Bad Boy: The Life And Politics Of Lee Atwater

by John Joseph Brady

Lee Atwater revolutionized presidential campaigning. He helped to create a solid Republican south. And he became notorious for turning national politics back into a blood sport, not only using nasty attacks but reveling in his image as the bad boy of Washington. Then, at the age of 39, Atwater was struck by a brain tumor. In thirteen months, cancer ended the most controversial career in modern politics—the charismatic, colorful, and contradictory life of Lee Atwater.Even today Atwater is a fallen leader Republicans love and a rival Democrats love to hate. He was the first political handler as mediagenic as his candidates—certainly the first chairman of the Republican National Committee to record a blues album. His campaigns represent the high-water mark of the GOPs postwar dominance of the presidency, and his techniques set the tone for races across the country. Watching Washington since his death, politicians and pundits still wonder, What if Lee Atwater had lived? Bad Boy reveals how Lee Atwater began his career controlling crowds as jittery class clown, traumatized by the agonizing death of his little brother. In college he discovered the subtle intercourse of policy and public opinion and grew from party animal to party man. Bad Boy details Atwater's political strategies from the grass roots to the national level. Even more ruthless were the behind-the-scenes power games as he crossed paths, and occasionally crossed swords, with nearly every major Republican of the 1980 Reagan, Bush, Baker, Ailes, Rollins, and many more.In Bad Boy, we also see the faces Atwater tried to spin away. He was a compulsive womanizer, climbing through windows to avoid reporters. He played radical politics but promoted ”big tent” Republicanism. Even his last public moment is controversial. Did Atwater's deathbed words really repudiate entire campaigns, or were they twisted by political enemies and second-hand reporting? Was his repentance sincere or simply one last gasp of press manipulation? Was he responsible for the infamous Willie Horton ads, or was he unfairly blamed by 1988s losers, trying for a moral victory? Is Lee Atwater, a master of spin, now being spun in his grave?In its sudden end, Atwater's remarkable life resembled the rise and fall of a fine political novel. With the probing insights of an expert interviewer and a rare stylistic verve, John Brady tells that whole frantic, fascinating story—the life of the baddest boy in D.C.

Genres: Politics, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bad Boy" is an interesting look at one of the most notorious political operatives of the late-20th century. Having worked in SC politics in the post-Atwater era, I saw some of his many imitators at work, but none showed the sheer panache that is evident from the stories in "Bad Boy." Of course, Atwater is also known for his deathbed "repentance," although as the author notes, it is difficult to tell how much of that was genuine and how much was the consummate political fixer trying to make one last deal. A man who was often odious, but even more often effective, Lee Atwater helped steer the Republican Party to success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. One wonders - and Brady hints at - where Atwater would've driven it had he not been stricken with brain cancer. One thing's for sure - Atwater versus James Carville as opposing campaign managers in the 1992 presidential election would've been one hell of a fight. A worthwhile read for anyone seeking to understand the rise of the professional political consultant class.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those Republicans feeling lost in the wilderness, here's a book you'll want to read.

This is an accound Lee Atwater's tremendous impact on the U.S. political scene, helping to usher in the Reagan era.

Atwater, Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove. These are the men who showed Republicans to win.

This book may be more relevant now than at any other time in recent history.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute must read for anyone of any party who wants to get into politics.

[Tim Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read a little about American politics during the George Bush years, you could not avoid stories about Karl Rove, the Republicans leading election strategist.

Until Obama's victory in 2008, Rove's ability to win elections and his alleged willingness to fight as dirty as it takes reached almost mythic proportions in the press and amongst his opponents - not all of whom were exclusively to be found on the Democratic side.

Lee Atwater was the first Karl Rove. A self-developed political campaigner who cut his teeth in South Carolina, rising to work on Ronald Reagan's re-election before becoming the person who master-minded the election of George HW Bush. Going on to become chair of the RNC, his life was then cut tragically short by a brain tumour.

Like Rove, Atwater was at the centre of a number of scandals and rows about "dirty tricks" campaigning - some clearly justified, some more opaque. How far was he behind the ruthless exploitation of furloughed murderer Willy Horton? Was he really unaware of the potential ethnic undertones of the story?

And - just like the John Kerry "Swiftboat" story, there's a whole grey area about the relationship with third party campaigns.

There are also strong differences between Atwater and Rove. Atwater was a much less buttoned down, wilder character, much closer to a party activist and campaigner than the consultant-led campaign now. A wild character in other ways, too, with a mock-rock life style and high levels of infidelity to a wife who always stood a long way behind his political life.

This is a sensitive but still critical biography that provides a good insight into Atwaters personal life, including the underlying tragedy of the early death of his brother, and how it meshes with his political trajectory. Now well out of print, it took me a while to track down an affordable second hand copy but its well worth it for anyone fascinated by the development of US campaigning over the past thirty years.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a pitiful imp of a man-child. He was endlessly impressed with himself and made, i think, absolutely no positive contribution to mankind. But whatever, know your enemy, so i read up on these types of people.

[Geraldine]

Lee Atwater was the king of "distraction" in a political campaign. He certainly made sure that Willie Horton was perceived as Michael Dukakis' running mate. It gave me a new insight into how elections are won.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real good book. I had seen a PBS biography on him but the book was better in that it went into his personal life as well. A neat guy but incredibly flawed. MAkes reading about him interesting.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master of the campaign trail, taken way too early. A must read for anybody that is involved in campaigns.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably 2nd only to The Making of President 1960 when it comes to campaign books. Even though he was on the other side, lots to learn!!!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one does it quite like Atwater did! The master of dirty politics, dead for 25 years, still has a lot to teach.

[Bruce Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A piece of shit….but a highly effective piece of shit

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwww, the day when dirty politics happened behind closed doors, instead of on the television, campaign debates and flamboyant direct quotes. I miss those days. The candidates were clean cut and spoke of dreams and hope, not hate and slander.

Politics is a blood sport, but the current charade of candidates Trump, Cruz, etc. is embarrassing.

[Jfarley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Atwater is the coolest GOP operative that ever lived. A scoundrel, he marched to his own drummer. And he lost it all, because of a brain tumor. Great, great story. And a documentary coming out this year!

[Jesse Valente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review is for the writing; has nothing to do with Lee Atwater. My recall of Atwater basically began and ended with the Willie Horton episode. Thanks to this book, I now know that Atwater also loved himself, philandering, and himself. His attempt at an end of life penance was sad.

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books, one of my heroes!

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a complete son of a bitch lee atwater was ... but this book is fantastic.