Another Mother for Peace

In 1968, before we mourned King and Kennedy, Mom took me to a “McCarthy Happening!” at the San Jose fairgrounds.
Mom was devoted to the antiwar candidate — making phone calls, going door to door. Dad favored Nixon. The TV pumped in the Vietnam War. Mom stuck a peace sign on our station wagon. Dad said that my oldest brother would achieve manhood by serving his country. Mom said, “Over my dead body!”
Being a fourth grader, I could not absorb much of McCarthy’s speech. So I just chanted slogans with the charged-up crowd. I already knew that he’d be the best president. Mom’s passion was enough to tell me that.