People Like To Be Asked

[298 words] Some time ago I read a story in which Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House, was once told by his neighbor, Mrs. Elizabeth O’Brien, “Tom, I’m going to vote for you tomorrow even though you didn’t ask me to.” This shocked Tip. He said, “I’ve lived across the street from you for eighteen years. I cut your grass in the summer, I shovel your walk in the winter. I haul out your ashes. I didn’t think I had to ask for your vote.” “Tom,” she replied, “let me tell you something: People like to be asked.” After that experience Tip O’Neill even started asking his wife, Millie. Every election day as they left for the polls he would say, “Honey, I’d like to ask for your vote.” “Tom,” she’d reply, “I’ll give you every consideration.” That little story took me back over fifty years. C. E. McGaughey…