14 Facts About Gordon Reece

Sir James Gordon Reece was a British journalist and television producer who worked as a political strategist for Margaret Thatcher during the 1979 general election, which led to her victory over then prime minister James Callaghan.

Gordon Reece was to correctly predict that Thatcher would not stand in another general election following her third landslide victory.

Gordon Reece read history at Downing College, Cambridge, and decided on a career in journalism.

Gordon Reece worked for a time with the Liverpool Daily Post and then the Sunday Express.

In 1960, Gordon Reece switched to train as a television producer and went on to work for ITN's News at Ten and produce religious programmes and chat shows.

Gordon Reece took leave from the company to help Thatcher with her television appearances; it was her decision to make him Director of Publicity in February 1978.

Gordon Reece worked to soften Thatcher's public image, hiring a voice coach used by Laurence Olivier, Kate Fleming.

Gordon Reece then taught Thatcher to lower and deepen her voice, advised on clothing, accompanied her to her television and radio interviews, and made sure that she avoided combative interviewers who would make her appear strident.

Gordon Reece opposed a proposed television debate between Thatcher and Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan in 1979.

In 1980 Gordon Reece left for Los Angeles, to join Armand Hammer's Occidental Petroleum Corporation as a vice-president.

Gordon Reece continued to act as a troubleshooter for her with the media and colleagues.

Gordon Reece was part of her team of advisers when she failed to retain the party leadership in November 1990.

Gordon Reece died at The London Clinic on 22 September 2001, at the age of 71, six days shy of his birthday.

Gordon Reece was awarded a knighthood in 1986, having refused appointment as CBE in 1981 on the grounds it was insufficient to his services.