When people ask me what thirty-five years in the federal government taught me, I often smile before answering. Civil service is not glamorous, nor is it designed for fame or fortune. But it offers something rare: a front-row seat to the struggles and triumphs of a nation trying to live up to its ideals. My journey—from growing up in poverty to serving in high-level government roles, then raising three children as a single father—has convinced me of one thing: America’s future depends on rediscovering the values that once made us strong.
The Humble Beginnings That Shaped Me
I did not enter government service with privilege. I was raised in a family of fourteen, on land once tied to colonial history, where hardship was a constant companion. My father was a poor tenant farmer; my mother, in contrast, came from a middle-class background and valued education. That mix of grit and aspiration was the foundation of my life.
Like many Americans, I entered civil service not with lofty ambitions but with a simple hope—to provide for my family and contribute to something larger than myself. What I found was a world where small decisions mattered, where integrity was tested daily, and where character counted more than titles.
Lessons from Inside Government
During my years of service, I rose through the ranks, but titles and offices were never the valid reward. What mattered were the lessons I carried with me:
- Self-reliance is indispensable. No one in government—or in life—should expect to be carried indefinitely. Every success I saw came from individuals willing to take responsibility for themselves and their work.
- Civility and compassion still have power. Whether working across agencies or across party lines, I learned that respect opens doors that force can never unlock.
- Unity is fragile but possible. Government is often portrayed as a battleground, and in truth, it is. But I witnessed moments when people set aside differences for the common good. Those moments reminded me of what America can be.
Raising Children Alone: A Second Classroom
While serving my country, I was also raising three children on my own after a divorce. They were just one, three, and five when the responsibility fell to me. The demands of fatherhood often mirrored the demands of government: patience, sacrifice, and a vision for the future. Just as America cannot thrive without investing in its youth, I knew my family could not succeed without structure, love, and discipline.
The lessons I instilled in my children—character, civility, education, and respect—are the same lessons America must hold onto if it hopes to heal its divisions. Parenting alone taught me that strength is not about domination, but about service. That truth applies equally to fathers and to nations.
The America I See Ahead
It is no secret that America today feels more divided than it has in decades. Having worked inside its institutions, I believe the way forward is not through louder arguments or deeper trenches, but through a recommitment to values that transcend politics.
- Character must matter again. If citizens and leaders alike prize honesty, compassion, and common sense, trust can be rebuilt.
- Education must remain central. Just as my mother believed in education as a path upward, so must America invest in learning, innovation, and the wisdom of history.
- Respect for others is non-negotiable. I was raised to treat others as I wished to be treated. That simple creed could ease much of today’s hostility.
- Unity is our inheritance. My ancestors chose America because it promised liberty and opportunity. That promise can endure—if we stop seeing neighbors as enemies.
Hope Rooted in History
The plantation where I grew up was once shaped by Pierre L’Enfant, the same visionary who designed Washington, D.C. That connection to history reminds me that America’s story is always unfinished. Each generation writes its chapter, with choices that either strengthen or weaken the foundation.
My book, A Lot of People Slept Here, is more than an autobiography. I attempt to share what I’ve seen—of poverty and perseverance, of government and grace, of hardship and hope. I believe America can heal, but only if we remember that freedom is both a gift and a responsibility.
A Future Worth Fighting For
Thirty-five years in civil service taught me that the greatness of America does not lie in monuments, policies, or leaders alone. It lies in ordinary people who choose self-reliance over dependency, civility over cruelty, unity over division, and love of country over cynicism.
The work of building a better America is never finished. But if a boy from a poor farming family can rise through the ranks of government, raise children alone, and still believe in this nation’s promise, then perhaps there is reason for all of us to believe. America’s future is not predetermined—it is shaped by the grit, compassion, and hope of those willing to fight for it.