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?
