Project 1968

An Interview with Dad

March 31, 1968
by Amy

Dad, Glasses and I met at Nimbys for lunch. They both thought that meeting at a neutral location was a good idea, though we certainly could’ve met at the Dearborn office. Glasses said that he would pay his own way, in direct contrast to the idea that Movement people are constantly trying to hustle food and money. Dad laughed. I did as well, though I wasn’t aware of that stereotype.

Dad got right down to business, asking if we planned on having a riot at the Chicago convention. I was rather taken aback by the question, since I thought he knew how I felt about violence. Glasses, on the other hand, wasn’t a bit surprised. He said that we most definitely weren’t planning a riot. What good would it do other than getting a bunch of people maimed and killed? That wasn’t what we were about anyway.

Right away, my Father asked a bunch more: What did we think of the riot in Memphis a few days ago? How did we know that nonviolence worked? Isn’t asking people not to fight back going against their natural instincts?

I didn’t say anything. My job was to sit there and watch my Father work. He did copious notes, quoting Glasses on a variety of subjects. I have to admit, the interview was uncomfortable. I didn’t recognize my Father. He became someone else – someone unsympathetic.

Glasses took it all in stride. Just when I thought my Father was finished with the hostile questioning, Glasses turned it around. “You know what’s happening out there. Don’t you see what’s going on in the ghettoes?”

My Father stopped writing. Indeed, he did see what was happening. He saw people who were turned away from jobs, people who were more than qualified to do the work. He read the reports – 500 a week dying in Vietnam. “The government has gone crazy and we’re all along for the ride.”

Glasses leaned in: “Isn’t it your job as a journalist to tell the people?”

Dad sighed and said it wasn’t a matter of opinion. It was a matter of fact. The evidence was there. The demands for more soldiers, the riots, the violence. Hunger. This wasn’t what he fought for overseas, back in his day.

“Again, sir. Isn’t it your job as a journalist to tell the people?”

Dad looked down at his coffee cup. He swirled the remaining coffee around for a moment. “Yes. It is my job. But I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to be heard.”

Talking with Ron

March 31, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I saw Ron, from National, today. It’s the first time in weeks that I saw him. It feels like years. Hard to believe that we were in New Hampshire only two or three weeks ago. He looked tired but happy.

He asked me how things were and I told him things were alright. He said he didn’t sound very convinced. So I told him what I was thinking, about ghettoes and poverty. About how The Senator’s positions only reach people like us. I understand that the war is very important, but so is poverty.

What good is it to have democracy when only certain people can take part in it?

The fact that I was talking to him surprised me. I didn’t think I could talk to Grease Pit. Yes, he still wears pomade or something like that in his hair.

He said he understood how I felt because there were lots of people who felt the same way. Even him. Which surprised me because he never looks like he doubts anything. He said that everybody who worked for McCarthy had to make a decision about continuing to work for him.

Part of The Senator’s positions on poverty, at least in Wisconsin, have to do with the fact that he didn’t want to alienate white voters.

That’s sad. Very sad.

I think we should alienate people. We should make them uncomfortable. How else will things change?

He also told me that behind the scenes, people were trying to work with The Senator to fix the problem. He doesn’t reach people who aren’t in college because, Ron thinks, that people feel like McCarthy is talking down to them.

I asked him if he thought of working for Bobby. He said he did, especially since many of his friends left. But in the end, he feels that even though The Senator may not have the right policy positions right now, he has the courage needed to make those positions when the time comes. He thinks Bobby worries more about himself than he does about people.

I thought that statement was harsh, but in a way, it’s true. Bobby is more political than The Senator. He’s more glamorous and more “connected.” But what’s going to happen if he ever becomes President? Would he have the courage to do right by everyone?

In the News: March 31, 1968

An Interview and the Problems in Memphis

March 30, 1968
by Amy

We have a meeting with my Father tomorrow. Glasses was very happy to get the invitation to be interviewed. Though he’s spoken with plenty of reporters in the past, he’s used to be misquoted. But he thinks that my Father will be more neutral than the others. I assured him that Dad is a pretty fair guy who was having difficulty swallowing what the establishment was telling him about most things.

It’s hard for my Dad these days. If he comes off too sympathetic to what’s going on, he’ll lose his credibility with the editors. He says that he can’t take a hard approach to what’s happening because that’s not true. It’s not what he’s seeing.

His job is to tell people what’s going on around them. If he gets any hostility in return, its because people want to remain blind to the truth.

I admire my Father, and I’m secretly proud of him.

The other thing Glasses and I talked about today was the problem in Memphis. He’s terribly concerned about how the King rally ended. People of all walks of life have been taught nonviolence. They’ve been taught not to respond in kind to bottles and bats. So why did it happen? What happened to make the participants of the march start looting?

I don’t know, but as Glasses says, it’s not good. In fact, it’s a huge setback.

In the News: March 30, 1968

Teen Magazine

March 30, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I’m not doing any direct canvassing right now. I asked to help out with the office instead. When Craig asked me why, I said that I just needed some time to myself. Becca came over a little while later and asked me if I was having trouble at home. I told her no.

I don’t know who to talk with about how I’m feeling. Why doesn’t The Senator take positions that help people in the ghettoes? I know that everyone loves The Senator. I still think highly of him. We all expect him to win the primary. There’s almost no doubt that President Johnson can beat him.

Underneath my bed are the magazines I used to read when I was a kid. I pulled out my Teen magazine. It’s almost six years old. I looked through it, just to get my mind off of what’s happening. But then I realized that there are no pictures of black women. The only black man in the magazine is Harry Belafonte.

I always wondered what it would be like to be in Teen Magazine. When I was much younger, I thought that maybe I could be Miss ‘Teen. But if I was black, I would never be able to even think about that. Because I’d know that it would never be a possibility.

A look at 'Teen Magazine, June 1962

Questions

March 29, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I did my thing today. Didn’t have much to say and even less enthusiasm to say it. I stayed inside and looked myself in a supply closet. Not literally. But I offered to reorganize supplies.

Sometimes I wonder if The Senator is really the answer. Maybe he’s just like the rest of them, as someone back in Concord said. “They’re all a bunch of bums. Every single one of them.”

I started to think about what would happen if I was born with darker skin. What it would be like? Would Becca still be friends with me? Would I still be going to college?

Would I still be trusted? Would people in New Hampshire still have listened to me?

I don’t know.

In the News: March 29, 1968

A Call to Mrs. Stoutmiller

March 28, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

Mrs. Stoutmiller wouldn’t tell me what to do. Maybe it was unfair for me to ask her to do that.

I didn’t come right out and ask her. I told her how I felt and what kind of chaos was going on right now. She said that she heard through the grapevine that things were difficult there, but that politics is a difficult business. There usually is some kind of chaos, coupled with a “constant tremor that skirts disaster… usually.”

She also told me that I’m not a terrible person for having doubts. Even if I decide to switch my allegiance, that doesn’t make me a bad person.

I told her that Craig and Becca thought that it would make me a bad person. She said that it was natural, because they see people who disagree with them as being the enemy.

“Elections are a terrible process. It’s amazing that the country doesn’t disintegrate into Civil War every four years.”

I asked her if she was still for McCarthy. She said she was pledged for Gene at least until the first ballot is cast at the convention. “Anything is better than Lyndon. The man is insane.”

She really thinks that the President is crazy. There can be no explanation for it. It made me wonder if she heard something through her grapevine or if she thought that on her own. I didn’t have to ask her though. She volunteered that there were a few people in Washington who were concerned about his mental health.

“But it’s a rumor. That’s all.”

