The story of January 20th 1965 began for me at my 10th Birthday Party on January 4th 1965,but in many respects, it all started long before that birthday party.
Mom was a booster and organizer for Hartford's Democratic Party. Her main role was organizing Hartford's Black Professionals to support Democratic candidates with money and giving tips to Democratic candidates as to where to campaign in Hartford's black neighborhoods as well as which businesses to make appearances at. During campaigns the Daniels household would be full of campaign literature and meetings at the house. Mom was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Yes,Kamala Harris' Sorority) and that was a serious organizing tool in itself.
Mom's influence within the Democratic Party would be even more apparent when we'd spend our summers in Washington DC. 2 or 3 times during the summer, we'd visit the US Capitol and spend time watching the Senate and House in action. Seemed like all Mom had to do was to tell a staffer of Connecticut's Senators that Helen Daniels was here and it seemed like whether they were in committee meetings or on the Senate floor, both Connecticut Senators, Thomas Dodd and Abraham Ribicoff always found the time to say hi to her. Senator Ribicoff knew my mom by her first name!
In 1964,Mom screamed with delight the moment when President Lyndon Johnson named Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey as his Vice Presidential candidate. Hubert Humphrey was Mom's political hero stemming from the time when as Mayor of Minneapolis,he fought for the adoption of a pro Civil Rights plank in the Democratic Party Platform. Humphrey's speech is regarded as being a prime factor in the Civil Rights plank being adopted and causing a walkout of most of the Southern delegates.
With Hubert Humphrey on the Democratic ticket, Mom's work went into overdrive. I remember Mom being responsible for bringing both Senators Dodd and Ribicoff to my elementary school's PTA meeting. There was little doubt that the Johnson-Humphrey ticket would win.
My 10th birthday party was not your typical party for a 10 year old. There were no birthday games to be played. There was not a lot of room for a kid to run around. My 10th birthday party was held in a meeting room at an Italian Restaurant in Downtown Hartford.
The reason for a 10 year old's birthday party being held in a meeting room of an Italian Restaurant?
In the days following November 22,1963,I had determined that I wanted to become President of the United States. This goal was met by ridicule by friends and classmates alike. The one person who supported that goal was Mom. Mom didn't see it as an impossible goal. "You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it" came out of her mouth often and that applied to my future run for the Presidency as well. Mom was active in the Civil Rights Movement as well and in 1965 at the time of my birthday party, the thought of a Black President seemed far fetched to most. The only thing Mom conceded to the times was that I'd have to work harder for it than white people. Mom even laid out to me what I'd have to do. First, I'd have to keep my grades up, Then,it would be best to get enrolled in an Ivy League School. Yale or Harvard. After you graduate,you should perhaps go to Law School and become a lawyer. A lot of Presidents she said were lawyers.
My goal of becoming President meshed well with Mom's activism. Mom knew that if we spent all day at the Capitol that I wasn't going to start screaming that I was bored and wanting to go home. She didn't mind if I listened in on some of her meetings at home. She even once took me to a cocktail party where some politicians were to be in attendance. The most memorable occasion with my mom and one of the most memorable days in my life was when Mom took me to the 1964 Democratic Platform Committee meeting. On this day, I was given a press tour by an NBC Correspondent, met Dr. Martin Luther King, nearly literally ran into Robert Kennedy and had lunch with Connecticut Secretary of State Ella Grasso,later to become the first ever woman elected Governor. In keeping with Mom's support of my goals,she knew this Italian Restaurant was a favorite hangout spot for Hartford's politicians,so she set up my 10th birthday party to be held there.
Had the most amazing spaghetti and meatball dinner and whether Mom arranged it beforehand or he just happened to be at the restaurant at the same time, Hartford Mayor George "Pete " Kinsella showed up at the party to congratulate me as well as to say a few words to the other adults that were in attendance.
Mom saved the best surprise for last however. I got books clothes and toys for my birthday, but Mom's came in 2 envelopes. I opened the first envelope. It was an Airline Ticket on Eastern Airlines from Hartford Connecticut to Washington DC. This was to be my first experience on an airplane. I opened the second envelope. In the second envelope was an invitation to attend the Inauguration of Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey. Mom had earned it from her work on behalf of the Johnson-Humphrey campaign. She had also been invited to one of the Inaugural Balls around DC,but that was going to be her adult time for later. Attending the Inauguration was Mom's birthday present to me.
We left from Bradley Field, Hartford's airport on an Eastern Airlines flight to Washington DC January 19th. I was afraid to be on a plane. I never liked it when I was in cars I felt were going too fast and I did have a fear of heights. There was no convincing needed when it came to putting my seat belt on. When the plane began to takeoff, I began to hold on to my seat. As the plane gained speed,the hold became a grip and when the plane took off, my seats were being held in a death grip and I my eyes were closed. My heart began beating quickly as the plane made its various maneuvers and I'd refuse to open my eyes when my mom would try to point out sights that could be seen from the air. I settled in and settled down once the plane hit its cruising altitude but reverted to mode terrified upon descent and once again missing the sights of DC Mom was trying to point out to me.
