Table Of ContentVolume 2001, Number 3 Winter 2001
KEYNOTER
THE
^1
Clinton Collectors in the Oval Office
&
1978: Bush Cheney for Congress
APIC Interview: Pat Robertson for President
Smoot of Utah • Dorie Miller • Internet Treasures
Page 2 The Keynoter
Editor's Message
This year was a year tor perspective. Our hobby and even the political world around which it rotates has
been placed into proper context by the events ofSeptember 11 and its consequences.
My family is one that has always taken its part in national crises. While not a genuine "military familv,"
in that ourservice was onlywhen necessary, ourbranch ofthe Kellys began nauonal service in the CivilWar
when great-great-uncle Patrick Kellv served with the Michigan Volunteers. My grandfather served in WWI
and WWII, my father and uncle in WWII, another uncle in Korea and my brother and I during Vietnam.
One niece is currently a Navyofficerwhowasworking in the Pentagon on September 11 andwas caught in
the blast, although thankfully uninjured.
The historythatwe celebrate ispartofthisgreatnation.While makingourpersonalcontributions to the
nauonal effort, ourcollecting and research ofpoliticalAmericana is in itselfawayofhonoring our nation.
The lead storyin this issue is about the most serious button collectorever to sit in the White House, for-
mer President Bill Clinton. On March 7, 2000, hewelcomedagroupfrom the Clinton chapterinto the oval
office to talk buttons. Much to the astonishment ofthose APIC members at the event, it became clear that
President Clinton actually knew about buttons and even the APIC.
I had the same experience when welcoming him to the college where I work. I was in charge ofliaison
for hisvisit on September 17, 2000. Mywife, a native ofLittle Rock, picked a Clinton gubernatorial button
out ofmv collection to wear and greeted him bv saving, "Hello, Governor!"
She alsobroughtalonga copyof TheKeynoterissue thatfeatured his state items (Vol. 1993, No. 3). When
she handed it to him, he exclaimed, "Hey, I've seen this! I get this!" He turned to then-Secretary of
Commerce Norman Mineta and started showing him examples ofbuttons from his state campaign.
t
President Clinton pages through The
Keynoter. (LtoR) Editor Michael Kelly,
Kay Kelly, President Clinton, Secretary
Norman Mineta.
Of additional interest in this issue are items from Glen Hunt's collection from President George W.
Bush's unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1978. His political careerstarted slowlybutwent uphill from
there. Perhaps there is a metaphor in that for us all.
Michael Kelh
Editor
APIC OFFICERS-President:ChrisHeam:VicePresidents:Region#1-KenFlorev.Region#2-LynnChrisrv.Region#3-BamAdler.Region#4-Mom'Greener.
Region 95- Larry Brokofskv, Region#6-CanJung; Region#7-Charlie Hertlein, Secretary Treasurer:Joseph D. Hayes; Board ofDirectors: BobAtwater, Garv
Cohen, Bruce DeMav.Jack Dixev. Peter Economou, Mark Evans. Bonnie Gardner.Jim GiiTord. Bob Gillan. Tom Kitchen. Brian Krapf, Carl Krasik. Andv Link.
NormanLoewenstem.BillMcClenaghan,MichaelMcQuillen.TomPeeling:NationalChapterCoordinator:RobPavne:SeniorContributingEditor,APICKeynoter:
Michael Kelh: PastPresidents:NealMachander.NormanLoewenstem.RobertFratkin.Lam Krug.U.I."Chick"Harris,Gearv\lk
MembershipInformation:applicationsmavbeobtainedbywritingtotheSecretary-Treasurerat:P.O.Box 1149.Cibolo.TX 78108.Telephone: (210) 945-2811.
APICNEWSLETTER.ANDCALENDAROFEVENTS: Har\e\ <.oldberg. Editor. P.O. Box922.Clark.NJ07066.
