So...Robert O’Rourke became Beto O’Rourke the way Jerry Rivers became Geraldo Rivera and for the same reason.
Craziest midterms ever.
A fellow AFROTC cadet that was in my Field Training flight was Geronimo T. Tolentino. Geronimo translates as "Jerome" His parents were Filipinos. He went by Gerry. But when little he thought Gerry was "Jerry" and used a pen to "tattoo" a "J" onto the web of his hand. But he made a great fire marshal for our flight though. I can still hear his "Unlace your Boots", at lights out. And when we had a fire drill, our flight was the first to clear our barracks and fall into formation, wearing those boots and our wool horse blanket. :)
Sort of like like my Mom's brother and his family called me Denny, which I hated, didn't even like Dennis much and don't use it.
But my Dad's sister and her family called me Joey. Didn't like it either.