Lee Atwater
Politician
Controversial political strategist who was an advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He had a reputation for playing dirty tricks on political opponents.
He was in a rock band, The Upsetters Revue, and kept up his musical moonlighting even at the height of his political career.
In 2012, audiotapes were released where here outlined his so-called Southern Strategy, explaining how the GOP can secure the votes of white supremacists.
Early in his childhood he lost his young brother, who died after spilling hot oil on himself.
He was an influential political advisor to Ronald Reagan .