Road to RFK's Retirement- 1988-9
Note- only Democratic primaries.
March 15- Illinois primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 63%
JESSE JACKSON: 37%
Mar 25- NIXON ENDORSES BUSH
Mar 29: Can't say it was unexpected. Bush is Nixon's protege.
Mar 29- Connecticut primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 70%
ALBERT GORE: 20%
JESSE JACKSON: 10%
Apr 4- MECHAM IMPEACHED, REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
Apr 4: Barry Goldwater had opposed him and told me it was "a long time coming."
Apr 5- Wisconsin primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 61%
ALBERT GORE: 35%
JESSE JACKSON: 4%
Apr 20: I will meet with Dukakis at the White House if he is the nominee. Some more conservative Democrats have asked if I could reverse my decision and run for a fourth term. I would be vilified in the media and lose the election to Bush. After twelve years of Democratic rule, it's unlikely that anything but the margins will change.
Second round, French presidential election:
Valery Giscard D'Estaing (UDR, inc): 58.2%
Lionel Jospin (PS): 41.8%
Incumbent President: Valery Giscard D'Estaing
President-elect: Valery Giscard D'Estaing
Apr 26- Pennsylvania primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 62%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 8%
Apr 28- ALOHA 243 LANDS SAFELY AFTER LOSING PART OF CABIN ROOF
Apr 29: Should give those pilots a medal for bravery. At this rate, the next Pres. will do that.
May 3- DC primary (D)
JESSE JACKSON: 79%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 21%
Indiana primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 62%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 8%
Ohio primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 58%
ALBERT GORE: 42%
May 10- Nebraska primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 54%
ALBERT GORE: 46%
West Virginia primary (D)
ALBERT GORE: 53%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 47%
May 15: Like me, Dukakis has a Southern problem, without my black or blue-collar appeal. He acts and talks like a blueblood latte liberal. Bush is a Republican blueblood, even if he's a Texan now.
May 17- Oregon primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 65%
ALBERT GORE: 35%
May 20: Well, at least he has suburban appeal. I can't claim that honor, but Bush can.
May 24- Idaho primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 57%
ALBERT GORE: 43%
June 4: Met with Dukakis in the Oval Office today. We discussed the campaign and the convention. He asked if the rumored approaches were true. I said they were, but that was "completely out of the question". I advised him to take a Southern running mate to moderate his image. Also reminded him that most Democrats are far more conservative than Northeastern ones, and to keep that in mind in the platform. He promised me to keep most of the 1984 platform, with minor tweaks on social issues.
June 7- California primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 74%
JESSE JACKSON: 26%
Montana primary (D)
ALBERT GORE: 52%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 48%
New Jersey primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 64%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 6%
New Mexico primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 57%
ALBERT GORE: 43%
June 14- North Dakota primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 59%
ALBERT GORE: 41%
DUKAKIS PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
June 19: My last G8 meeting and my last foreign trip as Pres. After discussing business, had long private sessions with Margaret and Brian. Said I was looking forward to retirement come Jan. 20.
July 5: Last Fourth of July in the White House, quite emotional for everyone.
July 20, Democratic National Convention, Atlanta
1st ballot:
Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis- 2450
Tenn. Sen. Albert Gore: 800
Jesse Jackson: 450
After conferring with his staff, Gov. Dukakis chooses Al Gore as his running mate.
President Robert Kennedy bids an emotional farewell to the party he has led for twenty years in his convention address. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton gives an overly long keynote speech.
July 25: Well it's nearly over. I told them I wanted a good keynote speech for the first time in my life. Clinton's young, but he has a future in the party and could very well be President someday. We would've had a much better chance if Mario had run, but he didn't want to.
Aug 7- RIOT IN TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, 75 INJURED
Aug 9: Spoke to Mario and Ed Koch about this. George Bush will now lambast us for being soft on crime, and in addition there's allegations of police brutality. This is where the GOP always hammers, and something tells me it won't be different this fall.
Aug 17- PRES ZIA, RAPHAEL DEAD IN PAK C-130 CRASH
Aug 18- Emergency NSC meeting on Pakistan. Now it looks like Bhutto has a chance in November...
Aug 19- Republican National Convention, New Orleans
Texas Sen. George Bush is unanimously nominated. As his running mate he chooses Kansas Sen. Nancy Kassebaum. In his address, Bush attacks the Democrats for being soft on crime, as evidenced by the Stonewall riot. Finally, he attacks the Kennedy Administration's economic policies "which have included two recessions."
