In 2004 I was a delegate for John Kerry and attended the Democratic National Convention. Having never been particularly active politically, it was strange to suddenly be in a big arena, sitting 20 feet away while Bill Clinton spoke, and jumping up and down waving maniacally the latest sign they'd just put in our hands, so as to look pumped up for the TV cameras. While I thought it was important, it also felt kind of silly.
Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman at the time, has just released a new book, What A Party!, that validates the opinion I had at that time: politics is important and silly at the same time. McAuliffe traces his political roots back to his childhood in Syracuse, where his dad was a mainstay in local Democratic circles. And once he became an adult, it wasn't long before McAuliffe got into the game, but on a national level, riding on Air Force One with President Jimmy Carter while in his early 20s. How did he rise so fast? McAuliffe knew how to bring in the bucks. His fundraising prowess put him in demand in Democratic circles. McAuliffe was willing to do what it took to get the dough, from wrestling an alligator to a quick karaoke tune.
Of course after those heady days on Air Force One, it would be a while before Democrats would be in the seat of power, but McAuliffe's role in raising cash for Bill Clinton gave him a front row seat for an eventful presidency. It's clear that McAuliffe has a huge amount of affection for the Clintons, and he makes no apologies for it, so don't expect much juicy stuff there. Still, Bill Clinton holds so much fascination for so many that it's interesting to hear McAuliffe's stories about their time together.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!