Robert H. Tuttle
Speaker: Robert Tuttle, Director, Office of Presidential Personnel
Date: 12/12/2003
Description:
Robert Tuttle gives his unique perspective on the rise of Ronald Reagan as a seminal figure in American politics, and on his four years of service as White House Personnel Director during the second Reagan term. As the son of Holmes Tuttle, a key member of the Reagan "kitchen cabinet," Tuttle examines Reagan's entry into the political arena in the 1950s and 1960s and his rise from Governor of California to presidential contender. He recounts his service as Co-Chairman of the Reagan-Bush campaign in California in 1980, touching on several key issues of the campaign, including the involvement of the kitchen cabinet and the debate over the selection of former President Gerald Ford as Reagan's running mate. Tuttle and assistant Maureen Malloy discuss their four years in the White House Personnel Office, with a detailed analysis of the White House staff, the appointments process, congressional relations, and the Iran-Contra affair. Tuttle and Malloy also offer a wealth of personal stories which speak to Reagan's sense of humor, shyness, and affability.
