SAYING GOOD BYE; RICHARD WIRTHLIN PASSES AWAY

Dear Family,

My first Cousin, Richard Wirthlin , passed away last week after a lingering illness. I have included a link to a New York Times article about his life that was good but did not cover all that he had accomplished in life.

I looked up to him as I was growing up as he was outstanding in his youth as well. My Dad had given him his Patriarchal Blessing when he was 16. Dad was always telling me what Richard was up to.

Richard had done many things and will be remembered by many for being in President Regan's inner circle of advisors. Richard had been his pollster when Regan was Governor of California and continued with him through his campaign for the Presidency of the United States. Richard was probably the pioneer of political polling and made few mistakes.

When the Republicans had their convention in Detroit and gave Regan the party's nomination to run, Richard invited us and we were there. After all the Hoopla was over, we were standing there talking to Richard when George Bush Senior walks in. They had decided to put him on the ticket as the VP the night before. As he approached us, Richard introduced us to him, I shook his hand, and then Richard takes out a thick note book, shoves it toward Bush and says, "This is the campaign strategy, Study it!" It was one of those great moments in life.

Richard became a General Authority in the second Quorum of Seventy and served until he was 70 years old. He was a missionary in the Swiss Austrian Mission and served in many callings.

We went to the viewing. My cousin Gwen (whose name Al has as a middle name), David and other members of the extended family were there. We ran into Elder Perry who was our Area President when we served in Germany. It was neat to chat with him.

The funeral was very moving. There was a great tribute by his son, Richard. He also read a note sent from Nancy Regan expressing their families appreciation of the work Richard had done for them. Elder Ballard spoke about Richard's contribution to the Church. President Packer spoke to the young members of his family. President Monson spoke of Richard and Joseph, of his and my cousin David's parents and how all the members of the Wirthlin family that he knew had honored their family name. It was such a fitting tribute to a great person who had accomplished so much. Richard was a great example to us all and will be missed.

Love, Dad