who is ray c bliss? >> on unassuming insurance man who for 50 years was one of the behind-the-scenes mastermind of the republican party at local, state and national level. he was a pioneer in political polling, tv, but probably best known for putting the publican party together again after the 1964 barry goldwater debacle. many people thought there might not be another republican party but they -- put the party back together, developed a coordinating committee to get john lindsay, liberals like john lindsay together with barry goldwater as he knew he had to have a united party. so largely with bliss's help richard nixon was elected president in 1968 but nixon held a grudge against bliss because in 1966 when bliss was chairman, nixon wanted the national committee to pay for an airplane to fly him around the country to campaign for congressional candidates and bliss told him no, he would have to give one to george romney and nelson rockefeller and nixon set i won't forget this and he didn't. in 1969 after

he needed to win 1965 and i talked to john lindsay top political aide guy called to say this is ray bliss he did not believe him because he is conservative and said can i call you back? he thought somebody was pulling his leg so he called the number back and said it is really you? who can i tell? he said tell anybody that you want. and he said this is ray price he helped him to raise money to be elected mayor and i spoke to lindsay about ray bliss 20 or 30 years ago he said he believed the republican party should be big enough for everybody probably the earliest a spouse or no ill of fellow republicans but beyond that he believed passionately in the two-party system and one said the democratic party was in trouble he would work for them just to make sure we had two parties in this country driscoll what is the difference then and now? >> all the special interest groups, have usurped power from the party. he fired against that and one of his most colorful fights was against the john birch society as you may be familiar with president eisenhower said he was not communist and after barry gold

. >> william hershey is author of this book, mister chairman, the life and times of ray c bliss. >> you are watching booktv on c-span2 was top nonfiction books and daughters every weekend. booktv, television for serious readers. .. this is about three hours and 15 minutes. >> good morning. i was told i would have to get everyone quiet but you all got quite all by yourself with no direction. my name is jason botel with the department of education. i want to welcome you and thank you very much for coming to the k-12 education summit. we appreciate you all being here and looking forward to a great conversation. in just a moment secretary devos oh, but before she does just what wanted to say couple housekeeping things. we have bottled water and coffee in the back seat can feel free to partake. and there are restrooms at the ends of the holes. if you do leave the building you can come back in but you have to go through security again, so just wanted to warn you about that. those of you who will be participating in the conversation, you have microphones in front of you, you do need to turn th