Grandpa Bob
Storyboard Text
- My name isRobert Foster Bennett.My grandchildren called me Grandpa Bob.I want to tell you my story.
- Wally
- I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 18, 1933 to Wallace Foster Bennett and Frances Marion Grant. I was the youngest of their 5 children.
- Rosemary
- I was called Bobby. I grew to become 6'7" tall!
- David
- I'm Frances
- I attended East High School in Salt Lake City, where I excelled in both debate and drama, finding my passion for public speaking and performance. My friend Hal Eyring and I even took to the stage in a schoolassembly, channeling the comedy of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
- I considered the playing of sports one of my genetic defects.
- EASTHIGH
- After starting college, I received my mission call to the British Isles, and served in Scotland from 1953-1955. I became district president over five branches, and a sixth branch was organized before I left.
- Following my mission, I returned to the University of Utah and was elected Student Body President.
- BENNETT for Student Body President!
- In 1957, I graduated with a degree in political science.
- I wondered what to do with my life, and sought direction from my patriarchal blessing and respected mentors. I focused on honing valuable skills, especially writing, as my father emphasized "learning to think" mattered more than my choice of study.
- U of U
- Upon graduating, I enlisted in the Utah Army National Guard, dedicating six months to active duty service. This led to a commission as a chaplain within the Guard, and I continued to serve in this capacity until 1960.
- I began working at Bennett Glass and Paint Company, the family business. I wasn't there very long before my father asked me to take the helm of his 1962 Senate campaign.
- Bob, I need you to help me win re-election.
- BENNETTGlass and Paint Co
- I began dating the wonderful Joyce McKay, and she accompanied me on my father's Senate campaign trail.
- BENNETTforSENATE
- BENNETTforSENATE
- BENNETTforSENATE
- BENNETTforSENATE
- Joyce and I were married onDecember 27, 1962 in the Logan, Utah Temple. We were sealed by Joyce's grandfather, President David O. McKay.
- We welcomed our first child, Julie, born October 7, 1963.
- In January of 1963, we began our married life together in Washington, D.C., where I assumed the role of Press Secretary to Congressman Sherman P. Lloyd. I also did a brief stint as Administrative Assistant to my father, Senator Wallace F. Bennett.
- In 1964 the J.C. Penney Company extended an invitation for me to lead their Washington office. At the age of 30, I was the youngest legislative representative of a major corporation operating in the nation's capital.
- JCPenney
- On October 26, 1965, we welcomed our second child, Robert McKay Bennett.
- I am Transportation Secretary John A. Volpe. I have chosen Bob Bennett (out of more than 100,000 employees) to receive the department's highest civilian honor, the Outstanding Achievement Medal.
- When Richard Nixon became President in 1969, I joined his administration to lead the congressional liaison efforts for the Department of Transportation.
- On August 17, 1968 we welcomed our third child, James McKay Bennett.
- While living in Washington, I served in the Arlington Ward bishopric. The three of us formed a lasting friendship. I even participated in a talent show, dancing ballet in full costume, including a pink tutu.
- So in 1971 I purchased the Robert R. Mullen Company, a well-established and highly reputable Washington-based public relations firm.
- Robert R. Mullen
- Bob, I've got General Foods on the line...
- As Howard Hughes' new representative in Washington, I had no problem attracting additional respected clients. The future seemed exceptionally promising.However, lurking beneath the surface was a concealed storm that would soon disrupt it all...
- At the time I acquired the Mullen Company, one of the employees happened to be a former C.I.A. officer named Howard Hunt.
- Howard Hunt
- Bob, would you be willing to allow Howard Hunt to serve as a consultant to the President on a part-time basis?
- I don't think Howard's White House duties will interfere too much.
- He can do his work for us mainly at night and on weekends.
- In that same year, I received a telephone call from Charles Colson, who served as Special Counsel in the Nixon White House. The topic of discussion? None other than Howard Hunt.
