Pro Politics with Zac McCrary Mike Murphy & A Master Class in Political Communication
May 4, 2021
59:39
You won't find a better 59 minutes of political stories and advice than this conversation with longtime GOP media consultant / strategist Mike Murphy. Mike has worked with some of the iconic Republican political names of his generation...McCain, Schwarzenegger, Bush, Romney, Alexander, Engler...and so many more. And there is no better and more enthusiastic political storyteller than Mike Murphy.
IN THIS EPISODE
Mike’s family connection to a “thank you” letter sent from FDR’s campaign manager…
Mike talks about how the Cold War defined politics in his early days…
A young Mike learns under Arthur Finkelstein…
Mike finds himself in Moscow during a momentous moment…
How Darth Vader focused Mike on a career in politics…
Which iconic GOP House member just needed a 6-pack of Heineken to be the life of the party…
Mike’s very specific advice about how to quickly learn the political ropes…
Roger Ailes gives Mike an important early break…
Mike tells the story of the fabled negative ad against Jesus Christ…
Mike talks about the “mentor” model vs the Google model of learning the political craft…
Mike talks about the importance of running an incumbent like a challenger…
Mike’s great story of the advice he got from crusty old media consultant Bobby Goodman…
Mike’s big breakthrough in the Governor’s race in his home state…
Mike gets an important call from Bob Dole (with a great Bob Dole impression)…
Mike talks the Minnesota race that was “the craziest race he’s ever been in”…
Mike doesn’t make any friends at his first (and only) George H.W. Bush White House strategy meeting…
Mike’s killer story of how his aborted “man on the street” TV shoot for Bush in ’92 led to getting his access to the top floor of HQ revoked…
Mike’s love-letter to the ’96 Lamar! For President race in 1996…
Pat Buchanan’s ’96 Iowa stump speech makes Mike fear for his life…
Mike talks the McCain magic in the 2000 primaries…
John McCain can’t resist needling Steve Forbes…
Mike helps engineer the rise of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger…
Mike’s advice to any budding media consultant…
Mike’s recommendation for a deep cut political movie…
ALSO…Roger Ailes, atomic dirigibles, Doug Bailey, James Baker, Jim Blanchard, Rudy Boschwitz, Warren Buffett, Murphy Brown, Pat Buchanan, Jeb Bush, Harry Byrd, Jimmy Cagney, James Carville, Jimmy Carter, Arne Carlson, Alex Castellanos, Bill Clinton, Paul Coverdell, Phil Crane, John Deardorff, Jeremiah Denton, Terry Dolan, Dick Dresner, John Engler, Arthur Finkelstein, Steve Forbes, Wyche Fowler, John Gautier, Barry Goldwater, Jon Grunseth, Adam Goodman, Bobby Goodman, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Pat Griffin, ham-and-egger debates, Hogan’s Heroes, John Hiler, Mick Jagger, Lyndon Johnson, Ron Kaufman, Dirk Kempthorne, Bill Kristol, Christopher Lasch, Mike’s madras blazer, Mack Mattingly, Larry McCarthy, George McGovern, Joel McCrea, HL Mencken, Dennis Miller, Chris Mottola, NCPAC, Ogilvy on Advertising, Rudy Perpich, Pontius Pilate, Larry Pressler, Dan Quayle, Ronald Reagan, Steve Ricchetti, Mitt Romney, Karl Rove, John Rousselot, Tim Russert, Bernie Sanders, schnitzel at Spago’s, Bob Shrum, Don Sipple, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Greg Stevens, Preston Sturges, Steve Symms, Bob Teeter, Hunter S. Thompson, Donald Trump, the USC Center for the Political Future, John Weaver, Vin We