I visited the Washington Monument when I was 10 years old and could see the White House in the distance. I remember wondering if the President could see me. What was his view? Thirty-five years later I had the chance to find out.
We lined up outside the Oval Office and were told that we would go in, shake hands with the President, and assemble by the fireplace to get a group photo. We were there from the American Lung Association to present the President of the United States with the Christmas Seal—an annual tradition that dated back to President Theodore Roosevelt when tuberculosis was ravaging the country.
The door opened and we were ushered in. One after another we shook hands with President George H.W. Bush and then (to our surprise) next in line behind him was Barbara Bush. After I shook hands with her and dutifully walked to where I thought the photos would be taken, I somehow found myself alone, talking to the President while the rest of our group was engaged in lively conversation gathered around Mrs. Bush and Millie—their beloved Cocker Spaniel. On the opposite side of the Oval Office, there was a phalanx of photographers clicking away at the two of us--the President and me. Among other things, he told me that Millie made the Secret Service crazy because the dog was constantly on the hunt on the White House lawn and constantly dragging dead squirrels into the house.
After a few minutes, it suddenly occurred to me that The President of the United States, Leader of the Free World, was engaged in conversation with the least important person in the entourage—me!
We lined up outside the Oval Office and were told that we would go in, shake hands with the President, and assemble by the fireplace to get a group photo. We were there from the American Lung Association to present the President of the United States with the Christmas Seal—an annual tradition that dated back to President Theodore Roosevelt when tuberculosis was ravaging the country.
The door opened and we were ushered in. One after another we shook hands with President George H.W. Bush and then (to our surprise) next in line behind him was Barbara Bush. After I shook hands with her and dutifully walked to where I thought the photos would be taken, I somehow found myself alone, talking to the President while the rest of our group was engaged in lively conversation gathered around Mrs. Bush and Millie—their beloved Cocker Spaniel. On the opposite side of the Oval Office, there was a phalanx of photographers clicking away at the two of us--the President and me. Among other things, he told me that Millie made the Secret Service crazy because the dog was constantly on the hunt on the White House lawn and constantly dragging dead squirrels into the house.
After a few minutes, it suddenly occurred to me that The President of the United States, Leader of the Free World, was engaged in conversation with the least important person in the entourage—me!
“Mr. President,” I said, “I’m wondering if we should bring everyone over for a photo.” He said, “Yeah. Yeah. You’re right.” And he called to Barbara to bring everyone over. We lined up and I (humbly) stepped to the back behind the Christmas Seal Chairman (Olympic Swimming 3x Gold Medallist Nancy Hogshead) and the Chairman of the American Lung Association Board of Directors (Anne Davis,MD). More photos, more conversation, and a few minutes later (on our way out) the President handed each of us a small gift box. (The guys got a tie-clip with the Seal of the President of the United States.)
I remember the elegance and the oval of the Oval Office. But what I most remember was the genuine warmth and grace of both George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. It was a great honor and a great privilege to be in the White House and to actually meet them in the Oval Office. But in that whole 15 minutes or so I never once thought to look out the window towards the Washington Monument to see if there were any 10 year-olds looking towards the White House wondering..."Can the President see me?"
I remember the elegance and the oval of the Oval Office. But what I most remember was the genuine warmth and grace of both George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. It was a great honor and a great privilege to be in the White House and to actually meet them in the Oval Office. But in that whole 15 minutes or so I never once thought to look out the window towards the Washington Monument to see if there were any 10 year-olds looking towards the White House wondering..."Can the President see me?"
