Author Brad Thor is ready for Rick Perry, and believes the former governor of Texas could usher in a new era for the United States.
The No. 1 New York Times bestselling author spoke on Thursday at the Young America’s Foundation national headquarters in Reston, Virginia, discussing his career experience and promoting his new book “Code of Conduct.”
Thor, who was present at Perry's 2016 announcement ceremony last month, was asked about his relationship with the governor during an audience Q&A session after his remarks.
“If he could do for the U.S. just half of what he did for Texas, we’d see a renaissance in this country like the world has never known,” said Thor.
For 2016, Thor believes Perry to best candidate, but it wasn’t always that way.
Thor initially backed Rick Santorum back in 2012 when Perry made his infamous gaffe of forgetting the name of the Environmental Protection Agency at a debate during the primary that year.
“I watched and snickered and thought, ‘Who is this Texan?’” Thor admitted. “I cringed for him it was so bad.”
Later, friends of Thor informed him that Perry, a fan of the author’s thriller novels, was interested in calling him.
“I had a preconceived notion. My notion was he is not a very smart guy because that’s what I got out of the debate,” Thor said. “He immediately set that to rest.”
Thor explained how the two discussed his books along with other good reads and Perry’s time in the Air Force. The governor even tried to convince him to move from Chicago to Texas.
“I was really, really impressed,” Thor said. “This is not the guy I saw on stage.”
Later, the two became “phone buddies,” frequently texting one another and sending photos.
“He was like, ‘Hey! It’s me and Marcus Luttrell! Marcus, smile for Brad!’” Thor said.
On invitation, Thor and his family met Perry for the first time when they traveled to Austin to see the governor’s house, knowing full well of the politician's intentions for 2016.
“I said, ‘I’m going to make him earn [my support for president],’” Thor said. “I spend the next three days in blood sport combat running him through the ringer on monetary policy, foreign policy, a ton of other domestic policy issues. I’m trying to trip him up, and I can’t.”
According to Thor, Perry admitted his 2012 naivety, explaining that he underwent back surgery days before the debate, which he referred to as a “humbling” experience.
What impressed Thor even more, though, is what Perry did after he fumbled.
Thor said Perry visited think tanks on both the right and the left to hear and debate ideas.
“He’s mentioning these other ones that are full-on hard left think tanks,” Thor said, adding that he was "blown away." “He says, ‘No. 1, if I get elected to be president, I’m not president of just Republicans, I’m president of all Americans. How can you hope to serve other fellow citizens if you don’t understand what their issues are and how do you expect to debate them?’"
When the former governor asked the author to be present on stage when he announced his 2016 candidacy, Thor said he was "so honored.”
“I see such great leadership qualities in him,” Thor said. ”I’ve had some off-the-record conversations. When I write his book about the presidency, I’ll put those in there. He’s told me some things that tell me he’s really ready to do that job.”
Thor was not always so involved in the world of politics. In fact, he started in the production industry, filming his own show about traveling the world on a young person’s budget.
“What turned me to a full on capitalist and conservative was working on public television and having a hand so deep in my pocket they could tie my shoes with it,” he said.
“Code of Conduct,” Thor's newest thriller, hit store shelves Tuesday.
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