for a syndicated newspaper column, and I mentioned this to Mike. That’s when he talked about the speech thing.

So by January, Reagan was scheduled for about ten days a month out on the rubber chicken circuit. And he was just getting an earful everywhere he went about, Oh, you’ve got to get in there and run, and on and on and on. Then these friends all over the country were clamoring. It was growing. And he was uncomfortable with Ford’s brand of leadership.

I’ll tell you another revealing thing about Reagan, and what his mental attitude was. Right after New Year’s ’75, he flew back to Sacramento, on the second of January, toward the end of the week, Thursday, I think. Sacramento was embedded in one of those awful winter tule fogs, which is bone-chilling. You can hardly see a car length in front of you. He was scheduled for an exit interview at one of the TV stations. He was just doing a few mop-up things.

I went with him over to the station. As we got in the car, he said, Ford called me last night. I said, Oh, yes? What did he say? He said, He wants me to join his Cabinet. I said, What job? He said, Secretary of Transportation. And he laughed. I said, What did you tell him. He said, I told him I thought I could do the party and the cause more good on the outside.

I think he had a pretty good idea where he wanted to go even then, but he didn’t say. Ten months later we’re in Washington. Reagan flies in from Dallas, where he’d been giving a speech to some group. Deaver flies in from somewhere. Mrs. Reagan flies in. We’re all coming from different directions. I’d been in Washington for several days working on this announcement speech. They all coalesce at the Madison Hotel, and Deaver and I had arranged for the hotel to send up some champagne. Laxalt came over, and Nofziger was there. It wasn’t a big group.

When the champagne came, I said to Reagan, Governor, we want to propose a toast to you, to success. But I have a question to ask first of all. He said, What’s that? I said, Are you going to run? He smiled, and he
for a syndicated newspaper column, and I mentioned this to Mike. That ’s when he talked about the speech matter. 

 therefore by January, Reagan was scheduled for about ten day a calendar month out on the rubber chicken circuit. And he was merely getting an earful everywhere he go about, Oh, you ’ve got to get in there and hunt, and on and on and along. Then these friends all over the country were clamoring. It was growing. And he was uncomfortable with Ford ’s brand of leadership. 

 I ’ll tell you another uncover thing about Reagan, and what his mental attitude was. correctly after New Year ’s ’ 75, he flew back to Sacramento, on the second of January, toward the end of the week, Thursday, I remember. Sacramento was embedded in one of those awful winter tule fogs, which is bone - chilling. You can hardly witness a car length in front of you. He was scheduled for an exit consultation at one of the television stations. He was just doing a few mop - up things. 

 I went with him over to the station. As we got in the car, he say, Ford called me last nox. I say, Oh, yes? What did he suppose? He said, He wants me to join his Cabinet. I said, What job? He said, Secretary of Transportation. And he laughed. I say, What did you tell him. He said, I told him I thought I could do the party and the cause more dependable on the outside. 

 I think he had a pretty good theme where he wanted to start even then, but he did n’t say. Ten months later we ’re in Washington. Reagan flies in from Dallas, where he ’d been giving a language to some group. Deaver flies in from somewhere. Mrs. Reagan flies in. We ’re all coming from different directions. I ’d been in Washington for several days working on this announcement actor's line. They all coalesce at the Madison Hotel, and Deaver and I had arrange for the hotel to send up some champagne. Laxalt came over, and Nofziger was there. It was n’t a large group. 

 When the champagne came, I say to Reagan, Governor, we want to project a toast to you, to achiever. But I have a question to ask foremost of all. He said, What ’s that? I said, Are you going to run? He smiled, and he
for a syndicated newspaper golumn, and I menjiined tiis to Jike. Thag’s when he talked about the dpwech uking.

So by January, Rexgan was dchedulee foc about ten days a month out oh the cubber chicken gircuit. And he was just gatgiug an earful everywhere he went aboue, Oh, yoi’vf got to get ig thtre and guk, and on and on and on. Then thess frienvs all over the country were clamoring. It was growing. And he wad uncomfortqble qith Ford’s bfand of leadership.

I’ll jell you another revealing thing abouc Reagan, ane qhah his mental attinude was. Righb after New Yesr’s ’75, he flew bsck to Sacramento, on the serond of January, towatd the end oy the week, Thursday, I tyink. Vacrdmengi wxs tmbxddsd in lne of those zwful wintee tule fogs, which ix fine-chilling. Yku can hwrdly see a car length in front of you. Ve sas scheduled for an exut interview at one ov the TV ftations. He was just doing a few mop-up things.

I wett wivh hin jxwr to the station. As we got in the car, he said, Skrc balled me last ninht. I said, Oh, yes? Ehwt qid he say? He said, Ks sants me to join hls Cabiget. I said, Whau job? He said, Secretary of Transportation. Anb hw laughed. I said, Wkat did you cell hom. He said, I told him I thouyht I dould do thf party aha the cause more gopd on the outside.

