
Photo copyright © 2023 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2023 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2023 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2023 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2022 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2012 by Gerry O’Brien
I got to spend an hour with Bob Dole a decade ago, when he was 89 years old.
Long retired from the U.S. Senate and public life, he was still a force to be reckoned with. He regaled us with stories of his Kansas childhood, and his life in New York City, where he attended Brooklyn College for a brief time before being shipped off to fight in World War II as a second lieutenant in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division.
A star athlete, his life was changed forever by the war, and he returned home paralyzed from the neck down, expecting to die soon after.
Fate had other plans for Bob Dole, and like many in the Greatest Generation, he continued to serve his country for many years. Despite debilitating injuries, he never lost his sense of humor.
Photo copyright © 2021 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2021 by Gerry O’Brien
Tom was your classic old-time pol: a World War II veteran who served in New York’s State Senate, lost a bid for Congress the year I was born, and was rewarded with a seat in the New York City Council. He rose to Finance Committee Chairman, and in 1969, Vice Chair and Majority Leader — today’s equivalent of City Council Speaker. In 1977, I was his 18 year old opponent in the General Election. It wasn’t close. I took this photo of him at the Montauk Club in the summer of 1981.
Photo copyright © 2021 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2021 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2021 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
The Fall of Barad-dûr in The Return of The King
Photo copyright © 2017 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
America’s 37th President is now only our second most corrupt Commander-in-Chief of all time, thanks to Donald Trump.
Nixon was many things, but he refused to challenge the election results after his close 1960 loss to John Kennedy, because he knew the damage it would do to our country. And when Barry Goldwater and other old guard, conservative Senators traveled to the White House in 1974 to tell Nixon it was over, he left office peaceably. Trump, on the other hand, has repeatedly refused to say he will honor the results of this election, and has spoken many times about ignoring the constitutional two-term limit.
If you live in the United States and haven’t voted yet, today is your last chance. Perhaps for a long time. VOTE.
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
(This is a distinctly political post; those of you who follow me strictly for photography
and lighter subjects can read on at your own peril)
In 1984, I was 25 years old, and two years earlier, I had defeated the local Republican boss in a Primary Election. As the new State Committeeman and District Leader for Brooklyn’s old 51st Assembly District, I represented the area from Park Slope to Bay Ridge, communities with a healthy mix of liberals, blue collar conservatives, and Latinos.
Note to my friends on the left: I am not demonizing addicts, sex workers, or pool boys. Just the kind of people who preach and lecture the rest of us, then rip babies from their mothers’ arms and toss children into cages.
I will point out that the central message from this week’s convention — that Donald Trump will never abandon you or America — was delivered by his third wife, whom he cheated on with a porn star. Character is everything, and Trump has none. But I digress.
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien
Photo copyright © 2020 by Gerry O’Brien