Political or judicial bigwigs you've met

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Presidents, Vice Presidents, U.S. Senators, members of Congress, Governors, or candidates for the same. Supreme Court justices and the like. For non-U.S. Dopers, royalty, prime ministers, etc.

How and when did you meet him or her? Yes, I’m a political junkie.

Here’s my lifetime list:

Bill Clinton - Met him in Cleveland in 1992 when he was first campaigning for President. It was just after he clinched the nomination, and I met him in a receiving line. I asked him who he’d be picking as his running mate, and he grinned and said, “I don’t know yet. Who would you suggest?” I drew a blank… but probably wouldn’t have said Al Gore.

Dick Gephardt - Met him in Vermont in 1987, just as his first Presidential campaign was getting underway. We chatted briefly about nothing in particular.

Mike Dukakis - Was interviewed by him in late 1987 in New Hampshire for a national field staff position along with a dozen other campaign newbies. He had a pile of our resumes on his lap - saw that I’d gone to Oberlin and said he almost went there but it had rained the entire weekend he’d visited the college (he ended up going to Swarthmore). He was a lot more personable than he came across on TV. I got the job and saw him at several other campaign events later.

Al Gore - Met him during the NH Dems state convention in late 1987. I was working for Dukakis and sort of ran into Gore on the convention floor. He stuck out his hand, despite my Dukakis button. I shook his hand and stammered, 'May the best man win!" He looked at me funny but said thanks.

Bob Ney - Republican Congressman from Ohio. Met him in 1995 when I was a lawyer for a legal-aid society in SE Ohio, urging his support of the Legal Services Corporation. (He seemed receptive, although I’ve never looked up his voting record on the issue since). He’s the guy who suggested that the Capitol cafeteria serve “Freedom fries” instead of French fries - um, not his finest hour.

Doug Applegate and *Marcy Kaptur * - Had brief college internships with both of these Ohio members of Congress. Not much to tell.

Antonin Scalia - Met the Supreme Court justice when he spoke at my law school in 1991, and as a member of the student bar assn. had dinner with him and other student leaders. He was witty and charming, but his after-dinner speech back at the law school was about as boring as you can possibly imagine.

Stephen Breyer - Met the Supreme Court justice when I was sworn in as a member of the SC bar in 1992. He was very friendly, easygoing, willing to chat and sign autographs for the horde of my fellow law fraternity members who gathered around him.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg - Met her at the same time. She very methodically went around saying hi and shaking hands, and then headed for the door, muttering loud enough for me to hear as she passed, “Now, back to work!”

Shook hands with Ohio Gov. *Richard Celeste * during a parade in 1989. Heard then-VP *George H.W. Bush * give a speech in 1985, but didn’t meet him. Saw *Ronald Reagan *'s limo zip by me on a Washington, DC street around then, too.

That’s all I’ve got. And you?

2

Senator Arlen Specter lives in my neighborhood – I saw him once in the chain drugstore about halfway between his house and mine (and we’re talking a block and a half for each of us).

I said “Wow, this is weirder than seeing Ron Castille [former Philly DA] in the Acme [grocery store].” He said, “Ron Castille used to work for me [Specter also got his start as Philly DA] – he’s a weird guy.”

I regret not telling him I’m still holding a grudge about Anita Hill, but I was so surprised that I just went with the first thing to pop out of my mouth (see above).

3

I used to see Strom Thurmond a good deal, as my dad is a local businessman and his company had a box at the Clemson home games. Strom would drop in for the drinks a lot.

I met Papa Bush at an American Cancer Society thing when I was singing in my college choir. He impressed the hell out of me, even though I’m definately on the other side - he isn’t a charismatic guy on TV, but in person you honestly can’t look at anybody else in the room.

My friend J almost got into a fistfight with our lieutenant governor in a bar parking lot, does that count?

4

More than I care to recall, actually. I’d be scared to compile a list. Plus a hell of a lot of the ‘lobbyist/advocate’ sorts, too.

But mostly through work. So it wasn’t personal.

Did once pee next to Sam Nunn, though. That was a surprise.

5

I’ve met Bill Clements, now-former governor of Texas.

I’ve also met Charlie Stenholm (D), member of Congress.

Robin

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I once served Ann Richards a veggie burger. Does that count? :smiley:

(I’m short, but she’s reaaaaally short.)

