If you've ever doubted that Bob Dunning was our town's greatest storyteller, THIS column is proof of that fact. It would be an interesting tale by itself but that a gentlemen any of us could meet on our own streets today was witness to it, creates a golden glow of the moment it happened. We can taste the delight of the child who realized he was witnessing something unique and special. Thanks, Bob.
Diane - Your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for the kind words. It's one of those "long ago but seems like yesterday" stories that is sewn into your heart for life. I was blessed to be there, but my dad had a way of making sure his kids never missed experiences like that.
Adorable observation about the governors with color names; may I add Schwarzenegger to the sequence? As a lover of the German language, I’m pointing out that there’s “black” in that name. + By the way, for my own parents, the mantra was, “All the way with Adlai!”
1956 was when we first became aware of Jack Kennedy, when he almost edged out Estes Kefauver for the vice presidential nod. My dad was an Ike supporter in '52 and '56, but the Irish Catholic Kennedy won him over in 1960 and he remained a Democrat for the rest of his life. Adlai had a lot going for him, but Ike was a war hero and the war was a recent memory.
Hahah I love it... indeed, Schwarzenegger is an honorable mention for that list. I have a memory of him explaining to (I think) Arsenio Hall how to properly say his name, that it's effectively two words: schwarzen and egger. But if you pronounce it the way most Americans did (and still do), his name sounds like you're uttering a racial slur. As I recall, Hall asked, "Wait, how are people saying it?" then reacted with mock outrage.
We came to Davis from Portland on the old Shasta Daylight. The ride from Portland to Davis was spectacular and wonderful small town we found when we arrived.
Bob-I am so impressed that you answer every single person's comment! I am also really enjoying all of your "columns" and gaining a lot of little factoids along the way.
Hahah nice... The line "One of the greatest governors in all the United States" for Warren probably didn't go over very well with the Japanese-American crowd at the time. Good think cancel culture didn't exist then.
"Playing up the agricultural theme, Truman went on to urge the crowd to vote for Adlai Stevenson come November because his opponent, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Spent all his time in the Army and doesn't know anything about farming."
Such a witty, playful and civil bit from my favorite Democrat President of all time. How does that compare to the modern bit claiming your opponent and his followers are fascist white Christian nationalists and a threat to democracy that will take away all your freedoms and liberties and must be stopped by any means?
Thanks for, so eloquently, sharing such a great moment and memory, Bob! I feel as if I were there, that evening…(and I wasn’t even a gleam in my parent’s eye, yet🤫).
If you've ever doubted that Bob Dunning was our town's greatest storyteller, THIS column is proof of that fact. It would be an interesting tale by itself but that a gentlemen any of us could meet on our own streets today was witness to it, creates a golden glow of the moment it happened. We can taste the delight of the child who realized he was witnessing something unique and special. Thanks, Bob.
Diane - Your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for the kind words. It's one of those "long ago but seems like yesterday" stories that is sewn into your heart for life. I was blessed to be there, but my dad had a way of making sure his kids never missed experiences like that.
Adorable observation about the governors with color names; may I add Schwarzenegger to the sequence? As a lover of the German language, I’m pointing out that there’s “black” in that name. + By the way, for my own parents, the mantra was, “All the way with Adlai!”
1956 was when we first became aware of Jack Kennedy, when he almost edged out Estes Kefauver for the vice presidential nod. My dad was an Ike supporter in '52 and '56, but the Irish Catholic Kennedy won him over in 1960 and he remained a Democrat for the rest of his life. Adlai had a lot going for him, but Ike was a war hero and the war was a recent memory.
Hahah I love it... indeed, Schwarzenegger is an honorable mention for that list. I have a memory of him explaining to (I think) Arsenio Hall how to properly say his name, that it's effectively two words: schwarzen and egger. But if you pronounce it the way most Americans did (and still do), his name sounds like you're uttering a racial slur. As I recall, Hall asked, "Wait, how are people saying it?" then reacted with mock outrage.
What a great memory. I was still in diapers. When I was a cub scout we rode the train from Davis to Sacramento for 22 cents.
We came to Davis from Portland on the old Shasta Daylight. The ride from Portland to Davis was spectacular and wonderful small town we found when we arrived.
Bob-I am so impressed that you answer every single person's comment! I am also really enjoying all of your "columns" and gaining a lot of little factoids along the way.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Lisa.
The back and forth is what makes this so much fun.
Much appreciated.
Hahah nice... The line "One of the greatest governors in all the United States" for Warren probably didn't go over very well with the Japanese-American crowd at the time. Good think cancel culture didn't exist then.
Wonderful story.
"Playing up the agricultural theme, Truman went on to urge the crowd to vote for Adlai Stevenson come November because his opponent, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Spent all his time in the Army and doesn't know anything about farming."
Such a witty, playful and civil bit from my favorite Democrat President of all time. How does that compare to the modern bit claiming your opponent and his followers are fascist white Christian nationalists and a threat to democracy that will take away all your freedoms and liberties and must be stopped by any means?
Great contrast between today and then, Frank. Thanks for that.
Thanks for, so eloquently, sharing such a great moment and memory, Bob! I feel as if I were there, that evening…(and I wasn’t even a gleam in my parent’s eye, yet🤫).
That gleam always make the world a better place, Bill.
P.S. Relatively recently, I took the Coast Starlight train to Portland and then flew back, each journey beautiful in its own way.
Portland remains a special place to me.
Great story!
Thanks, Jan. Was so glad I got to be there.
Really enjoyed this one, Bob!
Was a special day that I'll never forget. Feel lucky to be able to write about it now.
Truly
Thank you, Bob, for this great story!
It was such a great story to live. Can you imagine that happening today?
Great story Bob!
Was a fun one to write, Mike.
Wow-I hadn't heard about Truman's visit before.
You were too young to remember, Susan.
I'm a few days older than you but my family didn't get to Davis til I was almost 17.