Political division goes back a ways

In my younger days, when JFK was president, I was president of the San Francisco Young Republicans.  I worked on many political campaigns and ran a few myself.  I had good ties with most local party leaders and many national figures.  When I hear and read about the horrific divisions and political conflict in this country, I am forced to remember the days of JFK.

Unfortunately for all of my readers who weren't there, a popular mythology has grown up about the wonderful days of JFK.  None of that is true.  

I can remember vividly conversations in every social environment where hatred of JFK and his policies were on one side of the discussion and hatred of Richard Nixon were on the other.  The venom was flowing and it was vicious.

The hostility to JFK focused on his pro-labor stance, when anti-labor hostility was growing rapidly.  Kennedy also infuriated his opponents with his views on expanding welfare.  Many, such as myself, didn't like J. F. Kennedy's anti-black neutrality, his brother's similar position or both of their support for Dixiecrat politics. Many Democrats and Lefties abhorred his anti-communism.

I remember vividly a discussion at my office the day before Kennedy's assassination.  No one could figure out why he would go to Dallas where the anti-JFK hatred was palpable.