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Published stories from my memoir in The Assembly

By Carter Wrenn November 27, 2024

John Bolton: “Reagan lost the first five primaries to Gerald Ford in 1976 – then upset Ford in North Carolina. Carter Wrenn ran Reagan’s North Carolina campaign. He tells a compelling story about American politics, from Reagan to Trump.” Stephen Mansfield, New York Times bestselling author: “Our generation is awash in a sea of thin…

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Mandate?

By Gary Pearce November 27, 2024

Trump boasts that his election – by 1.5% in the popular vote – gives him a “mandate.” Which reminds me of what Jim Hunt said after one of his four elections as governor. (I forget which one, but I do remember that his margins of victory ranged from 9.5 to 31%.) A reporter asked Hunt,…

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Had Enough?

By Carter Wrenn November 26, 2024

There was a moment after Trump won when he could have sowed healing. Brought us together. But Trump’s a fighter. Not a healer. The media didn’t change either. It went from howling to defeat Trump – or Harris – to howling about Matt Gaetz and Trump’s cabinet picks. In a way, that wasn’t surprising: Howls…

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My Memoir

By Carter Wrenn November 25, 2024

John Bolton: “Reagan lost the first five primaries to Gerald Ford in 1976 – then upset Ford in North Carolina. Carter Wrenn ran Reagan’s North Carolina campaign. He tells a compelling story about American politics, from Reagan to Trump.” Stephen Mansfield, New York Times bestselling author: “Our generation is awash in a sea of thin…

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Courage

By Gary Pearce November 25, 2024

Instead of obsessing over Trump’s Cabinet picks, I read the story of a man who gave his life pursuing freedom and happiness for his country. The book is Patriot, by Alexei Navalny, the Russian politician who stood up to Putin and as a consequence was harassed, arrested, charged with multiple made-up crimes, poisoned and ultimately…

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TrumpenStein

By Gary Pearce November 21, 2024

Back in the last millennium, the paradox of North Carolina politics was: How can the same state elect Jim Hunt and Jesse Helms? Today, it’s: How can the same state elect Donald Trump and Josh Stein? They’re not just political opposites; they’re two of the most opposite people on planet Earth. Call us TrumpenStein. The…

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Meeting Ronald Reagan

By Carter Wrenn November 20, 2024

Back in 1975, I met Ronald Reagan at a dinner in Raleigh. That fall he ran for President – I ran his North Carolina primary, working with Jesse Helms (one of two U.S. Senators who endorsed Reagan) and Tom Ellis (Reagan’s North Carolina Chairman). Reagan lost the first five primaries to Gerald Ford – his…

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The View from Iceland

By Gary Pearce November 18, 2024

If you seek political asylum the next four years, try Iceland. We went there last week and loved it. Yes, it’s cold, dark half the year and expensive. But it’s also beautiful and historic; the people are friendly, peace-loving and progressive-minded; and it’s a six-hour direct flight from RDU. Still, don’t give up on the…

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Recessional

By Carter Wrenn November 11, 2024

The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, A humble and a contrite heart.  Victoria ruled for 60 years, Great Britain was the most powerful nation on earth, but its strength was ebbing. Rudyard Kipling, in a short poem in 1897, wrote about battles the British…

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Today, DeLay. Tomorrow, the House?

By Gary Pearce April 10, 2006

My Democratic friends are not only ecstatic about Tom DeLay’s fall, they are certain it presages…

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Straightening out the Mess in the House

By Carter Wrenn April 10, 2006

Three Republican legislators have a remedy to the scandals in the State House. Representative Nelson Dollar,…

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Bob Geary and Lou Dobbs

By Gary Pearce April 7, 2006

I mentioned Raleigh writer-activist Bob Geary in an earlier post. And he’s been kind enough to…

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