The Kind of Man I Would Like in the White House

That's the title of an essay contest that I entered while a fifth-grader at P.S. 277 in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn. I am pleased to report that I won that essay contest and was entered in the district-wide contest, and P.S. 277 put together a little booklet with all of the winning entries in it. I found that booklet when I was moving recently, and read my essay again. Here it is:

The kind of man I would like to see in the White House is an honest man. A man who is kind, patient, fair, resourceful and although a sense of humor is not a must, it certainly would help any man that will have as hard a job ahead of him as the president does.

He must be a man who can get along with everyone, because the president must try to keep peace in our country. He must also be able to make friends of foes. The man who becomes president must be a man who believes in God.

Last but not least, the man who becomes president must be a concerned man, concerned about our old people, concerned about our young people, concerned about our health and environment, and concerned about our under-privileged. In short, the man who becomes President of the United States should be as concerned with our problems as he would be with his very own family's problems. While he is serving as President of the United States, he is also the father of our country.

OK, so it's a bit repetitive, and I clearly had too much on my mind for a fifth-grader, but my point is, I still agree with much of the sentiment. (I was a little judgmental there with the God thing.)

Richard Nixon was re-elected that year, easily beating George McGovern. I wonder why I was so worried about the election that year! Maybe I was able to see into the future. I don't think I can see into the future now, but I'm just as worried about the election this year. I'm in fact a little obsessed. I'm obsessed about the outcome, and I'm obsessed about Prop 8. I want it to be Election Day TOMORROW.

Four more days.

Comments

[scribbler]

Pretty good stuff for a 5th grader. Timeless sentiment. I agree - let's DO THIS vote thing & get this pain & worry over with so Palin can go back to Alaska & shoot something. It's too obvious to note that in your essay, you did not entertain the idea of the President being a woman. But, after all, it was 1972. It must have been devastating to be a Democrat that year. The election results painted the entire map of the US red, save Mass. A chilling thought. Blue is such a calmer, soothing color.

[Kate Harrigan]

You, in the Fifth grade that year, had more on the ball than I did, teaching seventh graders that Fall. This, I hope, is the year for your vision to be realized. I stood in line for an hour and cast my vote this morning. That's a long line for the cornfields of Central PA! So much seems to ride on this election . . .