The Gipper and the Tipper

held a unique vantage point on Ronald Reagan. For six years I was top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, otherwise known as Ronald Reagan’s No. 1 rival. Before that I was a presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, the man he beat to win the White House.

I first met President Reagan himself in the Speaker’s ceremonial office. It was the president’s “holding room” for the 1982 State of the Union. “Welcome, Mr. President, to the room where we plot against you!” I said “Not after six,” he answered without a second’s hesitation. “The Speaker says that here in Washington we’re all friends after six.”

CM

About the Author

Chris Matthews

held a unique vantage point on Ronald Reagan. For six years I was top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, otherwise known as Ronald Reagan’s No. 1 rival. Before that I was a presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, the man he beat to win the White House.

I first met President Reagan himself in the Speaker’s ceremonial office. It was the president’s “holding room” for the 1982 State of the Union. “Welcome, Mr. President, to the room where we plot against you!” I said “Not after six,” he answered without a second’s hesitation. “The Speaker says that here in Washington we’re all friends after six.”