Lucky Layoffs

July 19, 1968
by Janine Stephenson

Becca and I decided that we would not leave the campaign entirely if we were laid off. Instead, we would become volunteers. After all, this is our campaign. We're not doing it for the money. We're still supporting The Senator because it's either him or Hubert "The Hump" Humphrey.

The Hump will not bring an end to the war. He is Lyndon Johnson, without the cowboy hat or Texas twang. Not that there's anything wrong with Texas or the way they talk. But at this point, it's better to start with a fresh beginning. That means no Hump.

The only other conceivable person that anyone could support would be Nelson Rockefeller. But Mrs. Stoutmiller would never vote for him because he's a Republican.

If we became volunteers, Becca and I could then ask to be put somewhere else... Anywhere else. Evidently Craig likes his job being Ron's assistant. Ron is stuck in Washington right now, so we would have to remain here. But there has to be a better job than what we're doing. If we stayed on as volunteers, we could ask for better assignments.

As it turns out - unbelievable as it seems - the whole discussion was pointless. We were not laid off. Instead, they kept five of us at the phone bank on payroll. Which is shocking because the campaign is running such a deficit we honestly thought that we would become volunteers.

People were disappointed, but the whole thing ended up being a nonevent. Most people are continuing on as if nothing happened.

I don't know about Becca but I feel guilty now. I'm earning money while some other people are doing the same job for no money. Those of us who are still getting money for the campaign are putting our funds together to buy peanut butter and bread for the rest of us. It seems like the only right thing to do.