alternatehistory.com

June 4th, 1987

Transcript of an Iacocca Town Hall in Dubuque, Iowa

Question: Mr. Iacocca, what do you have to say about the candidacy of Senator Simon?


Iacocca: Senator Who? In what context?


Q: Well, do you see Simon’s candidacy as a challenge to your hold on the moderate wing of the party?


I: No, I don’t think Senator Four Eyes can go toe to toe with me for the moderate vote. He’s been in Washington while I’ve been out there attempting to actually help this economy. I’m a businessman, he’s a politician - who do you think has gotten more done in the last six years?


Q: Don’t you think name calling is below you as a Presidential candidate?


I: I call them like I see them, what can I say? I didn’t mean it as an insult, he seems like a good guy, that Senator….. Simon.


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June 6th, 1987


David Ruffin was lying on his bed in the rehabilitation center, his legs almost hanging off of the mattress. He was sweating; in fact, he hadn’t stopped sweating in what felt like days. His body ached from head to toe.


And yet, he felt the best he had in years.


He had thought about ducking out of the place countless times, running out like he had done the numerous other times he had ended up in a place like this. But then he’d think about Paul Butterfield and he thought about Daryl Hall.


When he had been touring with Hall two years back, they had almost come to blows over his addiction. Hall was shocked at his habit, as most people who met him were, but it was different. He wasn’t just shocked; he was disappointed.


When I get out of here, Ruffin thought, I owe him an apology.


“Mr. Ruffin,” a nurse called to him through the open doorway, snapping him out of thought, “you have a visitor.”


Ruffin wondered who it could be. He had made it clear to his family to stay away from the place before he went in, and he heavily doubted it was them. The nurse moved out of the doorway, and in walked Eddie Kendricks, both David’s ex-bandmate and his best friend.


“Eddie, I gotta say, this is a surprise,” David said after they shook hands, “I thought you were still touring in England?”


“I just got back yesterday. I have to say, David, I’m surprised you’re in here.”


“I’m surprised myself,” Ruffin responded, “but it was time. I can’t lose my voice or,” he paused to spin and drop nearly to his knees, propelling himself back to his feet, which, in his current state, hurt like hell, “these moves.”


“Well, that’s good to hear, David. I’ve been thinking about what you said during the reunion tour about touring and--”


“Please, Eddie, just let me get through this first,” David started, cutting him off, “I can’t wait to tour with you, but not until I’m good to go.” Eddie nodded.


“I hear you, I hear you. While you’re in here, I’m going to talk to Dennis, see if he wants to hit the road again. And David, when this happens we’re headed straight to England. My shows over there were sold out every night - I haven’t been able to fill a room here in the United States since ‘Keep On Trucking’ broke.”


“You think England can handle us?” David joked, doing another elaborate dance move and wincing in a bit of pain and tiredness.


“You’re not as quick as you used to be, old stuff Ruff. I’ll get out of here so you can rest.” Eddie said as he turned to go.


“And David,” he said as they shook hands once again, “get well. I’m proud of you for being in here.”


For an hour after Eddie left, Ruffin rested in his bed, nursing his aching body. The spins and turns had not helped is already exhausted self, but Ruffin was still the happiest he had been in a long time.


A couple months, he thought to himself, and I’ll be in England with Eddie and Dennis. Just a couple months.