The Keynoter Page
;
THE APIC KEYNOTER
Published Triannually
Volume 2001, Number 3 Winter 2001
FEATURES:
Clinton Collectors in the Oval Office Page 4
Doric Miller Page 9
All correspondence about Bush & Cheney for Congress Page 10
content shouldbe addressed to:
Internet Treasures Page 16
Editor
Michael Kelly Where Have the Buttons Gone? Page 21
1901 MontclairAvenue First Rockefeller cartoon Page 22
Flint, MI48503 Smoot ofUtah Page 24
Jack Moore Page 35
All correspondence about
mailing and copies DEPARTMENTS:
should be addressed to:
Collecting History Page 20
Publisher
APIC Interview: Pat Robertson Page 26
Joe Hayes
P.O. Box 1149
Cibolo, TX 78108
ContributingEditors
Steve Baxley
Stephen Cresswell
Robert Fratkin
David Frent
Illustrations: The editor wishes to thank the following for providing illustra-
John Pendergrass
Robert Rouse tions for this issue: Steve Baxley, Larry Brokofsky, Frank Cherry, Margaret
Cook, Dan Duncan, Robert Fratkin,John Gingerich, Harvey Goldberg, Glen
Contributors Hunt, Library and Archives of New Hampshire's Political Tradition, Bobby
Steve Baxley May, Dorothy Okes, Richard Rector,Jean Ross, Phil Ross, Phil Shimkin, Dave
Robert Fratkin Quintin and the College ofWilliam and Mary.
John Gingerich
Richard Rector Covers: Front: An enlarged picture ofthe souvenirbutton created by the Bill
Phil Ross Clinton collectors chapter on itsvisit to the White House. Back: A 1916 the-
MiltSalamon
atrical slide showing President Woodrow Wilson's support for California
SupportServices Democrat George Patton, a senatorial hopeful running against Hiram
Gennaine Broussard Johnson.
Kay Sampson Kelly
APIC seeks to encourage and support the
studyand preservation oforiginal materials
(isasmupianiggnfsroofmthaendUnirteeldatSitnagtestoofApomleirtiiccaal DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN IN THE NEXT ISSUE
andtobringitsmembersfullerappreciation
anddeeperunderstandingoithecandidates ,,CM«t.v. <*»"?« After the disputed election of 2000, we
.iiid issuesthatformourpolitical heritage.
take a look back at the controversial 1876
©2000APICTexas78108 battle between Hayes and Tilden. Many
PrintedinUSAby handsome items will be pictured and
I.ebcoGraphics there will be diverse other articles as well.
Page 4 The Kevnoter
uucal
?0 /,
Clinton Collectors
in the FOB
Oval Office
FOREVER
* * 1 of 100 By Philip J. Ross
AUGUST 14. 2000
Standing in the Oval Office on March 7, 2000 with political collectorevent is completewithout some memorabil-
President WilliamJefferson Clinton, ourgroup ofClinton col- ia ofits own, we felt this special \isit should not be an excep-
lectorswatched as he carefully surveyed the frame containing tion. We also planned a dated commemorative ribbon to be
twentv-one buttons and a Bill Clinton Political Items produced after the visit to attach to the button. My daughter
Collectors (BCPIC) Honorary Lifetime Membership certifi- Audrey and I also designed a commemorative program of
cate. "I have thatone. I have thatone. I onlyhadfourofthese events for the \isit.
