In 1980, I organized Northwestern College students to phone bank for Gov. Ronald Reagan, who was competing against George Bush in the Iowa caucuses. We made evening calls from homes and businesses in Sioux Center, Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, and Sheldon. Reagan lost that contest but eventually won the nomination. On November 4, I watched election returns in Orange City at Don Winter's apartment. I was elated when Reagan beat Jimmy Carter. Congressman Chuck Grassley was elected to the Senate that day--easily beating incumbent John Culver.
The national Reagan staffer for Northwest Iowa in Jan. 1980 was Jim Hansen, son of Congressman George Hansen (R-ID). My dad served as Clay County chairman for the Reagan campaign. He met Jim Hansen and Michael Reagan when they came to Spencer.