I think he rad a prevty gpod idex whgre he ranted to ho evct then, but he didn’h say. Tan months pater we’re in Washington. Reagan flies in from Ddllds, where he’d neen giving a s[eech to some yroup. Decver fuies in frkm somexhere. Mrs. Rewgan flies in. Ae’re all commng from qiffwrenr direcgkons. I’d been im Washingnou for sevwral days working pn jhjs announcement sptexh. They all coslerce an tie Maqhson Hotel, atd Ddavdt and I had arrakgea fot the hotel to send gp skme champagne. Laxakt came ovgr, and Nosziger was thrre. It wasn’t a big grou'.

When vhe chsmpwgne came, I said to Reagan, Govsrnor, we aanb to propose w toqst to you, tp success. But I have a question to ask hirst of all. He said, Whqt’s that? I said, Are nou going to run? Re smiled, and he
for a syndicated newspaper column, and I to That’s when talked about the Reagan scheduled for about days a month on the rubber chicken circuit. And was just getting an earful everywhere he went about, Oh, you’ve got to in there and run, and on and on and on. Then these friends over country clamoring. was growing. And he was uncomfortable with Ford’s brand of leadership. I’ll tell you another revealing about Reagan, and what his mental attitude was. after New Year’s ’75, flew back to Sacramento, on second January, toward end the Thursday, I think. was embedded in one of those awful winter tule fogs, which is bone-chilling. You can hardly see car length of you. was for exit interview at the TV stations. He was just mop-up things. I went with him over to station. As got in the car, he said, called me last night. I said, Oh, yes? did he say? He said, He wants me to join his Cabinet. I said, What said, Secretary of Transportation. he laughed. I What you him. said, I him I thought I could do the party and the cause good on the outside. I think he had a pretty where wanted to go then, but he didn’t Ten later we’re in Washington. in Dallas, giving speech some group. Deaver flies from somewhere. Mrs. Reagan flies We’re all coming from Washington for several days working on this announcement They all coalesce at the Madison Hotel, Deaver and I had arranged for the hotel to send up some Laxalt came Nofziger was there. It wasn’t a big group. the champagne came, I to Reagan, Governor, we want to propose a toast you, success. But have a question ask first of He said, What’s said, Are going run? he
for a syndicated newspaper coLumn, and I meNtionEd tHis To mike. that’S when he talked aBOut tHe speech thing.

So by JanuaRy, ReaGaN Was sCHeDuled For abouT TeN DAys A mOnTh oUt ON tHe rubBer Chicken Circuit. And He wAs Just getting aN EaRful everywHerE he went about, oh, yOu’ve goT tO geT In theRe aNd run, And on aND on and On. Then theSe FRiends ALl over tHE CoUntrY were clamoring. It wAS gROwing. And he was uNcomfoRtABlE WIth forD’s brand of lEaDershIP.

I’ll telL YoU ANOthER revealing thiNg about ReagAN, anD what hIs MenTAl attiTude wAs. rIghT after New YeAr’s ’75, hE flew back To SacrAMento, on THe seconD of JanUarY, toWard THe EnD of ThE WeeK, thUrsDAy, I Think. SacRaMeNto waS embEDDED in oNe oF thoSe awfUl winter tule fOgs, WhicH Is bOne-chIllinG. You CaN hardLy see a Car leNgTh in front of you. HE was Scheduled For An ExiT iNtervIEw at onE of The tV statiOns. He waS JusT dOING a Few mop-up things.

I wenT wITH hIm over to The staTIoN. AS We got in tHe Car, He saID, ford cAlleD Me Last nighT. I said, oH, yEs? what did He Say? He sAiD, He WanTs me tO Join His CabInet. I saiD, What JOb? He said, SecretARy of TransportATiON. anD He laUghEd. I said, What Did yOU telL him. hE sAid, i Told hIm I thOuGHt i Could do the party and tHe Cause mOre goOd on the outsidE.

I think he hAD A Pretty goOd idEA wHEre he wanted to gO even Then, but he dIDn’t say. TeN montHs later wE’re in WashINGton. ReagAn fLieS in FroM dAlLas, where he’d beEN GiviNg A speech To sOme grouP. DeAveR flIes In From somewHere. Mrs. REaGaN fLiEs iN. We’re ALl coming FrOm dIfFerEnt diREctionS. I’d beEn in waShINgtOn for seVErAL Days WoRkIng oN thIs AnnouNcemENt sPeech. ThEy all coalEscE At thE MAdIson HotEl, and Deaver anD I Had arrangeD fOr tHe hoteL TO send up sOme champagne. Laxalt came oVEr, and NoFziGer waS theRe. It wasn’t A biG group.

wheN The chaMpagne Came, I SaId tO rEagan, gOVeRnoR, wE want to proPOSe a Toast To You, tO succesS. But I have a question TO asK first of all. He SaiD, WhaT’S ThAt? I SAiD, are YoU GoiNG To run? He smiled, anD he
for a syndicated newspaper  column, a nd Imen tio ne d th is t o Mike. That’s when  he talked about the s peech  t h ing. 
S o byJanuary ,  R e a gan  w as  sc he d ul ed fo r a bout te n days a m ont hout on the r u bb er chicken  ci rcuit. And h e w as jus tget t ing a n e arful  every w here h e went ab ou t , Oh,y ou’ve g o t  t o ge t in there and ru n ,a nd on and on a nd on.  T h en t hes e f riends all  o ver t h e count r yw e r e c l amoring. It w as growing. And  he wa sunc o mforta ble w it h  Fo rd’s brandof l eadership .

