House Speaker Tip O'Neill's demand to Reagan before agreeing to raise the 1981 debt ceiling:

[pnwmom]

Last edited Sat Sep 28, 2013, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Thank You notes.

“It was early 1981, and a newly elected President Ronald Reagan needed the votes of the House Democratic majority to, yes, raise the debt ceiling. House Speaker Tip O’Neill (for whom Matthews worked at the time) agreed — on condition that Reagan send “thank you” letters to all the Democrats who backed his request.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-john-boehner-is-a-leader-without-followers/2013/09/27/c8145b2a-2705-11e3-ad0d-b7c8d2a594b9_story.html

[G_j]

1. wow, how shameful

holding the country hostage over a thank you note!

[pnwmom]

2. Obviously the Dems are just as bad as the Rethugs. They all do this. nt

[G_j]

5. it really is a remarkable story

and history lesson. thanks

[awoke_in_2003]

3. damn liberal...

Just kidding. Things have really changed since then

[rhett o rick]

4. Yes the liberals have been marginalized. nm

[bhikkhu]

6. That's a good find

...and I think thank you letters would be just fine in this case if that's all it took. If somebody wants a thank you for doing the job they were elected to do, its a bit silly, but any employer would probably go ahead and do it.

[spanone]

7. those frickin' democrats...they would have shut down the men's urinals in congress' loos

[Pretzel_Warrior]

8. what brinksmanship!

[bottomofthehill]

9. O'Neill was a great leader who knew both how to get things done and protect his weak Democrats

This may be hard to believe here, but in 1981 Ronnie was an incredibly popular person and President. Speaker O'Neill knew that his Democrats that had just won narrow elections would be challenged in the next election cycle and a vote to raise the Debt limit would be used by their Republican opponents. The letter simple thank you letter kept the President from appearing in campaign ads in the marginal districts saying that the Democrats were once again spending money they did not have. Additionally, the Democrats picked up a lot of seats in 1982 and Speaker O'Neill was able to hold back the Regan tide. The thank you note may not seem like much, but it was.

[Cha]

10. This is should be on all the Tv stations, too. If they weren't so busy

with their false equivalency memes.

Thank you, pnwmom

[pnwmom]

11. You're welcome, Cha! n/t