Where one enters the economic mobility story, which rungs, which race, which gender, which mindset, which opportunities, and with what politics all matter. In 1916, two years before Jack’s birth, Bilbo had served his first term as governor of Mississippi. Later, at the time of Jack’s adolescence and late teenage years, Bilbo would again serve as governor, from 1928 to 1932. Bilbo would run for the US Senate and win. He served from 1935 to 1947, just as Jack was reaching young adulthood and preparing to attend college and law school. Jack had long observed the movers and shakers and vowed to become one.