Ex-Reagan White House, Dole political adviser to lead KU's Dole Institute

William B. Lacy

National political strategist William B. Lacy, a former White House political director for President Ronald Reagan who also was Sen. Bob Dole's political strategist for 10 years, has been tapped to lead the Dole Institute of Politics at KU.

Lacy succeeds Richard Norton Smith, who departed last year to oversee the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

"Bill is the right person at the right time to lead the Dole Institute of Politics and continue to make it the premier forum for public discourse it was intended to be," Dole said. "He has extensive experience in the real-world side of politics. He will bring that knowledge and his ability to make it real to the advantage of the students at KU, the state of Kansas, and the rest of the country."

Lacy, 50, has known Dole for 18 years and worked with him on two presidential campaigns and one Senate campaign. He served in senior roles in the five presidential campaigns from 1980 to 1996, including as GOP national political director in 1984 and California senior consultant for then Vice President George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, the last time a Republican carried California. Lacy served in the White House Political Office in 1982-83 and was director during 1985-86. As a private consultant he was principal strategist for a number of campaigns.

Lacy said he would increase the institute's activities and focus on fund raising. He praised the institute's outreach to veterans and other Kansans and its emphasis on public service, high-profile speakers and bipartisan programming. He plans an aggressive outreach effort targeted to get students more involved in the institute's activities.

Lacy now lives in Olathe, where he runs a family business, the Sophie Mae Candy Company.