| Richard B. Wirthlin | |
|---|---|
| Second Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 6, 1996 – October 6, 2001 | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| End reason | Honorably released |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Bitner Wirthlin March 15, 1931 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Died | March 16, 2011 (aged 80) Salt Lake City, Utah |
Richard Bitner ("Dick") Wirthlin (March 15, 1931 – March 16, 2011) was a prominent American pollster, who is best known as Ronald Reagan's chief strategist, serving as his political consultant and pollster for twenty years, from 1968 through the end of his presidency. He became a senior adviser and member of Reagan's his inner circle and is known to have helped him shape his political message and strategies, both in presidential campaigns and in the White House.[1][2] Wirthlin also was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a member of its Second Quorum of the Seventy from 1996 to 2001.
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Wirthin was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Joseph L. Wirthlin, the presiding bishop of the LDS Church. As a young adult, he spent two years as a Mormon missionary, serving in Switzerland and Austria between 1951 and 1953. Wirthlin was assigned to Basel, Switzerland for his entire mission.[3] After finishing his missionary service, Wirthlin studied for a B.A. in economics and an M.A. in economics and statistics from the University of Utah. From 1954 to 1955 he served in the United States army.[3] He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley.[4]
In 1969, Wirthlin founded a survey research firm based in Los Angeles. Over the years his firm had various names, including Decision Making Information, Inc., The Wirthlin Group, and finally, Wirthlin Worldwide.[5] The firm was acquired in 2004 by Harris Interactive. After the merger with Harris Interactive, Wirthlin served on its board of directors.[6]
In 1980, when California governor Ronald Reagan decided to run for president, he turned to Wirthlin for political advice. Wirthlin, together with his consulting firm, played a pivotal role in both the 1980 and 1984 elections of Reagan. After Reagan won the 1980 presidential election, Wirthlin moved to Washington, D.C. and continued to assist the president and the Republican National Committee.[7] His work on the first Reagan campaign earned him the title, Adman of the Year, declared by Advertising Age.[8]
In addition to his consulting work, he has been the author of two books and at least one podcast:
Among many other ecclesiastical assignments over the years, Wirthlin served for a time as a bishop in the LDS Church.[3]
In 1995, Wirthlin returned to his native Utah and eventually took up a full-time ecclesiastical position with the LDS Church. In 1996, Wirthlin was asked by church president Gordon B. Hinckley to serve as a general authority of the church. Wirthlin accepted and served as a member of its Second Quorum of the Seventy until October 2001, when he was honorably released from his duties.
On 23 November 1956, Wirthlin married Jeralie Mae Chandler in the Salt Lake Temple of the LDS Church. They became the parents of eight children.
Wirthlin has several relatives who have held prominent leadership positions of the LDS Church. His father was the presiding bishop of the church from 1952 to 1961. His older brother, Joseph B. Wirthlin, was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church from 1986 to 2008. He is a first-cousin on his mother's side to Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the church from 1995 to 2008 and the official who invited him to his last post with the church.
Wirthlin died of renal failure [1] in his Salt Lake City home one day after his eightieth birthday.[10][11] he was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.