When Eugene McCarthy Endorsed Ronald Reagan For President

Above, Eugene McCarthy during his 1968 presidential campaign.

I was thumbing through former Ronald Reagan aide Michael K. Deaver's book A Different Drummer yesterday and found a little tidbit of political trivia. The book is about Deaver's thirty years of working for Ronald Reagan.

During the 1980 presidential campaign against President Jimmy Carter, Reagan was barnstorming the Midwest. Reagan, at this point, was slightly behind Carter in the polls. Deaver was receiving messages that former Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy (March 29, 1916 – December 10, 2005), one of the most respected liberal Democrats, wanted a private meeting with Reagan.

Deaver "couldn't understand why this icon of the left would want to meet with the new Mr. Conservative." It was Eugene McCarty's surprise showing in the 1968 New Hampshire Primary that caused President Lyndon Johnson to withdraw from the 1968 presidential campaign.

When the Reagan party arrived at their hotel, there was Eugene McCarthy sitting by himself in the lobby.

McCarthy approached Reagan and said, "Governor, I'd like to talk to you in private if that's okay." Reagan nodded and shook his hand and they went into Reagan's room. Deaver "instinctively" followed them in. McCarthy didn't seem to mind. Deaver stayed long enough to hear McCarthy tell Reagan that he wanted to formally endorse him for president. McCarthy gave his reasons for wanting to support Reagan and ditch Carter.

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at Los Angeles International Airport following the 1980 Republican National Convention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Reagan was appreciative and after some small talk, McCarthy departed with Deaver escorting him to his car. During the walk to the car, Deaver said to him, "What you said in there makes some sense, Senator. But what's the real reason you're endorsing Ronald Reagan?"

At the car, McCarthy looked Deaver in the eye and said, "I'll tell you why. It's because he is the only man since Harry Truman who won't confuse the job with the man."