To understand what a unique politician Julia Carson was, you needed to see the late Congresswoman’s garage on Election day.  It was a behive of activity, ground zero in a get-out-the-vote effort that was separate from any conducted by the Democratic Party.

A big part of Julia Carson’s legacy is her legendary ability to turn out the vote.  The Wall Street Journal questioned some of the tactics she and her supporters used in an editorial it published a few years ago, but the Journal, like the rest of us in the media, never had an inside look at the operation.

I did get close, close enough to see the rows of card tables, and stacks of grocery bags, people coming and going, and Julia giving instructions.  Some in her own party question whether she turned out voters for any candidates other than herself, but that was their job, wasn’t it?

Julia did things her own way and that meant the Party often was not consulted.  The heartbeat of her Congressional office, her campaigns, and her family life was always centered in her home in the 2500 block of Park.  When we did interviews with Julia that’s usually where they took place.  Its an old house in an old neighbood and when Julia made it to Congress she upgraded but didn’t move.

She built an extension on the back of the home that became her primary living space and constructed a new, bigger garage.