It’s not the first time I heard something like that, but it was mostly from people like Craig and Becca. Not from someone who has a “grapevine.” I got very scared after that. She told me not to worry. If a president ever went off the deep end, other people would be around to avert disaster.

Even if their jobs depend on following orders?

She said that they were Americans first, and would never do anything to harm the country. But it seems like we’re being harmed already.

She and Annabelle are still having problems. They talk, but not about politics. Annabelle and her husband support LBJ, of course, probably because her husband has to support him. His job depends on it.

It must be hard having to follow orders all the time. It must make someone a shell of a person, not being able to act on their feelings.

So before I got off the phone with Mrs. Stoutmiller, I promised I would keep in touch with her. I thanked her for talking with me. She thanked me for calling.

I still don’t have any answers. Just a lot more thinking to do.

In the News: March 28, 1968

An Interview with Dad

March 28, 1968
by Amy

My Father called me today to ask me about the conference. Would I care to talk to him about it?

I trust him. He’s my Dad, how could I not? He said that people are very concerned about what we’re doing and he would like to write a column about it. I asked him if he thought he could be fair to the Movement. He said he could.

I ran the idea past Glasses, who thought it would be a good idea to talk to him. Glasses sees my Dad as being conflicted. Dad wants to support us, but he also has to deal with the Establishment, meaning his own editors. I don’t know what kind of other Establishment there might be behind that. The Publisher no doubt. Beyond that, who knows?

I don’t want to him to lose his job for supporting us. Or start getting threats.

Dad said that he would be more than happy to talk to Glasses. Would I mind setting up a meeting for tomorrow?

“And don’t worry honey. If they don’t like what I wrote, they won’t kill me. Just the column. We don’t live in the Soviet Union, you know.”

If his column creates a fire, I just hope he can stand the heat.

Our Other Plan

March 26, 1968
by Amy

Our other plan is working on getting the McCarthy kids into the Movement. Letting them see that we are not the enemy. We’re here for them when the election process screws them over. And it will screw them over.

McCarthy won’t get elected. Even if he does get elected, he won’t be able to stop the war. And even if he stops the war, he won’t be able to stop the causes of the war. His domestic agenda? Forget it. He’ll be so trapped into satisfying the forces that got him elected that he won’t be able to change anything.

With Kennedy, the jury is out. Kennedy kids are hipper to what’s going on. Like Bobby, they’re far more pragmatic. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Bobby could be a friend of the Movement I think. Others would rather not believe that, but he could get into office and change things. His domestic agenda would focus on poverty and civil rights. I could definitely see him helping the situation in the ghettos.

Since the McCarthy kids are so idealistic, we’re going to have to focus on them. If they ever became radicalized, we’d all have to watch out. Every single one of us. I think that’s where the potential for real fury would come.

Tom Hayden wants to create a caravan of actors to cross the country, providing entertainment & message. There was a whole lot of discussion on what we could all do locally. For me, locally is Chicago. With one convention here, there is no local. Only national.

The Senator versus Civil Rights

March 27, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I guess I can tell you now that two people resigned yesterday because of the Civil Rights issue. I don’t know them because they worked in the press office. But it created quite a stink here. There are definitely two groups of people now: those who think The Senator should concentrate on the civil rights question and those who are almost ready to work for Kennedy.

I’m starting to think I should work for Bobby.

I haven’t told anyone this yet. I don’t want to upset Craig and Becca. I don’t know what to do.

I can’t talk to my parents because Dad hates everything Kennedy. He plans on voting for Nixon. Mom just wants me to quit working for The Senator. She would love it if I went to work for Kennedy, but not for the same reasons. She thinks a “better quality of person” works for Bobby.

Hollywood Bobby, as he is known in the HQ.

I’m very afraid if I tell Craig and Becca then they will think I’m a traitor. They HATE Bobby.

The Senator released a statement yesterday, after the quittings, to tell people that everyone knows his stance on civil rights. We all are supposed to know how he feels about it, but that doesn’t mean anything. Lots of people have opinions and don’t act on them.

Where are the changes he’s planning to make? Why doesn’t he connect with people in poverty? Why isn’t he talking to the people who have no voice in our country?

There’s only one person I can talk to, and that’s Mrs. Stoutmiller. Maybe she can help me figure it out. I need to call her tonight.

In the News: March 27, 1968

An interview with Scott Walters, Associate Professor of Drama at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.

Bobby, Civil Rights & The Senator

March 26, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

There was a ton of murmuring today about The Senator and racism. Not that The Senator is racist, but that he’s not doing enough to reach out to people who live in poverty. I heard about this problem before, but I didn’t think it was a big issue. I thought that maybe The Senator needed to put out a position paper on it, or maybe he needed to go to the ghettos and speak with people.

He isn’t making campaign stops in the right places. That’s what everyone is saying. They think that this doesn’t have to be a big problem because he just needs to change his schedule.

But then some people think that it’s a HUGE problem because it’s a blind spot in his campaign. Why should we have to force the issues of poverty and civil rights on him? He should be on the side of black people already, and not just because it’s a campaign year.

Craig and Becca think that The Senator fall short in this area, but that he just needs refocusing.

I disagree. I think there’s a flaw in his thinking. Position papers aren’t going to stop poverty and segregation. We shouldn’t have to force him to pay attention to civil rights.

I told Becca and Craig how I felt. They were steamed. “Well, why don’t you go work for Bobby then?”

I don’t want to do that, but how are we going to get The Senator to change his priorities?

In the News: March 26, 1968

Principles

March 25, 1968
by Amy

We’re back at the office now. Bea told me that everyone was talking about Coleman losing his cool during the conference. She didn’t go, and I was surprised that she knew about it that quickly. I figured Lesley must’ve said something, since it was quite the thing yesterday.

I told her I had no idea. I heard it. Yes, it seemed like a classic moment of someone needing to cool it. But since Coleman wasn’t even supposed to come to the conference, I had no idea what was going on.

Such a fountain of information, I am.

Dave Dellinger came by the office and hung around for a while. He met with Glasses before going back to New York. I love Dave. Quiet, calm and confident. Not arrogant. And he never loses his cool like Coleman. At least, not that I’ve seen or heard. Principled. That’s the best word to describe him. He rests his entire well-being on principles. He lives his truth with such humility that he embodies the Movement. He’s not talking about it – he is it.

He’d hate for me to say that. He’d probably be mad at me. But it’s true. You can believe in a principle to such an extent that you become it. Every aspect of your life is the principle in action.

It’s the kind of thing you see in religions like Buddhism or Christianity. Or some of the activist collectives that try to integrate their beliefs and lifestyles. Some succeed, many don’t. I think it’s the reason why many people flock to the Movement instead of political campaigns.

You can’t live the principles of a political campaign because so many of them have no principles. They’re stuck on the outcome rather than the method.

Living by your principles is probably the hardest part. Not just externally but internally as well. It’s not just what you do. Who you are is a statement of your principles. You are your principles embodied.

Who Needs Parents?

March 25, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

We work until 7 p.m. and then Craig drives me home. He and Becca go to their volunteer housing. Becca moved to a local convent. She says the space is beautiful, and she wonders why she never saw it before. Craig stays at a donor’s house. He says that he tries very hard not to disturb the family, and acts as respectful as possible.

I wish I could stay with Becca. It’s very hard to come home after spending all day at the office. My parents aren’t giving me any more trouble about working for The Senator. Instead, they’re treating me like I’m a child.

“Did you eat dinner?” Yes, I ate dinner.

“You better go to bed early if you want to wake up in time tomorrow?” Yes, I can take care of myself.

