On the Scene: Dealing with Dole

Washington, D.C.

IN THE early 1980s Bob Heckman, ousted as executive director of Young Americans for Freedom, challenged his dismissal in a drawn-out, bitter lawsuit. He eventually moved on to a rocky career in the conservative movement that one activist describes as leaving “body bags coast to coast.” Another longtime activist guesses Mr. Beckman “wouldn’t be welcome at any [conservative] coalition meeting I can think of.” Yet Heckman has landed a plum job: coordinating outreach to conservatives for Senator Phil Gramm’s presidential campaign.

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Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

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Bob Dole

Presidential Election

Washington, D.C.

IN THE early 1980s Bob Heckman, ousted as executive director of Young Americans for Freedom, challenged his dismissal in a drawn-out, bitter lawsuit. He eventually moved on to a rocky career in the conservative movement that one activist describes as leaving “body bags coast to coast.” Another longtime activist guesses Mr. Beckman “wouldn’t be welcome at any [conservative] coalition meeting I can think of.” Yet Heckman has landed a plum job: coordinating outreach to conservatives for Senator Phil Gramm’s presidential campaign.