Alwyn Luckey Reflecting on Ole Miss, Politics and a Famous Mississippian

Alwyn Luckey is one of the most interesting individuals I have ever met in my life. Alwyn (what an unusual name) has more stories than the Saturday Evening Post. I crossed paths with the famous attorney and former Chairman of the MS State Personnel Board while campaigning in Orlando. Alwyn is married to the former Jeanne Carter who is the Republican National Committee woman from Mississippi.

Vassallo: Alwyn, for our readers who do not know you, tell us a brief synopsis of your political past and Ole Miss relationship.

Alwyn Luckey: Thanks Steve, I came to Ole Miss as a freshman in 1978 and graduated in ’82, and then went immediately on to law school and graduated from Ole Miss Law in 1985. I am a lifelong Republican and began my political involvement going door-to-door for Trent Lott in his first campaign for Congress. Back in 1968, my father was rather scandalously a “Democrat for Nixon,” and we have been Republicans ever since. As Governor Barbour admonishes, never trust a man who doesn’t marry above his station in life; and I took Governor Barbour at his word and married my wife Jeanne who has been a Republican Party superstar for many years, rising to the position of Republican National Committee woman from Mississippi. We both have worked in many presidential campaigns and are very grateful that work has come to fruition with a Trump victory.

Vassallo: What urged you to get involved with the Donald J. Trump campaign?

Alwyn Luckey: It became clear early on that Trump was something new and special under the political sun and that this was not a year where “establishment candidates” were going to be very popular. This was truly a change election, and Donald Trump was one of the only change candidates. In addition, people smarter than me predicted that many of the old Reagan democrats would come out of the woodwork to vote for Trump and, they were clearly right.

Vassallo: Your other home here in Oxford is a fascinating story in itself. Care to comment?

Alwyn Luckey: We are very fortunate to have good friends who have looked out for us over the years and one of those was Warner Alford former athletic director at Ole Miss. When they were building the new tower at the alumni house, we had originally committed to buy a suite. Unfortunately, the floor plan would not accommodate Jeanne’s use of a wheelchair. Warner, (not to be denied), found us some space in the old alumni house, which turned out to be perfectly acceptable for us. We are very grateful for Warner’s extra assistance in that regard. (Their condo overlooks the Grove)

Vassallo: Richard M. Nixon was one of my heroes in life. Fred LaRue was an interesting staffer of his. Could you share with us who Fred was?

Alwyn Luckey: Fred LaRue was an oil and gas millionaire who lived in the tiny village of Virginia City, Mississippi, about 10 miles north of the Gulf Coast. It was said that Fred made about thirty million dollars in the late fifties and early sixties, when 30 million dollars really meant something! But Fred was an early supporter of Richard Nixon and made substantial contributions to the Nixon campaign and met candidate Nixon when he visited Jackson, Mississippi, during the campaign period. At that time, he volunteered his help to Mr. Nixon, who it is reported rather breezily said, “sure love to have you on board after the election,” probably never giving it another thought. Fred had certainly taken Mr. Nixon at his word; and after the election, Fred moved himself and his longtime business secretary to Washington before the inauguration. Immediately after President Nixon was inaugurated, Fred drove straight to the White House and presented himself as a representative of the Nixon campaign and wandered around the White House until he found the Oval Office and established himself and his secretary in an office not too far down the hall. Later, when the actual Nixon transition staff arrived, the chief of staff asked “Who the hell are you?” and Fred replied “I’m Fred LaRue from Mississippi, and Mr. Nixon told me to come.” The chief of staff ordered Fred out of his office, as Fred refused. Later that day when Richard Nixon arrived, it was reported to the new president and Fred got to stay. Later of course, Fred proved his loyalty by being an unrepentant participant in the Watergate scandal and being among the first to go to prison for his president. Later in life, Fred refused to apologize for his participation in Watergate and was heard to say “My only regret was that they got caught!”

Vassallo: This is unbelievable! Could you have seen yourself ever taking such a leap?

Alwyn Luckey: I’d like to think that I had the audacity of Fred LaRue showing up at the White House and refusing to take no for an answer from such an imposing person as Bebe Rebozo; but as we sit here today, everyone is so thrilled with the Trump victory. I think it is incumbent upon all of us to join hands and help our new president as much as possible.

Vassallo: Why do you believe the pollsters missed the results varying between 3 and 8 points?

Alwyn Luckey: I think in retrospect, it’s two things that appear to be obvious. First, that many of the polls were clearly designed to “get what you pay for,” and the people sponsoring the polls did not want to announce a Trump lead a victory. Secondly, despite their protests to the contrary, it’s obvious that all professional pollsters missed the wave of Reagan Democrats or Blue Collar Democrats who turned out in droves in places like Pennsylvania and Michigan in order to give Trump an electoral victory.

Vassallo: What are the four biggest issues that are most important to you that President Trump could accomplish in his first term?

Alwyn Luckey: The first order of business is getting a true original intent Supreme Court Justice nominated and approved as quickly as possible. Secondly, honoring his most often repeated campaign promise of eliminating Obamacare and replacing it with a strong capitalist replacement that truly does provide Health Care for All American citizens. Thirdly, ridding the country of the Obama administration’s thousands of business destroying regulations and getting government out of our lives is very important in virtually all areas of government. Finally, the laws and regulations regarding banking must be loosened to allow banks to loan money again to all sorts of people, the current system absolutely causing severe slow down in the lending industry.

Vassallo: Reflecting back on your Ole Miss days, what was the most humorous thing that comes to mind that you’re free to mention?

Alwyn Luckey: Several of my fraternity brothers and I decided to take a late summer road trip to visit friends in Nashville. At the time, my father had loaned me his restored 1965 Ford Galaxie convertible, which everyone agreed would be the perfect car for the trip. We loaded up in the Ford but only made it about a block when the transmission refused to go any farther in drive. Not to be deterred, we put the car in reverse and were backing up Fraternity Row to park in front of the house and trade cars, when I over-corrected going in reverse and hit one of the University’s aluminum light poles. My fraternity brothers, ever faithful, ran off and deserted me, and I was left to explain to the University Police why I had backed into their very expensive light pole. After much discussion, it was determined I would have to pay for the pole. Thank goodness they did not follow through on that threat. Many years later, at my wedding, one of the fraternity brothers who abandoned me decided to tell the story, and my father heard for the first time that I had damaged his beloved Ford Galaxie and never told him!

Vassallo: We understand your daughter is pursuing a career in New York City, presently. This should be of interest to a great number of our readers.

Alwyn Luckey: Our oldest daughter is pursuing her dream of working in fashion in New York City. She loves New York and has now been working in fashion for about two years. Unfortunately, what we really discovered about working in fashion is it doesn’t pay terribly well.

Vassallo: Last but not least, place these presidents in order of your fondness. 

Alwyn Luckey:
1. Ronald Reagan 2. Dwight D. Eisenhower 3. George W. Bush 4. Richard Nixon 
5. Gerald Ford 6. Teddy Roosevelt 7. Bill Clinton 8. Jimmy Carter

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.

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