Other times it isn’t so obvious. They look at this as a “learning experience” which makes it seem less important. Like I’m doing this for fun. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun. But we want The Senator to be in the Oval Office. This is not a vacation.

Mom asked me if I was going to work for Bobby. “He’s such a handsome man. Why don’t you get to meet some of his volunteers?”

I’m not trying to find a good man to marry. I’m trying to get a good man to be President.

Maybe I need to stay at the convent with Becca.

In the News: March 25, 1968 and source notes

Festival of Life

March 24, 1968
by Amy

Last night, Abbie and Jerry announced that they were having a “Festival of Life.” Music, happenings, the works. Then, they left. We could join them, if we wanted. Rather than focusing on our thing, we could be a part of theirs – which was bound to be a happier thing.

“Why do you keep charging yourself like that, man.” One of his group told me on the way out the door. “You’re a cool chick, you should come with us.”

“You can’t let yourself go enough,” Lesley nudged me. “You’re way too serious for that.”

I am, I admit it. “You wear the weight of the world right here,” Abbie told me once. I would’ve liked to have been clever enough with a response, but I couldn’t come up with one. So I left it alone and let it hang there. Abbie now remembers me as “The serious one.” That’s what he calls me.

I don’t hate that he calls me that. I hate that he’s right.

The biggest surprise so far has been Coleman. He’s actively campaigning for us to disrupt the convention. He argued for it at one point. Didn’t make much headway except with the people who already thought that. His speech wasn’t very effective, and I think it even caught Glasses off-guard. It directly went against what we’re about. He knows that. I know that.

Afterward, Dave Dellinger took Coleman to the side. I heard Coleman say something about being frustrated. I think Dave talked to him for a good 15 minutes.

The whole thing was odd to say the least. Where was all that violence coming from?

Finding Their Way

March 24, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

Becca and I spend most of our time in the offices, helping out with organizing volunteers. Craig is a liaison for Ron. From what I can tell, it looks like Craig is Ron’s assistant. Craig relays the information to one of the leaders for the HQ.

Does it sound complicated?

It is. Craig says that he misses the time when we all talked to each other, rather than relaying messages back and forth through others.

By the time we arrived, Ron had already left Madison for New York. Grease Pit is quite the jet setter these days.

I don’t think he spends much time with The Senator. Instead, he helps set up campaign offices around the country. He helps people “find their way.” If they have an administrative problem, they go to him.

He knows all the gossip. I bet he even has a few girls on the sly in those offices.

Conferencing

March 23, 1968
by Amy

We arrived last night, having spent several hours traveling by bus. Camp Villa is a YMCA camp. Theoretically, it shouldn’t have taken us so long to get out here, but traffic was snarled. Seems that everyone wants to get out of Chicago for the weekend.

Outside of our makeshift cafeteria this morning, I saw Coleman. He bounced right up and put his arm around me. “You didn’t think they would keep me out, did you?”

Actually, I really thought they would. From what I understand he got a special pass with Glasses to come. That’s what he told me anyway. I have no reason to doubt him, but I have to admit that I’m a little shocked that he’s here.

Other than that, it’s nice to see people that I normally don’t get a chance to talk to – other than seeing them at an action. There are lots of different groups here – Peace Committee from New York, even Abbie and Jerry. It’s a bit like a family reunion, with all the fights and hugs.

When we finally did sit down to talk, there were all sorts of position papers floating around. The one that we worked on in Chicago ended up being the basis for much of the discussion today.

The first one on the table – and it’s been there for several hours – is what to do about the conventions. Our options are the following: confronting the conventions, local demonstrations or stay home during the conventions.

Glasses came up with a fourth option, which was pickets, teach-ins, leafletting.

I think what I like best about our paper is that we’re readily acknowledging that there’s a certain segment of the Movement that has grown more radicalized since October. None of us like it. I had no idea how many people were opposed to this radical element until today. Listening to the discussions makes me feel better about where the Movement is going.

The paper says, “On Disruption in Chicago: The campaign should not plan violence and disruption against the Democratic National Convention. It should be non-violence and legal. The right to rebellion is hardly exercised in an effective way by assembling 300,000 people to charge into 30,000 paratroopers… We must demonstrate the opposite, that the government is the real source of crackpot thinking and violence.”

Right on.

We’re having a bit of a problem getting the more radical element to agree to it. They would much rather stop the conventions instead of work alongside them. That’s what we’re up against.

Professional Campaigners

March 23, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

I spent all day and yesterday at the Madison HQ. Our new home is very, very different from New Hampshire. Now, we have real equipment and phones. Now we have people who will greet newspapermen at the door. Now we have committees and people who only have one job instead of three. And we’re in a hotel instead of a storefront.

I don’t know which I like better. The mish-mash of New Hampshire or how professional we’ve all become.

That’s the word we all use, “professional.” Craig thinks it’s funny because professional normally means that people do the political thing for a living. With the exception of a few people on national, no one has ever done what we’re doing.

Today, a few arguments broke out among some members of the staff about how we should proceed with canvassing. Should we call first or should we go to the door first? Does it matter?

There are a few people here from our school, but Becca and I don’t know them. One started to boss Becca around and Craig told him to cut it out. “She was one of our first volunteers in New Hampshire. She should be telling YOU what to do. So .”

I’m not used to arguments and discord. I don’t like it when people don’t get along, especially when we’re working for a common goal.

Everyone is optimistic about The Senator’s chances here in Wisconsin. It makes me wonder if we’re really making progress, or just living off what we’ve done in New Hampshire.

In the News: March 23, 1968 and source notes

First Day at the Madison HQ

March 21, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

My little brother got caught smoking pot in a graveyard next to the school. Can you imagine? My own 14-year old brother has smoked pot and I haven’t. How much of a nerd am I?

Dad asked me if I could talk some sense into him. How am I going to do that? “Gee Tommy, you shouldn’t smoke weed, but can you tell me what it was like?” I’m not his Mother. I’m not going to tell him what to do.

I reported to the Madison headquarters around 8 a.m. this morning. Grease Pit was there, and he smiled his toothy grin when he saw me. He must have 182 teeth, though I can’t look at him long enough to count for sure. I was one of the first ones to arrive today. He asked me how our road trip was from Concord. I tried to make small talk, but speaking to him for any length causes me great pain.

Becca rolled in with Craig. I was right. She didn’t go home after all. She spent the night in the basement of a church, with the rest of the volunteers. Craig is going to try to find her stable housing.

We have new brochures. The Senator is already in the state. Bobby says that he wants to campaign here for The Senator, but that we have to ask him. The subject of Bobby brings up such sighs here. It’s a bit of a taboo topic. Everyone is angry about it, but no one wants to spend their energy that way. It’s best spent campaigning and talking about The Senator’s courage – something that Bobby knows nothing about.

In the News: March 21, 1968 and source notes

Glass Bunnies

March 20, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

Craig and Becca dropped me off at around 7 p.m. last night. Just in time for a “decent dinner,” as Mom likes to say. Both my parents were happy to see me, though Dad complained that I looked exhausted. Mom sent me off to take a shower. When I came out, there was a turkey sandwich and a glass of milk waiting for me on the counter.

Being back in my bed is strange. In fact, most familiar things seem strange. I lived in the campus dorms during first semester and when I came home for Christmas break, it seemed like no time had passed. But now, everything feels old and strange.

Whose glass bunny is that on the bureau? Whose bureau is that in the corner? It seems like, for the past two months, I’ve been living someone else’s life – my own. And now that I’m back here, in what was previously my life, the only life I’ve ever known, it’s not my life at all.

