My grandpa Joseph Monaco, a 72 year old first generation Italian-American, was widowed several years ago and now splits his time between his 74 year old girlfriends house in Troy, NY and the house he raised my father in, in Ballston Spa, NY. He has always been a working man, holding two labor jobs for the majority of his life to support my Dad and his seven siblings. I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like, but when I do, it’s always enjoyable. Up until this interview, perhaps the only thing I knew my grandfather rea

From this more national level, our interview turned to a more state focused discussion. I began inquiring into what Eleanor and my grandfather felt about the New York State government and if there was anyone who they particularly disliked. After a brief moment of silence, my grandfather deliberately responded with what Eleanor has been thinking. “Eleanor has negative feelings for Hillary Clinton. She doesn’t think Hillary is honest, and that she connives people for her own interests.” I amusingly listened to “Eleanor’s” opinions on Hillary Clinton until Pop finally agreed to give his take on the New York State government. “Our budget process has been and still is three men in ‘the back room’.” he said. “It’s the governor, speaker of the house and speaker of the senate. These three guys have a lot of their own pet projects that waste too much. Right now actually, Pataki is trying to get an education spending plan that will discontinue hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. Did you’re parents tell you about that?” “No,” I responded “I have no clue what is going on up there in New York right now.” Pop conceded and summarized his point saying, “Anyways, It’s just another example of three guys trying to control 200.”

As I listened to all of these stories, history was progressively put into perspective. It’s almost as if hearing these things I’ve read about for years, from actual individuals helps to humanize it all and almost make it relevant. Thinking about these two individuals political histories, it begins to dawn on me that I am at the inception of mine. Infinite new questions begin to arise as I am left with the advice from Eleanor. “Just remember Cas, when you walk into that voting booth this year it’s just you and that piece of paper. No one will know who you choose and no one will care. Make sure that box you circle is your choice and that you know you’re single vote will matter! You have an opportunity that billions only wish they have. Take advantage of it!”

With the same runaround antics experienced at a multitude of dinners with my own father, Pop nonchalantly said he was going to leave that one to Eleanor. With a short chuckle, I agreed again and let Eleanor take a stab at the question. “Well, my family has always been democrat, but I feel you shouldn’t limit yourself to this.” My grandfather, sensing a little uncertainty in her voice, interrupted and amusingly blurted, “She’s tending to vote more Republican now.” “Yeah, I suppose I am Cas.” confirmed Eleanor. “Jeez, if my father knew, he’d turnover in his grave.” She continued on, telling me about how she feels incredibly more hesitant to agree with many of the political policies held by modern Democrats. She suggested that maybe it wasn’t really the politicians so much as it was herself. She admitted to having many of her personal interests change and ultimately attributed her political party change to that.

As I was listening to this praise of Truman, I recalled a significant drop in his popularity due to some of his foreign policies. I figured I’d ask Pop about this. “That’s interesting. What did you think about Truman’s decision to enter the Korean War?” I asked. Almost immediately he acknowledged the drop in popularity saying “…Oh yeah! It seemed that almost everyone turned their backs on him! I even stopped liking him. But, looking back on it, like a lot of other people do, I think he was still a good president. You could really trust him!” Similarly, Eleanor found Truman to be just as honorable in character. Perhaps these were the real facts, but I was a bit skeptical figuring this idealized notion of a politician was simply the nostalgia induced bias. So, I asked “How so? What made him so good?”

My grandfather also remembered Dan O’Connell. “Dan O’Connell and his boys would do a whole bunch of things like that. On holidays they would deliver f

Some topics in this essay:
Clinton Pop, Dan O’Connell, Ballston Spa, Democratic Republican, Similarly Eleanor, Spa NY, Harry Truman, Democratic National, Albany” Pop, York Italy, pop continued, dan o’connell, hillary clinton, didn’t agree, ballston spa, capital district, honest didn’t, drop popularity, vietnam wars, political ideals,