When I was growing up, I vaguely recall hearing about Richard Nixon and a bit more so about Gerald Ford. (I think I was around six or so.) Usually it was in the NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor and David Brinkley, which was airing just about the time we were cleaning up after dinner.
But Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale are the two politicians I first remember hearing about and understanding who they were and why they were important.
Walter Mondale died this week at age 93 and it bummed me right out. As you’d expect, Mondale’s obituary in The New York Times is superb.
Though my memories of him as Vice President are few, I certainly remember his campaign for president in 1984. By the time I was old enough to vote, he was pretty much off the national stage. Still, whenever I saw him on TV or featured in an article, I’d gobble it up. He just seemed like a kind and decent man.
I just saw this episode of The Al Franken Podcast featuring an interview with Mondale from 2019. I can’t wait to listen to it.
Mike McClary 