Oh, I’m not making any sense. The glass bunny in the corner of the room, all the Teen Scenes I’ve saved, they all remind me of who I’ve been. But it’s not who I am now.

How could things have changed in such a short amount of time?

Craig went to stay at a volunteer’s house. Becca talked about going home with her parents, but I doubt she’ll stay there. I’m supposed to report to the Madison Headquarters tomorrow. Maybe I’ll find out what my little brother has been up to, and how he’s gotten into trouble.

Check out Janine's March 1962 issue of Teen Screen magazine, featuring Troy Donahue.

In the News: March 20, 1968 and source notes

Kennedy versus McCarthy

March 20, 1968
by Amy

Don’t ask me how I feel about Kennedy. I’m tired of people asking me about it.

A week ago I would’ve told you that I don’t care about the election. That none of these people represent our interests.

I feel differently about Kennedy. I think he does care. And yes, it surprises me that I feel that way. I hate his privilege, but he can’t help where and when he was born. In a way, I respect him. I think if he wasn’t who he is, then he might be one of us.

I’d like to be cynical about it, but I can’t bring myself to feel that way. I even admire how he waited for McCarthy to open the field up for him. Call it opportunism, but if Kennedy did win, he’d change things. McCarthy is just another stuffed shirt, another college professor who needs to shut up.

God I hate McCarthy. He has no idea of what’s going on in the ghettoes. McCarthy is so ineffectual. I’m even willing to bet he’s a crappy poet.

More on Glasses

March 19, 1968
by Amy

Glasses is an organizer. He’s been in the Movement for a number of years now. Central to the organization, he’s sort of like the hub of a wheel. Everything revolves around him. He’s aware of every aspect of everything going on.

I asked him why he wanted me for this job and he said that he trusted me. It looks like things will get busy over the next few months and he needs me to help him “deal with the paperwork.”

He wondered aloud what my relationship is with my Father. I thought, oh great, he’s going to work with me because I’m my Father’s Daughter. As it turns out, he wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t be afraid of embarrassing my Dad. I told him that my Father may not agree with everything, he’s begun to see things our way. I also told him that I have a hell of a time getting arrested in this town.

Glasses laughed. At long last, someone who can’t get arrested.

Bobby & Cleveland

March 19, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

We spent the night just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Craig offered to sleep in the car while Becca and I got a room. We didn’t feel like that was fair exactly, but Craig insisted. He said there was more than enough room in the backseat. As long as he could take a shower in the morning, he would be fine.

As for me, I have never been so glad to see hot water before in my life. I don’t know why I felt so grubby. It isn’t like we sweated a whole lot. I guess it’s because we haven’t had a shower since New Hampshire, and Concord seems so far away.

I miss Mrs. Stoutmiller.

On the car ride, Craig did some more ranting about Bobby. He really hates him. He must remind Craig of someone from his childhood. His hatred of him is that irrational. He keeps accusing him of trying to steal all our hard work. I have to admit, he’s right. Bobby is trying to steal the election. We were the ones who took the risk and only now does he “rise the occasion.”

Craig said that they begged Bobby to enter the race before they asked The Senator. But Bobby refused. He wouldn’t do it. So now, he’s going to muscle his way in.

If Bobby did enter the race before The Senator did, would Craig still hate him?

I don’t know. Considering how steamed Craig is about all this, I certainly wouldn’t want to ask him right now.

An interview with Roger Armbrust, Part IV

The Word

March 18, 1968
by Amy

I got word today that starting at the conference, I will be working closely with an organizer I’ll call “Glasses.” More later…

Visiting New York City

March 18, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

We drove straight through to New York City. It was a good eight-hour trip, mostly because we kept having to stop for bathroom breaks. Craig wanted to meet up with some of our people in New York. So we drove right into the city, downtown and parked on the street.

The New York headquarters was up a long flight of stairs. Some of the people from Rutgers were there, so Craig introduced us as “one of the first volunteers to show up in New Hampshire.” People there were really excited to meet us. They were mostly graduate students but they all seemed so much more sophisticated!

The funny part about meeting them is how good they made us feel. They respected us, and no one looked down on us for being young. In fact, they had questions about how we did things in New Hampshire. “We need to find out what worked for you so we can do the same thing here.”

They bought us dinner at a local Chinese shop and we crashed on their floor for the night. It was funny not worrying about who was watching us, or if a news crew was going to catch us sleeping together in the same space.

This morning, we ate at a coffee shop close to the headquarters. We won’t have a chance to see much else of the city. Craig told Ron that we could be in Wisconsin by tomorrow, so we won’t have much time. I’d like to come back to New York City though, and see a show. Or maybe do some campaigning here. I can’t imagine what it must be like. What fun!

In the News: March 18, 1968 and source notes

Freedom of Thought

March 17, 1968
by Amy

Coleman is being a regular pain in the ass. I don’t know what to make of it. Instead of approaching me about going to the conference, he’s now trying to get Lesley to get him in. The worst part? He’s hitting on her while doing it.

I saw him in the corner with her, grabbing her hand and whispering. She giggled a bit and pulled away when she saw me staring at her. Then he had the nerve to try and talk to me after he pulled that shit.

He says that it’s not fair that we’re excluding press. He’s a part of the Movement too, and keeping him out isn’t fair. I think it’s perfectly fair. We have a right to talk about options without worrying about being “reported on.” I know that goes against what my Father taught me, but it’s true.

Lesley came over to me to ask if I was upset with her. Of course I’m not angry. It’s not her fault Coleman is that way.

Until We Meet Again Mrs. Stoutmiller

March 17, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

That Rat Bastard

March 16, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

How can he do this to us! He’s not supposed to be evil. He’s supposed to be a good man. How can he enter the race now?

I bet that Bobby Kennedy thinks we’ll all go to his side now. I bet he thinks we owe him for some God-forsaken reason. Like now he can enter the race. Now he can be president. Some “Profile of Courage” he is. He’s nothing more than an ugly opportunist. Leadership isn’t waiting for someone else to take the risk.

Mrs. Stoutmiller told us this morning, before we had a chance to see the paper. She said that she wasn’t surprised. She fully expected that he would enter the race, if somehow, The Senator wasn’t laughed out of New Hampshire. She said that the Kennedys believe that they are destined to be president – all three brothers. There has never been a family like the Kennedys.

I asked her if she would change her mind and vote for Bobby. She shook her head and said no. The game of politics is pragmatic, but she didn’t want to sell out her values. She thinks that Bobby and his camp will try and lure The Senator’s delegates, but they will not be swayed.

“The Senator hasn’t asked us to be loyal to him because he knows better. It isn’t about him, personally. It’s about the values and beliefs that we all hold in common. People who are attracted to the Kennedy glamour will be easily swayed, and you know what they say… Easy come, easy go.”

Craig hates Bobby Kennedy. He says that a certain kind of person is attracted to Bobby, and he hates that kind of person. Besides, Bobby can’t stand not being in power. He had his chance and he blew it.

Becca was quiet most of the day. She said that she felt sad and couldn’t figure out why. I asked her if it had something to do with leaving New Hampshire. She shook her head no. She’s not sure why she has that pit-of-the-stomach bad feeling.

Mrs. Stoutmiller did make us a special dinner last night. She even lit candles. Roast duck with cranberry sauce and peas. It was very good. I know she worked really hard on it and refused help when Becca and I offered it. She toasted us with seltzer water. We all raised a glass to The Senator and the people of New Hampshire for welcoming us.

