The secrets to Dunn's success

Several hours after hearing the news about the sudden death of former Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, I was talking to a small group of influential players in state politics who expressed their sadness about her death. All were Democrats. Their grief was born of respect for the skills, tenacity and decency of Washington's first lady of Republican politics.

But beneath the personal warmth of this extraordinary woman was a leader with razor-sharp instincts. Having once worked for her, I saw it up close and learned four important lessons about leadership and life.

1. Know when to fight.

In 1976, Gov. Dan Evans was intent on delivering our state's convention delegates to President Ford, who was being challenged for the Republican nomination by former California Gov. Ronald Reagan.

But a small handful of conservatives, including Jennifer Dunn and a legislator named Kemper Freeman Jr., thought that Washington was Reagan country. No compromise was possible; the nomination battle was too close. It was fight or walk away. Jennifer and the Reagan rebels chose to tangle with the most powerful man in the state, defeating his forces and sending a Reagan delegation to the Republican convention in Kansas City.

Evans, to put it delicately, was not happy. It was the beginning of the Reagan era, even though Reagan wouldn't prevail until 1980.

2. Keep your eye on the big picture.

In 1983, less than three years into Jennifer's tenure as state Republican chairman (a title she preferred to "chair"), that same Dan Evans was appointed to the U.S. Senate when Henry "Scoop" Jackson died in office. State law required Evans to run less than two months later to fill out the remainder of Jackson's term. Reagan Republicans, to put it delicately, were not happy.

But Jennifer knew that her job as party leader was to keep that seat in Republican hands, and she used her credibility as a Reagan supporter (one of her sons is named Reagan) to unify the party behind Evans. The former governor was grateful, and a friendship ensued that lasted until Jennifer's death.

Ironically, the same thing happened in the Democratic Party. County activist Karen Marchioro rallied Democrats to support anti-war candidate George McGovern over our own Scoop Jackson for president in 1972. Scoop was embarrassed and angry, but when Marchioro became state Democratic chair in 1981 (the same year Jennifer became Republican chair), she made nice with the legendary Democrat. Both women took on the most powerful men in state politics to establish themselves.

3. Pre-empt your problems.

Party platforms — a statement of party positions on major issues — can cause heartburn for party leaders when rancorous debate results in extreme platform language. Jennifer's solution: Keep it short. The first proposed platform I wrote for her was chopped from several dozen pages to about 10. I was pleased. She was not. "Can you make it shorter?" she asked. I pared it down to six. Still not short enough. The final platform was four pages of one-sentence statements on each issue, shorter than most restaurant menus. "Perfect," she said.

When Jennifer left the chairmanship to run for Congress in 1992, the state convention in Yakima reverted back to the old ways. What a nightmare. The front-page headline in the Bellevue Journal-American was unforgettable: "Republicans pass 'nutcase' platform." Democrats cleaned up big time that November. One of the few winners: Jennifer Dunn, who made it to Congress.

4. Give the voters something to SUPPORT, not just OPPOSE.

The first two years of the Clinton era were not easy for Democrats. The president's policies were unpopular, and the Democratic majority in the House was plagued by a series of embarrassing scandals. (Sound familiar?)

But instead of just campaigning against the Democrats, a bloc of Republicans, including Jennifer, got behind a positive alternative. Result: the Contract with America to reduce taxes, spending and congressional perks. The landslide that followed delivered a Republican majority for the duration of Jennifer's tenure in Congress.

She made good use of it, creating the Amber Alert system to locate missing children, and pushing for expanded trade, tax cuts, and the end to the death tax. Her work goes on.

This lady of grace was a woman of style, with brains, guts and a flashing, quick wit. She showed how to lead. And if Republicans learn from her example, they can once again become a majority party that believes in people and ideas, not just power.