- the first two and these - but none of the rest," he told us, With our spouses' assistance. Brad and I put together a
pointing tovarious buttons. design for the frame of buttons for presentation to the
Sixteen ofus representing the BCPIC spent forty-five yen President, a frame that incorporated the honorary lifetime
special minutes with President Clinton that beautiful March membership certificate. In addition to the two Chapter but-
afternoon. It quickly became yen'obvious that, in addition to tons, the following nineteen buttons (with the state ororgani-
being the Presidentofthe United States and the leaderofthe zation, ifknown, and electionyearoforigin separatelynoted)
free world. President Clinton is quite a political memorabilia comprised the member-donated buttons that surrounded the
collector. Looking at the two BCPIC buttons included in the membership certificate in the frame: Seafarers for
frame, the President pointedat the 1996button, which adopt- Clinton/Gore 96 (1996-international union); Clinton to
ed the official 1996 Clinton Gore logo into an "I Collect Educate All of America NYSUT (1996-NY union);
Clinton Gore 96" design and said, "I really like that one." He Clinton/Gore '96 Fighting for Quality Health Care
also noted that the Chapter's special White Housevisit button (1996-national): Cure for the Blues Clinton for President
used a photograph taken before his hair had turned gray. (1992-Maryland); Ohio Put Him Over the Top inJune, Let's
These are but a few ofthe vignettes thatwe took awaywith us Do the Same in November (1992-Ohio); Ohio Dav
from this very historic and memorablevisit. September 14, 1995 Ohio Democratic Party Clinton/Gore
Prior to that March, the Clinton Chapter had been trying 1996 (1996-White House event for Ohioans); Nassau
foryears to arrange an eventwith the President. Our chapter Democrats for Clinton/Gore '96 (1996-New York): Clinton
Secretary, Brad Koplinski. approached the President on Gore 1996 with an Alaska map (1996-Alaska): Minnesota for
Christmas Eve of 1999 as the President worked the crowd in Clinton 'Gore '96YouBetchaISawPresidentClintonOctober
DCs Union Station following some last minute Christmas 28, 1996 (1996-Minnesota): Carrying the Tradition Forward
shopping. Brad asked the President if a White House event (1992); Clinton Gore '96 Democratic National Convention
could be held. Less than amonth later. Brad received aphone Indiana Delegate (1996-Indiana): New Hampshire Clinton/
call from the White House, and the rest is literally history! Gore Putting People First (1992-New Hampshire); Ohio
Our \isit marked the first time a sitting President hosted a AFSCME Supports Bill Clinton for President 1996
meetingwith an organizedgroup ofpolitical collectors in the (1996-Ohio): Students for Clinton Gore Fighting for Our
White House. Additionally, President Clinton is the first sit- Future (1992-Pennsvlvania): Hoosiers for Bill Clinton
ting President to accept a membership in APIC or any ofits (1992-Indiana): 1992 Democratic National Convention Bill
chapters. Clinton for President Pennsylvania Delegation (1992-
Through lottery, fourteen Chapter members and two Pennsvlvania): Clinton Gore '96 Montana Voter Roundup
spouses were selected to attend this historic ^Vhite House (1996-Montana): Clinton Dean Racine Vote '96 (1996—
event. Members came from all over the country - Arkansas, Vermont); and State Legislatorsfor Clinton Gore '96 "Putting
Minnesota, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia. North Carolina, New Families Firstfrom Capital toCapital (1996-NewHampshire).
York, Indiana and California. The following people were part I had the honorofaddressingthe Presidentand theothers
of this historic day: Brad J. Koplinski. Roger Van Sickle, assembled in the Oval Office. As I faced President Clinton in
Pamela Boehr, John C. Greene, Joseph Wasserman, Bruce front of the massive, historic desk in that special place, I
Buchanan, Daniel Duncan, Andrew Fife, Richard Hansen, lookedaroundat the room, the Presidentand ourgroup, and
David Hvman, Man Monahan (Brad's wife), Audrey Ross, declared, "we are all in awe being here - and beinghere with
Robert Schultz. Suellen Wilkinson.Jean Ross (my wife), and you." I expressed our gratitude that both Brad and the
myself. President had some last minute Christmas shopping to do on
To commemorate this \isit, the Chapter crafted a special Chrisunas Eve, and that the President had so graciously invit-
full color three-inch button with President Clinton's photo- edus to\isit. Istated that"we are proud tobe membersofthe
graph, in numbered and unnumbered versions. Since no Clinton chapter, collecting memorabilia related to your
The Keynoter I'.ILM' ')
career,andweareproud toshare the hobbyofColli-t ting polit-
ical memorabilia with von. It's great to have a fellow political
collector in the White House." I pledged the assistance of
BCPIC to the Clinton Presidential Library project and report-
Bill Clinton ed that I had already been in contact with the chief organi/ci
for the library's development. Finally, I noted that the ( hapter
Political Items Collectors hoped to havesome post-Presidencyeventswith the President,
to which he responded quite favorably.
Official presentations followed my remarks. On behalfof
BCPIC, the otherofficers in attendancejoined me in present-
*000 ingPresident Clinton with an HonoraryLifetime Membership
in BCPIC, framed with the twenty-one buttons described
above, as well as a separately framed Honorary Lifetime
Membership in APIC signed by Chris Heam and myself. The
President was thrilled to receive the memberships and stated
that he looked forward to receiving ourpublications.