- WASHINGTON POSTJune 17, 19725 Held in Plot to Bug Democrats' Office at the Watergate Hotel
- June 17, 1972 marked the infamous Watergate Break-in. To my astonishment, it was discovered that Howard Hunt had orchestrated the entire operation from within the offices of my company. Then in order to shield his own involvement within the White House, Charles Colson began to cast blame in my direction.
- We had just welcomed our fourth child, Wendy, on April 18, 1972.
- Howard Hunt was first implicated and then formally charged, casting a spotlight on both me and my company. I was subjected to official investigations and unrelenting media attention.
- HOWARD HUNT
- Bob, what information can you give us?
- I spent hours and days answering questions. I testified before grand juries, U.S. attorneys, and congressional investigating committees.
- House of Representatives Special Subcommittee on Intelligence
- Have you talked to Chuck Colson at the White House?
- WASHINGTON POSTBob Bennett was not the informant "Deep Throat"Bob Woodward / Carl Bernstein
- I was given a clean bill of health after all this was over, but enough of an aura of possible involvement clung to me and my firm that my string of career successes was over.My clients began to disappear.
- "Time is the stuff life is made of."Benjamin Franklin
- Bob, I trust your integrity. Come to Los Angeles and work for me.
- SUMMACORP
- The one client who stayed with me was Howard Hughes. His organization wanted my efforts full time, so I moved the family to California in 1974. I took up duties as Director of Public Relations for Summa Corporation and began to rebuild my career.
- Exactly one year later we were graced with the arrival of twins! It was on September 9, 1975 that we welcomed Heather and Heidi into the family. Astonishingly, not even the doctor was aware that we were expecting twins!
- Which would you like to see first, your wife or your daughters?
- DAUGHTERS? Plural??
- Tycoon Howard Hughes passes awayApril 5, 1976
- The next year Howard Hughes died, and Summa Corporation underwent a major change. I was faced with either leaving the company or relocating to Las Vegas.
- A former missionary companion invited me to come work with Osmond Communications. I accepted the offer, allowing me to remain in Los Angeles.
- I'm a little bit country
- I'm a little bit rock and roll
- "You are unemployed because somehow you are just not good enough to hang on to a job."
- AMERICAN COMPUTER CORP.
- "You've lost it."
- When the Osmonds moved their studios to Utah in 1977, I made the choice not to continue with them. This decision set me on the path of wrestling with the myriad of challenges inherent in managing small startup companies.These were lean, difficult years. And I was struggling with the stigma of not "having a job."
- "I am a failure."
- I was driving home from a meeting with an executive I had just known casually. The meeting went well. The problems that he was confronting were problems on which I could comment intelligently. I hoped this would turn into a genuine source of income.That's when I had an "Aha" experience that made all the difference. It suddenly hit me!
- I AM a competent person. I have something to offer. I have acquired skills in my life. I am OK!
- That was the moment I took control of my job search. While I might not have been able to influence everything around me, I could be (and was) in charge of myself.
- In 1980 I was offered the job as President ofMicrosonics Corporation, a firm that mademicrorecords and microphonographs. A publiccorporation on the stock exchange, it was losing in excess of 3 million dollars a year. However, within a span of just 18 months we managed to reverse the situation, guiding Microsonics back to profitability.
- MICROSONICS CORPORATION
- In 1984 I met with Hyrum W. Smith, former mission president in Ventura, California. He was looking for help launching his new business venture.
- Bob, I want to give seminars on productivity development. I need your help getting this off the ground.
- I made the decision to step away from Microsonics and take on the role of CEO at the FranklinInstitute, Inc., which would later be recognized as Franklin Quest.
- Microsonics
- Given that the majority of Franklin's clientele resided in Utah, in 1986 we made the decision to relocate the family to Salt Lake City. During this transition Wendy, Heather, and Heidi remained with us. Julie stayed in California for her wedding, Rob was on his mission in Australia, and Jim was pursuing his studies at USC.
- Main
- McKay Diamonds
- The tenet became "How many people can we reach?" and "Do we have a product that works?"The Franklin Seminar and the Franklin Day Planner became the products, and we targeted corporate groups and business executives. Word-of-mouth did the rest.
