#20: Governor Michael Dukakis: Our Interview

Searching for Bernie (Sanders)

I’ve been a longtime admirer of Michael Dukakis, first when he served as Governor of Massachusetts (where I grew up), and later when he became the Democratic party’s nominee for president in 1988.

My memories, though, are less about his policies, and more about him personally: Dukakis always struck me as a decent, upstanding guy.

When Gov. Dukakis endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, I can’t say I was surprised. Almost all of the party’s leaders have backed Hillary, but I still haven’t heard a convincing explanation of why.

So, on a lark, my son Caleb and I wrote to the Governor, and asked for an interview. And being the decent, upstanding guy that he is, the Governor accepted.

We talked about Bernie and Hillary... campaign finance reform... lessons from the 1988 presidential campaign... negative advertising... Elizabeth Warren... and lots more.

I hope you enjoy listening to the interview as much as Caleb and I enjoyed producing it.

Show notes

• Michael Dukakis
• 1988 U.S. presidential election
• Hillary Clinton’s campaign contributions [OpenSecrets.org]
• Democratic Leadership Council
• Sue Prent, writer and editor at the Green Mountain Daily
• Gov. Dukakis says Elizabeth Warren should not run for president in 2016 [U.S. News]
• Gov. Dukakis talks to students at the Harvard School of Public Health [VIDEO]
• Lee Atwater and negative political ads
• John E. Walsh, former chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
• Kitty Dukakis and her advocacy on mental health issues
• Fenway Park