Then, she disappeared into her bedroom and came back with presents. To Becca she gave a knitted purple, red and white scarf because Becca was always forgetting to dress appropriately while canvassing. To Craig she gave one of Mr. Stoutmiller’s pipes. Craig said that he couldn’t possibly accept it, but Mrs. Stoutmiller told him to nevermind. Mr. Stoutmiller had dozens of pipes around the house and she thought that Craig and Mr. Stoutmiller would’ve gotten along just fine if they had ever had the chance to meet.

“Just remember Craig. Put tobacco in it and none of that funny weed.”

Then she handed me a present: Thoreau’s Walden and Civil Disobedience. She felt very badly that we wouldn’t get a chance to go to Walden Pond in the spring. Inside, there were an inscription: To Janine. As always dear, “To Thine Own Self Be True.” Love always, Mrs. Catherine Stoutmiller.

I didn’t want to make a scene, so I tried not to cry. Which I guess isn’t really being true to yourself. We cleared the dishes for her and talked about the campaign for a while before going to bed.

I don’t want to leave New Hampshire. Ever. But tomorrow we have to go, so we will. Back to Wisconsin.

In the News: March 16, 1968 and source notes

Closing Out New Hampshire

March 15, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

Craig, Becca and I have decided to leave in two days. We have things to wrap up here, in terms of finances, the lease and packing. Some of which Craig has decided to leave for Mrs. Stoutmiller. She says that she was the one who got the storefront, and she will “close it out.”

Craig drove here from Rutgers, so we’re going to ride in his car back to Wisconsin. That’s where we’re going to be stationed next. Home. I don’t know how I feel about that. It will be nice to get our spring wardrobe. On the other hand, home is old hat and not much of an adventure.

Mom and Dad are excited that I’m coming home. I called them and told them today. My little brother is acting up, so they’re hoping I’ll talk some sense into him. I’m not sure what he’s doing, other than being himself. I can’t imagine it’s any worse than that.

I’m very sad that Mrs. Stoutmiller won’t be coming with us. She did win a delegate seat in the District Two race, so she’ll be going to the convention. News reports keep giving us different totals for the New Hampshire race, so we’re not sure how much The Senator received. It is somewhere around 40%, but we’re just not certain of the exact amount.

Other than that, we’re having a hard time getting the phone lines for the storefront disconnected. It’s funny, considering how hard it was to get them connected in the first place. But now, it looks like the phone company wants the New Hampshire campaign to keep going. Believe it or not, we’re still receiving calls from those lines as well. We might have to leave them to Mrs. Stoutmiller. She says that the New Hampshire Chairman may leave the phones turned on for a while, especially if people keep calling to give money. Or he may have them redirected, which is a better option.

Tonight, Mrs. Stoutmiller is planning to cook us a special meal. Craig is invited. It’s going to be a private celebration. I feel so sad to leave her behind. I can’t tell you how sad I am that we won’t see her anymore.

In the News: March 15, 1968 and source notes

Reflections

March 14, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

It’s hard to believe how connected everything felt here in Concord. Now, the storefront is almost all packed. The signs are down, but people are still dropping by to congratulate us. Some of the ladies in town brought us some bread and cake this morning, which was nice. What made it even better was that they didn’t want anything for them.

An older woman whose grandson was drafted let us know that she was very proud of young people. She told us how responsible we were, and how we were a credit to our generation. We should just “keep doing what we’re doing and we’ll get out of this mess.”

After all the volunteers left, it was just the four of us: Craig, Becca, me and Mrs. Stoutmiller. It was dark outside and the windows reflected back our images. It reminded me of when we first arrived, how scared we were about finding a place to sleep. How Mrs. Stoutmiller took us under her wing and helped us. I thought about sleeping in her daughter’s bed and how she understood the Smothers Brothers.

All this time, I thought that people didn’t understand. That all the older people were against us and that people would think that I was an outsider because I’m not from New Hampshire. Here we were, coming in to tell people how we thought things should be. Who were we do to that? We’re not even old enough to vote.

But nobody treated us poorly. People in New Hampshire wanted to talk to us. They wanted to know what we thought, and we learned how they felt about things.

I guess what I think now, is that the world isn’t such an unfriendly place. Things may look bad, but they will get better.

In the News: March 14, 1968 and source notes

The McCarthy Problem

March 13
by Amy

We didn't realize how much of a problem McCarthy was until we woke up to the headlines today.

His supposed "win" in New Hampshire is good and bad. Good in the sense that it puts people on notice that there's more of us than they realize. It's bad because even if McCarthy wins, nothing will change.

The problem is that he's going to suck people into his campaign. They're dupes and when they realize that they've been tricked- and they will at some point- then they're going to be pissed.

Bea, our office manager, thinks that we should reach out to them. I think we should as well, though I'm skeptical if they'll join us. If we talk to them right now, they'll think we're a bunch of downers.

The Post and others have called us to see if we'll endorse McCarthy. Idiots. I just got through typing up a release that says, "We don't support anyone."

Undoubtedly this will be a topic on our conference agenda.

Meanwhile, Coleman wants to come to the conference. I told him that it was highly doubtful I could get him in since the invitations have already gone out. The secrecy alone makes it ludicrous to ask anyone if Coleman can come. He might work for a radical newspaper, but he's still press. We don't want to air dirty laundry and disagreements.

I don't even feel like I can approach anyone else with this. Coleman keeps hanging it over my head. "But I got you the job, baby. Can't you at least do this for me?" So I'm in a quandry over it. It's true, he did get me the job. So I feel like I owe him. But if I ask, will people think that I'm not serious about our work?

I'm going to try to hold him off right now. It'll be hard because he's always here, always snooping and looking for a good story. He's aggressive, I'll give him that.

This is what I'm going to tell him: I'm waiting for the right time to ask. And I'll just keep putting it off.

We did it! WE DID IT!

There was a huge party last night. Mrs. Stoutmiller got dressed up. We stood near the punch bowl. She wore pearls and her fur because it was cold inside the auditorium. There was no heat. We waited for a while. A band played and some volunteers danced. It was funny to see the native New Hampshire people mix with some of the college students. A few natives danced with students. It all felt very hopeful and happy.

Becca and Craig worked the crowd while I spoke with Mrs. Stoutmiller. She wasn’t nervous about her own election. “A little bit of butterflies I suppose,” is all she’d say.

I saw Ron on the phone. He had a wild-eyed look on his face. He hung the phone up, jumped up on a table and made the announcement. “Current estimates say that Senator Eugene McCarthy received well over 30% of the vote!”

None of us believed it. Mrs. Stoutmiller was shocked. “That just can’t be.” The chairmen of one of the New Hampshire McCarthy groups came over and told Mrs. Stoutmiller that he’ll be seeing her at the convention. They’re both official delegates.

We don’t know what the final tally will be on the vote, but it must be embarrassing to President Johnson. I love that. I love that he can no longer deny how people feel about what he’s done. Becca particularly relishes how humiliated he’s going to be.

Then Ron said he needed to speak with Becca and I. So we went to find Becca in the crowd. He pulled both of us outside and asked us what our plans were after tonight. We said we didn’t know. Did they still need our help? He laughed and asked us if we wanted to be staff. STAFF! Can you imagine? We wouldn’t get paid, but he would try to get us some meal money unofficially. I don’t know what that means, but does it matter? OF COURSE NOT!

So Becca and I are now officially staff. We got details for our next location: Home! The best part: We’ll get to change our clothes! I can’t wait to get my spring wardrobe. The worst part? It’s home! Where’s the adventure in that?