I was always used to being in Mom's car driving to my Grandparent's house in Washington DC. Having a cab take us there was a whole new experience. I think for a moment Mom wished she had driven to DC as she caught the cab driver taking the longer routes to my Grandparents house. I imagine many a cab driver with the Inauguration descending upon DC that there would be a number of tourists who wouldn't know their way around, meaning a larger fare. This wasn't going to work with Mom, a Washington DC native. It was quite the tense ride to the house, but we got there.
It was different being in Washington DC in the winter as opposed to our usual summertime time stay. For one,it was only Mom and myself on this trip. My other brothers remained in Connecticut under the care of my Grandmother, meaning unlike in the summer, my Grandfather would not be spending time with his wife. Secondly, instead of putting a short sleeve shirt along with shorts that would be soaked within a half hour due to the knockout combination of heat and humidity,I was putting on thermal underwear in preparation for attending the Inauguration Ceremony and parade.
It was cold January 20th 1965 and the area where we were seated was packed. I couldn't see a thing. Seemed like there was a lot of prayers and what's been deemed "patriotic" music. There were speakers everywhere so you could hear what was going on well. A kind man sitting next to Mom and me promised to let me use his binoculars when Lyndon Johnson was being sworn in. He also offered the use of his binoculars to Mom when Humphrey was being sworn in. Mom turned them down. I think she had a thing against the use of binoculars for some reason. As a kid activity, Mom would often drive us to Bradley Field to watch the planes take off. She never used binoculars and although she'd allow us boys to use the scopes at the airport,she never used them herself. I can imagine her wanting to see Humphrey sworn in with as natural a look as possible.
I did get a decent view of LBJ as he was getting sworn in. It helped that the man who handed me his binoculars get in front of him It wasnt a close up a view had I watched on TV ,but just a couple people away meant there were fewer people blocking my view.
We had a better view for the Inaugural Parade. What used to be the tradition for the parade was that the Governors of each state would lead its states portion of the parade, usually including a float, high school band or choir. The tradition would then be for people in the audience to stand up and cheer when your state's float passed. By 1964,I thought to myself Alaska was going to be my best path to the White House. From the Jack London stories and the various documentaries I had watched,I gathered Alaska to be a welcoming place for outsiders and misfits. By the time I was 10 years old,I had already experienced enough ridicule and bullying that I knew if that continued,I had no political future in Connecticut, Alaska seemed like the place where I could be me and not be ridiculed thus giving me a better chance of getting elected. I told Mom I would stand up when Alaska's group would go by.
The parade went by alphabetical order. Alabama was led by its Pro Segregationist Governor George Wallace I heard so much about Wallace I wanted to see him close up to see if he had horns or not. At the 1964 Democratic Platform meetings I attended with Mom, George Wallace was scheduled to speak shortly after Martin Luther King. There was no way I was going to convince Mom to be in the same room with Wallace. I thought this might be my chance,but alas his car went by covered up.
I stood up when Alaska's small contingent,led by Governor William Egan passed by. I didnt notice any others standing,but unlike Wallace, Governor Egan had his top down and was waving to the crowd. What I gathered from that was a Governor of Alaska is less likely to get shot at.
The biggest contingents in the parade seemed to come from Eastern and Midwestern states where it was easier to bring large groups to Washington as well as Texas because y'know, LBJ wouldn't have it any other way.
Minnesota despite having a Vice President being inaugurated had a modest contingent led by Gov. Karl Rolvaag. Mom was disappointed. She was hoping they'd do something to honor Humphrey.
We both stood up for Connecticut's contingent led by Gov. John Dempsey. No big deal however. Gov. Dempsey was another politician who would recognize Mom when their paths crossed.
Despite wearing thermals,I was pretty frozen by the time the parade ended and we returned to my Grandparents house. When we returned Mom had to start getting dressed for the Inaugural Ball she was invited to.
Mom being away for the night meant a night spent with my Grandfather. Normally my brothers would be around but this was different. I cant remember what we did that night,but chances are it was either me listening to his various stories,some of which I'd heard before but he'd share them anyways with many having a moral undertone to them OR him watching All Star Wrestling which he knew I hated but he'd watch it any way.
The next day Mom and I flew back from Washington DC to Bradley Field, just outside of Hartford. Once again the death grip was applied to my seat at both takeoff and landing and again my eyes remained shut throughout.
Our next door neighbor,Mr Clark met Mom and myself at Bradley Field and drove us back home..
