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customerserviceguy

(25,200 posts)

45. Part of the excitement

Thu Aug 13, 2020, 10:55 PM

Aug 2020

was that JFK was Catholic, and my father was way too young in 1928 to know about Al Smith getting the Democratic nomination, and Mom wasn't even born yet.

It was a pretty big deal for Catholics during the Kennedy Administration to have one of their own as President. That made it even more horrifying for them when he was murdered. I was in parochial school then, and when the announcement about the shooting came over the PA system, I still remember how terribly shocked our first grade nun was.

My folks always impressed on us how important it was to vote when we were able to do so. My Dad was really reluctant about voting for George McGovern, but I talked him into it.

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In what year did you become politically "sentient?" [View all] Laelth Aug 2020 OP

It was 1960, when I was just 15 years old. MineralMan Aug 2020 #1

You've got 20 years on me. Laelth Aug 2020 #23

It was pretty heady stuff for this kid. MineralMan Aug 2020 #28

Awesome! Bobby Kennedy is one I would have loved to encounter. Laelth Aug 2020 #30

1960 I stayed up all night keeping the totals and states as they were called. Democrat 4 Ever Aug 2020 #47

Although I did not know what sentient meant until much later. Sneederbunk Aug 2020 #2

My mother, and then my aunt, were head of the Young Democrats in our Oregon community. OregonBlue Aug 2020 #3

I had a passing interest during the 1968 Convention in my hometown. CaptYossarian Aug 2020 #4

It didn't hit me how multi-faceted and serious this was until the early Clinton years. Mike 03 Aug 2020 #5

It's definitely an evolution. Laelth Aug 2020 #9

Working on the Dukakis Campaign... Mike 03 Aug 2020 #11

Oh, no, Dude. It really sucked. Laelth Aug 2020 #15

Watergate. I was 13 at the time. MANative Aug 2020 #6

Me too. As well as late 60"s evening news.. but especially watergate. Nt lostnfound Aug 2020 #42

My parents customerserviceguy Aug 2020 #7

Wow! That's really a young age to become political. Laelth Aug 2020 #29

Part of the excitement customerserviceguy Aug 2020 #45

1962 Trailrider1951 Aug 2020 #8

Wow. You were young. Laelth Aug 2020 #13

Watching Ollie North lie on TV when I was in the military. Iran Contra sarcasmo Aug 2020 #10

I was in elementary school. Happy Hoosier Aug 2020 #12

Late 80's or early 90's. My grandma was the head of our polling place, which was also located in my Luciferous Aug 2020 #14

My family in Germany was very vocal about their SPD support Blaukraut Aug 2020 #16

9/11 and the Iraq war led to my political awakenings JonLP24 Aug 2020 #17

2004, I was deployed to Iraq Victor_c3 Aug 2020 #18

This is trite, but it's all that I can say. Laelth Aug 2020 #22

1974 Nixon. Something was seriously criminal realization empedocles Aug 2020 #19

No doubt. Laelth Aug 2020 #20

My dad was always reading & watching the news and WePurrsevere Aug 2020 #21

1968 Dave in VA Aug 2020 #24

If taking an anti nuclear position is political, then 1961, Baby Brother Buzz Aug 2020 #25

2008 BraKez2 Aug 2020 #26

Some time between 1968 and 1972. Jeebo Aug 2020 #27

1968 at age eleven Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 2020 #31

1968, when I was ten ironflange Aug 2020 #32

I think the "Cuban Missile Crisis" jolted my awareness. JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2020 #33

1956 at age 6. Patterson Aug 2020 #34

That's very young--Eisenhower v. Stevenson. Laelth Aug 2020 #37

Not especially. It started with the convention. I was really into baseball (Yankees vs Dodgers) Patterson Aug 2020 #41

The Whole World Is Watching! The Whole World Is Watching! not_the_one Aug 2020 #35

If only LBJ had stayed in that election. Laelth Aug 2020 #36

2000 after Dubya was selected Kamala4TheWin Aug 2020 #38

W's selection inspired me to change careers and become a lawyer. Laelth Aug 2020 #40

1964 was the first campaign I worked on nuxvomica Aug 2020 #39

The summer of the Watergate hearings misanthrope Aug 2020 #43

1968 as I followed the primaries Awsi Dooger Aug 2020 #44

We're about the same age, but a few years earlier for me. Buckeye_Democrat Aug 2020 #46

around 1964 myccrider Aug 2020 #48