One of the first times I heard Robert Menendez speak was in the winter of 1974 when he was a candidate for the Union City Board of Education. As a native of Union City, I was at a candidates’ night with a group of friends who sought to become politically active.

He was so young – not even 21 – but there he was running on a slate with four men his senior, a doctor, a teacher, a cop and an undertaker, to help oversee the city school system.

Menendez seemed mature beyond his years. Who can remember what he said more than 40 years ago,  but he spoke with confidence.

Menendez’ entry into the race was not surprising. In later years, Menendez would make much out of his rise from a tenement in Union City to the halls of power in Washington D.C. The rags to riches story always seemed a bit dubious to me.

In truth, Menendez was selected to run for the board by William V. Musto  (Bill to his friends), the city’s political boss.

Politics in Hudson County probably never is, or was, normal, but those times were a bit turbulent for Musto. Somehow, his machine was beaten in the most recent municipal election.  Musto lost his seat as mayor, although he remained a state senator. That year’s school board election was a chance for the machine to regain its footing.

Menendez’ attributes had nothing to do with life in a cold-water flat, but a lot to do with his youth and his background. In crass political terms, the machine needed a Cuban on the ticket to attract votes and support from what was then the city’s emerging ethic group. Menendez certainly fit the bill. He was born in the United States, but his parents immigrated from Cuba.

It’s hard to see any real idealism here. Musto was hardly a self-serving leader. He would eventually go to federal prison on corruption charges. And just a few years before, Musto’s father, who was then president of the school board, was found guilty in an extortion scheme.

In casting his lot with Musto, Menendez was clearly looking for a way to advance politically as quickly as possible. He was a realist when many his age were not. One supposes he deserves credit for being practical.

He was also successful.

Menendez and his slate won the election and soon thereafter, Menendez moved from school board member to secretary or administrator of the board. This was a nice patronage plum and unlike serving as a board member, a paying job.

The history from then on is well known. When Musto ultimately went to prison, it was Menendez who testified against him. But among Union City political observers, there was always an open – and maybe unanswerable – question.

Why did Menendez split with his mentor, Bill Musto?

Did he finally realize Musto was corrupt?

Or did he simply want to save his hide?

Whatever the real reason, things turned out well for Menendez.

His climb was steady. He became mayor and then emulated Musto by serving in the state Legislature,. But then, he moved further up the rungs of power, winning a seat in the House of Representatives and ultimately getting an appointment to the U.S. Senate in 2006 when then-senator Jon Corzine became governor. Menendez won election in 2006 and was reelected in 2012.

For the most part, Menendez’ tenure in Washington had been relatively scandal free. After all, he is rather dull.

It’s true that Republicans, most notably then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, tried to make a big deal out of the senator leasing part of a Union City home he owned to a non-profit agency that got federal money. The argument was that by supporting federal grants to the agency, Menendez was essentially enabling them to pay him rent. But an apparent investigation into this went nowhere.

But then came Salomon Melgen.

Melgen was a guy who needed help. The Florida doctor had problems with the federal government on two fronts, the IRS and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Charged with overbilling Medicare by a staggering $8.9 million, he reached out to Menendez for help. As a resident of Florida, Melgen was not a constituent, but the senator was willing to lend a hand.

Now we know why.

Melgen induced Menendez with an assortment of goodies – private jet rides, stays at a posh Dominican resort and a vacation in Paris. Who could resist that?

Of course, whenever things like this surface, you need to ask, what happened to common sense?

The senator had to know, or should have known, that accepting extravagant favors from a guy who wanted his help was wrong even if it was not technically illegal.

But Menendez apparently had no qualms about doing so.

And that in itself was a moral failing.

Just like more than 40 years ago it was a moral failing for a young Menendez to cast his lot with a disreputable political boss.

Bill Musto launched Menendez’ career in 1974.

Some 43 years later,  Salomon Melgen almost ended it.

A hung jury gives the senator some breathing room. And who knows if the government will even try him again.

But no matter how this saga unfolds from now on, Menendez can’t run from his poor judgement in picking friends.