Reply #117: Thanks for that! I never knew that. [View All]

[pnorman]

As far as I know, PATCO came into my union (Marine Engineers Beneficial Association) at an early date, possibly at the time indicated. The head of MEBA then, was Jesse Calhoon, one of the few labor union leaders who was quite "chummy" with Nixon. On a SHORT TIME "porkchop" basis, that made some sense, and it paid off with more shipping jobs. And Nixon was (on domestic issues) still playing by New Deal rules. But Reagan, as we all know, was a different animal altogether!

But my initial query about that ""The air traffic controllers endorsed Reagan in 1980 because Carter had planned to fire them." assertion is still needing an answer.