(I'm seated at the back wall in the well-appointed home of Charles Koch at 740 Park Ave)
Charles Koch:
"Reince, we could not be more disappointed. We lost the conservative momentum. We may have lost the Republican Party."
Woody Johnson:
"Reince, you gave us 5 possibilities going into the primaries and this was not one of them."
Ken Langone:
"And once again, you asked us to contribute, and we did, and once again we've got nothing to show for it. I'm mad as hell"
Reince waits until he is sure they are finished.
Reince Priebus:
"We had the best, the most experienced, the smartest advisors of any campaign in Republican party history. You approved each one. And no one, and I'm telling you no one, saw this coming. You and I met many times and you planned, and I planned, on Trump either falling behind and quitting or making a mistake that cost him the candidacy. And we agreed that he did make several mistakes that should have ended it."
Priebus stops and looks down.
Charles Koch:
"What does your friend Paul Ryan say."
Reince Priebus:
"Paul says that we have two options. Pick one. He's picking Trump. And that's what I'm doing and that's what the Party is doing. And we need your financial help - at the same level as if your candidate won."
Ken Langone:
"I'm not giving a cent to Trump."
Reince Priebus:
"I'm asking you to drive Richard Burr, who is even in the polls. Pat Toomey is up 1 point over McGinty. Rob Portman is down 1% and Florida is tight. If we lose the Senate, we lose the Supreme Court for 30 Years. We must have your support."
Charles Koch:
"I'll think about it. We'll all think about it. In the meantime, get close to Trump and give us regular updates. That's a must."
Reince Priebus:
"Of Course. You will know what I know"
Charles Koch:
"Ok, if you will give us the room, we have other issues to discuss."
And Priebus jumped up and sprinted to the door.
Charles Koch:
"Reince, we could not be more disappointed. We lost the conservative momentum. We may have lost the Republican Party."
Woody Johnson:
"Reince, you gave us 5 possibilities going into the primaries and this was not one of them."
Ken Langone:
"And once again, you asked us to contribute, and we did, and once again we've got nothing to show for it. I'm mad as hell"
Reince waits until he is sure they are finished.
Reince Priebus:
"We had the best, the most experienced, the smartest advisors of any campaign in Republican party history. You approved each one. And no one, and I'm telling you no one, saw this coming. You and I met many times and you planned, and I planned, on Trump either falling behind and quitting or making a mistake that cost him the candidacy. And we agreed that he did make several mistakes that should have ended it."
Priebus stops and looks down.
Charles Koch:
"What does your friend Paul Ryan say."
Reince Priebus:
"Paul says that we have two options. Pick one. He's picking Trump. And that's what I'm doing and that's what the Party is doing. And we need your financial help - at the same level as if your candidate won."
Ken Langone:
"I'm not giving a cent to Trump."
Reince Priebus:
"I'm asking you to drive Richard Burr, who is even in the polls. Pat Toomey is up 1 point over McGinty. Rob Portman is down 1% and Florida is tight. If we lose the Senate, we lose the Supreme Court for 30 Years. We must have your support."
Charles Koch:
"I'll think about it. We'll all think about it. In the meantime, get close to Trump and give us regular updates. That's a must."
Reince Priebus:
"Of Course. You will know what I know"
Charles Koch:
"Ok, if you will give us the room, we have other issues to discuss."
And Priebus jumped up and sprinted to the door.
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