The Race (49 page)

Similarly, I would like to thank, and absolve, everyone who was so generous in helping me. As always, the viewpoints—and the errors—are mine alone.

MY STARTING POINT was to assess the current political dynamic of the Republican Party, including where a candidate like Corey Grace might fit—if anywhere—and how a deadlocked convention might actually occur. I'm grateful for the time and patience of political scientist Michael Barone; Republican strategists Rich Bond, Rick Davis, Ron Kaufman, Scott Reed, Mark Salter, and John Weaver; and public opinion experts Bill McInturff and John Zogby. Special thanks to Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senator John McCain, and Governor Mark Sanford for helping me consider certain aspects of Corey Grace's personality, and how events might affect his behavior. Others who helped me flesh out the political context include strategists Peter Fenn, Chris Lehane, Ace Smith, and Marshall Whitman; Patrick Guerrero of the Log Cabin Republicans; Cheryl Mills; and Rob Stein, who traced the roots of conservative dominance in the last quarter century or so. I'm also indebted to my old friend Terry Samway, who refreshed my knowledge of the Secret Service, and to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones for helping me imagine the behavior of Corey Grace and Lexie Hart in the crucible of South Carolina.

The recent history of South Carolina politics caused me to focus the primary season there. I'm grateful to the wonderful South Carolinians who, while in no way responsible for my grim portrayal of the imaginary primary, helped me on my way: journalist Lee Bandy; Congressman James Clyburn; radio host and former consultant Michael Graham; and strategists Rod Shealy and Trey Walker.

The last hard-fought Republican convention was the Ford-Reagan battle of 1976. I was lucky to have the advice of some key survivors: Secretary James Baker, David Keene, John Sears, and, memorably, the late Lyn Nofziger. And Ben Ginsberg was indispensable in helping me imagine the Byzantine dynamics of such a contest in the present day.

The role of religious belief in politics is a matter of considerable controversy. I was fortunate to interview experts with many points of view: Michael Bowman, Dr. Harvey Cox and Jason Springs of the Harvard Divinity School, Morris Dees, Carol Keys, Elliot Minceberg, Reverend Barry Lynn, Dr. Alfred Mohler, Jay Sekulow, Phyllis Schlafly, Reverend Lou Sheldon, and Doug Wead. And Dr. Tom Murray gave me a short course in the science and ethics of stem-cell research.

Pivotal to constructing Corey's character were his military experiences, from his own career to the suicide of his brother. Deepest thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Phil Kaufman, my cousin Bill Patterson, General Jack Rives, General Joe Ralston, and Bob Tyrer. Thanks also to Celia Viggo Wexler of Common Cause, who gave me a thorough grounding in the issues surrounding the consolidation of our media and threats to Internet neutrality.

Obviously, the relationship between Corey and Lexie Hart is central to my narrative. I'm grateful to my friend the Oscar-winning actress Mary Steenburgen for helping me imagine Lexie's relationship to her craft, and, especially, to my dear friends Secretary Bill Cohen and Janet Langhart Cohen, who shared their thoughts on how politics and race would bear on the romance between Corey and Lexie.

Finally, I had wonderful support from my partner, Dr. Nancy Clair; my always perceptive assistant, Alison Thomas; and my terrific agent, Fred Hill—all of whom commented on the manuscript. John Sterling, publisher of Henry Holt, helped sustain me throughout my last two novels—from believing in them to discussing every aspect of their substance and their style to editing me with a clarity and discernment that has supposedly vanished from modern publishing. For all of that, this book is dedicated to John.

RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON is the author of fourteen previous best-selling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, Patterson was the SEC's liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. He lives in San Francisco and on Martha's Vineyard with his partner, Dr. Nancy Clair.