Why Archie?

The TV character Archie Bunker’s personality was based on my Great-grandfather, on my mother’s mother side. The personality was the only thing they modeled after him. His politics were totally different from Archie Bunker.

Here’s a little family secret, so don’t go blabbing it about to the revenuers. My Great-grandfather was an honest to goodness bootlegger. Being French-Canadian (another deep dark family secret, much worse than breaking a stupid law) he had family on the Canadian side of the boarder who’d put together a booze shipment. Then he’d run it across on boat and take it into the cities. Mostly he ran whiskey, sometimes beer. I’ve been told his personal favorite was a brand called “Imperial”. I know they still make the stuff but I’ve never been able to lay my hands on a bottle.

Anyway he was an untrusting grumpy soul even latter in life. I think the ending of prohibition was the greatest disappointment he ever faced. He got a job in the factories in the 30’s and saw the building up of the UAW. After he had to get honest work, he never seemed to have more than a few bucks. Which is why I think he sat around and groused about everything that the government was screwing up