I was fortunate enough to have worked on Fred Harris's presidential campaign when I lived in New Hampshire, the location of the country's first primary. I remember him walking around in his western boots. He remains my model of a true populist. I think he said something like, "The levers in the voting booths are too high for the little people top reach them." Darn, we need more like him--even one more would be good.
Blessed are the garbage collectors, and the septic tank cleaners, and everyone else who does the work that most of us don't want to do, for less money than we'd want to be paid to do it.
When I was a plumber, folks thought I was rich because the company charged $60/hour for my time. They thought that all went into my pocket. I explained that the person who answered the phone, the one who came to write up the bid, and the one who sent out the bills, were all paid out of that $60. (Okay, that was a few decades ago, but you get the picture.)
When I worked in a hospital as a health care professional, I found out my time was billed at $500/hour. No one assumed I pocketed that.
Indeed. One thing that my paternal grandfather (union organizer, labor communist) used to say to us kids was "All work has dignity. I don't care if you are a ditch digger, a train engineer [which he was for 40 years], or a street walker [that's what they called door-to-door sales people in his day.] All labor has dignity."
I am sure that your grandfather's dictum was generally true in his day and I applaud him for it, but I doubt if he (or Will Rogers) ever encountered a telephonic junk mailer, a Fox News anchor, or a TV evangelist.
True, as far as it goes. Grandpa did, however, tell us kids about the time a candidate for governor of Utah tried to bribe him. On offer was, "When I win, I'll make you my secretary of state." Grandpa immediately shot back, "I wouldn't endorse you if you were the last man in Utah." The candidate went away disappointed. Grandpa travelled all around the state and talked to union people, organizers, and everybody he could, telling about that conversation. The guy lost. Ever after, when he was asked about that election, he blamed his loss on "that damn Bill Leonard." It wasn't til I got to college that I realized that grandpa was describing an attempted bribe. In that light, his comment that "the first time they try to buy you is when you find out what you're really worth to them. After that, your price goes down" made sense. Bribes come in many forms, some of them backed up by threats, some by propaganda, some by opportunities for gain/grift. Grandpa had no use for the types of propaganda or grift you reference here.
And unfortunately, the work that we most need is that which society values least--garbage collection, plumbers, linemen, construction workers, and on and on. Thank you for your comment, and God Bless.
Thanks for reminding us about Fred Harris. Your post also reminds me that "populism" as a term has been defined by the oligarchy/corporate political parties and mainstream media as a Trumpian, authoritarian, right-wing construct. It has also been co-opted over the years by charlatans and grifters. That it arises from a broader, anti-capitalist, pro-worker, communitarian, basically democratic socialist movement has been lost in the noise and doublespeak.
I remember voting for Fred Harris in the mid-70s when he ran for president. There was a tiny group of dissident Dems who I met several times. I also tried writing articles about Harris for the local newspaper, but got told by the editors that there was "no local interest" in the campaign. I was a recent college grad (I graduated during the Ford Recession, which most people today don't even know was a thing: "Gerald Ford who?") and southern California was a ways from Oklahoma. What attracted people like me was his honesty and his clear plans to assist people like us. Rest In Power!
Thanks Hightower for sharing this sad news of Fighting Fred Harris’ passing. I was a polisci major @ Wisconsin Eau Claire. One of my faculty, another Oklahoman Leonard Gambrell was the local Fred Harris for President organizer. He enlisted me and I worked my ass of campaigning for Fred. Fred came to Chippewa Falls , WI for a big rally. When he spoke he would mesmerize you. As I dictate these memories I am holding onto my Fred Harris for President t-shirt I have treasured for years. RIP Fred.
I lived most of my life in Oklahoma,but I have lived in other states. I heard about Fred Harris by the time I was 22 years old. Fred’s speaking ability was always what people talked about. I read the New Populism,and I was sold. I never saw him speak in person. The man and his legend made me fell like I could be a progressive Democrat. That is not easy in Oklahoma. RIP Fred Harris!
I am beyond blessed to have TWO senators whose integrity I cannot question: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Unfortunately, there are going to be challengers to Jon in 2026, and none of them are worth the space they inhabit. We must fight to retain the few honest souls left in a corrupt Congress.
Fred Harris graced this old orb for 94 years. So much for the adage "Only the good die young."
Recalling what my ethics professor at University of Texas said one day: "All generalities are stupid . . . " and, after a pause, adding with a twinkle in his eye: "including this one."
People who truly care about others and work to make others lives better! Instead of the rot we have today - "serving" themselves first and always and to hell with everyone else. (Example "America First" is really Trump First. And "Make America Great Again" is really Make Trump/Greed Great Again. With not even one care who gets hurt along the way, as we are seeing in America today.). Fred Harris - a shining light, Donald Trump - a black hole.
I was hired as a donor canvasser for Wellstone campaign in 2002. I did a lot of volunteer work to get hired for the part time position. One day I showed Paul an old article of Fred Harris for President 1976. He was as in a tough campaign against Norm Coleman. I ended our conversation with “Fight ‘em like a mad dog.”That is a Fred Harris quote. I think Fred and Paul were friends. I knocked on a lot doors for Paul,but I was not as close to Paul as Fred was. The were both populists.Therir actions and ideals gave me radical hope which is what everyone needs in this world.
I was fortunate enough to have worked on Fred Harris's presidential campaign when I lived in New Hampshire, the location of the country's first primary. I remember him walking around in his western boots. He remains my model of a true populist. I think he said something like, "The levers in the voting booths are too high for the little people top reach them." Darn, we need more like him--even one more would be good.
