. I got to play baseball and have a chance to hit.
I owe so very, very much to the game that I love so much. I want to thank you,
Mr. President. I think you’re doing a tremendous job. And I want you to know
you’re looking at one of the greatest supporters you’ll ever have.”

Did Williams come on his own to New Hampshire in the winter of 1988, or was he summoned there by the Bush campaign? The office of President George H.W. Bush would not confirm or deny either story.

Perhaps that is best. Let the legend live on.

Rick Robinson is an attorney with the law firm of Graydon Head & Ritchey, LLP in Northern Kentucky and the author of political thrillers. His debut title, The Maximum Contribution, was named a Finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book of the Year in the category of political fiction and earned an Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Book Festival. The sequel, Sniper Bid, is due out on election day. He is published by Publisher Page a division of Headline Books, Inc.  Read more at www.onenewengland.com.

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