|
|
|
Faced with the inevitable nomination of Ronald Reagan, liberal Republicans at the 1980 Nominating Convention promoted a deal that would have made Gerald Ford a co-president with Reagan. It was understood that Ford would take orders from Henry Kissinger.
Phyllis Schlafly said at the time, in a CBS interview from the convention floor,
Ronald Reagan thwarted the attempted "bloodless palace coup" by summoning George H. W. Bush to change out of his pajamas and rush back to the convention to be announced as the Vice Presidential candidate.
This amazing-but-true story is one of many told by prolific author and grassroots activist Phyllis Schlafly, who has taken an active role at every Republican Convention since 1952.
Schlafly elucidates the "inside story of how American presidents are chosen." Like all great stories, these involve intrigue, behind the scenes wrangling, and surprises. Schlafly sheds light on the establishment "kingmakers," "a little clique of powerful men" who usually get their way in choosing the Republican candidate.
A Choice Not an Echo was self-published by Schlafly in 1964, and she sold three million copies out of her garage. It was written to promote Sen. Barry Goldwater as the conservative presidential candidate. Although Goldwater lost the November election, his nomination and campaign set the stage for Ronald Reagan to sweep into the White House over a decade later. Schlafly's book awakened a generation of conservatives by encouraging them to become politically active, involved, and informed about national politics. It is particularly important for conservatives to participate in the nominating process.
The newly updated 2014 book includes all the conventions from 1936 through 1964, as covered in the original edition. It picks up with details about the 1968 Nixon nomination, and continues through the 2012 nomination of Mitt Romney. There are fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes in every run for office and Schlafly shares with readers those that she personally observed.
Part history lesson and part political guidebook, A Choice Not an Echo serves as a roadmap for candidates and their supporters. Schlafly describes candidates who can win elections and unmasks the RINOs, "Republicans in name only," who will never successfully woo the American public.
Republicans win when they espouse the traditional values of Americans. (Regnery Publishing, 2014, 298 pp., $14.99) |
"It's completely unconstitutional. It's a plan to give Gerald Ford control of foreign policy, defense policy, and the budget, and that would leave President Reagan with little more than the Bureau of Indian Affairs."
