By Lilac Nguyen & Isabella Nguyen, Assistant Arts Editor & Assistant News Editor |

Michael Dukakis sits in an armchair, wearing a sweatshirt from his years at Swarthmore College, smiling at the memories it holds. 

Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts for a record three terms and the Democratic Presidential Nominee in 1988, has witnessed decades of American politics. Scott Kerman’s 2025 book The Duke describes him as the “last honest politician,” but another of his qualities stands out: his optimism. 

A Harvard Youth Poll found that only 13% of young Americans believe their country is headed in the right direction, citing fears about AI, the economy, climate change, and political instability. At a time when many young people feel uncertain about the future, Dukakis argues that America today is far better than it was 60 years ago. 

He points to Massachusetts, which had “serious corruption problems” in the 1950s that have since been “cleaned up” significantly, creating a more transparent, democratic political process. He also recalls how, while attending Swarthmore in the 1950s, he cut the hair of Black classmates after local barbers denied them service. Now, he believes one of the clearest signs of progress is the racial and ethnic diversity of leaders in public life. 

Another source of Dukakis’s hope is his faith in younger generations. Our passion and willingness to engage, he says, prove that change is possible. To students unsure whether they can make a difference, Dukakis says, “You are part of a terrific generation … It is important for you to get involved now. I urge you on.”

So what can the average Winsor student do? Grette Buttner ’27, head of Winsor’s Current & Political Events club, encourages students to start locally, where their voices can “make a real difference.” Madelyn Litofsky ’28, a frequent attendee of the club, adds that our generation will one day inherit the responsibilities of leadership, and she encourages students to join clubs like CPE as a first step toward political involvement.

In a recent Upper School meeting, where students described Winsor’s political climate in one word, a shared sentiment prevailed: political discourse at Winsor feels sparse and one-sided. At a time when polarization often discourages cooperation, Dukakis stresses the importance of connecting with others on a human level. Reflecting on working alongside Republicans whose views sharply differ from his own, he says that, for the most part, “people are very reasonable.” Buttner echoes this mindset, saying Current & Political Events Club gives students a space to “sit with disagreement,” which she calls “the foundation of staying civically engaged.”

Even at 92 years old, Dukakis can still be found bettering his community one step at a time: painting over graffiti, picking up trash, and sharing life advice with neighborhood children. If a man who lived through World War II can still believe in progress, perhaps hope begins not in grand gestures but in small acts of engagement and advocacy that make our communities a little better.