Posted on 08/31/2008 6:32:21 PM PDT by Oklahoma
By Tony Thornton Staff Writer MUSKOGEE — The John McCain biographies are replete with information about his paternal grandfather, a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.
His maternal grandfather, Archibald Wright? Not so much. Nancy Calhoun thinks she knows why. "This is one skeleton that the McCains probably wish would stay in the closet,” said Calhoun, who is director of genealogy and local history at the Muskogee Public Library.
Wright spent more than two decades in Muskogee. His twin daughters, including McCain's mother, Roberta Wright McCain, grew up in a three-story home that still stands at 1027 W Martin Luther King (then known as Fon-du-Lac).
Even in a town filled with colorful characters, Wright stood out.
He was, at various times, a bootlegger, oil wildcatter and operator of a gambling house. His antics frequently landed him in jail, but Wright never seemed to lack bail money.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsok.com ...
I am proud to say my father and mother made and sold ‘moonshine’. They always supported their family.
Sounds as though John’s family is ‘All American’.
Climb anyone’s family tree and you’ll find someone hanging from a limb. No surprise here.
***He moved his family to Los Angeles when his twin daughters were about 14. Wright died there in 1975.***
He outlived CLEO EPPS, queen of the bootleggers!
And Oklahoma still has 3.2 beer.
Been in some strange parts of the world and when I got homesick, that was MY song.
My Italian Immigrant Grandparents made wine during prohibition in order to feed their family and not ask for welfare. They made it in their basement and served it formally in their front parlor to various professor types from the university. My mother stood in the corner and turned the crank on the Victrola for the musical entertainment. Government handouts were considered worse than breaking the prohibition laws. It was a different time and no one will care what Mac’s grandfather did.
“He was, at various times, a bootlegger, oil wildcatter and operator of a gambling house.”
McCain’s Grandfather was Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr.? LOL!
Exactly.
I had the pleasure of visiting Oklahoma when the only way a tourist could readily get a bottle of booze where I was staying was to call a number you got from the hotel bellhop. Doing so brought delivery of a nice jug of Jack right to your door in a just a couple of minutes at a low price (no tax). Ah, free enterprise. Now the gubmint nannies regulate it, tax the hell out of it, close the liqour stores at certain hours and on Sundays. Progress really sucks. Oh for the good old days.
Heck my grandfather was a bootlegger....and died before I was born....my other grandfather died after drinking bad moonshine.....does that mean I can’t run for President???
I sincerely doubt that anyone digging up dirt on McCain has ever heard that song.
bttt
I was prepared to write in Dr. Thomas Sowell for my vote in November, but then I got to know Obama. And then, suddenly, McCain goes and makes Sarah Palin his choice for VP.
I won't say all is forgiven, but as Buckeye, Arizonan and former John McCain supporter who vowed to NEVER vote for McCain again, I am now looking forward to voting in November for McCain and Palin. A week ago, I wouldn't have said that.
We got 'em here still whar I liyuv in VT.
These days they run a 4X4 mud bog competition on Saturdays, drink all day, cheer, bonfire, and shoot guns into the air at night. "Sour mash" is a nickname.
The Northeast Kingdom. Whar the lefties stay low.
The Jerry Jeff Walker version? That's the one that's playing in my head right now.
I probably had a Great Great Grandfather who fought for the South during the Civil War.. Imagine that if I ran for public office..
That song has more good miles in it that a Freightliner.
Its still mine.
ole andrea will have fun with this story.
Wonder if this guy knew Joe Kennedy????
I am 73, born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
My grandfather made moonshine and sold it. He was also an antique dealer. He lived to age 90 and left us in 1985. I have heard alot of stories about my granddad. But never a story about him falling on hard times. :):):)
If so, she's an idiot.
This sort of moderately colorful ancestor that far back on the family tree is rather endearing than otherwise.
I should know -- my gggg grandfather left Scotland under a cloud (and one jump ahead of the sheriff) and changed his name from MacGregor. The MacGregors were the Mafia of Scotland and I'm sure made lousy neighbors, but time and distance lend enchantment to the view . . . .
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed.
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