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Posted by Barton Lorimor
* I met my old man for breakfast yesterday in Bloomington. While we were waiting for a table to become available, a man in a wheelchair reached up and tugged on Dad’s sleeve and called him out by name.
It was former state Sen. John Maitland and his wife Joanne.
Seeing the Senator was a thrill for both of us. Mom and Dad were on his senior campaign leadership team and considered the Maitlands friends. Moreover, it was the first time we had heard him speak since a stroke in the fall of 2000 forced the “Dean of the Senate” to retire. Mom and Dad thought so highly of the Maitlands that they used his statesmanship as a model for my brother Mattheis and I to emulate.
I mentioned I was co-hosting Capitol Fax this week. “Tell everyone I said, ‘Hello.’”
*** THE QUESTION: What are your earliest personal political memories?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:34 pm
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Bart. Best watch that ‘old man’ reference. Some of us have feelings.
Watching my mom cry at JFK funeral.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:38 pm
Seeing JFK speak at York High School in Elmhurst in 1960
Just kids but we squirmed through crowds and I got a handshake
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:40 pm
Don’t know if it’s “political”, but probably the assassination of John Kennedy.
Comment by Galena Guy Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:40 pm
= Some of us have feelings. =
My four-year-old already uses it on me. lol
Comment by Barton Lorimor Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:41 pm
Watching the Democratic National Convention with my dad and him explaining it all to me. I immediately knew I was hooked.
Comment by Because I said so.... Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:43 pm
My parents weren’t terribly political, but I do recall going out with my dad in 1972 to put up McGovern signs. I have vivid memories of my friends teasing me because McGovern was expected to be creamed in the election (and boy was he). Their dads were all Nixon voters I assumed, and like most little kids, pretty much everybody thought the election teasing ended with the election.
Not me. I waited patiently for my vindication and I was not disappointed. On August 8th, 1974, Nixon resigned in disgrace. I made a victory lap, reminding all of my pals that my dad said Nixon was a bum way back when, we told you so, etc. Nyah nyah nyah.
They were 7 year olds. They’d forgotten who Nixon even was. They looked at me like I’d gone nuts or was speaking Chinese or something.
That’s when I learned a valuable political lesson: have a long memory. Forty plus years later, we’re all still friends. They still vote for Republicans, but they’ve learned not to argue with me about it.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:45 pm
My dad was good friends with Paul Simon. Every summer there was a group of them that would gather for a BBQ and Sen Simon would show up every couple of years. 100 degrees outside and he would have his bow tie on.
My dad didn’t agree with him politically but it was “always good to have someone in high places” to be able to talk to.
Comment by BIG R. Ph. Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:50 pm
JFK assassination. I was in first grade and I remember our teacher saying the president has been shot, we need to pray for him.
Comment by The Colossus of Roads Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:52 pm
I sold a newspaper to Richard Nixon at the Illinois State Fair. I think I was about 8 years old. He gave a good tip for a 15 cent paper.
Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:52 pm
I have two.
Riding in George W. Bush’s suburban motorcade when he flew into Chicago.
And the late JBT clipped out an article about my father’s medical practice and sent it to our house thanking him for what he does for the people of Illinois. Both are great memories from my childhood.
Comment by Iggy Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:52 pm
My catholic grade school took a field trip to a suburban union hall to attend a Geraldine Ferraro rally. All I remember was that there were tons of RW&B Mondale Ferraro signs and tons of smokers.
I still have a pin from the event.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 2:59 pm
When I was four or five, my aunt took to the campaign launch for a state rep. Hooked ever since.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:00 pm
Jimmy Carter running for president. Something about him being a farmer and my dad being a farmer made me take interest.
I don’t have much of anything in the way of Illinois-centric early memories other than knowing that our alderman lived a block over in the brown house on the corner. I would ride my Schwinn with the red banana seat past his house on my rounds.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:04 pm
Richard M Nixon resigning.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:09 pm
I vaguely remember my mom taking me to stand on the street as a hearse drove by. When I asked, she said that it was a very important man who had died.
Looking back on it, I’m pretty sure it was Harold Washington’s funeral.
Comment by ChrisB Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:14 pm
My earliest political memory is seeing Ross Perot infomercials on TV in 1992 when I was 8.
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:16 pm
Senator John Maitland is a great man.
Comment by The Chairman Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:29 pm
Night. My earliest were of JFK.(DIDNT HAVE TV TIL 1962). My fondest were with Paul. They haven’t made many like him.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:30 pm
I remember my dad being a Cass County Republican precinct committeeman during the 1968 presidential campaign. He was also in the 114th Infantry Regiment and was in uniform for Nixon’s visit to Springfield in 1971. My dad was excited to be part of that.
