Patrick Caddell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Caddell
|
|
|---|---|
Caddell at the 2014 CPAC
|
|
| Born |
Patrick Hayward Caddell
May 19, 1950 |
| Died | February 16, 2019 (aged 68) |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation | pollster, political firm consultant |
Patrick Hayward Caddell (May 19, 1950 – February 16, 2019) was an American expert in public opinion. He helped politicians by studying what people thought about different issues. He was also a consultant for political campaigns. Caddell worked for many important politicians, including Jimmy Carter, who later became president. He also advised other presidential candidates like George McGovern and Joe Biden.
Contents
Early life and first steps in politics
Patrick Caddell was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina. His father was an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Because of his father's job, Patrick moved a lot as a child. He lived in different towns, like Falmouth, Massachusetts. He was inspired by the famous Kennedy family and their work in politics.
While in high school in Jacksonville, Florida, Patrick created a way to guess who would win elections. This skill led him to be hired by a state politician. Later, while studying at Harvard University, he started his own company called Cambridge Survey Research. This company focused on polling, which is gathering opinions from many people.
In 1971, Patrick's company was hired by the campaign of George McGovern, a presidential candidate. Patrick worked closely with the campaign team. He graduated from Harvard University in 1972.
Career in political consulting
Helping Jimmy Carter win in 1976
Patrick Caddell played a key role in Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign in 1976. He convinced Carter to focus on building "trust" with voters. This strategy helped Carter win the election by a small margin. At just 26 years old, Caddell was seen as a top expert in polling.
After Carter became president, Caddell had a lot of influence in the White House. He was very close to President Carter and the First Lady, Rosalynn Carter. He helped shape important speeches, including one known as the "malaise speech." This speech was about the challenges facing the country.
Even though he wasn't officially paid by the government, Caddell had a special pass to the White House. He often attended important meetings. His ideas and advice went straight to the president.
Working on the 1984 presidential election
After Carter lost the 1980 election, Caddell looked for a new candidate for 1984. He joined the campaign of his friend, Senator Gary Hart. Caddell helped Hart win a big victory in the New Hampshire primary election. However, some people blamed Caddell for certain decisions that hurt Hart's campaign later on.
After Gary Hart lost the nomination, Caddell joined the campaign of Walter Mondale. Mondale was the main Democratic candidate. Caddell helped Mondale prepare for important debates.
Patrick Caddell and Joe Biden's 1988 campaign
Caddell and Joe Biden became good friends early in their careers. They first met in 1972 when Caddell was a pollster for Biden's first campaign for the U.S. Senate. Biden once said that it was hard to tell where his own ideas ended and Caddell's began.
In 1988, Joe Biden decided to run for president. Caddell was a key advisor in his campaign. However, the campaign faced some challenges. There were disagreements among the staff, partly because of Caddell's strong presence.
Biden's campaign faced accusations of using parts of other people's speeches without giving credit. One of these speeches was written by Caddell. Biden's staff suggested he leave the race. But Caddell urged him to stay and criticize the media instead.
Biden eventually withdrew from the presidential race. After this, Biden told Caddell that he would no longer seek his political advice. Caddell later said that their friendship never fully recovered from this time.
Later work and new directions
After the 1988 election, Caddell moved to California. He taught at a university and became involved in the movie industry. He worked as a consultant for several films, including Apocalypse Now and Air Force One. He also advised on TV shows like The West Wing.
In the 1990s, Caddell advised Jerry Brown and Ross Perot in presidential elections. Over time, his political views began to change. He became more critical of the Democratic Party. He often appeared on Fox News, sharing his opinions. This led some people to call him a "Fox News Democrat."
Advising Donald Trump in 2016
.jpg)
Patrick Caddell met Donald Trump in the 1980s. Even though Caddell was a registered Democrat, he became an informal advisor to Trump during the 2016 election. He collected polling data and shared his insights with Trump's team.
Caddell also worked closely with Steve Bannon, who later became a top advisor to Trump. Caddell wrote articles for Breitbart News and appeared on Bannon's radio show. His influence grew within the Trump campaign. Trump often called Caddell to discuss his TV appearances and ask for advice.
After Trump won the election, Caddell continued to advise him. Caddell was known for using the phrase "the enemy of the American people" to describe the media. He had used this phrase in speeches and interviews before. President Trump later used this phrase to criticize certain news organizations.
Death
Patrick Caddell passed away on February 16, 2019, at the age of 68. He died in a hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, after having a stroke. He had moved closer to his daughter and grandchildren in the last years of his life. Many people from the political world attended his funeral.
Images for kids
-
Caddell in the Oval Office shaking hands with President Jimmy Carter
