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The longest-serving governor of Massachusetts spends his time picking up Boston's trash

Former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis speaks at the HBO Documentary Films premiere of Addiction at the Hammer Museum on March 12, 2007, in Westwood, California.
Former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis speaks at the HBO Documentary Films premiere of Addiction at the Hammer Museum on March 12, 2007, in Westwood, California.
Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images

No one likes to live in a dirty, trash-filled city — especially not former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. A Boston resident had an incredible run-in with Dukakis a few days ago, David Kenner shared:

"This morning I befriended a nice old man who was picking up garbage at the train station on his way to work," Sarah E. Godfrey wrote to the Boston Globe.

"What a good citizen you are!" I said. He was grouchy and told me the train stations were always filthy. I agreed, but cringed when he bent down to pick up a food wrapper and what looked like a used napkin. I told him to make sure he washed his hands when he got to work. "That’s what my wife says," he replied.

He threw his collection in the trash bin when we got to the top of the stairs, then turned to me and asked, "How many ex-governors do you think go around picking up trash at train stations?" I laughed, and said, "Not many." Then his comment sunk in. I asked if he had, um, actually served as governor of Massachusetts. "Yes, for 12 years!" And that is how I met Michael Dukakis.

How many politicians ever get their hands this dirty?


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