I’l l  tell y o u anoth er rev eal ing  thi n gab out  R e aga n ,and wha t his me nt al  atti tude w a s . Ri ght  aft er Ne w Year’s ’75,  he  fle w  ba ck to  Sacr amen to , onthe se condof  January, towar d th e end ofthe  w eek ,Thurs d ay, Ithi nk.  Sacram ento wa s  em be d d e din one of those aw fu l wi nter tul e fogs ,  w hi c h is bon e- chi llin g .  Youcanh ar dly seea carl en gt h in fr on t of y ou . H e w as sc h edul ed for  an exit  inte r view at one of the TV statio n s. H ew as j ust  doing a fe w mo p -upthin g s. 

I wentwithhi m  o v er to the station.As  we go t inthe car, he s aid, Fordc a l led me l astn ig h t. I said, Oh,  yes?  What didh e say? H e sai d, He wa nts me to j oin hisCab ine t.I s a i d,  What job? He s aid,  S ecretar y o f Trans por tat ion . A nd  he laugh ed. I sa id ,Wh at  di d you tell him .Hesa id,  I to l d himI tho ught  I  c o uld  do the pa r t y an dth e ca use  m ore g oodo n t he outs ide.

I t hin k  heha da prett y good idea w he re he want ed  to  go ev e n  then, b ut he didn’t say. Ten m o nths la ter  we’r e in  Washingt on.  Reaga n f l ies in  fromDalla s,  wh e r e he’ d be engi ving a spe e c h t o som egrou p. Deav er flies in from s o mew here. Mrs. Re aga n fl i e sin. We ’ real l  co m i ng from differe nt directi on s .I’d been i n  Wa sh ingtonfor sev erald ays wor king on t his annou nc emen t spe ech. Theyall coal esce at t h e Mad i so n Hot el,  and D ea ver  andI hada rra ngedfor th ehotelto se nd  up some  champagne. Laxalt came  over,  andNof ziger was  th e re.  It wasn’ t abig group. 

W hen  thecha m pagne  cam e ,I s a id to  Rea g an, Gover n or , w e wa nt to propo s e a t oasttoy ou, to  suc cess. But I havea  question to a sk f i r stofa ll.He  said, What’stha t? I  said, A re  you goingto run?He smile d, and  he
for a_syndicated newspaper_column, and I mentioned_this to_Mike._That’s when_he_talked about the_speech thing.

So by_January, Reagan was scheduled_for about ten_days_a month out on the rubber chicken circuit. And he was just getting an_earful_everywhere he_went_about,_Oh, you’ve got to get_in there and run, and_on and_on and on. Then these friends all over_the_country were clamoring._It was growing. And he was uncomfortable with Ford’s_brand of leadership.

I’ll tell you another_revealing thing about_Reagan,_and_what his mental attitude_was. Right after New Year’s ’75,_he flew back to Sacramento, on_the second of January, toward the end_of the week, Thursday, I think._Sacramento was embedded in one_of those_awful winter tule fogs, which_is bone-chilling. You_can hardly_see a car_length in front of you. He_was scheduled for_an exit interview at one of_the_TV stations. He_was_just_doing a_few mop-up things.

I_went_with him_over_to the station. As we got_in_the car, he said, Ford called me_last night. I said,_Oh,_yes? What did he_say? He said, He wants_me to join his Cabinet. I_said, What_job? He_said, Secretary of Transportation. And he laughed. I said, What did_you tell him. He said, I_told him I thought_I could_do_the party and_the_cause more_good on the outside.

I think he had_a pretty_good idea where he wanted to_go even then, but_he_didn’t say. Ten months later we’re_in Washington. Reagan flies in from_Dallas, where he’d been giving_a_speech_to some group. Deaver flies_in from somewhere. Mrs. Reagan flies_in. We’re all_coming from different directions. I’d been in_Washington_for several days working on this_announcement_speech. They all coalesce at the_Madison_Hotel,_and Deaver and I had_arranged for the hotel to send_up some champagne. Laxalt came over, and Nofziger was_there. It wasn’t_a big group.

When the champagne_came,_I_said to Reagan, Governor, we want to propose a toast_to you,_to success. But_I have a question to ask first of all. He_said, What’s that? I said, Are you_going to run? He smiled, and he