Comment by Former Hillrod Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:30 pm
Barton, first I wish to thank you for the story and photo with John Maitland. He was one of the most respected legislators during most of my time in state government. He was (and I suspect still is) a true gentleman and a statesman who tried to do what was right for the state.
My most vivid memories of political life and some of the most fascinating moments were watching the Watergate hearings and following the downward spiral of the Nixon Administration. It was great television and political theater. This was a time when reporters relentlessly pursued an important story, and ultimately many elected officials displayed great courage and statesmanship. What a time period and what a story!
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:36 pm
When still in grade school I had a chance to join my great uncle at a Ken Gray somewhere down South. My Dad could not make it that evening and thought I would learn something. Huge chicken fry attended by a few hundred people. Ken made his entrance by flying his helicopter to the grounds, dressed in a flashy blue suit and jumped on stage to start singing gospel music. And then he began his rousing speech. Made quite an impression on a young kid.
My parents grew up with Paul Simon, so I have known of him forever, but that show that Ken put on was quite memorable.
Comment by illini Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:39 pm
My family was political as long I can remember. My grandfather was local, one son ended up in Congress, one in the IL Senate.
But I fondly remember seeing trying to see around all the adults when Gerald Ford was on the train in my home town.
John Maitland was great man. At my dad’s funeral, he was so sweet and so visibly moved and offered the sincerest of emotions.
It’s nice to see his smile.
Comment by Mad Brown Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:40 pm
Attending a Ronald Reagan campaign event when I was a teen.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:40 pm
I was about 12 years old and one of our friends father was running for mayor of small suburb. It was an open seat so it split up the town 50/50. Well being 12 year olds we put on our 8 year old thinking caps and thought it would be a great idea to sneak out and go spray paint the other guys 4 x 8 signs all over the neighborhood. The next day while we were sitting in our buddies basement his dad came storming down the stairs yelling a whole bunch of words we were just starting to learn. Actually our friend didn’t even go out with the other 8 to 10 of us that did it but his dad knew it was us. He ended up losing in a close race and I wouldn’t doubt our stupidity was a good part of the reason.
Comment by Been There Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:50 pm
Jeez, you guys are old. My earliest political memory comes from December of 88 when my first grade class at Coonley Elementary met Rich Daley right after he announced he was running for Mayor. We were downtown on a field trip to the Shedd or one of the museums, something like that, and Daley was outside on the street being interviewed by Lester Holt who was with WBBM at the time (its where I got the handle I use for this site, and to this day I have yet to see a more impressive mustache). Anyway, Daley spent 10 or 15 minutes with us, asked us all what we wanted to be when we grew up, stuff like that. Looking back on it I think it was pretty nice of him, taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with a bunch of snot-nosed kids on a cold Chicago winter day.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 3:55 pm
first real memory where I paid attention was Nixon’s resignation. One that I felt might be a game changer, Ronald Regan’s election. Senator John Maitland was a great statesman and is a wonderful human being. Thanks for sharing the picture.
Comment by theCardinal Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:07 pm
Depends what counts as “political.” At 9, I voted in a Range Rick competition for what should be the 1976 bicentennial animal (the bald eagle won–not my choice). And in 7th grade I voted in a mock presidential election (Carter vs. Reagan).
Comment by Yooper in Diaspora Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:14 pm
A 1960 Kennedy TV commercial — it was animated, and I was a little kid who loved cartoons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DoUiNxh6_0
Comment by IllinoisBoi Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:19 pm
Hearing that Harold Washington died. I was 4 1/2 years old and on my way to gymnastics class at the Park District.
Comment by The Most Anonymous Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:21 pm
1, JFK Dallas 1963.
2, RFK Los Angeles 1968.
Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:39 pm
JFK speech, summer of ‘60, old Aurora City Hall. Afterwards headed down an alley behind to library, turned around and there he was. Drove by me in an open Cadillac…2 feet from me. Sandy eyelashes.
Comment by wondering Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:44 pm
My first political memories were from the TV box in 1968. Really no choices on the box back in those days, you watched what was on. And the political stuff was quite memorable, all year long.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 4:53 pm
Watching then-candidates Bush and Cheney march in a parade in Naperville in 2000, then staying up until the wee morning hours waiting for Florida go one way or the other.
Comment by Flip357 Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:01 pm
God Bless John Maitland. Can’t say enough good things about him.