Mrs. Stoutmiller was so happy to hear that we made staff. She really wants us to continue our work in politics. I do too.

In the News: March 13, 1968 and source notes

Violence

March 12, 1968
by Amy

I’m in the middle of reserving buses for the conference. The people who are coming will show up at a designated meeting place. Buses will pick them up and bring them to the retreat area.

They won’t know the location of the retreat area beforehand. Secrecy is important. We’re figuring out what we’re going to do for the next six months. We don’t want interference from others. We don’t want to be derailed before we make decisions. All options need to be discussed.

I have a paper sitting on my desk right now that lists our options. I’m supposed to proof it in the next few days. Still haven’t gotten through the Kerner Report, the damn thing is too long.

My initial reaction is this: If it wasn’t for people like us, the government wouldn’t change anything. Ripping apart a neighborhood doesn’t change anything.

The problem that I see for the conference is that there are people in the Movement who think that the riots are succeeding. If last summer didn’t happen, the Kerner Report wouldn’t have been released.

My argument is this: Change will come in a number of ways, but the backlash occurs when violence is involved. One step forward, three steps back when riots are involved.

Today is the Day

March 12
by Janine Stephenson

There’s nothing left to do. It’s an eerie feeling. The newspapermen and even some tv reporters are mulling around. They’re a rough bunch. Abrasive. Some of them come in and drink our coffee, but then others won’t take a cup. They say it’s unethical. We all think that’s pretty funny. Craig said that if we had bourbon around, everyone would’ve left their ethics at the front door.

Becca asked him if why he didn’t share his secret stash in the filing cabinet. Craig shot her a look.

Mrs. Stoutmiller is no more optimistic than she was yesterday, which is to say, not optimistic at all. She doesn’t think The Senator will win in New Hampshire, and she doesn’t believe he will get the nomination. I asked her why on Earth did she campaign so hard for him? She said that it was important to provide people with a choice.

To which Craig said: “She’s just not used to working for a winning team.”

But he doesn’t expect much either. In fact, no one does. They’ll tell you that they hope for the best, but really, we don’t expect any more than 15%. If we get 10%, Mrs. Stoutmiller will be happy.

She will also be happy if she gets to be a delegate. She did some light campaigning for it, only saying that working for The Senator was more important than her own personal fortune. Now that I think about it, Mrs. Stoutmiller is well-respected by the people in the party. One big-wig came by and met with her for a while. He laughed at her support of McCarthy and told us that she always supports men who don’t win.

She says she works for them because her candidates make people think. They don’t win races. That made me sad. Why do candidates that make people think lose elections?

A big snowstorm is coming this afternoon. I wonder how that will affect everything.

There will be a big party tonight. I’m not on the party committee, though I volunteered. Grease Pit told Craig that Becca and I deserved to take it easy, since we were one of the first volunteers here. It was nice of him to say that, but we still haven’t heard about what we’re going to do after tonight.

In the News: March 12, 1968 and source notes

Tomorrow

March 11
by Janine Stephenson

It’s strange not knowing where we’re going next. We still haven’t gotten word because things are too busy. There’s no time to think about what’ll happen after tomorrow. I called my parents collect, mostly because we haven’t talked in a long while. They both said that I sound tired, and they wished me luck for tomorrow. That was nice of them, I thought. I used to talk to them all the time, but for the past month, I kept forgetting to call.

Everyone is upbeat, but anxious. Craig says that we must’ve talked to every voter in the area, so there’s not a whole lot left to do. Becca told me that not matter what happens, she wants to continue to be a part of the campaign. Me too.

I’m going to miss Mrs. Stoutmiller. I’m going to miss our storefront and the appliance store next to us. We borrowed a few of the owner’s chairs. He was such a sweet man.

No one knows how anything will turn out. Some students are still trying to get in a few more phone calls. I wonder what it will be like when we all stop working?

In the news: March 11, 1968 and source notes

Newsweek: March 11, 1968

Two More Days

March 10
by Janine Stephenson

Two more days until the primary. Mrs. Stoutmiller dropped us off at the storefront this morning before going to church. It occurred to Becca and I that this might be the last Sunday here in New Hampshire. I feel very sad about that. We might never see Mrs. Stoutmiller again. We’re not sure yet what we’re going to do after New Hampshire.

Craig asked us if we wanted to stay with the campaign. I said, “Of course, no matter what happens.” Becca agreed and asked where we could go next. Craig hasn’t thought that far ahead. He said that we should all continue to work together because we make a tight team. He’ll talk with Grease Pit to see where we should go next.

We hung out with the sign committee before going back home with Mrs. Stoutmiller. It makes me so sad to think of leaving her. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened had we ended up in Boston. And she’s been so wonderful to us. I feel like I know Annabelle and Mr. Stoutmiller. I’ll miss our nights in front of the television drinking hot cocoa. I wish Mrs. Stoutmiller could adopt me, but I’m already an adult.

Whatever happens, she’s not going to be able to leave New Hampshire. We asked her what she’s planning on doing next. Spring is almost here, she said, and she has to start thinking about her garden. And she will probably take some art classes, which she planned on doing before things got so hectic.

No matter what happens, she will continue to try and rebuild the party here in New Hampshire. “Lyndon left it in such disrepair. Our climb is an uphill one.” She never calls him “The President” like Grease Pit or “Johnson” like Craig. She always calls him “Lyndon,” like she knows him.

And it turns out, she does.

Racism Entrenched

March 9
by Amy

I’ve never been in a riot before. I have, however, been caught in the middle of a rough protest. But that doesn’t give me the sense of what being in a riot is like.

I’ve gotten an easy pass with the police. I know that. I don’t know what it’s like to be thrown in jail; to wait a long time to get a hearing before a judge. I don’t know what that’s like.

It’s hard to remember nine months ago, when the summer boiled over and riots were constant. I remember wondering why, if it is so predictable, then why couldn’t anyone do anything to stop it?

I also remember how the ghettos were destined to explode. When that finally happened, the people in the ghettos would be blamed for results.

I also remember not knowing what to do. Just like everyone else, I suppose.

I remember wondering if Chicago would suffer a similar fate. It seems only logical. There was Division Street the year before. Daley only plays to certain constituents. People outside of Chicago don’t even know what happened. I guess Daley prefers it that way.

I’m still reading the Kerner Report. There’s plenty of strong language in it. Coleman is right, it’s surprising how hard they’ve come down on White America.

But now that the problem has been officially named, will anything be done about it? I think this is one of those times when citizens have to change. Government programs will only go so far. But if White America doesn’t change, nothing will.

Three More Days

March 9
by Janine Stephenson

Three more days until the primary. I’m really nervous. We’re like a traveling family now. There are so many students here that we’ve talked about whether or not we should turn some of them away. Mrs. Stoutmiller says that she’s never seen anything like it. Adlai Stevenson never attracted this much support. Despite that, she thinks that The Senator will only get 15%, which is even less than many of the commentators think. I asked her why she’s so pessimistic. She says that people think they want change, but then they usually don’t.

She also thinks that even if The Senator wins New Hampshire, then he’ll have to contend with party officials. That could be a problem because even though Johnson ignored the party, they still stand behind a sitting President. When the party’s head man is the President, the function of the party is to support that man.

But what if the head man is insane?

Mrs. Stoutmiller said our situation is even worse. If Johnson was nice but insane, the party would support him. But he’s not even likeable. Now, the party is terribly stuck. They have to accept him as he is, warts and all. Because if they don’t support him, then it’s as if they were wrong all along. They can’t admit that kind of error in public.

