Immigration and Assimilation
In her book, Amy Klobuchar gives details about how her mother’s parents moved from Switzerland and settled in America. Klobuchar also writes about the immigration of her father’s grandparents from Slovenia to America. Once Klobuchar’s grandparents settled in the U.S, they had to adapt to the culture of the country. Assimilation of these families in the U.S was met with zeal, curiosity, and aggression. For example, Klobuchar’s grandfather went to Canada first before entering the U.S. Eventually, the families settled in the U.S and adapted to its culture.
Politics and Influence
Klobuchar was well-known within her neighborhood before becoming the U.S senator. That means she was influential before joining politics. Influence and politics go hand in hand. Klobuchar used her influence to get elected to the US senate. People loved her ideologies about making America bipartisan. Klobuchar used a door-to-door approach in her political campaigns to lobby people to vote for her. When people inquired about her identity she replied “the senator next door” hence the title of the book. Klobuchar’s influence was key to winning a political seat.
Confidence and Optimism
Throughout the book, Klobuchar talks about her confidence and optimism in achieving her goals. Klobuchar considers Hubert Humphrey as her role model. The sole reason she admires Humphrey is because of his confidence and optimism about American democracy. Klobuchar’s confidence and optimism are evident when she vies for a political seat as a woman. Women who vie for political seats are confident and optimistic.
Family and Relationships
The book begins with Klobuchar unveiling details about her family members. Klobuchar explains how her father and mother struggled to ensure that their children lack nothing. Her father struggled with alcoholism. The divorce of her parents occurred when she was a child. The relationship between her parents was not cozy due to her father’s addiction to alcohol. The memoir also narrates about Klobuchar’s marriage with her husband, John Bessler. She explores the importance of relationship by detailing how her husband encouraged her to join politics. Klobuchar also talks about her daughter, Abigail, and how she shaped her decision to go for an elective seat.
Legislation and Governance
Klobuchar was among the first people who advocated for laws warranting mothers forty-eight hours stay in hospital after delivery. She also campaigns for a bipartisan approach in enacting laws that are helpful to the public. Klobuchar believes that good governance involves lawmakers and all elected leaders to serve the public as required by the constitution. As well, Klobuchar writes about forming alliances across political divides to resolve the country’s problems.
