History and politics has always held Papa’s interest. Which takes us back to 1956. I remember two items from that time frame. One was a comment my father made and the other was the novel “The Last Hurrah.” Both involved aging politicians. What my dad said is most relevant to recent events. At the time your Papa had limited experience with old people. There of course was my kindly grandfather and my curmudgeon grandfather. And, old Mr. Thomas who walked by our house on 76th street flashing a smile and wave as he steadied himself with a cane. Of course I saw other old folks who I figured were born before 1937 or so “down by Gimbels” or in church.
Election year 1956 saw a young, energetic man take on a sitting US Senator in Wisconsin’s Republican primary. There was very much a call for “new blood” by the challenger. Alexander Wiley had served three terms in the Senate. I believe it was the Milwaukee Journal that featured a front page photo of the senator a day or two before the primary election. He was walking down a long, dimly lit corridor with a window in the distance. The picture was taken from behind and the senator had his head down, shoulders slouched forward and with a short stride. The image had a being put out to pasture aspect to it. I remember my dad commenting that the photo would garner sympathy and help Wiley get re-nominated. Which he did. His regular election defeat of a future Milwaukee mayor was easier than the primary. That year was the last time a republican carried Milwaukee County in a statewide election.
”The Last Hurrah“ featured the final election campaign of an old warhorse in machine politics. I remember it as a good read. As was the movie shortly there after featuring a great Milwaukee born actor. Without tv, radio or internet I can’t offer judgment on last week’s debate. However, the end of the road feel reminded Papa of 1956 except that the protagonists then, physically feeble as they were, had enough mental acuity left to be credible candidates. It’s hard to gin up sympathy for a lost soul I’m reading about in post debate comments. {NY Times? Wow} Back to whales and sunsets.