This was a pretty complete retcon of the original story. Prior to this, Superman hadn't been involved at any point in the process, and the only potentials that had been established since then were Guy and Jon.
Dick as a candidate was a new idea, and the likes of Terry Waite were new to the story, as he was current in the news at the time of the story for having been held hostage in in Beirut (Where he was held for four years) by a terrorist group called Islamic Jihad. Lech Walesa had been known for longer since he had helped found the Solidarity Trade Union in Communist Poland.