King was interviewing Tip O’Neill, who was an old man at the time. I don’t know how I remember this quote verbatim, but it just struck me as an odd thing to ask somebody. He asked: “how does it feel to be so close to meeting the man?” Anybody remember that?
Here’s a link to a transcript of the interview, conducted on CNN on April 8, 2001.
KING: Do you think about age a lot?
O’NEILL: I never think of age at all.
KING: Don’t?
O’NEILL: No, never.
KING: You don’t think that you know, you’re close to, meeting the Man?
O’NEILL: I never give that a thought. I think I lead a pretty good honorable, decent Christian life, to say that word. And I’m satisfied with my life, and I get through early, the day before last and ran out and played nine holes of golf all by myself. Sometimes I putt better when I’m alone. And I had a pretty good round, I’m happy. There’s no problem, my wife and I will be married 44 years on Saturday, and it’s her birthday and it’s Father’s Day.
Thanks, Dewey!