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Communications expert Tucker Eskew has been a participant in some of the most seminal moments in American political history over the course of the past 30+ years...a protege of the famed Republican strategist Lee Atwater, senior aide to the Bush 2000 win over John McCain in the fractious South Carolina primary, working in the White House the morning of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a stint representing the Bush Administration at 10 Downing Street in London, one of Sarah Palin's lead handlers during her whirlwhind 2008 VP experience...among many other momentous experiences during his decades in and around politics. In this conversation, Tucker talks his path to politics and his time as both observer and player in some of the most important moments in recent American history.

IN THIS EPISODE

Tucker's roots as the son of a journalist growing up in the Southeast...

The DC internship that set him on a path toward working in politics...

A couple of his favorite Strom Thurmond stories...

Tucker, in his mid 20s, becomes Press Secretary for South Carolina Governor Caroll Campbell...

Tucker remembers lessons learned from his mentor - the famed GOP operative, Lee Atwater...

Tucker's role on the ground during the bruising, fractious 2000 South Carolina primary between Bush and McCain...

Tucker talks the strategic acumen of Karl Rove...

Tucker's role as a Bush spokesman in West Palm Beach during the 2000 post-election chaos...

Tucker recounts his amazing story of working in the White House on the morning of the 9/11 terrorist attacks...

Tucker works out of 10 Downing Street for months, partnering with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the aftermath of 9/11...

Tucker's stint as one of the senior handlers for Sarah Palin during her tumultuous 2008 VP experience...

Why John McCain had a sense of relief after losing the 2008 presidential race...

Lessons learned from 19 years as a partner at the corporate comms firm Vianovo...


AND Whit Ayres, the BBC, Doug Bailey, James Baker, Dan Bartlett, John Buckley, Blaine Bull, Alistair Campbell, Chad Man, Lon Chaney, Dick Cheney, Bill Clinton, the Coalition Information Center, Candy Crowley, Matthew Dowd, emergency bunkers, Ray Eskew, flashbulb moments, fog of war, Gerald Ford, Michael Gerson, the Greenville News-Piedmont, Albert Hawkins, Karen Hughes, Jesse Jackson, Greg Jenkins, Lafayette Square, Jim Lake, Joe Lieberman, Larry Lindsey, low bono, Mary Matalin, Bob McAllister, Anita McBride, Tim McBride, mimeographs, next man up, the News Literacy Project, Richard Nixon, Bob Novak, pocket doors, the Presidential Campaign Hotline, the Reagan/Bush 1984 war room, red light moments, Condaleeza Rice, the Roosevelt Room, Mark Sanford, South Lawn moments, sucker optimists, James Taylor, UPI, The University of the South, ugly babies, George Wallace, Jim Wilkinson & more!