I didn’t read Slater’s article either other than the snippet that was posted. After the following snip I’m out of this thread as it’s not worthy of a lot of time, imo. The two gentlemen overseeing the Texas Reagan Campaign in 1980 had the following to say as published in an article by Matt K Lewis on 2-8-13:
Snip
So whos right? Its complicated.
I finally caught up with Rick Shelby, who helped me get to the bottom of it. Today, Shelbys with the American Gas Association, but in 1979, he was one of the original Regional Political Directors for the Reagan for President Committee. This involved coordinating nine states including Texas.
Since Texas was important, Shelby tells me he spent an inordinate amount of time in the Lone Star State in 1980. And though Rove never technically worked on the Reagan campaign, Shelby says he served as executive director for the states Victory Committee.
In that capacity, Shelby recalls that Rove played a vital role in helping raise the funds necessary for an effective voter ID and turnout program in the state. The confusion, he says, results from the fact that 1980 was the first year in which the law allowed for this sort of coordination.
Rove didnt work on the Reagan campaign, but he did work to help elect Reagan albeit after Reagan defeated George H.W. Bush and won the nomination (which, to some hardcore conservatives, is almost a moot point).
Ultimately, this, of course, isnt about Rove. Its really a microcosm of a struggle that has been taking place in the GOP for decades and continues to this day.
The Ford-Reagan split from 1976 is alive and well. And you cant really trust anyone who was on Team Ford.
UPDATE: An email from Ernest Angelo confirms Roves involvement, but refers to him as being in the campaign:
In 1980 I was Gov Reagans Texas chairman in the primary and Campaign Manager for the general election. Gov Clements endorsed Reagan after the Texas primary and was the campaign Chairman. I was a full time volunteer on site for most of the Fall campaign in Austin. I worked closely with Rick Shelby who was a Reagan Regional Political Director and was in Austin nearly full time. We had a large staff of volunteers and paid individuals. Im not much for titles but I can assure you Karl Rove was materially involved since he was working for me and Gov Clements in the campaign.
end snip
Adios......
yea those are the stories I read over the weekend - complicated...ha. success has many fathers