alternatehistory.com

March 29th, 1988


The prompt exit of Lee Iacocca from the race for the Democratic nomination left both the Hart and Jackson camp scrambling to secure an endorsement from the Chrysler magnet.


Both campaigns believed that they had a shot at the backing of Iacocca. On the one hand, Gary Hart was the obvious pick: he was, first and foremost, the front runner, as well as the candidate viewed with the best chance in a potential general election.


However, Jesse Jackson greatly appealed to Iacocca's most vital resource: his employees. With the auto workers union backing him, Jackson could easily point to their support as a sign that Iacocca should stand by his workers.


This is why, when Iacocca announced a press conference the morning of March 29th, also the date of the Connecticut Primary, a mass of media congregated in Detroit.


Iacocca looked refreshed and, for the first time in months, happy, as he strode to the podium.


"Thanks to all of you for coming today," Iacocca began. "Did you miss me?"


The assembled media laughed together, but there was a taste of anticipation in the air. They all knew that if Iacocca was seriously considering an independent run, he would be waiting in the weeds, not hosting a press conference.


"I said it two days ago, and none of you listened to me! I am absolutely not interested in the Presidency at this time. Therefore, it is my duty to announce my endorsement. I have chosen to endorse..."


Iacocca paused, playing to the cameras. The entirety of the journalists were leaning on the edge of their seats, staring intently at the businessman.


"Oh, it's too easy with you guys! Fine, I'll give you your scoop. I have decided to endorse the candidate I believe is the best to lead this country both with moderation and progressive ideals. This man is someone I never attacked on the trail, as I respected him too much. This man is none other than Gary Hart."


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Everyone in the Hart campaign office in Connecticut was celebrating, dancing and screaming. The day was slowly becoming referred to as V-Day by the staff, with the combined news of Iacocca's generous endorsement as well as Hart's resounding victory in the Connecticut primary, by nearly an 75%-25% margin over Jesse Jackson and the other withdrawn candidates.


Sue Casey was among the jubilant, dedicated group of staffers celebrating. It was one of the most incredible moments of her political career. There was not a face in the room without a smile. Those who knew her, and those who didn't, continued to run up to her, pull her into an embrace and yell,


"You did it!" Her response was always the same:


"No, we did it! And it's not over yet!"


This was the happiest night of her political life, and yet something kept tugging at her mind. Someone was missing. And then she realized she hadn't seen Gary Hart since the party began.


She began walking through the party, scanning the jumping crowd. He wasn't at the refreshments table, or one of the many tables that ringed the room. She peeked into a number of offices before coming to the one farthest from the party, and that's where she found him.


He was sitting at a desk, his head in his hands, and he was bawling.


"Gary?" She said cautiously. He wiped his eyes quickly and peered up at her, clearly startled.


"What is it?" He couldn't make it through the words without his voice cracking. Sue quietly closed the door behind her.


"What's wrong, Gary? We did it. This should be a happy night." He covered his face with his hands once again.


"I did it, but... but Lee isn't here to see it. She always knew... she always knew... that I could do it, but she isn't here now." Hart shuddered, and the room became deathly silent.


"Sue, I wasn't a good husband."


"Gary, you were a fine husband! I don't know what you mean!" Hart paused for a moment.


"Sue, you don't get it. I wasn't... well, I wasn't loyal. Not at the end." Sue's political instincts kicked in almost immediately.


"That is the one and only time you are going to say what you just said to anyone. Gary, we've come too far to give up now. You ARE the nominee. Regardless of what you did, Lee is proud of you for this. You have got to believe that."


He wiped his eyes. She was right, he knew that. But it didn't take away the guilt he felt.


"Tears of joy. That's what I'll tell the audience, at least."


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In the same state, at the same time, the celebration at the Connecticut office of George H.W. Bush was far more subdued.


Make no mistake, they had won again, by a large margin. The Northeast was Bush territory, and he continued to prove this, dispatching Quayle and Dole easily in the state that his father had represented in the senate.


Even so, the Republican primaries remained deadlocked. The three candidates were in a virtual tie of delegates, with Colorado, Delaware and Wisconsin looming ahead.


Bush was confident that he would take Delaware without much trouble, but the other two states were in the air. The national media was touting Colorado and Wisconsin as possible deciders of the primaries.


Lee Atwater, and Bush by extension, wasn't so sure. This wasn't a race with comparable candidates with similar platforms that could be easily substituted for one another. This was a death struggle for the future of the party; the moderates, the group that had proven success in passing successful legislation, against the conservatives, who Bush viewed with a growing discontent that bordered on plain hatred. Whoever won controlled the party for years into the future.


Just as the party factions remained deadlocked, so did the voters. The polls in Wisconsin and Colorado painted the picture of a dead heat between Bush and Quayle in both states, with Dole just behind.


It was entirely possible that the election would come down to a few thousand votes in two states. And it was also possible that it wouldn't.


Atwater knew how entrenched the Quayle vote had become. They had gone from radicals, outsiders, and fringe members to a full blown movement. Once that occurs, it is extremely difficult to pry voters from their man, even if it was a lost cause.


Atwater feared what could happen at the convention if no candidate had a majority of the delegates, which was looking increasingly likely. How low would they have to go to secure the nomination?


"We might have to make a deal with the devil..." He thought to himself, afraid of what that deal would look like but more afraid that he, Lee Atwater, the boogeyman himself, was afraid.