Well, at least he lived to see Governor Reagan ascend to the presidency. Reagan mentioned Rafferty in one of his mid-seventies radio broadcasts.
It is very interesting. Thanks for posting. I went to school with his daughter, who thot he was a right-wing nut! I would now call him a visionary — he pulled our community out of the greater school community and set up a unified school district, which is still strong and very well thought of today. The larger district tanked a long time ago — I think he saw it coming.
Sorry to hear he was killed in an auto accident.
I supported Rafferty against Kuchel in 1968. Unfortunately, his primary victory threw moderate and liberal Republicans into a snit, and many of them reacted in the same way that they did when Goldwater was nominated in 1964—by sitting on their hands or even endorsing Cranston, who narrowly won in November.
Rafferty's victory party was held in the Ambassador Hotel, where in a different room, another event would occur that night which would grab the world's attention.