Mrs. Stoutmiller said that she voted for Johnson in ‘64 and she’s regretted it ever since. There’s nothing you can do if someone breaks their promises once they take office. That makes no sense. People should be held accountable for their promises.

In the News: March 9, 1968 and source notes

Four more days until the Primary

March 8
by Janine Stephenson

Four more days until the election. Work doesn’t seem like work anymore. Everyone’s mood is upbeat and even Ron isn’t as annoying. It's like we're a big family.

Tony Randall came by our storefront today on his way to another event. At first, it was like he was visiting royalty. He stood detached, with very straight posture. But I looked into his eyes and saw that he was genuinely happy. Joyful. It was a reserved excitement. He smiled at me, so I introduced myself. Becca came over and introduced herself as well. Mrs. Stoutmiller shook his hand and called him, “Mr. Randall.”

He nodded to her. Ron told us later on that he was so happy that people were taking action. It’s important to act on your beliefs. Rather than just sitting around, letting government happen to us, we were participating. We’re the real government.

In other news, they’re working on getting even more changes to the draft laws. A young man caught at an anti-war protest could get his draft status changed to 1-A. I don’t know if that’s really the case, but it’s what I heard today from other students.

It’s ridiculous. What’s next? The only thing left is to punish students for participating in the wrong political campaigns.

Will they do something bad to us if The Senator wins?

In the News: March 8, 1968 and source notes

Signs for the Rally

March 7
by Janine Stephenson

It’s 2 a.m., and we have finally quit making signs for the big rally later today. Mrs. Stoutmiller kept us supplied with petitions, brochures and donation jars. Eventually she fell asleep in a chair. In fact, most of us fell asleep at some point during the 16-hour day.

The funny thing is, the days go by real quick and real slow as well. Both at the same time. I feel my body and my mind are being stretched. Every now and then, I pause to think about the future. About my future, and Becca and Craig. And most of all, Mrs. Stoutmiller.

But there’s barely enough time to go to the bathroom and certainly not enough time to think. Mrs. Stoutmiller is going to take us home for a 5-hour nap. Then, we’ll be back here to greet Rod Serling.

This time, I have to remember to get an autograph!

Kerner and Racism

The Kerner Commission report was released almost a week ago and the newspapers have little to say about it. Since government reports like that are for the masses, we all figured that it would probably dismiss the real issues in favor of something far more comforting. I know there are many good people in government, but I also know that those people go back to their safe and secure neighborhoods where they're certain not to be stopped or hassled by the cops.

Coleman wants to write a piece about it. He's impressed with the report and thinks the rest of us are too damn cynical. I haven't read it, yet, but I'm astonished that something like this needs to be studied to begin with. Riots happen for a reason. When people get angry and desperate and their backs are up against the wall, bad shit happens. I don't know why this needed to be studied. Is there anybody out there who doesn't think racism exists?

The word is that more riots will happen. Winter is a simmering season. I don't know what could stop it.
Maybe Dad knew this was coming. He always gets a physical ache before something terrible occurs. I get it too, but I've learned to ignore it.

I guess I should take a closer look at it. Maybe I am too damn cynical.

Trying Pot

I've never smoked weed before, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like. Becca has smoked it, of course. She's always the first in line to try everything. Or maybe I should say anything. Things are very mellow here at the campaign, as we're not allowed to do anything that would embarrass The Senator or ourselves.

That doesn't mean that it's not happening elsewhere. Just nowhere near the storefront. Most of the students tell us that they aren't smoking on Thursdays or Fridays, just before getting here. So, I imagine that leaves Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Becca smoked it for the first time during our senior year in high school. Her science teacher was a dunce. He didn't show up for class, and no one came around to explain where he was. So her lab partner and a few of his friends went out to the graveyard and smoked. She ended up in the clinic afterward because she was so sleepy. That night, she had a headache and that was her experience with it.

I read in the newspaper today that the military gives soldiers drugs, like speed. I guess they need it if they are all under attack. But if the military uses drugs, then they can't be all that bad.

Becca says that she would like to drop acid someday. She wants to be open and mature enough to have a good experience. I don't think that's for me, but I'd certainly like to try pot. But not during the campaign.

In the News: March 6, 1968 and source notes

Books of the 60s: In Touch by John Steinbeck IV

Intent to Riot

March 5
by Amy

At our Core meeting today, we talked about a rider that is going to screw us to no end. Senators wanted to make it a federal crime to travel from one state to another with intent to incite a riot. It would also be a crime to use radio, television or “interstate facilities” (whatever that is) with intent to incite a riot.

Clearly, this is being used against activists like Tom and others. Organizers will not be allowed to travel to give speeches or distribute literature. Anyone could be caught in a dragnet because how could anyone define intent? If Coleman’s articles were picked up in New York, for instance, he could be charged.

The worst part is that they attached this lovely gem to a bill that is meant to protect civil rights activists. The bill itself would make it a federal crime to threaten someone’s civil rights.

Who wrote the rider? Strom Thurmond, of course.

Maybe my Father was right. They’re going to throw us all jail before the year is out.

The Headlines for the Day, including source notes.

Nagging Nixon

March 5
by Janine Stephenson

Craig told me that if I was really interested in meeting famous people, that Richard Nixon was coming to the area on Sunday night. At first I thought he was just being mean. After all, I haven’t talked about Paul Newman since yesterday. But he was serious. Did I want to go to see Nixon and heckle him?

Mrs. Stoutmiller was appalled at the suggestion. Craig said he was kidding, but I’m not sure he was.

I asked Becca about it afterward she said he wasn’t. He hates Nixon for some reason. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like we like Nixon. But Craig hates him. I asked her about his draft status. Since he wasn’t exactly truthful about it in the past, how could we be certain he was truthful about anything?

Becca said she wasn’t very worried about his draft status, but then she finally broke down and said she was. He’s worried about it, too, but he feels that it’s a losing battle. Making trouble for Nixon is just his way of not caring.

Good News/Bad News

March 4
by Amy

I’ve begun to look at war coverage as being a good news/bad news thing. People really have to look between the lines to get the real story. Let’s take, for example, at this Associated Press article.

It begins: “U.S. Marines and air cavalry-men smashed into Communist troops Sunday in a series of battles in the northern sector of South Vietnam and reported killing nearly 300 of the enemy. U.S. losses were light, military spokesmen said.”

That gives you the feeling that things are going well. But are they?

Next paragraph: “Other U.S. troops suffered heavy losses in an ambush nine miles north of Saigon. The U.S. Command said a force of 200 Communists killed 48 Americans and wounded 28, most of them in the first eight minutes of the machine-gun attack.”

Light losses? Not in the second paragraph.

The article is misleading. I’ve ripped it out of the paper. Maybe when my Father is in a better mood, we can hash it out.

The Headlines for the Day, including source notes.

Interview with Roger Armbrust, Part Three

I Met Paul Newman

March 4
by Janine Stephenson

I met Paul Newman. Does anything else matter? Oh yes, the election, the draft, the war, poverty and racism. All of that still matters. But I met Paul Newman!

He came to our storefront this morning. A bunch of men from the campaign functioned as security, to keep trembling women like me from meeting Paul Newman. But I still met him. He went back to use our bathroom and he passed by me. I’ve never seen a movie star in person before. His eyes are really, really blue and penetrating, and they could possibly take your clothes off if you let them.

After he came out of the men’s room, I shook his hand. Which is probably a little gross, I admit. I’m sure Paul Newman has good hygiene because you don’t get anywhere in life without it. Besides, I don’t care. Sometimes, you have to surrender your fears to have something good happen. And if it meant shaking Paul Newman’s hand after he went to the men’s room, then that’s fine by me.