Aug 29: Bush has launched a negative campaign, based on Dukakis' admittedly mixed record as Governor, but mostly on social values, where they've portrayed him as out of touch with mainstream voters. The attack ads are getting nastier, but they haven't touched bottom yet. Never knew Bush, in the Senate anyways, as a "rock-em, sock-em" type, as Nixon would put it.
Sept 10: First Willie Horton ad today. This will cook us for good. It's a mixture of truth and outright lies, but seeing as most voters don't live in Mass. very few know the exact details of the furlough program. It seemed a bit lenient when Ted first told me about it, but never imagined this.
Sept 20: Now Dukakis has been attacked as a Mass. liberal and "a proud member of the ACLU".
Oct 8: Polls show Bush leading by 6-7. The internal electoral projections aren't pretty, but we can swing a few Southern states. The next nominee must be a Southerner, and I will try my best to do that.
Oct 13: Dukakis was asked if he'd support the death penalty if his wife was a victim. Responded with stats. We're (expletive deleted) done now.
Oct 24: Polls show Bush leading by 5. He'll probably win between 310-340 ECV.
Nov 1- Israeli legislative election
Likud: 47 seats
Labor: 49 seats
Incumbent PM: Yitzhak Shamir
PM-designate: Yitzhak Shamir
Nov 8: Election Day. What will the margin be?
(R) George H.W. Bush/Nancy L. Kassebaum: 362 ECV, 54.7% PV
(D) Michael Dukakis/ Albert Gore Jr.: 176 ECV, 43.3% PV
Incumbent President: Robert F. Kennedy (D)
President-elect: George H.W. Bush (R)
Nov 16- Pakistani legislative election
PM-designate: Benazir Bhutto (PPP)
Nov 21- Canadian federal election
Progressive Conservatives: 175 seats
Liberal: 83 seats
NDP: 37 seats
Incumbent PM: Brian Mulroney (PC)
PM-designate: Brian Mulroney (PC)
Nov 28: Called Bush to discuss the transition. Agreed to a meeting on Dec. 14 and Jan. 10
Dec 14: Had a national security briefing with the Bush team. We discussed Pakistan as a possible issue, as well as the Soviet Union, which appears to be tottering.
Dec 28: Last Xmas in the White House and in DC. We've decided to move back to Mass.
Jan 10: Final meeting with George Bush today. It looks like he'll do a good job here, especially in foreign policy.
Jan 20- President Bush is inaugurated, Robert Kennedy leaves Washington after nearly forty years for Hyannis.
Note- only Democratic primaries.
March 15- Illinois primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 63%
JESSE JACKSON: 37%
Mar 25- NIXON ENDORSES BUSH
Mar 29: Can't say it was unexpected. Bush is Nixon's protege.
Mar 29- Connecticut primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 70%
ALBERT GORE: 20%
JESSE JACKSON: 10%
Apr 4- MECHAM IMPEACHED, REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
Apr 4: Barry Goldwater had opposed him and told me it was "a long time coming."
Apr 5- Wisconsin primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 61%
ALBERT GORE: 35%
JESSE JACKSON: 4%
Apr 20: I will meet with Dukakis at the White House if he is the nominee. Some more conservative Democrats have asked if I could reverse my decision and run for a fourth term. I would be vilified in the media and lose the election to Bush. After twelve years of Democratic rule, it's unlikely that anything but the margins will change.
Second round, French presidential election:
Valery Giscard D'Estaing (UDR, inc): 58.2%
Lionel Jospin (PS): 41.8%
Incumbent President: Valery Giscard D'Estaing
President-elect: Valery Giscard D'Estaing
Apr 26- Pennsylvania primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 62%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 8%
Apr 28- ALOHA 243 LANDS SAFELY AFTER LOSING PART OF CABIN ROOF
Apr 29: Should give those pilots a medal for bravery. At this rate, the next Pres. will do that.
May 3- DC primary (D)
JESSE JACKSON: 79%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 21%
Indiana primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 62%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 8%
Ohio primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 58%
ALBERT GORE: 42%
May 10- Nebraska primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 54%
ALBERT GORE: 46%
West Virginia primary (D)
ALBERT GORE: 53%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 47%
May 15: Like me, Dukakis has a Southern problem, without my black or blue-collar appeal. He acts and talks like a blueblood latte liberal. Bush is a Republican blueblood, even if he's a Texan now.
May 17- Oregon primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 65%
ALBERT GORE: 35%
May 20: Well, at least he has suburban appeal. I can't claim that honor, but Bush can.
May 24- Idaho primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 57%
ALBERT GORE: 43%
June 4: Met with Dukakis in the Oval Office today. We discussed the campaign and the convention. He asked if the rumored approaches were true. I said they were, but that was "completely out of the question". I advised him to take a Southern running mate to moderate his image. Also reminded him that most Democrats are far more conservative than Northeastern ones, and to keep that in mind in the platform. He promised me to keep most of the 1984 platform, with minor tweaks on social issues.
