Abusing a Newspaper

I was in my 20s, working for a political campaign in West New York. Our party—Democratic—decided to nominate a woman for mayor. We asked her and she said yes.

So I wrote a press release: Our party was considering a woman candidate for Mayor. First in WNY history. (Or maybe it was just a commissioner?)

Second press release: Which women we are considering. I even put in the name of a Republican! (She was startled, I heard, and said she wasn’t interested.)

Third press release: Guess who our candidate turned out to be?

Three stories for the price of one.

I hadn't been responsible. A high school dean, a former Army colonel, named McGrath, who was running, had thought told me what to do.

We lost.