224 sLAde goRton: A hALf centuRy in poLitics
tell you I will see to it that the law on this issue is followed to the letter, and
let no one tell you differently.... So when you go to the polls, win one for
Slade Gorton; win one for your future, and win one for America’s future.
And I can’t resist saying it: Win one for the Gipper!” With that, thousands
of balloons descended from the rafters.^27
The Gipper had just fumbled on the 5-yard line. Slade was still grin-
ning on the outside as Reagan clasped his hand and held it high. Some-
where in the Adams war room high fives were being exchanged. Hal-
loween was no treat for the Gorton campaign. Around the state and across
the nation, Reagan’s muddled statements about Hanford led every news-
paper story and newscast.
Adams crowed that Reagan’s “terribly disappointing,” ambiguous state-
ment about following the law was proof positive that Gorton had zero pull
with the White House. Governor Gardner charged that the Department of
Energy had already violated federal law by beginning tests at the proposed
waste dump site. When a White House spokesman replied that the presi-
dent didn’t agree, he went on to make matters worse by emphasizing that
Reagan had no plans to overrule any decisions by the Energy secretary.
Gorton had “a tremendous downside risk” from the Reagan visit, Ad-
President Reagan with Slade and Sally on Halloween 1986 in Spokane.
The Gipper did not win one for the Gortons or “Dunn Jennifer.” Kit King/
The Spokesman-Review