June 7- California primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 74%
JESSE JACKSON: 26%
Montana primary (D)
ALBERT GORE: 52%
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 48%
New Jersey primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 64%
ALBERT GORE: 30%
JESSE JACKSON: 6%
New Mexico primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 57%
ALBERT GORE: 43%
June 14- North Dakota primary (D)
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: 59%
ALBERT GORE: 41%
DUKAKIS PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
June 19: My last G8 meeting and my last foreign trip as Pres. After discussing business, had long private sessions with Margaret and Brian. Said I was looking forward to retirement come Jan. 20.
July 5: Last Fourth of July in the White House, quite emotional for everyone.
July 20, Democratic National Convention, Atlanta
1st ballot:
Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis- 2450
Tenn. Sen. Albert Gore: 800
Jesse Jackson: 450
After conferring with his staff, Gov. Dukakis chooses Al Gore as his running mate.
President Robert Kennedy bids an emotional farewell to the party he has led for twenty years in his convention address. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton gives an overly long keynote speech.
July 25: Well it's nearly over. I told them I wanted a good keynote speech for the first time in my life. Clinton's young, but he has a future in the party and could very well be President someday. We would've had a much better chance if Mario had run, but he didn't want to.
Aug 7- RIOT IN TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, 75 INJURED
Aug 9: Spoke to Mario and Ed Koch about this. George Bush will now lambast us for being soft on crime, and in addition there's allegations of police brutality. This is where the GOP always hammers, and something tells me it won't be different this fall.
Aug 17- PRES ZIA, RAPHAEL DEAD IN PAK C-130 CRASH
Aug 18- Emergency NSC meeting on Pakistan. Now it looks like Bhutto has a chance in November...
Aug 19- Republican National Convention, New Orleans
Texas Sen. George Bush is unanimously nominated. As his running mate he chooses Kansas Sen. Nancy Kassebaum. In his address, Bush attacks the Democrats for being soft on crime, as evidenced by the Stonewall riot. Finally, he attacks the Kennedy Administration's economic policies "which have included two recessions."
Aug 29: Bush has launched a negative campaign, based on Dukakis' admittedly mixed record as Governor, but mostly on social values, where they've portrayed him as out of touch with mainstream voters. The attack ads are getting nastier, but they haven't touched bottom yet. Never knew Bush, in the Senate anyways, as a "rock-em, sock-em" type, as Nixon would put it.
Sept 10: First Willie Horton ad today. This will cook us for good. It's a mixture of truth and outright lies, but seeing as most voters don't live in Mass. very few know the exact details of the furlough program. It seemed a bit lenient when Ted first told me about it, but never imagined this.
Sept 20: Now Dukakis has been attacked as a Mass. liberal and "a proud member of the ACLU".
Oct 8: Polls show Bush leading by 6-7. The internal electoral projections aren't pretty, but we can swing a few Southern states. The next nominee must be a Southerner, and I will try my best to do that.
Oct 13: Dukakis was asked if he'd support the death penalty if his wife was a victim. Responded with stats. We're (expletive deleted) done now.
Oct 24: Polls show Bush leading by 5. He'll probably win between 310-340 ECV.
Nov 1- Israeli legislative election
Likud: 47 seats
Labor: 49 seats
Incumbent PM: Yitzhak Shamir
PM-designate: Yitzhak Shamir
Nov 8: Election Day. What will the margin be?
(R) George H.W. Bush/Nancy L. Kassebaum: 362 ECV, 54.7% PV
(D) Michael Dukakis/ Albert Gore Jr.: 176 ECV, 43.3% PV
Incumbent President: Robert F. Kennedy (D)
President-elect: George H.W. Bush (R)
Nov 16- Pakistani legislative election
PM-designate: Benazir Bhutto (PPP)
Nov 21- Canadian federal election
Progressive Conservatives: 175 seats
Liberal: 83 seats
NDP: 37 seats
Incumbent PM: Brian Mulroney (PC)
PM-designate: Brian Mulroney (PC)
Nov 28: Called Bush to discuss the transition. Agreed to a meeting on Dec. 14 and Jan. 10
Dec 14: Had a national security briefing with the Bush team. We discussed Pakistan as a possible issue, as well as the Soviet Union, which appears to be tottering.
Dec 28: Last Xmas in the White House and in DC. We've decided to move back to Mass.
Jan 10: Final meeting with George Bush today. It looks like he'll do a good job here, especially in foreign policy.
Jan 20- President Bush is inaugurated, Robert Kennedy leaves Washington after nearly forty years for Hyannis.