Several ofusalso presented items to PresidentClinton per-
sonally. My main gift was a limited edition wooden pen I had
commissioned to be made by the renowned actor Robert
Prosky. It was crafted of wood I retrieved from President
Clinton's 1997 inaugural reviewing stand as it was being torn
down. The President's pen was appropriately engraved as
number one. As he admired the pen and commented on its
beauty,healsoaskedhowI hadbeenable toretrieve thewood.
Remembering the evasive techniques I used to avoid having
White House Visit the wood seized by uniformed White House Secret Service
agents, I simply stated that the story behind my gathering the
March 7, 2000 wood was probably best not recounted in that room. Being a
fellow collector, I think he understood.
i
yVpui/vv I also gave him a framed black and white photo ofSenator
-
. ... William Fulbright and President LyndonJohnson convers-
J.
ing in belly-to-belly style and noted, "This dramatic pose of
Senator Fulbright reminded me of his importance to you."
(The President's first political job in Washington was in
Senator Fulbright's Senate office.) The President was quite
happy with these items and commented in some detail about
both ofthem. He placed the pen in itswooden case on a side
table in the Oval Office reservedforvaluable handmade items
and othermemorabiliaofparticularhistoric significance. (My
Above: asouvenirprogram printed bythe BCPIC for the Oval wife and I noted that the pen anditswoodencasewerestill on
Office visit (autographed by President Clinton and secretary that table during the Clintons' December 2000 televised tour
Betty Currie). Below: The BCPIC group outside the White ofthe Wliite Hotrse.) Notably, when I gave President Clinton
House on March 7, 2000. a copy of the BCPIC newsletter, The Arkansas Traveler, with a
Page 6 The Keynoter
l'l'Mi Alabama trigate on the cover, lie remarked thai lie Followingpresentations, and despite the best efforts ofth
alread) had a copy of thai issue. I was dumbfounded and President's handler (the "body man") who kept remindin
momentarily speechless, wondering how he had already him that he had more pressing matters to tend to, our vis
obtained one. He is indeed a true collector! with the President continued. Additional photographs wet
|oe Wasserman presented the President with a tie that pic- taken, including a group photograph with the Presidei
tured Democratic political buttons, a tie that was being worn behind hisdesk. Wewere allstunnedwhen thevisitcontinue
b\ three of us during our Oval Office \isit that day. Brad as the President took us on an inch-by-inch tour of the Ov
Koplinski gave the President an uncommon variation of the Office. He described in great detail items on the walls, table
famous photograph ofayoungBill Clinton meetingPresident and bookshelves. Among other things, he told us about vat
Kennedy in the Rose Garden. ous books covering political campaigns and issues, pointed
i
ouuco]
? it
Honorary Lifetime Membership
American Political Items Collectors
Pursuanttotheauthoritygrantedbytheby-lamoftheAmericanPoliticalItemsCollectors,
theundersignedherebyconferupon
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON
An HonoraryLifetimeMembershipin theAmericanPoliticalItemsCollectorsandallprivileges
appurtenantthereto. Executedthis 1stdayofFebruary, 2000.
BILLCLlNI'ON
POLITICAL HEMS
Philip| Ross,President ChristopHeriS Heam,President
BillClintonPoliticalItemsCollectors AmericanPoliticalItemsCollectors
COLLECTORS
WHITE MOOSE VIS'T
WITH
PRESIDENT CLINTON
MARCH 2000
7.
CLINTON
GORK
Items from the Clinton collectors visit to the Oval Office.
The "Seafarers" button is one of those presented to the President
The Keynoter I'.tJH' /
some rare first editions of books byJohn F. Kennedy and oth- a special print of his 1997 Inaugural Address. Ai my request,
ers, expounded about other rare objects such as unpolished he signed and dated it using his full name, William Jefferson
sapphire carvings of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Clinton. As he signed, he remarked that he had recently been
Eisenhower,anddescribedsome rarepolitical itemsin hisown told that it was one of the best inaugural addresses. He also
collection. He told us about a button from George signed a program from the event for me with a William J.