I don’t know where I got up the courage but I introduced myself and told him that I appreciated him. And that’s all I could say. He smiled and thanked me for working for The Senator.

My face got real hot after that. One of the men introduced the rest of the workers, including Becca and Craig and Mrs. Stoutmiller. The press was there and they asked Paul Newman what it was like to be one of the McCarthy Kids. That’s what they call us now, The McCarthy Kids. He answered a few questions and then he left. I think he went to another stop.

Part of me wishes that I could’ve gotten his autograph but I know that wasn’t a possibility. But at least there were witnesses to our meeting, so people back home will have to believe me.

Now, if only I could meet The Senator…

The Headlines for the Day, including source notes.

Foreboding - Does It Ever Go Away?

March 3
by Amy

Dad’s conversation is clouding my mood. He’s a journalist, so he knows what’s going on in the world. He knows all the things that make it into the paper, and all the things that don’t. I’ve never understood how they select stories to print. How do you determine what’s important to people? I don’t think you can do it without patronizing them. That’s something I’ve never questioned before.

Dad wouldn’t tell me what’s gotten him down so much, other than the “foreboding” as he calls it. I, too, have a feeling that things aren’t going to go well this year. I’ve heard about the riot preparations. I can feel the anger on the streets. It’s not just anger, it’s pure rage.

I don’t have my Father’s pit of the stomach pain. The dull ache that he describes. I have hope that if enough people see a new way, then things will turn around. Trouble is just a street sign telling you to go in a new direction.

I like that. I think I’ll make that a sign for the next action.

An interview with Roger Armbrust, Part 2

Paul Newman is coming!

March 3
by Janine Stephenson

Paul Newman is coming to New Hampshire. He’s coming to the area and he’s going to be here. Tomorrow. In the morning. I have his full schedule in my hands, right now. I can’t believe it!

That’s what Ron wanted to tell us. It’s going to be celebrity week. Rod Serling is coming on Thursday and Tony Randall is arriving on Saturday. It’s going to be in the paper tomorrow.

I know I shouldn’t be excited about it because celebrities are just like you and me, but they’re not! They’re much better looking! Paul Newman is one of the most handsome men alive. Those beautiful blue eyes could melt steel!

Even Becca is excited, and since going out with Craig she’s never excited about anything. Of course, she doesn’t want him to know she’s excited, so she doesn’t say anything at all. But when we were getting things out of the supply closet, she was so excited. She just didn’t want Craig to be jealous. I completely understand.

Ron also wanted us to know that some people are giving extremely optimistic figures about The Senator’s poll numbers. But we should just ignore what anyone says and just go about our business. Remember that we are running against a sitting President and that our road is an uphill climb.

But Paul Newman is climbing it with us!

Oh and he also said that they’ve verified a bunch of new voter registrations in the area. That’s good as well, but only if they vote for The Senator.

I should mention that The Senator did speak at the high school last night and it was so crowded. Mrs. Stoutmiller, Becca, Craig and I sat in the back. Craig said that it was one of his better speeches, since he didn’t put anyone to sleep. The excitement was so thick in the room and our voices were hoarse from screaming. Then there was the dance afterward. We just stood around and talked. Mrs. Stoutmiller stood by the refreshments like she was a hallway monitor. Craig asked her if she wanted to dance and she did. We were so happy that she was finally having fun.

I can’t wait until tomorrow. Coming to New Hampshire has been the best part of my life. I’m so glad I came.

Vicious Foreboding

March 2
by Amy

I had lunch with Dad today. He took me to one of his favorite restaurants downtown. It’s one of those fancy lunch places where women get dressed up to eat. I wore a long, flowing skirt, which made me look like Lesley a bit. I would’ve worn pants for anyone else, but I didn’t want to embarrass Dad.

He took me out to talk about the war. It’s been troubling him lately, far more than it has in the past. I asked him if it was because we’re not doing well or if there was something else behind it. He thought for a moment, sighed a bit and said, “Yes.” Then we laughed.

Like everyone else, my Father loved President Kennedy. I asked him if he loved Kennedy or if he loved Kennedy’s energy. He said he loved the feeling of progress, and how we had a leader we could genuinely be proud of, unlike Eisenhower. Kennedy wasn’t old, stodgy or grey.

He doesn’t have a good feeling about the way things are going this year. There’s a recklessness in the air. He’s worried about riots and body counts and people getting killed on the streets in this country. He’s even worried about me, how I take part in protests. What if I get hurt?

He gave birth to a little girl, not a little boy. He doesn’t have to worry about the draft, but he still thinks that, at some point, they will come down hard on everyone. Maybe they’ll shut down the press or declare martial law. Something… Anything could happen to trigger it.

I told him that, in some countries, they shoot the press. Since he’s a journalist, maybe I should be equally as worried.

He told me that he’s never stood in the way of what I do. He’s been supportive all the way, even when he didn’t agree with it. It’s true, he’s a dream Dad. How my parents ever met is beyond me, since my Mother is so traditional.

I told him that I’m keeping a journal of things that happen around me. He said that it wasn’t a bad idea, considering that I might need it in court someday. Be sure to keep it in a safe place, so they don’t confiscate it.

We left the restaurant and went to NIMBYS for drinks. Nothing lifted his feeling of impending doom; the feeling that things aren’t going to get any easier.

An Interview with Roger Armbrust, Part 1

Hawaii is Not a Foreign Land

March 2
by Janine Stephenson

The Senator is going to speak tonight at Bishop Guertin High School. I would love to go. The office should be closed by that time, or at my shift will be over at least. Becca and Craig will go, I’m sure.

There will be a party tonight, after The Senator is done speaking. The party is only for McCarthy volunteers, but maybe The Senator will come too. I wonder if he will. I still haven’t met The Senator. I would love to go back to Wisconsin and tell my parents how I met him. Then maybe they wouldn’t think my time here was wasted.

I sure wish I could meet someone special. A nice boy, or someone like that. Then my Mother would get off my case.

The local newspaper here, The Nashua Telegraph as a wonderful page called “Under Twenty… Teen-ager’s Own Page,” which is not a children’s section. It’s an actual page that any of us could respectably read. Even Mrs. Stoutmiller reads it, because she says that she likes to keep up with what young people are thinking.

There was an article on the page about how young people could go live in other countries for a year. Not like the Peace Corps, where we go to educate other countries. This program, called “International Living” is for people from other countries to educate us. We aren’t supposed to tell them how to live.

I wonder if I could do something like that? Craig says that some colleges have a semester abroad program and that you don’t have to go to another country with a gun to have a good time.

That’s his form of a joke.

I think I’d like to go to Ireland, if I had the chance. Mrs. Stoutmiller’s parents are from Ireland, but she says that she would like to go to West Germany to see Checkpoint Charlie. Becca says that she would like to go to Hawaii, but we had to explain to her that Hawaii wasn’t a foreign country. She claims that she knew that, but that we asked her where overseas she would like to go and Hawaii qualifies.

Grease Pit, otherwise known as the Ron, says that he will make an announcement tomorrow morning. We will not want to miss our 8 a.m. meeting. When he said that Mrs. Stoutmiller scowled a bit, as church is at 9:30. We’ll make the meeting, and if Grease Pit goes long we’ll exit out the back door.

Postcard to My Family

Hi Everyone!

We're still cold here in New Hampshire but this card made me think of the summer. It's only 6 months away! Everyone is really busy. The campaign has picked up and busloads of students are arriving all the time. Many reporters as well.

I'll call you soon!

Love, Janine