ELECTION 2016

​PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS I’VE VOTED IN
 
         I've lived through and voted in many elections in the United States. Although I am a registered Democrat, I’ve voted independently most of the time.
I was 19 in 1952 and working at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island when Eisenhower was nominated by the Republican Party for the presidency. Mr. Woodfill, President of the Grand, was a good friend of former Michigan Gov. Arthur Summerfield, who became Postmaster General for Eisenhower. Mr. Woodfill invited Mr. Eisenhower to come to The Grand Hotel after he was nominated. Mr. Woodfill’s nephew, Bill Morrison and I were asked to wait on table at a dinner party Mr. Woodfill planned having for Ike. Bill and I were instructed on the procedures of waiting on table by the headwaiter at The Grand and eagerly awaited our assignments. Unfortunately, Ike went somewhere else that summer and we never had the chance to wait on or meet him.
President Eisenhower turned out being a decent president and is remembered primarily for the great interstate roads we have in this country.
President Kennedy started with great leadership potential but was assassinated too soon to determine how effective he would have been as president.
Lyndon Johnson was, I believe, an effective president until the Vietnam War ruined his chances of being reelected. His right-hand-man was a Bobby Baker from Pickens, South Carolina, who wound up in jail. Bobby worked behind the scenes to help bring the Haskell company, Brunswick Yarns to Pickens.
I had high expectations for Pres. Nixon when he was elected first time and that was the one election where Pat and I differed. Unfortunately, “Tricky Dick” turned out being a great disappointment and resigned in office.
Gerald Ford became president when Nixon resigned. I believe he was a decent leader but did not win reelection.
When President Carter was elected. Pat and I sent bags of peanuts to Mercy and Bats and other Republican Friends that evening. We were so excited to have a southerner elected president. Unfortunately Pres. Carter turned out to be an ineffective president albeit an outstanding ex-president.
Reagan turned out better than expected but, in my opinion, doesn’t deserve the adoration he’s had since leaving office.
         I liked George Herbert Walker Bush (Bush #1) and voted for him. He wasn’t a bad president but was defeated by Bill Clinton for a second term. Bush Sr. came from very wealthy parents and wasn’t able to relate to men and women on the street.
I liked Bill Clinton a lot and saw him bring great leadership and prosperity to this country. In addition, he has done a great job since serving his two terms.
I never thought Bush Jr. was qualified for the presidency and he turned out being a disaster, bringing us far too deeply in the Middle East War and fermenting the horrible result of that intervention.
President Obama has been my all time favorite president. Coming in after the disasters Bush Jr. created, President Obama did an outstanding job in turning this democracy around. Notwithstanding his opposition and obstruction by the Republicans, President Obama leaves his two-term presidency with high marks. His most recent obstruction was lead by Sen. Mitch McConnell in refusing to allow a vote on President Obama’s excellent nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the U. S. Supreme Court.
 
Now we’ve seen Donald J. Trump win enough Electoral College votes to become president-elect. I have faith and hope that our system of checks and balances, plus the goodwill of most Americans will prevent the president–elect from erasing all of the good deeds of President Obama and screwing up our great country.
 
Pat and I had looked forward to seeing the first woman elected president, and were delighted that Hillary won the popular vote—‘the second time in four elections that the Democrat has won the popular vote and lost the election.’ (Pointed out by my friend, Cal Kendall).
We depart for London tomorrow. I guess we’ll return to this great country notwithstanding our election results—and hope and pray for the best.