As a kid growing up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, John Kasich's early aspirations were to be either a Catholic priest or president of the United States.
As a fourth grader, Kasich served as an altar boy at Mother of Sorrows but says in his book, Stand for Something, that he liked girls too much to choose a profession that demands celibacy.
He picked politics instead.
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Throughout his political career, Kasich has harkened back to his days growing up in hardscrabble McKees Rocks. He grew up with a brother and sister and loving parents, John and Anne.
His dad delivered mail for 29 years – the Kasich's modest two-story house was on his route – and his mom sorted mail for the U.S. Postal Service. "They were honest, considerate, diligent, God-fearing people. They had a strong, tireless work ethic. They didn't smoke. They didn't spend a whole lot of money – which worked out just fine, because they didn't make a whole lot of it, either," Kasich wrote in his third book, Every Other Monday. "They had enough, though. They never complained. And they never did without."
When it came time to pick a college, Kasich looked west to Ohio State University.
Pittsburgh media outlets previously reported that George Kasich, a high school guidance counselor, advised his nephew, who wanted to study political science, that he wouldn’t be able to get a job in McKees Rocks as a Republican.
“He just wanted to get out of town,” said George Kasich, the uncle who advised him to consider OSU. “He picked Ohio State because he thought it was a good institution. And he still thinks it’s a good institution.”
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George Kasich declined to elaborate on why his nephew wanted out of McKees Rocks. “I’m not supposed to tell you anything. My son tells me mums the word. Okay?”
He added that he believes John Kasich would make a good president. “Absolutely, no doubt in my mind. He has the drive. He is a believer. To me, he is an inspiration.”
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