Washington's inauguration that he had recently been given. Clinton Parker Insignia bill-signing pen and, in the spirit of
He also made a point ofshowing us a huge gold millennium collecting,askedhow1 hadobtainedthe pen. BettyCurriealso
medalwhichportrayed the threePresidentswhowerein office signed the program for me. Wewere given the opportunity to
when century changes occurred: John Adams, William leave other items with Mrs. Currie for signature by the
McKinley, andWilliam Clinton. President andwere thrilled when the items came back several
J.
There were plenty ofopportunities to converse and inter- weeks later-all having been signed (and many dated) by the
act with the President during our visit. He was very open to President.
questions and was willing to impart any knowledge he had to All good things mustcome toan endandsoitwaswith our
offer. For example, when asked about his desk, which had visitwith President Clinton.Aswe filed out ofthe Oval Office,
been used by many other presidents including John F. we had a last chance to share some personal words with
Kennedy, he stated that a previous president had added a PresidentClinton. Manyofusdescribed the timeswe hadseen
front panel in the middle of the desk. He theorized that it him in person at various events, or shared some other words
occurred during Franklin D. Roosevelt's tenure because the ortidbits.Allwere leftwith asense ofdisbeliefthatwe hadjust
eagle in the Presidential seal was looking at the arrows rather shared so much time with the President in the Oval Office -
than the olive branch. He stated his assumption that the front particularly a Presidentwhose memorabilia we all collect.
panel had been added as a means of concealing Roosevelt's With help from those in attendance, a special issue of The
wheel chair. Arkansas Traveler was devoted entirely to the WTiite House
The President then pointedto thecurrentsealsin themas- visit and includes everyone's recollections ofthatspecial day,
sive carpet and in the ceiling medallion and noted that the recollections that also helped shape this article. I thinkJoe
eagle faced the olive branches in those seals-a change made Wasserman came closest to summing up our feelings about
during HarryTruman's term ofoffice. When asked about his what he called his most wonderful political collecting experi-
collection of items relating to his own races for office, he ence: "What an incredible event! I'm still pinching myself. It
notedthathehadmorefromhis 1996campaign thanfromhis was button fantasy camp."*
1992 presidential campaign.
While in the Oval Office, President Clinton obligedseveral
ofus by signing special items, including an Arkansas Traveler PhilipJ. Ross is President of the Bill Clinton Political Items
card, a copy ofhis book Between Hope andHistory, some event Collectors (BCPIC), a chapterofAPIC.
programs, and photographs. I was fortunate to have him sign
APIC member and BCPIC president Phil Ross presents the President with a pen made of
wood taken from the 1997 inaugural reviewingstand.
Page 8 The Keynoter
The
Rest of the Story...
and
the
New
Beginning of a Story!
A
grand
visit
PresidentClintonandSenatorClinton's
By PhilipJ. Ross historicvisittotheGreinskyResidence
StatenIsland, NewYork
July22,2001
Paul Harvey, whether you like him or not, has coined a the Oval Office and had Brad Koplinski sign his name next
phrase that nodotibtwill live on foryears: "And nowthe rest to mine.
ofthe story." Bill Clinton Political Items Collectors (BCPIC) The Clintonvisit provided a great opportunity to see the
can now tell the rest of the story that started on March 7, Clintons in action in NewYork as theyworked the crowd in
2000, as well as the beginning ofa newstory. a relaxed atmosphere far from the pressure ofWashington,
For BCPIC members, as for the rest of the country, DC. Both the President and Senatorwereverygraciousand
January 2001 was a time oftransition. President Clinton left signed items for those asking and also accepted items given
office and President George W. Bush assumed office. At the to them. Two buttons produced by Charlie also commem-
otherend ofPennsylvaniaAvenue, a newClinton tookoffice orate the event; one was handed out that day and another
as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton began her term repre- incorporates a photograph taken by a news photographer
senting New York. Our chapter has always considered that at the event. At the end oftheirvisit, Charlie arranged for
ourscope, like thatofthe Kennedychapter, extends to fami- us tojoin the Clintons for the presentation. As the President
lymembersandassociates ofthe Presidentwho laterembark looked on, I presented the certificate to Senator Clinton,
on political careers in their own right. Therefore Senator pointing out that we had made a similar presentation to the
Clinton'scampaignand tenure in officeprovidefresh oppor- Presidentin the Oval Office in 2000.
