THOMASVILLE- Author John Nogowski is pulling pages from his old reporter’s notebook for his newest book, “Nashua: How Ronald Reagan Led Us to Donald Trump,” which debuted at The Bookshelf on Saturday afternoon.
The book reflects on Nogowski’s first job at the Nashua Telegraph in Nashua, New Hampshire, where the first debate between Ronald Reagan and George Bush was held.
Nogowski begins his book by recalling Reagan’s announcement to run for president at 69, which in those days was considered “old” to run for president.
“He (Reagan) didn’t go to the Iowa caucus, which at that time was the political kickoff for the season,” Nogowski said. “George Bush did, so when Reagan came to New Hampshire for the primary he was 21 points down.”
According to Nogowski, Reagan’s manager was nervous, acknowledging that if Reagan didn’t do well in New Hampshire, his campaign was over.
It was then that Reagan’s manager concocted a plan to have a one-on-one debate between Reagan and Bush.
“There were five other candidates, so when he pitched it to New Hampshire newspapers, everyone said no, that he had to have all the candidates, he could not cherry-pick,” Nogowski said. “The only newspaper that said it was a good idea was my newspaper, the Nashua Telegraph.”
That is where Nogowski’s story picks up.
A sports reporter at the time, Nogowski, was assigned to cover the first debate between Bush and Reagan in the Nashua gymnasium. However, the real story was not the debate at all, it was Reagan’s showmanship.
“The night of the debate, Reagan pulled a fast one and invited up all five candidates on stage,” Nogowski said. “They come up on stage and it causes a half-hour delay.”
Nogowski said he remembers the gymnasium being packed and people screaming over the delays. The crowd would only grow rowdier as the night progressed.
“Reagan got on the microphone and explained to the crowd why he was doing this when the moderator asked for Gov. Reagan’s microphone to be shut off,” Nogowski said.
That was the moment everything changed.
“Reagan shouted to turn on his microphone, claiming “I’m paying for this microphone,” said Nogowski. “That was all the crowd had to see- him acting like a cowboy.”
Nogowski said the crowd went wild, standing, cheering, and applauding Reagan.
Still, the moderator refused to turn back on Reagan’s microphone.
Hard-hitting journalists, such as Walter Cronkite and John Chancellor were in attendance, and they knew they had a story, and so did Nogowski.
“Once they saw that, they took off,” Nogowski said. “They didn’t care what he said during the debate, they knew that was the story.”
Following the debate, Bush flew back to Houston, knowing he had lost, while Reagan won the New Hampshire primary by a landslide.
“What that showed me, and I think showed the Republican Party is that it’s about performance,” he said. “It’s not about politics.”
Nogowski asserts in his book that Reagan’s performance during that first debate has spurred Republicans, including Presidential nominee Donald Trump to continue these more theatrical performances, as opposed to answering the hard-hitting questions.
“Just the other night at a rally, two people faint because it’s so hot, so Donald Trump suggests the crowd listen to music for the remaining 40 minutes,” Nogowski said. “He (Trump) stands up there doing the YMCA, even though he has a Presidential election coming up and should be answering questions.”
Nogowski said it has become clear through his writing and today’s political climate, that politics, specifically for the Republican Party, is a show business.
“That’s why I had to write this book,” he said.
Nogowski said he realizes not everyone will agree with his perception of today’s Republican Party, but hopes they can all enjoy history come alive, as he witnessed it in Nashua so many years ago.
Copies of Nogowski’s book can be purchased on Amazon.