Romney: A Reckoning

In 2018, John McCain invited Romney to his ranch in Sedona. McCain was dying of cancer and asked Romney to serve on the board of the International Republican Institute. After McCain’s passing, Romney was perceived as a natural successor to what McCain wanted to accomplish. 

Romney was embarrassed when his secret Twitter account (“Pierre Delecto”) was revealed. He’d been using it to reply to posts about him and said that he considered it a form of venting. 

Romney felt as if he was being closely watched as he continued not to support Trump. Sean Hannity berated him in public and private. In November 2019, Romney received a phone call from Oprah, who suggested that Mitt run as an Independent with her as his running mate. 

Romney studied the possibility of presidential impeachment. McConnell was arguing that protecting Trump meant protecting the Senate majority, which was his priority. Pence attended the caucus meetings and tried to persuade everyone to follow the White House’s defense strategy. 

Articles of impeachment arrived at the Senate in January 2020. During the trial, Romney became more certain that Trump was guilty. Romney hosted the Alfalfa Club’s annual black-tie banquet, where he delighted in giving a keynote that roasted Trump. Romney met with Joe Manchin; Trump had carried 68% of the vote in West Virginia, and Manchin feared opposing Trump.