JD Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, is a Republican politician and now the nominee for vice president of the United States. Vance has built his political career by sharing stories about his difficult upbringing. But some of his claims have been questioned. For example, he wrote in the memoir that his mother, Bev, was the salutatorian (second-highest student) in her high school class in Middletown, Ohio. However, a former classmate from Middletown High School recently said this was untrue.
Peter McCartt, who graduated from Middletown High School with Vance’s mother, shared on social media, “In his book, he says she was the Salutatorian. Little problem, we didn’t have a Salutatorian, and she’s not even in the top 1/3 of my class,” and posted a scan of his high school graduation program as evidence.
I am from Middletown OH, home of JD Vance. I graduated from Middletown High School w/ his mother Bev. In his book he says she was the Salutatorian, little problem, we didn’t have a Salutatorian, she’s not even in the top 1/3 of my class. See a scan of my H.S. Graduation program: pic.twitter.com/0iiweySPsk
— Peter McCartt (@pmccartt) October 24, 2024
This revelation raises important questions: if Vance would exaggerate details about his family’s past for his memoir, what else might he exaggerate or bend for his political career?
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Surprisingly, most politicians are known for always reshaping personal stories to serve a political narrative. Donald Trump, for example, often spoke about his background in exaggerated terms to connect with voters, such as claiming he built his empire from a “small loan” from his father. These personal stories can make a candidate more relatable, but when the facts don’t add up, it raises concerns.
Vance’s rise to political influence followed a similar pattern, building on his memoir’s emotional pull to speak on issues of class and poverty. For readers of Hillbilly Elegy, Vance’s story of struggling against the odds appealed deeply. But exaggerations like the one about his mother’s academic achievements could make people wonder if his connection to struggling working-class Americans is as strong as he claims.
While it’s understandable to want to share one’s family history, Vance and similar politicians have stretched their stories too far, turning personal struggles into convenient political ammunition. Vance’s portrayal of his family’s Appalachian roots and his “escape” from poverty fit well with conservative talking points about “personal responsibility.” But the reality is much more complex. Real socioeconomic problems, like lack of access to quality education and healthcare, are systemic and require real policy solutions, not just inspiring anecdotes.
If there’s anything history has shown us, it’s that bending the truth doesn’t benefit the public. Past leaders who manipulated their narratives to gain support often overlooked or harmed the very people they claimed to represent. Politicians like Vance and Trump would have us believe that hard work alone can lift everyone out of poverty. Yet, statistics show that poverty rates in America remain high, particularly in rural and working-class communities. Instead of fictionalizing success stories, real progress requires an honest discussion of America’s challenges and thoughtful solutions.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
