A Fighting Chance

In other interviews, Fried gave equally strong statements: “‘It simply played no role in the appointments process. It was not mentioned and I didn’t mention it to the faculty,’ he said. ‘In spite of conclusive evidence to the contrary, the story continues to circulate that Elizabeth Warren enjoyed some kind of affirmative action leg-up in her hiring as a full professor by the Harvard Law School. The innuendo is false. I can state categorically that the subject of her Native American ancestry never once was mentioned,’ he added. That view was echoed by Law School Professor Laurence H. Tribe, who voted to tenure Warren and was also involved in recruiting her. ‘Elizabeth Warren’s heritage had absolutely no role in the decision to recruit her to Harvard Law School,’ he told the Crimson. ‘Our decision was entirely based on her extraordinary expertise and legendary teaching ability. This whole dispute is fabricated out of whole cloth and has no connection to reality.’” Garance Franke-Ruta, “Is Elizabeth Warren Native American or What?,” Atlantic, May 5, 2012.

“the London Whale”: On April 13, 2012, reports surfaced of a trader making huge bets, nicknamed the “London Whale,” and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon dismissed any concerns as “a complete tempest in a teapot.” Then on May 10, 2012, JPMorgan disclosed there were $2 billion in losses. By July 13, 2012, losses had climbed to more than $7 billion. See Eric Owles, “Timeline: The London Whale’s Wake,” New York Times, March 27, 2013.

For Jamie Dimon’s take on the scandal, see Dan Fitzpatrick, “JP Morgan’s Dimon on Whale: There Was No Hiding, No Lying,” MoneyBeat (blog), Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2013. See also Jessica Silver-Greenberg, “New Fraud Inquiry as JPMorgan’s Loss Mounts,” DealBook (blog), New York Times, July 13, 2012.

And for a sense of Wall Street’s hubris, see Pat Garofalo, “We’re Getting the Feeling That Wall Street Isn’t Sorry,” Opinion, US News and World Report, March 22, 2013.

last-minute negotiations on Dodd–Frank: Noah Bierman and Michael Levenson, “Senator Brown Sought to Loosen Bank Rules: OK’d Overhaul, Then Called for Leeway, E-Mails Show,” Boston Globe, June 4, 2012. See also note, “not the big banks…”

truth about our family: For more on Scott Brown’s statement “My mom and dad have told me a lot of things too, but they’re not always accurate,” see Rick Holmes, “Holmes: The Art of Political Distraction,” Opinion, MetroWest Daily News, June 3, 2012.

And for my response to Brown, see Noah Bierman, “Warren Sends Letter to Supporters Trying to Calm Native American Controversy,” Political Intelligence (blog), Boston Globe, May 31, 2012.

part of their families’ lives: Sally Jacobs, “Warren’s Extended Family Split About Heritage,” Boston Globe, September 16, 2012.

half-running from house to house: Mike and Kitty Dukakis met with me early in the campaign to give me advice that was grounded in decades of public service and hard-fought campaigns. They offered many details and strategies, but the bottom line boiled down to one word: grassroots. They believed that the only way to beat a popular incumbent in Massachusetts was to organize neighborhood by neighborhood all across the state. They explained how to do it and how much patience and hard work it would take. It was slow-going, but it was hugely powerful.

Of course, Mike and Kitty weren’t the kind just to dole out advice and then turn their backs on the candidate. Both of them jumped in to help. They gave speeches and rallied the troops and were legendary in the energy they displayed knocking on doors. Bruce had never done any of this before (and neither had I), so Mike took him out on a Saturday to get him started. Mike also took Bruce to the Greek Festival in Brockton, where Bruce not only shook hands but also brought home a huge stack of pastries. Mike and Kitty worked week in and week out to help build grassroots support and they are a big part of why we had such an extraordinary turnout on election day.

prayers in several languages: Several churches in Roxbury and Dorchester invited Bruce and me for services, and as the months went by, we worshipped in more than a dozen different churches in African American neighborhoods around Boston and out in Springfield. Each church had its own personality, but it was clear that people were working hard to build communities within communities to support each other and to find ways to heal a troubled world. Interfaith services were also a source of great spiritual connection and a clear reminder that we are a people who come from many different traditions. I am grateful for the warm hearts of so many people who made Bruce and me feel so welcome.

Worcester along the way: Super-volunteer Kate Donaghue, who did so much for the campaign, put together an old-fashioned whistle-stop in Framingham, complete with signs and cheering.

people in this arena were ready to fight: With the endorsement also came the official support of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, under the leadership of John Walsh. John had served as Deval Patrick’s campaign manager in 2006 and had worked hard as party chair to build grassroots capacity and pull together elected officials. Along with Matt Patton, who moved from working directly on my campaign to working for the state Democratic party, John would be a critical ally as Election Day approached.