tunities for Clinton collectors to fill their Riker mounts! I turned to President Clinton and noted that our group
I was invited by fellow BCPIC member Charlie Greinsky owed its existence to him. Only one photograph documents
and his wife Ilene tojoin them at a party they were hosting the presentation - and regrettably, the photographer chose
for the Clintons on Staten Island, NewYorkonJuly22, 2001. only to include President Clinton's left arm along with
I accepted their generous imitation and gathered some Charlie, Senator Clinton, and me. But at the end ofthe day,
items to take up forpossible signature aswell assome items I the rest of the story was that BCPIC now has two honorary
wanted to give to former President Clinton. I also checked members - former President Clinton and Senator Clinton!
with Charlie to see ifhe would be willing tojoin me in pre- BCPIC also made history again - this time in presenting a
senting an Honorary Lifetime Membership in BCPIC to membership to the first former First Lady to serve in the
Senator Clinton. Charlie agreed and I made up a member- United States Senate! And that is also the beginning ofa
ship certificate to match that given to President Clinton in newstory!*
APIC members Charlie Greinskyand Phil Ross present Sen. Hillary Clintonwith an honorary BCPIC membership certificate.
President Clinton's hand is enteringthe photo from the left. Asign ofhowexcited the hostwas aboutthe eventis the factthat
two collectorbuttonswere made - one for the event and one afterwards- both ofwhich refer to the visit as "historic."
The Keynoter Page 9
Who
Dorie
is Miller...
...and why is he on a button?
By Michael Kelly
This year our nation disregard for his own personal safety during the attack."
experienced theshockofan Speaking ofMiller, Nimitz remarked:
unexpected attack by a for- "This marks the first time in this conflict that
eign foe without formal declaration ofwar. Sixtyyears ago, such high tribute has been made in the Pacific
on December 7, 1941 when the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Fleet to a member ofhis race and I'm sure that
Harbor was struck by a sneak attack from the Japanese the future will see others similarly honored for
Empire, therewere manyvictims and many heroes. brave acts."
One ofthe mostunusual heroes-atleastone ofthe most For much of1942, Miller traveled the country promoting
unexpected, given the social conditions of the day - was a the sale of war bonds. His picture appeared on a Navy
man with the unusual name of Doris Miller. Known to his recruiting poster. School, parks and buildings were named
friends as "Dorie," Miller was a native of Waco, Texas and for him and - yes - buttons were issued proclaiming "The
droppedoutofhighschool to helpsupporthissharecropper Hero ofPearl Harbor- Dorie Miller."
family. Hejoined the U.S. Navyin 1939 to earn the salaryof Sadly, his heroism did not change Navy policy and
$50 a month, sending much ofit back to Texas to help his Seaman Miller went back to work as a cook. Assigned to the
family. escortcarrierUSSLiscome Bay, hewason board thatshipon
African-Americans had been an integral part ofthe U. S. ThanksgivingDay 1943,when itwas torpedoedbyaJapanese
Navysince the daysofJohn PaulJones, butin the daysbefore submarine. Within minutes the ship had sunk. Among the
Pearl Harbor, blackAmericanswereonlyallowed toservethe 646 dead was Dorie Miller. Despite the prejudice that
Navyas messattendantsand cooks. Blackseamen were strict- marked his career in the Navy, Seaman Doris Millerdied the
lysegregated in "the best interests ofgeneralship efficiency." honorable death ofan American warrior.
Despite the restriction, when the Japanese made their In addition to the Navy Cross, Miller was entitled to the
infamous sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, Mess Attendant Purple Heart Medal; the American Defense Service Medal,
Second Class Dorie Miller took overan abandoned machine Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and the
gun aboard the battleshipWestVirginiaand turned iton the World War IIVictory Medal. In 1973, the US Navy commis-
Japanese, becoming one ofthe heroes ofthe day. sioned the frigate USS Miller named in his honor. In 1991,
The harsh segregation policy in effect in the Navy at that a bronze commemorative plaque honoring Doris Miller was
time meant that Miller had neverbeen trained in the opera- dedicatedat the MillerFamilyParklocatedon the U.S. Naval
tionofamachine gun, but thatdidn'tstophim from blasting Base, Pearl Harbor.*
away at the attacking airplanes. Witness reported that his
marksmanship was astonishing. While the chaos ofthe bat-
tle meant thatafullyacctirate assessmentofMiller'sshooting
skill could not be made, hewas officiallycredited with shoot-
ing down twoJapanese planes and some witnesses insisted
that he had shot down six.
