# Have you ever met the President? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734 "2006-07-23T19:04:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/41 "2006-07-25T00:46:15Z")
I met Bill Clinton about two months ago. I was walking down the street in Manhattan and there was a crowd gathering outside Cooper Union. Clinton had spoken at their commencement just minutes before, and the crowd was hoping for a glimpse. I joined them and got to shake the former president’s hand. I said, “Nice to meet you!” He said, “Thank you very much!” I was pretty star-struck. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/42 "2006-07-25T01:34:11Z")
[QUOTE=delphica] It seems like President Clinton has met everybody! [/QUOTE] Maybe the White House has or had a large intern program;) ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/43 "2006-07-25T01:40:18Z")
Well, it certainly had _one_ large intern program who spent a lot of time in the Oval Office. :eek: I’m going to hell. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/44 "2006-07-25T03:32:01Z")
[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima] Whoa. Most appropriate typo… EVER. Took my BOOK. My BOOK. b-o-o-k **B-o-o-k.** [/QUOTE] I enjoyed this so much. Thank you. You have made my week. No, I’ve never met a President. I did see Clinton speak at my college, but he was incredibly far away, so my friend and I mostly watched the snipers pop up and down on the nearby buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/45 "2006-07-25T08:54:48Z")
I worked for a call centre and talked to the Governor of one of the midwestern states. I knew he was the governor because every few minutes he would say something about being Governor, or his duties, or the election, or how he always wanted to be governor. Since I was, in fact, privy to a lot of his personal information through my job, I went home and Googled him and discovered that he was, in fact, the Governor. Seemed like a bit of a jerk to me. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/46 "2006-07-25T09:31:27Z")
Closest I every came was marching in Eisenhower’s 2nd inaugural parade. We passed in review before him. I recall that he looked strange because I think he was wearing makeup for the TV cameras. TV was almost all B&W in '57 and it washed out the color of skin, making you look like a corpse if you didn’t have makeup. Anyway it was colder than the hinges of hell and I was in my last few days of Navy bootcamp. It was quite an honor to be chosen though. Only president I’ve ever seen in person. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/47 "2006-07-25T18:28:17Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] I have to say, I don’t think there will be many affirmative replies to this thread. Meeting heads of state is not a common thing at all, and meaningful meetings are even rarer. [/QUOTE] Wrong! ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/48 "2006-07-26T10:29:55Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] I have to say, I don’t think there will be many affirmative replies to this thread. Meeting heads of state is not a common thing at all, and meaningful meetings are even rarer. [/QUOTE] Meaningful ? Well, the presence of the President makes a huge impression on most folks. Sure has on me each time. I once chapperoned a 4th grade trip from a NY school to Philadelphia for a few days. Reagan happened to be in town, and his motorcade zipped by. It was all the kids talked about for hours after, and all the saw was a hand waving through the half-opened window. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/49 "2006-07-26T14:28:21Z")
Bill Clinton, twice. Once at a German-American international relations symposium (sorry, Bill, that I fell asleep!), and another time at a book signing (sorry, Bill, that I bought 5 copies of your book and then just got them signed so that I could mark them up 400% and sell them on eBay!) And then George Bush once when I played music in a band at a Republican rally of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/50 "2006-07-26T14:53:16Z")
When I was a little kid, I shook JFK’s hand while he was campaigning in CA. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/51 "2006-07-26T16:13:09Z")
[QUOTE=Kozmik] I met Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention. So here’s how it went: I was in line for the book signing. There was something I wanted to ask him. But I didn’t want the Secret Service or anyone else to overhear. I made a statement and then asked a question in the context of the statement. He hesitated and answered in the affirmative. No, I won’t tell you or anyone the details but suffice to say, as a former President, he knows a hell of a lot more than you think. [/QUOTE] I swear to Pete, you oughtta be banned for this. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/52 "2006-07-26T16:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] When I was a little kid, I shook JFK’s hand while he was campaigning in CA. [/QUOTE] Remind me to _never_ shake your hand. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/53 "2006-07-26T17:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=simster] Remind me to _never_ shake your hand. [/QUOTE] Is that a general request to the world at large? 'Cos if it is, I’ll do the honors. Hey **simster** , don’t forget to never shake **DrDeth** ’s hand. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/54 "2006-07-26T18:06:31Z")
I didn’t get to meet him, but I saw then V.P. George Bush drive by in his limo when he came to town to give a speech at one of the colleges. He had his nose pressed against the glass like a little kid outside a candy store, grinning like a goon and waving. One of our state reps was my 10th grade French teacher. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/55 "2006-07-26T19:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=simster] Remind me to _never_ shake your hand. [/QUOTE] Why? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/56 "2006-07-26T19:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Why? 😕 [/QUOTE] In fact, dudes have _asked_ to shake my hand when they hear this story. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Zachlee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Zachlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zachlee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/57 "2006-07-26T19:21:21Z")
I think it’s interesting to see how many people have met Clinton. Compared to other presidents. As has been pointed out, he’s a charismatic fellow who likes meeting people. Plus, he apparently enjoys a good boob signing. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/58 "2006-07-26T19:42:58Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Why? 😕 [/QUOTE] As a WAG, he’s probably referring to JFK being assassinated some point after the fact. BTW, arriving at this thread via threadspotting, I was wondering where the typo was. Then I get to the “he took my boob” part, and like the others, didn’t realize that that was the typo at first. My first thought was “wow, he really is that forward”. I then get to the part where he put the book down, and it was at that point where the typo registered in my mind. I then preceded to stifle my laughter in cubicle for a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/59 "2006-07-26T19:44:58Z")
And unless I’ve entered a time warp, preceded = proceeded. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734/60 "2006-07-26T19:48:47Z")
[QUOTE=Hoopy Frood] As a WAG, he’s probably referring to JFK being assassinated some point after the fact. [/QUOTE] exactly, that and his handle is “Dr Deth”… so, JFK shook his hand…etc… etc…oh well…sorry to interupt… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-met-the-president/365734.md?page=4)