(47 Weeks)
My mom was like the advancement department in my father’s political machine. She wrote the press releases and OpEd pieces, pitched the media, recruited volunteers, organized the logistics of the door-to-door outreach and fundraising events. I learned a lot.
But Dad was the front man. Not a candidate himself, for the most part, but a strategist and a networker. While I was learning political fundraising and event planning from Mom, Dad had been a Republican County Committeeman & Municipal Chairman in our hometown of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey for as long as I can remember. In that role he was connected with the Bergen County and New Jersey State Republican political elite and served as an Elector for Nixon/Agnew in 1972.
I remember coming off the school bus in fall of 1973. My dad, waiting for me, sat me down and told me some difficult news. The Vice President resigned. I had just started 3rd grade. I don’t remember where the conversation went from there, but I remember sitting in my dad’s station wagon in the driveway a few weeks later listening to news radio as Gerald Ford was named his replacement.
I was young. My parents were always right, weren’t they? Vietnam was a conflict I didn’t understand beyond the prayers said in church every Sunday for Lt.JG Edwin F. Miller, POW, from Franklin Lakes, who came home to a hero’s welcome and a big parade through town in 1973.
Watergate was confusing. I went with my parents to picket the Bergen Record, the county’s daily newspaper, because of the negative publicity they were giving Nixon in its aftermath. Why would they show such disrespect for the President?
I remained with my parents on most issues through my teens and even served as the chair for Students for Reagan-Bush ’84 at my college. That was about when I started to question how my politics aligned with my values and stepped away from any dream they had about me serving in the Senate someday. Through my non-profit career I still have a positive impact on my community. I kept my party affiliation until after my dad died in ’06.
I’ve joked that he died when he did so he wouldn’t have to see his beloved Republican party go in the direction it did. Although at the time of his death, I learned that maybe he wasn’t as much of the loyal Republican that I thought he was, but more of an opportunist looking for the best way to be in a position where he could make a difference. At his wake, the former Mayor of Franklin Lakes reminisced about his entre into politics. “He told me to change parties,” he said. “If you’re going to win here, you need to be a Republican.” That was 50 years ago. Nothing’s changed. That corner of northern New Jersey is still predominantly Republican.
My father was elected to the town council in 1977 and served until ’80. Until he died in 2006, the picture of the Mayor and Council hung on the wall of his home office. He was proud of the role he played in democracy. Even while I started to form my own views, I had a lot of respect for my parents’ investment in their community and country. It certainly shaped who I am and what I do.
Democracy was something we always agreed on and is still something I cherish.
Today, June 18th, would have been my father’s 103 birthday. In another 4 months he will have been gone 18 years. His eulogy can be found here.
Did you really think this wasn’t going to include a fundraiser? It’s me. Of course it is! Over the course of these 60 weeks, I am hoping to raise $6000 for the children of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls (that’s just $100 a week!). To learn more about Mercy Home and my why, please visit my fundraising page. Thank you.
