My Dad the Politician

In those days in Kentucky, most were Democrats...I guess blue collar Dems as they are called now. My Dad was fully involved in local and state politics. He loved it! One time we went with his buddies to a coon roast in Fulton for a political rally. There was a lot of speeches and barbecued coon and other delecacies. I hated the coon! My dad told me I should take a set of the salt and pepper shakers from the hotel to my mom. This was a old hotel. So I slipped a set in my jacket and then he and one of his buddies told the porter that they saw me steal the shakers. They had a good laugh and I was scared to death.

He ran in 1948 to be State Rep from Paducah and the area and lost but I do remember driving around with him with a sign on the top of the car and asking people to vote for him. 1948 was a significant year for the nation and Kentucky. I recall sitting with my dad listening to the returns on the radio and when we knew he has lost, we went to bed. We also thought Dewey had won as President of the US. But sometime the next day, we learned that Truman and Barkley had won and of course, Barkley was from Paducah.