I need a book about this guy...

Dick Tuck (!) (b.1924) was a political prankster, when you could still be such a thing. I had wanted to look up a quote that I somehow had always thought was uttered by Morris Udall (D, AZ, 1922 -1998), but found it was said by this Tuck fellow. I should say he is, not was, because he is still alive as of this afternoon. I should get an email address and write to him, as I missed out on being friends with L Rust Hills.


Anyway, check this bit via Wikipedia (the mistakenly-attributed-to-Udall quote in bold:

In 1964, Tuck ran for the California State Senate. He opened his campaign with a
press conference at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale claiming that just because
people had died doesn't mean they don't still have (voting) rights.
Hearing of Tuck's entry as a candidate, Richard Nixon, with uncharacteristic good humor,
sent him a congratulatory telegram, including an offer to campaign for him,
despite his being a Democrat.
Dick Tuck designed his campaign billboards to
read, in small print, "Dick," and in much larger lettering, "Tuck". The names
were printed twice, piggy-backed one above the other. On the eve of the election
he drove around the area painted an extra line on the upper "Tuck" on the
billboards. This converted the T in his name to an F so that passersby would see
a profane phrase. Tuck said he thought voters would think his opponent had done
this and he'd "get the sympathy vote" with this tactic. He lost anyway.
As
the ballot totals piled against him on Election Night, the candidate was asked
his reaction. Referring back to his cemetery speech, Tuck quipped, "Just wait
till the dead vote comes in." When defeat became inevitable, Tuck made the now
notorious statement, "The people have spoke, the bastards."[2]

Amazing!

Also, had never seen a picture of him, so had no idea that Mo Udall looked this much like 1983-era Updike: