C&E Remembers
Ted Sorensen (1928-2010)
13
Miscellaneous additions taken from my book Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History (HarperCollins): (a) Tell the truth – about
your military record, finances, career, education, and fam- ily life. Have confidence that even if you are not Lincoln, FDR, or perfect, you can do a better job than anyone else competing for the White House. Expect more pain than glory in the campaign; (b) can you genuinely conclude that no other equally able candidate is likely to win, that you and your family are ready to have your personal lives relentlessly scrutinized? If agonizing is required to produce affirma- tive answers, don’t run – it would be an agonizing campaign (no office provides meaningful preparation for the unique responsibilities of the presidency); (c) Consider whether the odds of nomination and election are sufficiently good to justify surrendering whatever seat or seniority you now possess. No early formal announcement or declaration is needed – quietly build a base while preserving your options; (d) Preparing a “negative research” file on yourself to prepare you in advance for whatever slings and arrows may be rained upon you is even more important than preparing a “negative research” file on your opponent; and (e) Do not talk down to the American people with pompous platitudes, piety and party slogans. Talk about the presidency, patriotism, and the perils facing the country. Avoid factions and quarrelling within your team (impossible to avoid within your party).
Ted Sorensen is former special counsel to President John F. Kennedy and author of the New York Times best selling book, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History (HarperCollins).
November 2010 | Campaigns & Elections 11
Along with the world, we grieve the loss of Ted Sorensen, special adviser to President Kennedy and pioneering campaign operative. Mr. Sorensen penned the cover story for the October 2010 print edition issue of Campaigns & Elections, which you can read in these pages, reflecting on political campaigning over the past half century since the famed 1960 campaign. We are honoured to have published this story, one of Mr. Sorensen’s last contributions to be published while he was alive.
You can read many of President Kennedy’s speeches on the JFK Presidential Library and Museum website and can listen here to Mr. Sorensen discuss his 2008 memoir Counsellor: a Life at the Edge of History.
On behalf of our entire C&E family – in the U.S., Canada and Latin America, and our readers worldwide, we extend our condolences to his family and thank him for his contributions to politics.
Mike Hennessy CEO
Fischer/picture-alliance/dpa/Newscom
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