Earliest memory was JFK Dallas 1963 and the non-stop TV coverage.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:06 pm
–2000, then staying up until the wee morning hours waiting for Florida go one way or the other.–
Which it did, for about the next month or so.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:23 pm
Too hilarious not to share. Headline in The Guardian:
“Tronc to change name back to Tribune Publishing after two years of ridicule”
Meh, that edit board and Kass will always be tronclodytes to me. Looking forward to daily opportunities for ridicule as long as their Box-O-64 Crayolas holds out.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jun/18/tronc-tribune-publishing-changes-name-back
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:44 pm
My best friend and I made up a “Dukakis fight song” to the tune of our junior high fight song. (Epilogue: I met Dukakis 8 years later when I was 20 and told him I had gotten into politics because of him. He gave me a look that clearly implied “You need better role models, kid.”
Comment by Change Agent Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:54 pm
1968, when Pat Paulsen ran for President. If I remember correctly, even Dirty Dragon from “Cartoon Town” ran for president that year, it was a full slate. Too bad Paulsen didn’t win. Fie…
Comment by Stuntman Bob's Brother Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:56 pm
Hubert Humphrey’s 1968 campaign. And being lucky enough to spend time with him in person a year or so before he died.
Comment by Southside Markie Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 5:59 pm
As a 7 or 8 year old in NYC in the early 1960s, I stood with my brother and my mother outside a subway entrance and passed out flyers for a talk by Eleanor Roosevelt at the local Democratic club. We didn’t know who she was, but my mother said she was a great woman.
Comment by The Old Professor Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 6:05 pm
JFK assassination as a toddler, mom was cooking, stopped to phone dad at work, frantic and emotional, reaction is what I remember. RFK assassination and 1968 campaigns easier to recollect, benefiting from school discussions.
Comment by kitty Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 6:06 pm
Seeing Nixon at a rally on my dad’s shoulders, mourning JFK along with my grade school classmates, and shaking Otto Kerner’s hand when he unexpectedly came across a bunch of us kids on a field trip.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 6:21 pm
My mom talking about my uncle and Jacob Arvey.
My mom talking about them wanting to run my other uncle as judge, but he didn’t want the job because he was honest as the day is long and he thought they wanted something from him.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:02 pm
Actually it was interning for Senator Maitland in the fall of 2000, when he had his stroke. I was supposed to meet him for a breakfast meeting on Monday and his legislative aid called my dorm room Sunday evening to let me know what happened. All my profs knew I was interning there and let me skip class that week to help out in the office.
Maitland’s office didn’t teach me about politics; it taught me about public service.
Comment by Clint W. Sabin Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:07 pm
Iran-Contra hearings, when the world’s most boring man pre-empted my cartoons for DAYS ON END to talk to a room full of equally boring men about totally incomprehensible (to me) things, while my mother, who still at almost-70 hardly ever sits still, sat perched on the edge of a chair, riveted, for HOURS ON END. It was the strangest behavior from my mom I’d ever seen in my life, and I really tried to understand what was so interesting, but NOTHING WAS INTERESTING ABOUT IT. I tried to ask my mom but she (uncharacteristically!) kept shushing me instead of answering.
Anyway, I still have a visceral dislike of Ollie North, interrupter of cartoons.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 7:56 pm
First grade at St Mary’s grade school in 1960, all the nuns had JFK buttons, and one son of a republican wore an “I Like Ike” button. My dad took me to downtown Alton to see JFK. Dad was a year younger than JFK, both served in the Navy in the Pacific theater.
Comment by Nitemayor Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 8:51 pm
Sen. Maitland, they don’t make public servants like him much anymore.
Glad to hear this story, Barton, thanks for sharing. It’s stiries like that… brings a smile to my face.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 8:56 pm
the day JFK was assassinated then receiving a letter from Pres, Nixon that said greetings from your friends and neighbors at that time most of my friends and neighbors were republicans been a democrat ever since
Comment by jwk Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 9:10 pm
During the 1960 election there were quarters where the hat had been painted red. They were part of the anti Catholic campaign against JFK. The claim was that he would take orders from the Pope.
My Presbyterian minister grandfather did not approve of this tactic or approach.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 9:50 pm
I do remember the Kennedy assassination, but don’t really consider it “political” memory. My earliest pure political memory was meeting Barry Goldwater with my grandfather in 1964. I was 7 and not quite sure what the fuss was about.
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 10:01 pm
It must have been 1956 because I had a big flasher button with Adlai Stevenson and Soapy Williams on it. I was told it was no appropriate on my Brownie uniform.
Comment by Ann Monday, Jun 18, 18 @ 10:30 pm