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Institute for Public Relations

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“The Imperatives of Leadership and Values: Research Guides for Presidential and Corporate Campaigns”

Richard Wirthlin

Chairman & CEO, The Wirthlin Group

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October 1, 1992
Union League Club
New York City

Dr. Wirthlin is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Wirthlin Group, a strategic opinion research firm he founded in 1969. His professional expertise includes marketing, political and public affairs research, and communications strategy and assessment. He is a leading innovator in the field of social science research and one of this country's most respected political and business strategists.

Dr. Wirthlin is perhaps best known as President Reagan's strategist and pollster. At the White House, as an adviser to the President, Dr. Wirthlin directed all of the President's opinion surveys, analyzed trends, and played a key role in communications planning.

He was chief strategist for two of the most sweeping presidential victories in U.S. history. In 1981he was acclaimed Adman of the Year by Advertising Age for his role in the 1980campaign.

After earning his doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley, he taught economics and statistics at Berkeley, the University of California Medical School and Brigham Young University.

Dr. Wirthlin, his wife Jeralie and the youngest of their eight children live in McLean, Virginia.