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Gary Hart

Gary HartAKA Gary Warren Hartpence

Born: 28-Nov-1936
Birthplace: Ottawa, KS

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Politician
Party Affiliation: Democratic

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: US Senator from Colorado, 1975-87

Gary Hart is a graduate of Yale Divinity School who seems a bit less than divine. Hart changed his name from Hartpence in 1961, lied about his age, and gave different explanations for these oddities at different times. He volunteered for John F. Kennedy's campaign for President in 1960, and managed George McGovern's campaign in 1972. He is a lawyer, an author, a former U.S. Senator (D-Colorado, 1975-87), and he twice ran for President.

In his first Presidential run in 1984, Hart's campaign motto was that he had "new ideas". Walter Mondale, Hart's primary opponent for the Democratic nomination, responded by asking "Where's the beef?" an allusion to a Wendy's commercial where an ancient woman (Clara Peller) could not find the meat in her McDonald's hamburger. Mondale received the Democratic nomination.

In 1987, Hart ran for President again and was leading in most polls when, at a press conference, a reporter asked about allegations of marital infidelity, which had been whispered for months. Hart replied: "Follow me around, I don't care. I'm serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They'd be very bored". The next day The Miami Herald reported that they had received a tip from a self-described "liberal Democrat" who said, in light of President Ronald Reagan's recent Iran-Contra scandal, she couldn't tolerate having another President who could lie so casually. The tipster's details seemed accurate, and The Herald put a tail on Hart in May of 1987. Their reporters had seen Donna Rice, a model, going into Hart's Washington townhouse at 9:30 one night, and 11:17 the next night, both nights accompanied by Hart. When asked whether they were having an affair, Hart replied, "I have no relationship with the woman".

But The Herald pointed out that Hart and Rice were known to have mingled extensively at a yacht party, and had taken a trip to Bimini together on Hart's boat, called Monkey Business. There was also a widely-published photo of Rice sitting quite pretty on Hart's lap. Hart blamed the media for setting him up, but quickly withdrew his Presidential candidacy. He re-entered the race seven months later, but found his support flaccid. Michael Dukakis received the Democratic nomination, losing the election catastrophically.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton named Hart to a bipartisan commission charged with studying America's defense against terrorism. The commission announced its findings in January 2001, warning that America was dangerously vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and recommending establishment of a new, cabinet-level National Homeland Security Agency. The commission's multi-million-dollar report was, of course, widely ignored until September of 2001.

Hart has authored a series of pompous books, including The Patriot: An Exhortation to Liberate America from the Barbarians and Restoration of the Republic: The Jeffersonian Ideal in 21st-Century America. In May 2003, Hart announced he would not be running for President in 2004, disappointing his imaginary groundswell of supporters.

Father: Carl Hartpence (d. 1972)
Mother: Nina Hartpence (d. 1972)
Sister: Nancy Lee Hartpence
Wife: Lee Ludwig Hart (m. Aug-1959)
Son: Andrea Hart (policy analyst)
Son: John Hart (lawyer)
Mistress: Donna Rice (anti-Pornography advocate)

    High School: Ottawa, KS
    University: BA, Bethany Nazarene College, Bethany, OK (1958)
    Theological: Yale University (1961)
    Law School: JD, Yale Law School (1964)
    University: DPhil Politics, Oxford University (2001)

    Coudert Brothers Senior Counsel
    US Senator, Colorado (1975-87)
    US Interior Department Special Asst. Solicitor (1965-67)
    US Justice Department Attorney (1964-65)
    Defense Policy Board
    American Security Project Board of Directors
    Colorado Bar Association 1965
    Council on Foreign Relations
    District of Columbia Bar 1965
    Friends of Joe Lieberman
    Pacific Council on International Policy
    Partnership for a Secure America Advisory Board
    Traveled to the USSR Jun-1975
    Wedding: John McCain and Cindy Hensley (1980) Groomsman
    Secret Service Codename Redwood

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (20-Jan-2008) · Himself
    Constantine's Sword (24-Jun-2007) · Himself
    One Bright Shining Moment (16-Sep-2005) · Himself
    Tanner '88 (15-Feb-1988) · Himself

Author of books:
The Minutemen: Restoring an Army of the People (1998)
The Fourth Power: An Essay Concerning A Grand Strategy for the United States in the 21st Century (2004)
The Courage of Our Convictions: A Manifesto for Democrats (2006)


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