- The thinking was "If you're not doing what you value, you don't value yourself, so you won't value your time and make good use of it."
- Franklin Quest became a time-management company built on a checklist of 13 virtues of Benjamin Franklin, including frugality, industry, sincerity, and temperance.
- We started Franklin with only four employees, and grew it to well over 4,000 with millions in annual sales. I was awarded Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989, and Franklin was recognized as one of the nation's 500 fastest-growing companies.
- FranklinQuest
- Inc. MagazineEntrepreneur of the YearRocky Mountain Region1989
- Governor's Awards for Excellence Task Force
- Light of Learning Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Education in Utah1989
- Governor'sAdvisoryCouncil
- ChairmanEducation Strategic Planning Commission
- Conference Office Advisory Board
- Board of TrusteesUEA Children at Risk Foundation
- The Governor of Utah extended an invitation for me to lead the Education Strategic Planning Commission, marking my entry into various realms of public service.
- GainingCONTROLYour Keyto Freedom andSuccessRobert F. Bennett
- "When your allegiance shifts from ego to truth, correct principles become more and more clear, and growth is a natural result. When your full allegiance is to the truth --not to your map, not to your prejudices, not to your ego, but to the truth -- you can, in fact, take control.Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
- In 1987 I authored and published my first book, with contributions from members of the Franklin Institute.
- I was called to serve as Bishop of the Monument Park 20th Ward. In this capacity, I had the privilege of forging enduring friendships once more.
- Bob, can the Smolka family help with any more home repairs ?
- BENNETTforSENATE
- BENNETTforSENATE
- When Senator Jake Garn of Utah stepped down in 1992, I seized the opportunity to run for the United States Senate. I had secured the needed financial backing with Franklin stock going public.
- My victory over Joe Cannon, the CEO of Geneva Steel, in a closely contested Republican primary paved the way for me to ultimately win in the general election against the former three-term U.S. Representative, Wayne Owens.
- BENNETTforSENATE
- BENNETTforSENATE
- I took the oath of office as a Senator on January 3, 1993. Joyce and I acquired a second home in Rosslyn, Virginia, which soon became our primary residence.
- Banking Committee
- Rules Committee
- I came to the Senate thinking I had a pretty good understanding of how things worked. I quickly discovered that I had a lot to learn.
- Joint EconomicCommittee
- As I assumed leadership roles on several crucial Senate committees, I earned a reputation for my commitment to bipartisan collaboration, conducting myself with unwavering integrity.
- Bob, I'm Mitch McConnell. I'd like to keep you as the Chief Deputy Republican Party Whip and invite you to become amember of the Republican Leadership Team.
- AppropriationsCommittee
- Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
- I served 18 years in the Senate, spanning the administrations of Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama. I had a front-row seat to the impeachment proceedings, Y2K issues, the 9/11 attacks, and debates over the Iraq War. I was involved in legislation that created both political and policy shifts. I was also entrusted with the responsibility of introducing President Barack Obama at his inauguration on January 20, 2009.
- As I contemplated seeking a fourth term in 2010, it was evident that the political landscape had undergone a profound transformation. The aftermath of the 2008 recession, my collaborating with Democratic Senator Wyden on healthcare, and my vote in favor of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) had all drawn the scrutiny of "tea party" conservatives, who viewed these actions as a symbol of excessive government intervention and fiscal irresponsibility.
- I was voted 3rd out of eight contenders from the delegates at the Utah Republican Convention. This outcome prevented me from proceeding to the primary election, marking the end of my tenure in the Senate.
- Bailout Bob!What a RINO!
- Near the end of my mission, the Tabernacle Choir performed in Glasgow, but their hired PR firm failed miserably. A week before the concert no tickets were sold, and we had booked a large venue. I gathered missionaries from all over Scotland, used a hand-cranked mimeograph machine for handbills and arranged a press conference for President David O. McKay, catching the PR firm's attention. It became a huge success, with President McKay on the front pages, and the concert sold out.
- The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir ConcertKelvin HallGlasgowAugust 20, 1955
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