Thad Eure, North Carolina’s Secretary of State for more than 50 years [1936-1989], was the self-proclaimed “oldest rat in the Democratic barn.”
I liked him, mainly for two reasons: His office was squared away and his door was always open. Toward the end of his career, when some state officials worked in what amounted to locked bunkers –they still do– Mr. Eure’s door was always open.
One fine day I heard something about Mr. Eure –I always called him Mister– that was sort of hard to believe: He did not hire any Republicans to work in the Secretary of State’s Office. That’s not good. That office didn’t belong to Mr. Eure. That office, all state offices, belong to the people of North Carolina.
So I went to see him about that, wondering how he would handle my questions. When I asked him if was true that he didn’t hired Republicans Mr. Eure told me this story.
He said a “fine looking young man” applied for an opening and he said he wanted to hire him. The applicant had a good education, and was qualified in every request.
Mr. Eure said he told him, “Bring me a letter from the chairman of the Democratic Party in your county, recommending you, and the job is yours.”
“But Mr. Eure,” the job candidate told him, “I’m a Republican.”
Mr. Eure said he replied, “Son, you’ve been wasting my time. And yours too.”
Coming Monday: The Drug Dog Smelled Something