Longtime Republican consultant Carter Wrenn, who spent decades shaping North Carolina politics, has witnessed a dramatic shift in the political landscape since he began his career in the 1970s. Wrenn, a senior adviser to the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, helped build the National Congressional Club, a fundraising powerhouse that revolutionized political outreach and advertising.
In a recent interview on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Wrenn noted that while politics has always been “rough and tumble,” a key difference today is the public’s tolerance for dishonesty.
“Politicians were afraid to tell lies because they paid a price,” Wrenn said. “People didn’t approve of that, and that’s changed today. You hear politicians telling tales all the time, and a lot of times, people cheer them.”
Wrenn, who recently authored “The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics,” talks with retired N.C. political reporter Jim Morrill about his front-row seat in North Carolina politics — and shares stories and perspectives from the 1970s through today.
They also discuss:
What initially drew Wrenn into politics
How working with Sen. Jesse Helms shaped his political strategy — and why they eventually parted ways
How the political landscape has changed since he first entered politics
The use of race in political campaigns, including his take on the Helms campaign’s famous “white hands” commercial in the 1990 Senate race against former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt
The idea behind his new book, “The Trail of the Serpent”
We hope you enjoy the conversation between Jim Morrill and Carter Wrenn.
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.
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