Blessed are the garbage collectors, and the septic tank cleaners, and everyone else who does the work that most of us don't want to do, for less money than we'd want to be paid to do it.
When I was a plumber, folks thought I was rich because the company charged $60/hour for my time. They thought that all went into my pocket. I explained that the person who answered the phone, the one who came to write up the bid, and the one who sent out the bills, were all paid out of that $60. (Okay, that was a few decades ago, but you get the picture.)
When I worked in a hospital as a health care professional, I found out my time was billed at $500/hour. No one assumed I pocketed that.
Indeed. One thing that my paternal grandfather (union organizer, labor communist) used to say to us kids was "All work has dignity. I don't care if you are a ditch digger, a train engineer [which he was for 40 years], or a street walker [that's what they called door-to-door sales people in his day.] All labor has dignity."
I am sure that your grandfather's dictum was generally true in his day and I applaud him for it, but I doubt if he (or Will Rogers) ever encountered a telephonic junk mailer, a Fox News anchor, or a TV evangelist.
True, as far as it goes. Grandpa did, however, tell us kids about the time a candidate for governor of Utah tried to bribe him. On offer was, "When I win, I'll make you my secretary of state." Grandpa immediately shot back, "I wouldn't endorse you if you were the last man in Utah." The candidate went away disappointed. Grandpa travelled all around the state and talked to union people, organizers, and everybody he could, telling about that conversation. The guy lost. Ever after, when he was asked about that election, he blamed his loss on "that damn Bill Leonard." It wasn't til I got to college that I realized that grandpa was describing an attempted bribe. In that light, his comment that "the first time they try to buy you is when you find out what you're really worth to them. After that, your price goes down" made sense. Bribes come in many forms, some of them backed up by threats, some by propaganda, some by opportunities for gain/grift. Grandpa had no use for the types of propaganda or grift you reference here.
And unfortunately, the work that we most need is that which society values least--garbage collection, plumbers, linemen, construction workers, and on and on. Thank you for your comment, and God Bless.
I will forever be grateful to the Harrises. The are responsible for my legal education.
I remember him very well. A great man! I also this former wife, LaDonna, and her activism on behalf of Native Americans.
Thanks for reminding us about Fred Harris. Your post also reminds me that "populism" as a term has been defined by the oligarchy/corporate political parties and mainstream media as a Trumpian, authoritarian, right-wing construct. It has also been co-opted over the years by charlatans and grifters. That it arises from a broader, anti-capitalist, pro-worker, communitarian, basically democratic socialist movement has been lost in the noise and doublespeak.
I remember voting for Fred Harris in the mid-70s when he ran for president. There was a tiny group of dissident Dems who I met several times. I also tried writing articles about Harris for the local newspaper, but got told by the editors that there was "no local interest" in the campaign. I was a recent college grad (I graduated during the Ford Recession, which most people today don't even know was a thing: "Gerald Ford who?") and southern California was a ways from Oklahoma. What attracted people like me was his honesty and his clear plans to assist people like us. Rest In Power!
Thanks Hightower for sharing this sad news of Fighting Fred Harris’ passing. I was a polisci major @ Wisconsin Eau Claire. One of my faculty, another Oklahoman Leonard Gambrell was the local Fred Harris for President organizer. He enlisted me and I worked my ass of campaigning for Fred. Fred came to Chippewa Falls , WI for a big rally. When he spoke he would mesmerize you. As I dictate these memories I am holding onto my Fred Harris for President t-shirt I have treasured for years. RIP Fred.
JOHN SCHULTZ
Sounds like he was the salt of the earth - and never lost his savor.
I lived most of my life in Oklahoma,but I have lived in other states. I heard about Fred Harris by the time I was 22 years old. Fred’s speaking ability was always what people talked about. I read the New Populism,and I was sold. I never saw him speak in person. The man and his legend made me fell like I could be a progressive Democrat. That is not easy in Oklahoma. RIP Fred Harris!
I am beyond blessed to have TWO senators whose integrity I cannot question: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Unfortunately, there are going to be challengers to Jon in 2026, and none of them are worth the space they inhabit. We must fight to retain the few honest souls left in a corrupt Congress.
Fred Harris graced this old orb for 94 years. So much for the adage "Only the good die young."
Recalling what my ethics professor at University of Texas said one day: "All generalities are stupid . . . " and, after a pause, adding with a twinkle in his eye: "including this one."
People who truly care about others and work to make others lives better! Instead of the rot we have today - "serving" themselves first and always and to hell with everyone else. (Example "America First" is really Trump First. And "Make America Great Again" is really Make Trump/Greed Great Again. With not even one care who gets hurt along the way, as we are seeing in America today.). Fred Harris - a shining light, Donald Trump - a black hole.
I was hired as a donor canvasser for Wellstone campaign in 2002. I did a lot of volunteer work to get hired for the part time position. One day I showed Paul an old article of Fred Harris for President 1976. He was as in a tough campaign against Norm Coleman. I ended our conversation with “Fight ‘em like a mad dog.”That is a Fred Harris quote. I think Fred and Paul were friends. I knocked on a lot doors for Paul,but I was not as close to Paul as Fred was. The were both populists.Therir actions and ideals gave me radical hope which is what everyone needs in this world.
We need more Fred's and less donalds.
Jim, thanks for sharing a little bit about Mr Harris with us.
First person I ever voted for--Illinois presidential primary 1976. So lucky to have met him when I moved to NM.