Lee Atwater

Date of Birth: February 27, 1951

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: March 29, 1991

Biography

Harvey LeRoy “Lee” Atwater was an influential American political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Atwater quickly rose through the ranks of political advisory circles with his sharp intellect and shrewd tactics. He is best known for his work on presidential campaigns, particularly for Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George H. W. Bush in 1988. Atwater’s approach to politics was often seen as controversial due to his aggressive campaign strategies, which included negative advertising and the use of racially charged messages. Atwater began his career in politics while still in high school, working on local campaigns. He attended Newberry College and later transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with a degree in political science. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Atwater built his reputation as a skilled campaign manager and strategist in South Carolina and beyond. His breakthrough came when he was hired as the deputy director of political operations for the Republican National Committee in 1983. In the 1988 presidential election, Atwater played a pivotal role in George H. W. Bush’s campaign, orchestrating a series of ads and messages that attacked Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis. These tactics were credited with helping Bush secure the presidency. Despite his success, Atwater’s methods were often criticized for being divisive and unethical. In 1990, Atwater was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Despite his illness, he continued to work and even served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee. He passed away in 1991 at the age of 40. Before his death, Atwater expressed regret for some of his campaign tactics and sought to make amends with those he had wronged.

5 Interesting Facts about Lee Atwater

1. Lee Atwater was a passionate blues musician and played guitar with famous artists like B.B. King.

2. He was instrumental in the creation of the “Willie Horton” ad, one of the most controversial political ads in history.

3. Atwater served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1989 until his death in 1991.

4. He wrote a public letter of apology to Michael Dukakis, expressing regret over the negative tactics used during the 1988 campaign.

5. Atwater’s life and career were the subject of the 2008 documentary “Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lee Atwater

1. “Perception is reality.”

2. “You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘N****r, n****r, n****r.’ By 1968 you can’t say ‘n****r’—that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff.”

3. “My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood.”

4. “Always, always, always be on the offensive, never on the defensive.”

5. “The thing I am most proud of is that I have worked for three presidents and helped elect two of them.”