Statecraft Podcast Summary: "How to Win an Election Against the Communists"

Host: Santi Ruiz | Guest: Diego Ruiz | Release Date: January 16, 2025

In this compelling episode of Statecraft, host Santi Ruiz engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with his father, Diego Ruiz, a seasoned political appointee and civil servant. The episode delves into Diego's extensive career, focusing particularly on his pivotal role in the 1990 Nicaraguan election and his contributions to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. Through Diego's firsthand experiences, listeners gain valuable lessons on achieving policy goals in challenging political landscapes.

1. Introduction and Early Career

[00:00] Santi Ruiz: Diego Ruiz joins the podcast, marking a special family interaction that sets the tone for an engaging dialogue about politics and policy.

[01:18] Santi Ruiz: Santi praises his father's inspiring career, emphasizing how Diego's experiences have profoundly influenced his own understanding of policy and politics.

[01:46] Diego Ruiz: Diego begins by recounting his early career, highlighting his work with Ileana Ross Laitman, the first Latina and Cuban American elected to Congress. He explains how fortuitous circumstances led him to become Ileana’s Youth Director during her 1989 special election campaign following the death of the legendary Claude Pepper.

2. Navigating the 1989 Special Election

[02:39] Diego Ruiz: He provides historical context, noting Claude Pepper’s long tenure in Congress since 1936 and the significant shift Miami was undergoing towards a more diverse, Hispanic-majority population.

[04:19] Santi Ruiz: Santi contextualizes the timing, mentioning it was the first special election after President George H.W. Bush was elected.

[07:15] Diego Ruiz: Diego discusses the tactical aspects of the campaign, including guerrilla media tactics and grassroots mobilization. He shares memorable moments, such as organizing rallies with college students holding signs like "Honk if you love Ileana," which garnered significant media attention ([06:00] Diego Ruiz).

3. The Nicaraguan Election of 1990

[11:04] Diego Ruiz: Transitioning to his Nicaraguan experience, Diego explains how after Ileana’s victory, political dynamics in Central America led him to assist Violeta Chamorro in the 1990 Nicaraguan elections against the Sandinista regime.

[12:08] Santi Ruiz: Santi probes into the geopolitical tensions, highlighting U.S. involvement in supporting the Contras against the Sandinistas.

[16:49] Diego Ruiz: Diego recounts being part of a three-person U.S. delegation, working closely with Chamorro across 16 of Nicaragua’s 19 provinces ([16:55]). Despite limited resources and oppressive tactics by the Sandinistas, Diego emphasizes the strategic use of rallies and international symbols, such as a piece of the Berlin Wall, to galvanize voters.

4. Campaign Challenges and Sandinista Interference

[18:15] Diego Ruiz: He details the severe limitations imposed by the Sandinista regime, including media control and direct interference in the campaign. Diego shares harrowing personal anecdotes, like narrowly avoiding a rock attack during a rally ([20:07] Diego Ruiz).

[21:11] Diego Ruiz: Further illustrating the hostility, he describes the use of "pica pica" (itching powder) and roadblocks that hindered their campaign efforts.

5. Role of International Observers and the Carter Mediation

[25:03] Diego Ruiz: On election day, Diego was part of a group of Polish election observers, amidst a significant international presence led by former President Jimmy Carter. Carter’s shuttle diplomacy played a crucial role in facilitating a peaceful transition of power.

[30:17] Diego Ruiz: Diego critiques the compromise made by Carter, where Chamorro had to cede control of the military and intelligence agencies to the Sandinistas in exchange for their stepping down ([31:18]). This arrangement, though peaceful, left a lasting impact on Nicaragua’s governance and stability.

6. Return to U.S. Congress and the BRAC Commission

[32:36] Diego Ruiz: After Nicaragua, Diego returned to the U.S. and joined Congressman Chris Cox from Newport Beach, California. He highlights their collaborative efforts on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at closing unnecessary military bases.

[34:08] Diego Ruiz: Diego explains how the BRAC process was designed to depoliticize base closures by requiring Congress to vote on a comprehensive list of recommendations without amendments ([37:16]). This model ensured objective decision-making, free from individual constituency pressures.

[38:05] Santi Ruiz: Santi underscores the significance of BRAC as a successful model for government reform, contrasting it with contemporary efforts like the DOGE (presumably another reform commission).

7. Lessons in Policy and Government Reform

[40:22] Santi Ruiz: The conversation shifts to broader implications, with Diego advocating for reform processes that align incentives towards effective decision-making. He suggests that adopting mechanisms similar to BRAC could enhance the efficacy of initiatives like DOGE, ensuring that recommendations are actionable and not subject to partisan gridlock.

[43:07] Diego Ruiz: Diego draws parallels between BRAC and other government processes, emphasizing the need for transparent, structured approaches to tackle entrenched inefficiencies without allowing individual interests to derail progress.

Key Takeaways and Insights

• Strategic Campaigning: Diego's experiences in both U.S. and international campaigns highlight the importance of grassroots mobilization, media savvy, and resilience against oppressive tactics.

• International Diplomacy: The Nicaraguan election underscores the complexities of foreign intervention and the delicate balance required to facilitate peaceful transitions in authoritarian contexts.

• Government Reform Models: The success of the BRAC Commission serves as a blueprint for effective government reform, demonstrating how structured, bipartisan approaches can overcome entrenched political barriers.

• Legacy of Leadership: Diego praises visionary leaders like Chris Cox and Dick Armey, whose commitment to principled decision-making enabled substantial policy achievements.

Notable Quotes

• Diego Ruiz on Campaign Resilience:
  “The campaign did a great job of mobilizing people. People were losing their fear so that they were turning out after 10 years. They were so ready for change.”
  [16:46] Diego Ruiz

• Diego Ruiz on BRAC’s Impact:
  “The way to burrow in is to somehow transfer to a non Schedule C job, to a federal civil service.”
  [08:24] Diego Ruiz

• Diego Ruiz Critiquing Carter’s Deal:
  “In convincing Chamorro to accept those terms, he basically condemned her presidency from day one.”
  [30:17] Diego Ruiz

• Diego Ruiz on Government Reform:
  “I think there's going to be a lot of DOGE recommendations. I would imagine that will require an act of Congress. So maybe if you can package them in a way that makes it inevitable that they get approved as a package without the ability to pick and choose right.”
  [40:46] Diego Ruiz

Conclusion

Diego Ruiz's narrative offers a profound exploration of political strategy, international diplomacy, and government reform. From orchestrating a successful campaign against a communist regime in Nicaragua to pioneering effective congressional reforms through BRAC, Diego exemplifies the intricate dance of policy-making and political maneuvering. This episode not only sheds light on historical political events but also provides timeless lessons for contemporary government reformers and policymakers.

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