Pro Politics with Zac McCrary Paul Begala Joins The Pro Politics Podcast
I’m so fortunate to be joined by Paul Begala as my first guest – we had a great conversation. Paul is a great storyteller, with tremendous insights he’s learned over the years that remain incredibly relevant today.
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Twitter: @ProPoliticsPod
Twitter: @ZacMcCrary
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IN THIS EPISODE…
Paul breaks out his spot-on impressions of Bill Clinton, James Carville, and a deep cut of Phil Graham…
Why was Paul’s nickname “Huntley-Brinkley”?
Which Senator did a 12-year old Paul see, from the Senate Gallery, skillfully working the room during the 1973 Alaska pipeline vote?
How does high-school Paul cross paths with both Tom Delay and Ron Paul in the 1970s?
Why the concept of “taxation and representation” was incredibly influential in Paul’s time at the University of Texas?
The lasting impact Diane Begala, Paul’s wife, has had on the UT campus…
The story of Paul’s (temporary) defeat for Student Body President by a fictional character…
The two-word slogan that has defined Paul’s outlook on politics, government, and life…
What wager do Paul and his wife make before they see their friend Mark McKinnon on TV?
How Paul learned more from losing a race in Texas than he did on any of the races he won?
How Paul helped revive the political career of the man known as “The Three Time Loss from Holy Cross”…
How one candidate’s embrace of Transcendental Meditation changed a race…
Which candidate Paul worked for had “the greatest collection of talent on one staff” that Paul’s ever seen (and it’s not the 1992 Clinton Team)…
The story of how a pollster and an eye doctor found the right health care messaging to overcome a 47-point deficit in the 1991 upset win of PA Senator Harris Wofford…
How the lesson of “be like Bobby Kennedy” made Paul a better campaign manager…
Who is the potential Democratic candidate that Paul thought posed the greatest threat to Clinton’s prospects…
The “one thing that hasn’t changed in the Democratic Party” since 1992…
What was the “gold watch” strategy in the 1992 presidential race…
Why Ross Perot actually hurt Bill Clinton in 1992 more than George HW Bush…
What did Hillary Clinton say when Ross Perot (temporarily) pulled out of the ’92 race…
Why Bill Clinton wanted Paul Begala to work in the White House even though Paul felt “unqualified”…
Paul in the middle of the Clinton impeachment fight during a strained personal relationship with the President…
Paul’s tips on how to be good on television…
The advice Paul gives to anyone considering a career in politics…
Which recent political movie does Paul “highly, highly recommend”?
What spot on the map does Paul call “the greatest place in the world”?
What Paul has learned from each of his four sons…
Also mentioned...
John Anzalone, Howard Baker, Billy Begala, Charlie Begala, Diane Begala, John Begala Patrick Begala, Anna Bennett, Lloyd Bentsen, Joe Biden, David Bowie, Bill Bradley, George W Bush, James Carville, Bob Casey, Bill Clements, Hillary Clinton, Mario Cuomo, Mike Donilon, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Eckhardt, Bob Gammage, Bryan Garner, Dick Gephardt, Al Gore, Florence Scroggins Graham, Larry Grisolano, Kent Hance, John Heinz, David Humphreville, Vernon Jordan, Ted Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Bob Kreuger, Frank Lautenberg, Lyle Lovett, Neil MacBride, Mary Matalin, Linda Moore, Karen Olick, Jay Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan, Ann Richards, John Schwartz, Bill Scranton, Bob Shrum, Russ Tidwell, Dick Thornburgh, Joh