Richard Wirthlin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richard B. Wirthlin |
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| Second Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 6, 1996 – October 6, 2001 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Honorably released |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Bitner Wirthlin March 15, 1931 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Died | March 16, 2011 (aged 80) Salt Lake City, Utah |
Richard Bitner Wirthlin (March 15, 1931 – March 16, 2011) was an important American pollster. A pollster is someone who studies what people think by asking them questions. He was best known as Ronald Reagan's main helper for twenty years. He worked as Reagan's political advisor and pollster from 1968 until Reagan finished being president. Wirthlin was a close advisor and part of Reagan's inner circle. He helped Reagan plan his political messages and strategies for both his campaigns and his time in the White House. Wirthlin also served as a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was a member of its Second Quorum of the Seventy from 1996 to 2001.
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Richard Wirthlin's Early Life
Richard Wirthlin was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Madeline Bitner and Joseph L. Wirthlin. His father later became a leader in the LDS Church called the presiding bishop. When Richard was a young man, he spent two years as a Mormon missionary. He served in Switzerland and Austria from 1951 to 1953. He spent his whole mission in Basel, Switzerland.
After his mission, Wirthlin went to the University of Utah. He earned a degree in economics and a master's degree in economics and statistics. From 1954 to 1955, he served in the United States Army. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley.
Career in Polling and Politics
In 1969, Wirthlin started his own company in Los Angeles. This company focused on survey research, which means they asked people questions to understand their opinions. Over time, the company had different names like Decision Making Information, Inc. and The Wirthlin Group. It was finally called Wirthlin Worldwide. In 2004, another company called Harris Interactive bought Wirthlin's firm. After this, Wirthlin joined the board of directors for Harris Interactive.
In 1980, California governor Ronald Reagan decided to run for president. He asked Wirthlin for political advice. Wirthlin and his company were very important in Reagan's presidential wins in 1980 and 1984. A book called The Neglected Voter says that Wirthlin wrote Reagan's plan for his 1980 campaign. He also predicted that many people who usually voted for Democrats would vote for Reagan. After Reagan won in 1980, Wirthlin moved to Washington, D.C.. He kept helping the president and the Republican National Committee. His work on Reagan's first campaign earned him the title Adman of the Year from a magazine called Advertising Age.
Besides his consulting work, Richard Wirthlin also wrote two books:
- The Greatest Communicator: What Ronald Reagan Taught Me about Politics, Leadership, and Life: This book was published in 2004. He wrote it with Wynton Hall. It talks about his years working with former President Ronald Reagan.
- Estrategia Electoral: Persuadir Por La Razon, Motivar Por La Emocion, La Estrategia De La Comunicacion Politica: This book was published in 1995.
LDS Church Service
Richard Wirthlin had many different leadership roles in the LDS Church over the years. For a time, he served as a bishop. A bishop is a local leader of a church congregation.
In 1995, Wirthlin moved back to his home state of Utah. In 1996, Gordon B. Hinckley, who was the president of the LDS Church, asked Wirthlin to serve as a general authority. A general authority is a full-time leader in the worldwide church. Wirthlin served as a member of the church's Second Quorum of the Seventy until October 2001. At that time, he was honorably released from his duties.
Richard Wirthlin's Family Life
On November 23, 1956, Richard Wirthlin married Jeralie Mae Chandler. They were married in the LDS Church's Salt Lake Temple. They had eight children together.
Many of Wirthlin's relatives also held important leadership positions in the LDS Church. His father was the presiding bishop from 1952 to 1961. His older brother, Joseph B. Wirthlin, was an apostle. He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1986 to 2008. Gordon B. Hinckley, who was church president from 1995 to 2008, was Richard Wirthlin's first cousin on his mother's side.
Later Life and Passing
Richard Wirthlin passed away from renal failure (kidney failure) in his Salt Lake City home. This happened one day after his eightieth birthday. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