Millerdescribedfiringthe machinegun duringthebattle:
"Itwasn'thard. Ijust pulled the triggerand sheworked fine."
ForweeksafterPearl Harbor, thenation's newspapersand
radio news programs hummed with the story of an
"unnamed Negro messman hero" but it tookuntil March 14,
1942 forthePittsburgh Courierio actuallyidentifyDorie Miller
as the hero.
Miller'sbraveryandskill made him one ofthe firstheroes
of World War II. He was commended by Secretary of the
Navy Frank Knox and received the Navy Cross (the Navy's
highest medal) personally from Admiral ChesterW. Nimitz,
the Commanderin Chiefofthe Pacific Fleet. Millerwascited
forhis"distinguisheddevotion toduty, extremecourage,and
Page 10 The Keynoter
1978: Bush and Cheney for Congress
By Michael Kelly
Most presidential contenders bring into their campaign
forthe nation's topjoban extensive trackrecordofelectoral
success. President Clinton, forinstance, ran forpublic office
as soon as he left college and barely an election was held in
Arkansas between 1974 and 1992 without the name Bill
Clinton appearing on an Arkansas ballot. He first ran for
Congress in 1974, losing to longtime GOP Congressman
John Paul Hammerschmidt. Hefollowed that losswith asuc-
cessful run for state attorney general and then governor,
ending his political career (at least to date) with a record of
seven wins and two defeats.
By contrast, both President George W. Bush and Vice
President Dick Cheney reached the top ofthe political pyra-
mid without having battled their way through a large num-
ber of elections. President Bush ran for public office only
three times, starting - like Clinton - with an unsuccessful
race for Congress. Ofthe three men, only Dick Cheney has
never lost an election, but then he never ran for an office
higher than the U.S. Congress. All three picked U.S.
Congress as the place to begin their electoral career - but
only Cheney actual made to the House.
George W. Bush sought a congressional seat from
Midland, Texas in 1978. The seatwas left open bythe retire-
ment ofRep. George McMahon, a Democrat who had held
the seatfor44years. GeorgeW. was abusinessman in the oil
industrywith aBAfromYale, an MBAfrom Harvard and his
wings as a pilot with the Texas National Guard. Although he
didn't make much ofthe fact in his congressional race, he
was also the son ofaU.S. Congressman and the grandson of
a U.S. Senator.
Bush had a tough battle in the GOP primary, facing
MayorJim Reese andJoeHickox.Although he ledin the pri-
mary, he won less than a majorityand had to face Reese in a
runoff. Hewon the runoffbutwasweakened ashewent into
the general election against the Democratic nominee, state
senator Kent Hance.
Itwas a hard fought contest, asbefitsa congressionalseat
that hadn't been without the same incumbent in 22 elec-
tions. Nonetheless, the race was a polite one. At the end of
the campaign, Hance said that he and Bush were friends;
"even though we disagreed, we disagreed without being dis-
Bush agreeable." Hance'svictoryoverBushwas 52% to 48%. Kent
for Hance became only the second congressman Texas' 19th
congressional districthad ever had.
That same year, Dick Cheney was also seeking a seat in
Congress Congress. Having served as Chief of Staff to President
Gerald Ford at the age of34, Cheney's career options were
open afterFord's 1976loss toJimmyCarter. Returning to his
home state ofWyoming, he found the state's only congres-
sional seat open due to a retirement.
Cheneyjumped into the race and faced a hard GOP pri-
President George W. Bush first ran for public office in mary against Ed Witzenburger andJack Gage. He won the
1978, as his fatherwas gearing up for his 1980 run at the primarydespite-interestingly-havingspentpartofthe cam-
White House. This brochure is from the younger Bush's paign in the hospital recovering from a heart attack. In the
congressional race. general election, Cheney faced Democratic lawyer Bill
