Lee Atwater was a master of negative campaigning and a key figure in the Republican Party in the 1980s. He helped elect Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush to the White House, using ruthless tactics and divisive issues to defeat their opponents. But his life and career were cut short by a brain tumor that was diagnosed in 1989, when he was only 38 years old. How did his illness affect his views and actions? And what legacy did he leave behind for American politics?
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The Rise of a Political Operative
Lee Atwater was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1951, and grew up in Aiken, South Carolina. He developed an interest in politics at an early age, and became involved in the campaigns of Governor Carroll Campbell and Senator Strom Thurmond, both Republicans. He also played guitar in a rock band and was a fan of underground films and horror movies.
Atwater moved to Washington, D.C., in 1978, and worked as a consultant for various Republican candidates and causes. He became close to George H. W. Bush, who hired him as his deputy campaign manager in 1980. Atwater helped Bush win the Iowa caucuses, but Bush eventually lost the nomination to Ronald Reagan. Atwater then joined Reagan’s campaign team and helped him defeat Jimmy Carter in the general election.
In 1984, Atwater managed the re-election campaign of Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, who faced a strong challenge from Governor Jim Hunt, a Democrat. Atwater used negative ads and mailings to portray Hunt as a liberal who supported higher taxes, gun control, and abortion rights. He also exploited racial tensions by accusing Hunt of being soft on crime and supporting affirmative action. Helms won by a narrow margin.
In 1988, Atwater became the campaign manager for George H. W. Bush, who was running for president against Michael Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts. Atwater devised a strategy to paint Dukakis as a weak and untrustworthy leader, who was out of touch with mainstream American values. He used the infamous “Willie Horton” ad, which featured a black convicted murderer who raped a white woman while on a weekend furlough from prison. The ad implied that Dukakis was responsible for Horton’s release and that he was soft on crime. Atwater also attacked Dukakis on his opposition to the Pledge of Allegiance, his membership in the American Civil Liberties Union, and his stance on environmental issues. Bush won by a landslide.
The Diagnosis and the Apology
In 1989, Atwater became the chairman of the Republican National Committee, and was widely seen as one of the most powerful and influential figures in the party. He was also a controversial and polarizing figure, who was admired by some and despised by others. He was known for his aggressive and ruthless style, his use of wedge issues, and his willingness to bend the truth and exploit fears and prejudices.
In March 1989, Atwater collapsed during a speech at a Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He underwent several surgeries and treatments, but his condition worsened. He suffered from seizures, paralysis, and blindness. He also experienced a spiritual and moral crisis, and began to question his actions and beliefs.
In a series of interviews and articles, Atwater expressed regret and remorse for some of his past deeds. He apologized to Dukakis for the “naked cruelty” of the 1988 campaign, and to other political opponents he had attacked or smeared. He also admitted that he had used the “Southern strategy” to appeal to white voters by exploiting racial issues. He said that he had been wrong to put winning above everything else, and that he had learned to value compassion, forgiveness, and love. He also became more religious, and sought reconciliation with God and his family.
The Death and the Legacy
Lee Atwater died on March 29, 1991, at the age of 40. He was survived by his wife, Sally, and his three children, Sara Lee, Ashley, and Salley. He was mourned by his friends and allies, who praised his talent, loyalty, and courage. He was also criticized by his enemies and critics, who blamed him for poisoning the political discourse and dividing the country.
Atwater’s legacy is complex and controversial. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative political strategists of his time, who helped shape the modern Republican Party and the conservative movement. He is also seen as one of the most divisive and destructive figures in American politics, who used fear, hatred, and lies to manipulate voters and undermine democracy. He is credited with paving the way for the rise of other political operatives, such as Karl Rove, Roger Stone, and Steve Bannon, who followed his example and methods. He is also blamed for contributing to the polarization, cynicism, and distrust that plague the American political system today.
Atwater’s death also marked the end of an era in American politics, as the Cold War ended, the economy changed, and new issues and challenges emerged. The Republican Party and the conservative movement faced new divisions and dilemmas, as they struggled to adapt to the changing times and demographics. The Democratic Party and the liberal movement also underwent transformations and transitions, as they sought to regain power and relevance. The 1990s and beyond would witness the rise and fall of new leaders, movements, and trends, such as Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Ross Perot, Barack Obama, the Tea Party, Donald Trump, and Bernie Sanders, who would shape the political landscape and the public mood in different ways.
Lee Atwater’s brain cancer changed his politics, but it also revealed his humanity. He was a complex and contradictory person, who was capable of both good and evil, love and hate, genius and folly. He was a product of his time and place, but he also transcended them. He was a man who made history, but he was also a man who faced mortality. He was a man who left a mark, but he was also a man who sought redemption.
