GOP Operative went undercover, Spied on neo-Nazis; KKK – and became a Junkie (Watch video as he tells his story)
MASON CITY – Former White House aide Todd Blodgett addressed a full banquet room of Noon Rotary club members and others on Aug. 3 at Mason City’s Prime & Wine restaurant. Most of the audience of about 100 people clearly enjoyed his remarks, which centered on his service on Ronald Reagan’s White House staff, and his work for the FBI monitoring White Supremacists and Hate Groups. “I’ve been a member here for many, many years,” a Rotarian told NorthIowaToday.com, “and Mr. Blodgett was one of the best speakers we’ve ever hosted. He was serious, but he spoke in a way that got some big laughs. He was compelling, entertaining, and looked like a million bucks in that white sport coat.”
Blodgett, 54, has had a storied, well-publicized career: White House aide at age 24. Campaign staffer for the first President Bush at 27. Protégé of the famed, right-wing political strategist Lee Atwater at age 28, and Republican National Committee senior staff member by age 30. He was the reluctant co-owner of the world’s most profitable racist music company – Resistance Records, Inc. – which led to his work as a full-time, paid FBI undercover informant. While still in his thirties, Blodgett, after being recruited by the bureau, agreed to work full-time as a paid undercover informant. According the The Washington Post, the Associated Press, and Wikipedia, from March, 2000 through November, 2002, Blodgett monitored what he called “some of the nastiest people on the planet.”
One of the “big laughs” Blodgett got came at the expense of local politician Max Weaver. As Blodgett described his run-ins with drug dealers in the hoods of D. C., he said he “learned, the hard way, that fighting drug pushers in the hoods made about as much sense as fighting over an old hubcap at the Landfill, with Max Weaver.” Blodgett was 38 years old when he became a drug addict; his drug was crack cocaine.
He told the crowd his addiction destroyed his 9-year marriage, cost him $800,000, and led to him being hospitalized after fights with drug dealers. Blodgett also was jailed a few times in Washington, D.C., “after being busted for narcotics possession by the D. C. police.” One of his hospitalizations resulted in the removal of his spleen, he said, after a knife fight with a dope pusher where Blodgett “got the point.”
After being mugged three times, and fearful, the former White House staffer began carrying a loaded handgun for self-protection. As he was introduced, the Master of Ceremonies told the audience of how Blodgett, as a kid, made the acquaintance of J. Neil ‘Moon’ Reagan. Neil Reagan was the older brother of Ronald Reagan and arranged for Blodgett to meet the future President in 1976.
Ronald Reagan liked Todd Blodgett, and the two stayed in touch with one another. They were already on very good terms before Reagan was elected U. S. President in 1980.
“If I’d had to rely on my grades for the jobs I held,” Blodgett said, “I’d have never made it.”
Todd Blodgett is the son of retired Orthodontist Dr. Gary B. Blodgett. Gary Blodgett served as the Deputy Majority Leader in the Iowa Legislature from 1992-2001, and was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 as a Federal administrative Judge. The senior Blodgett served in the Bush administration until 2008, and returned to Clear Lake. He fills the role of what Globe-Gazette reporter John Skipper deemed the “Republican Kingmaker” of north Iowa politics.
Cerro Gordo county Supervisors Jay Urdahl, Casey Callanan, and Phil Dougherty, and Gov. Terry Branstad, U. S. Senator Chuck Grassley, and Congressman Steve King, are among the many elected officials who have benefitted from Dr. Blodgett’s fundraising efforts and endorsements on behalf of their candidacies.
NorthIowaToday.com was unable to reach Mr. Blodgett for a comment for this article, but NIT did obtain a copy of a video taken via the cell phone of an audience member. Referencing his being jailed for illegal drug possession, and gunplay, and his ex-wife leaving him due to his addiction, Blodgett tried to downplay his status as a well-connected, GOP Insider from one of Iowa’s most prominent Republican families. “For me to have the honor of addressing you,” Blodgett told Rotary members, “is like Donald Trump being named as Ambassador to Mexico.”
Not everyone at the Rotary luncheon was pleased with Blodgett’s remarks. A member, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NIT that “it’s inappropriate for speakers to talk about drugs, guns, and racial prejudice.”
“But I guess that doesn’t apply to Dr. Blodgett’s son, the Rotarian said. “Before he spoke, several older members greeted him like they would a celebrity, or a prodigal son. I saw Ron Masters, Francis Holland, and Dick Mathes, and several others, walk right up to the head table to shake his hand. Even more members went up there after his speech, they got photos taken with him. I guess being from a well-to-do, politically-connected family has its benefits. Todd was self-deprecating, which was wise on his part. But if I’d had my druthers, he’d have not addressed our club. Don’t get me wrong: Blodgett spoke well, and nobody was bored. He was funny, and entertaining, and people will be talking about this one for awhile. But, still, it was just inappropriate, I think.“
However, an NIT reader, confidant and Mason City citizen, Jim Burgess, told NIT that Mr. Blodgett “blew them away”. Mr. Burgess was in attendance and sat next to the mayor of Mason City and other “important” people.
“I was there, and boy, let me tell you, Todd had that room in the palm of his hand.”