7

Al Gonzales– right before I started to law school, I went with my dad to a Texas Bar Association IOLTA board meeting/luncheon that all the Texas Supreme Court Justices were invited to. The only one who showed up was Al Gonzales, a brand new appointee by then-Governor Bush. He ended up sitting next to me at lunch and chatted me up about my upcoming law school experience. Really nice guy. Very well pressed suits. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that he’s the U.S. AG now.

I’ve met all the current Texas Supreme Court Justices at one time or another and all the federal district and 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judges in the Houston federal courthouse, but Gonzales is the only really big name I can think of. Janet Reno spoke at my law school, but I didn’t really meet her. Oh yeah–Like MsRobyn, I’ve met Charlie Stenholm, too, but he was my representative (and should still be, if you ask me).

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I once saw Barbara Bush the mother eating in a McDonalds.

9

I met Kurt Waldheim once. He was a little creepy. Like Nosferatu. But very polite.

10

The only person I’ve met – that is, actually spoken to, is Justice Scalia. We laughed at each other’s jokes waiting at the baggage carousel at National Airport.

Oh, I know Ted Olsen – we work for the same firm. I don’t work with him, but we say hi when we pass each other in the halls, and I’ve had one conversation with him that lasted a few minutes. There are also a couple former Congressmen at my firm and two former Solicitors of Labor, and I’ve chatted with all of them several times.

Given my location, it’s not uncommon for me to see political figures, but I mostly don’t bother them. For instance, I’ve eaten lunch a table or two away from John Kerry, Bob Woodward, Wolf Blitzer, and Nina Totenberg. I’ve seen Barney Frank walking down Capitol Hill. I’ve been at a hearing conducted by Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman. Oh, and I introduced myself to John Glenn at the theatre once.

–Cliffy

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I met Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter when he was goobernor of Georgia. I met his brother Billy at the gas station he owned in Plains. I’ve also talked with the Carter’s at Habitat for Humanity site builds on a couple of occasions.

I’ve met a lot of Georga goobernors, so that’s no big deal to me.

Being as we are “The Peanut State” I like callin’ our Governors goobernors.

12

I met quite a lot of future Australian politicians while they and I were still university students, including Kim Beazley (current federal Leader of the Opposition), who knew me well enough to immediately remember my name after not seeing me for about 25 years, and John Bannon (Premier of South Australis from 1982 to 1992), who once stayed at my house in Sydney.

13

I’ve met President Clinton at one of his book signings. I’ve told the story here a few times, so I’ll spare you the details (but it was awesome!).

14

I’ve met former Ohio Senator (and spaceman) John Glenn.

It was at a parade in Columbus, after he went back up in space in 1998. I was a senior at John Glenn High School (the real one).

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As an Ohioan, a NASA supporter and a good Democrat, I’d love to meet John Glenn… but never have.

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Charles S. Robb (former Gov. and Senator)
Gerald Baliles (former Gov.)
Justice Lewis Powell
Judge William Webster
Howell Heflin (Sen. from Alabama)

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All from Minnesota:
Former Congressman, the late Paul Wellstone
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura
Congressman Norm Coleman
Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Plus many state legislators. Oh, and my husband’s uncle ran for governor when I was in high school.

18

We were seated with former PA governor Raymond Shafer at a faculty/alumni dinner once.

I also bused the table when the Dalai Lama was having lunch at the Harvard Faculty Club once.

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Met:

Newt Gingrich - he came to give a motivational ‘how to kick ass in your workplace’ speech at my former office in DC. This is just after I moved to the States, so I didn’t know much about him, just that he used to be in the House. Don’t think I would’ve been as impressed at the time had I known more…

Got caught in traffic by:

George W. Bush’s motorcade. I was walking back from the bus stop and was forced to sit on the side of the road for 45 minutes while they held up traffic. It then drove right past me. He was staying at the hotel just around the corner from my place here in Redmond, and was leaving to go to a campaign speech in Bellevue. All traffic was shut down on the busiest road in town (just off the highway) during rush hour. I wasn’t terribly impressed with that move.

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A couple more that Augecheek reminded me of – I saw Newt Gingrich at the opera once a year or two ago, well after he’d retired. I also saw a tourist almost get himself and his young son killed when they stopped in the middle of traffic on Washington Circle to wave to Bob Dole, who was riding in a limo. That was probably three or four months after he’d lost the election.

–Cliffy