Lately I was reviewing my old letters, and I came across two I had written in 1988 to the Democratic presidential nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis:
(1) From August 1, 1988:
"Dear Governor Dukakis:
The Republicans are trying to portray Bush as a war hero, and to suggest he is better qualified to be Commander-in-Chief than you. I think there's a danger that if you do not reply to this dramatically, people will assume you are conceding the point. Why not make a commercial showing yourself with some military equipment--riding in a tank, for example?"
(2) From September 1, 1988:
"Dear Governor Dukakis:
I know that you are confident that you are a better debater than Bush, but I still think the forthcoming debates represent a danger.
For example, these days reporters like to ask candidates 'gotcha' questions designed to embarrass or enrage them. Instead of just asking you about your opposition to capital punishment, for example, one of them might ask you in the most offensive way if you would still oppose capital punishment if someone were to rape and murder Kitty. There will be a great temptation in that event for you to lash out at that reporter, to attack the press for lacking decency, etc. Don't do it. The last thing the American public wants is a man with a temper holding the nuclear trigger. Just be calm, recite some statistics about capital punishment not having any deterrent effect, etc. When you can remain calm and dispassionate even in the face of the most offensive questions, that is presidential, that is what the American people want."
I don't know if Dukakis ever read my letters--I got some routine acknowledgements from his aides--but he certainly didn't take my advice. There was no commercial with Dukakis in a tank or fighter plane or anything, and in answering Bernard Shaw's question, Dukakis did exactly what I warned him not to do.
And we all know the result--Dukakis lost. Yes, it was very close, both in the popular vote (49.5 percent to 49.4) and in the electoral (a switch of just 500 votes in Michigan would have given Dukakis that state and therefore the White House), but the fact remains that he lost. And I still maintain that if he had heeded my advice, he would have won.