Oh whatever. He had to do it. The word on the street was too much for him to take.So he figured a way to end the “gossip” about himself. So a talk was in order. The story may be full of things that a lot of you think oooh ahhh wow when in fact it’s nothing new, the story is no mission impossible at all. What the non shocked writers here are simply saying he is NOT a good story teller, speaker, presenter whatever you want to call it. Boring with no highs and lows, going from “his parents to being mugged” with no change in theatrics. Equals boring. Come on impressing the Rotary is EASY to do. Palm of his hand? I don’t know, the guy in the video sure looks like his food is much more…
It takes a big person to get up before a crowd of people and tell them about mistakes that have been made in their life. And how they have overcome addiction to a horrible drug. His story shows how painful, and addictive drugs are. Kudos to Mr. Blodgett.
You people here, your going even after what the man wore to make his speech in, your nuts. Who cares what color his suit is. Who cares if you don’t like what he said. Nothing he could of said would be what you want. I bet Todd don’t care how you think, your nothing . How many of you ever get ask to make a speech, rotary, whatnot. I bet not to many. Leave this man alone, he made mistakes, he a tone for them. Maybe go and try to make a speech, we can all see how you do.
@ Knows Blodgett – LMAO, Todd is very good at put down’s, I have seen him do it. My wife went to school with him, way back to like grade school, she says he had more detention’s and principle’s office time then any kid in that school. I did look at his speech, it was funny but pretty serious tho, drugs. Todd is to much Republican for us but he is alot of fun to be with.
Oh come on. You get that he is not the most well adjusted. Everybody knows that. No not jealous. If he is so smart why did he crawl home? And stay? It’s more of a heebie jeebie feeling about him. I am a sociologist and too honed into traits. But that’s the worst I am. He on the other hand
Why stupid? Let’s hear it. All facts. Why him? Who is he? Is it drug prevention week? You have hearing..that was NOT a good presentation.
Jealous of what? That weasel? Never. Who wants that on their record book. By the way I never said anything about being an addict.
@ Annon, you say once an addict always an addict. Your wrong as hell, I have been clean for 2 years and change now. Todd told the truth on drugs what it does to people ect. Your jealous yes.
White jacket? George Hamilton maybe? Not good but so what, not about clothes. Real boring talk. Maybe the topic had some teeth once but the presentation was horrible. Why was HE talking again? He is of no real value in the who’s who of MC? Then we have drugs…hmmm he rolled back in town and the drugs did too.
The white jacket is classy. We watched the video last night, and now my husband wants a jacket like that.
Actually he speaks monotone and quite boring. On and on with no new paragraph. Weaver could wipe this guy up…with his jacket! Who wears white jackets? Not any where that counts. So not funny either. Why would people think this guy is something special to hear? We want to hear MAX! He’s drug free ! We all know once a user always a user. Zero cred.
Ok so even Todd can’t get Max out of his mind! He learned to command a room from Max. He tries to be as funny as Max,not even close. The white suit thing is as tacky as Robin Andersons fake pearls. Believe me he is as rotten as they come don’t ever doubt it. Once a druggie always a druggie. We all know that. What an irk!
The comments here pretty much say to me Mr. Blodgett is a really misunderstood and interesting person. The speech is just awesome. You cannot watch it and believe he is anything like the crazy white supremacist some people want to make us think he is.
@ crumcutter, a couple years ago me and a lady I use to live next to went over to a house at 15th and Penn in Mason. Her daughter was into meth real bad, she was about 40 and she looked like 60. We were worried sick. So we get to the house, there was this man inside talking to her. He kept going, you can stop, I know you can. Then he gave the her some money before he left. Lo and behold, it was Todd Blodgett. I do not agree on his politics. But him trying to help my friend’s daughter got my respect.
I’m not the person commenting so stop accusing “Petey”. I don’t know blodgett and his issues aren’t my issues. So let it alone.
@ Tyler, it is against the law to carry a concealed weapon in Iowa into a bar and consume alcohol. In the articles I read, Mr. Blodgett admitted he had been drinking when he was robbed and when he confronted the carnival employee who stole from him. In Iowa it is illegal to threaten with a loaded gun anyone unless they pose a threat to your life. Toddy boy’s life wasn’t at risk, but he had no problem scaring the daylights out of some kid who made a mistake. Gun nuts like Todd Blodgett value money over life where poor people are concerned. Mr. Blodgett is a bully, and a very entitled one. In a just world, he would be in prison.
Well-written, well-researched, balanced and fair piece of writing. Nicely done, NIT.
@ Buzz, your right, some people are jealous of Todd. Something else too, Blodgett always has been a stand up guy, he was like this in school. Funny like he is now, and very smart. We just watched the video. Todd also does not back down, now not everybody likes that. At Adams, MCHS he would talk back to the teachers, he likes to argue. You never seen any kid could make teachers look dumb like Todd could. He got in fights, lost most, won a few. Spent lot’s of days on detention and at the principle’s office. But he just would not back down. He is too Republican for us, but he is a good guy.
I’ve heard a lot and read a lot about Todd Blodgett over the years, but I must say I was impressed with his presentation in this video. I thought he did well in telling his story regarding his addiction and his recovery. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but maybe some of the negativity I hear about Todd Blodgett is really jealousy.