"I Like IKE"

Just to clear the air, let me say that I have never voted for a Republican during my entire voting history. In that voting booth, I feel my dad's breath as he looks over my shoulder. That's the way it's been when he lived and for the last 40 years after he died.

I can tell you magnificent stories about FDR and Truman. I can tell you as many stories about everything wrong with Eisenhower and Nixon.

A son-in-law was overheard summing up Dad's political views saying that he would vote for a horse thief before he'd vote for a Republican. Dad cornered him and set the story right. He said it depended on the horse thief's political affiliation. Then he advised his son-in-law to get his facts right before talking about other's political views.


Growing up, my friends and I never discussed politics. We identified ourselves by gender and sports preference.

Politics becamc a factor when I was in fifth grade. Almost every kid in the class sported an "I like Ike" button. Those that didn't yelled all day, "I like Ike!"

The day before the election the teacher had us stand. All those who were for Eisenhower formed a line to the right, and all those who were for Stevenson, to the left.

I stood by my desk. All eyes were on me. The looks that bothered me most came from my best friend, George and my girl friend, Harriet.

I wanted to move to that right side. I tried. I tried so hard to take that first step toward my friends. Finally, I shuffled to the left and joined Ernest.

I stood by him and felt my life sink into the heavily oiled oak floor.

This is how I grew up as a Democrat in Idaho.