New York City Mayor and United States Presidential candidate Bill deBlasio poses with Beverly Clinkingbeard, who has been writing about deBlasio’s family connection to Blanchard.

New York City Mayor and United States Presidential candidate Bill deBlasio holds a photo of William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska, the last presidential candidate to visit Blanchard.

Larry Polsley, Mayor Bill deBlasio, Dante deBlasio, and Chirlane McCray look over old photos of Blanchard, its inhabitants, and important events held over the years.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio and his family recently visited Blanchard, where his great-grandfather was once mayor. Pictured are, from left to right: Blanchard Mayor Jeffrey Brownfield, Dante deBlasio, Mrs. deBlasio, Wendy Brownfield, Larry’s granddaughters, Larry Polsley, Mayor deBlasio, and Beverly Clinkingbeard. (Submitted by Beverly Clinkingbeard)

A couple weeks ago, there was an article in the Atchison County Mail regarding the “roots” of New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio to Blanchard, Iowa/Missouri. It ended with the possibility that maybe the little town would need to lay out a welcome mat should he visit. Well, that’s just what happened.

Larry Polsley, our historian and a man with the remarkable ability to recall facts and dates, who grew up in Blanchard (as did his grandparents, aunts and uncles, sinking roots into Blanchard from the first sign declaring a town) received a call from the Mayor’s aide.  The Mayor was at the Iowa State Fair and wanted to visit the town where his great-grandfather, Solomon Warren, served as mayor in 1892-93.

At the Iowa State Fair there is a podium and sound system where the candidates can make a case for the vote of the people for the Iowa Caucuses. Candidates also have the opportunity to ‘work the fair’ by meeting fair goers and voters – press the flesh, answer questions, and become better known to the public.

Come Monday morning, August 12, Larry, who now lives in Hopkins, Missouri, arrived in Blanchard for the Mayor’s scheduled visit. The coffee was hot and the table set with napkins and muffins, as our small group awaited the guest. (It crossed our minds that perhaps for security reasons the mayor wouldn’t be allowed to partake of our food.) Thinking it was a personal visit more than a campaign stop, there hadn’t been an attempt to have a crowd waiting, but a few folks showed, as did Blanchard’s mayor, Jeffrey Brownfield, and council member, Wendy Brownfield, plus a few others who briefly popped in.

Three car loads of guests arrived. The mayor, who is quite tall, unfolded his legs from the back seat of an SUV and received our greeting. He shook Larry’s hand and discussed previous exchanges Larry had with the mayor’s Aunt Jean (age 94). Larry had been Aunt Jean’s tour guide on a visit several years earlier. The mayor called Aunt Jean on the spot and she and Larry had another little visit.

The mayor and friends were invited inside to look at a display of old photos of Blanchard. There was the school the mayor’s grandfather and aunts had attended, the church where their family names are listed in the membership book, and the line of stores and business buildings that are no more. He picked up a photo of a dapper man dressed in a suit and derby hat holding the bridal reins of a sleek and saddled mule. “What is this?” the mayor asked.  Larry said, “That’s the last presidential candidate to visit Blanchard, William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska.” The mayor loved that. The rest of the tale is that Bryan campaigned against Woodrow Wilson, 1911-1912. Bryan arrived by train to speak at a lyceum series held in the old Opera House auditorium. A snow storm arrived and as snow storms can manage, diminished the crowd considerably, but Bryan went ahead and spoke, then overnighted at the hotel. He did not charge the town a fee for his coming, because he said snow storms were a work of nature and not the town’s fault that a crowd couldn’t gather. And the mule? The mule was a mascot, a pre-staged photograph, the link being Bryan was as stubborn as a mule in his political efforts and ideology.

Larry walked the mayor and his family to the old hotel which is a replacement building for the first hotel that burned, which would be the hotel standing when the mayor’s great-grandfather was mayor. (Reader, you may remember it as “The Hotel Café,” a nice restaurant that was in Blanchard for a couple years and later turned into a private residence.  Incidentally, it is vacant and possibly available soon.)

While the mayor visited, aides waited outside by their vehicles. Who were those people? Administrative aides to the mayor and a security detail from the New York City Police Department. They go where the mayor goes. They spelled each other to come inside for coffee and a muffin, and as the mayor ate his muffins and drank coffee before he wandered town, they kept track of him. They found the town’s situation of being built on the state line unique and had photos taken with the “Welcome to Missouri” sign.

There was a moment to visit with Mrs. [Chirlane McCray] deBlasio. I asked, “Are you ready to move into the White House?”  She laughed and said, “No. Is anyone ever prepared for that?” Knowing she lives in a mansion and museum I asked about the home provided for the New York City mayoral families. She said, “It was built in 1799 by a prosperous merchant and Tory, named Gracie. He built it on several acres overlooking the East River. It eventually fell into disrepair and during Mayor LaGuardia’s term in office (1934-45) the mansion was restored and established as an official residence for New York City mayors.” I also asked if living with a security detail was difficult. She said, “One adjusts. Everything has a trade-off, a pro and con, and they are very considerate of us, so we are used to it.” Of her writing career she said there wasn’t much time to pursue that, though she does use her influence for women’s rights issues, particularly that of black women.

The deBlasios have two children: a daughter, Chiara, and a son, Dante. Dante has recently graduated from college and is helping his father with his campaign. He said he eventually wants to have a career in public service.

After an aide established a flight from Kansas City back to New York City (their scheduled flight had been cancelled), they situated themselves in the SUVs. The mayor once again crammed his tall self into the back seat, rolled down his window, and waved as they left town. The family travels in separate vehicles.

The security detail and aides were fascinated with our rural setting, lifestyle and hospitality. Everyone loved Larry’s stories and information, and for our part, we enjoyed playing host and helping a family rediscover their roots.

‘Til next time.