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Presidental encounters (1 Viewer)

Gary_E

Second Unit
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May 6, 1999
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Since I've been watching the war coverage, I began to think about the fact I've seen two presidents in person during my lifetime (I'm 45).

When I was 10 or 11, while visiting my Grandparents on Long Island N.Y., I saw Richard Nixon during his first presidential campaign. He was riding in a motorcade, sitting on the top of the rear seat of a convertible. He was waving at the people lining the street,passing no more than 30 feet away from me.

In 2000, I saw George W. Bush in Coconut Grove, Florida during his presidential campaign. I was standing outside an outdoor restaurant, when his motorcade made it's way down the street. The SUVs stopped right in front of me and he was escorted out of the vehicle into a building across the street. When he got out of the SUV, he turned to the restaurant patrons and waved. I gave him a thumbs up and he gave one back. I felt very proud that day.

I've been wondering how rare it is to see a President up close?

Regards,
-Gary
 

Jeff Kleist

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Dec 4, 1999
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Bob Dole gave a speech in my town because it has the highest concentration of republicans in the nation, right down the street.

I thought most of my town were just bigots, but the wacko screaming at him "YOU DIDN"T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ABORTION! YOU LIAHHHHHHHHHHHHH" was hysterical
 

Seth_S

Second Unit
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Oct 12, 2001
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I've worked for (and will probably work for again) PA Governor Ed Rendell. If Bush wins again in '04, it's pretty much a sure thing that Rendell will be on the Democratic ticket in '08. Anyway, you can't come much closer to him than having him grab your arm at a fund-raiser, and tell you that you must try the lobster (it wasn't that good).
 

Todd K

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Oct 21, 2001
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Funny, every candidate I've seen in person on the campaign trail has lost. Oh well, I'll try not to abuse this power.

Saw Clinton by accident in '98 as he happened to be driving in a limo in Chicago the same week I was visiting. Kinda far away.

Saw GWB (in '01) in a limo as well, but it was much more up close and personal. I was at the Jefferson Memorial the same time he was visiting. For some reason everyone in the crowd miscalculated where his motorcade would exit, except for me. I stood on the curb with no one around me for about 20-30 feet, and when he drove by, I waved. He reciprocated.

On a side note, I have a friend who just a few months ago sat next to Clinton on a discussion panel. From what she told me, he was pretty personable.

For living in DC I don't see that many pols. running around. Except for one time Warren Christopher (after leaving office) was walking by himself down the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue at about 10:30 at night. I found that a little odd.
 

JustinCleveland

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Met George W. Bush about 2 years ago, on a campaign stop. Although I didn't have to cover it for work, I went anyway since I had the press credentials.

Just met George H.W. Bush a couple weeks ago at his apartment in College Station, TX when I was on the A&M campus for a conference.

Met Bill Clinton before he was President, still Gov. of Arkansas when I was visiting family in Little Rock/Benton AK. My uncle was a chaplain at the time, and for whatever reason, the Gov. was around. So I met him.

As for candidates, I've met tons, but no story tops the time I got hung up on by Pat Buchannan in a live, on-air interview. I went Bill O'Reilly on him, I think was the problem. That, and I found out later I was just about to spoil the punchline of his entire speech to a local college later that day with my line of questioning. But it made me feel big!
 

Evan Case

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Jan 22, 2000
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Almost saw W. at Pitt during the 2000 campaign--he was giving a speech at the other end of campus. I was feeling pretty hungry though, so I went to a cafeteria instead (this may have actually been during primaries, so it wasn't as big a deal to me at the time).

Then, stranger still, I was leaving a film class last year at around 9pm. At the bottom of the building is an auditorium which was on this occasion guarded by some cops. I peeked inside only to see former candidates Pat Buchanan and Ralph Nader squaring off in a debate. I had no prior knowledge of this event, so it was pretty surprising seeing these two just down the aisle from me.

My mom also has an autographed picture of Ike, but I don't think that counts.

Evan
 

Chris Moe

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I saw Clinton and Hillary, they were eating at Chez Panisse (very famous restaraunt) which is about a block from my house, saw them getting into their limo. This was while he was still pres. Saw him and actually shook his hand a few years later. Myself and a couple of buddies went to a bar/restaraunt in SF after work and he happened to be there.

Almost saw Bush Jr., he was eating at Chez Panisse as well, but I only saw secret service men didn't actually get to see the president.
 

Mary M S

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Mar 12, 2002
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I have not ‘seen’ President Bush, since he became so. But when his father was President, my best Friends Sister lived 2 doors down. The first time I went over there to drop off children the Sister volunteered to baby-sit after Sr. was in office startled me.…..I had forgotten he was in the neighborhood...and suddenly saw the Secret Service had rented the house directly opposite from hers. When I pulled in the driveway, I could see an Agent in the huge picture window, which had no treatments, and wondered if they ran plates or some such on everyone coming into the neighborhood. It definently felt as if eyes where on my back entering her residence. She hated it when he left his home for the Governor’s Office. She had been jogging every morning at 6am, and said she never felt safer in her life.

My son and I met him during his tenure as Governor of Texas, when at a swearing in ceremony in the Texas HOR. I have a pics of us with him that day and spoke with him myself for a few polite sentences at 3 different moments. He was extremely personable.

Saw Clinton go by in a motorcade in Dallas once during his Presidency, just happened on it as it went by the Dallas Arboretum and WRL.
 

Ashley Seymour

Supporting Actor
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Jun 29, 2000
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Saw some obscure pre primary candidate speak at the student union building in Albany N.Y. He later turned into Jimmy Carter.

When I moved to Idaho, I was invited to Lincoln Day banquet in February 1978 by my branch manager. He was invited by a friend who was running for congress in our district. After going through the receiving line I asked by manager who it was I shook hands with - I had only been in Idaho nine months and was not as up on the elected officials as I should have been. I was told that the first in line was Jim McClure, Senator from the State of Idaho. Wow, embarrased! Next was George Hansen, congresman for our district. I was getting ready to get up and leave out of extreme embarassment. At least I know the featured speaker. I had gone to library to check up on his government service. Ambassador to China and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. At least I knew George H.W. Bush when I shook his hand and he asked where my wife was. She was working that night.

I was not finished with having the others at my table have their fun at my expense. I commented that Bush really didn't give a good speach - because he had a hard time speaking off the cuff. Duh, like it didn't take long before the rest of the country found this out. The laugh came when I mentioned that Congresman Hansen gave a good speach. Even the people at my table who were in his party - of course - had a laugh because George was kind of a cross between Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich. His views were similar and he was very good at speaking. To prove Carter and the liberal press wrong, he went to Nicaragua and walked around the city at the time of the revolution in 78. Then in 80, he flew to Teheran and talked his way into the U.S. Embassy and met with the hostages. When he returned to the U.S. he was never debriefed by the State Department, C.I.A. etc. He proved he had more balls than brains. A pretty interesting, but mixed soul.

I met Ed Clark, Libertarian, in 1980 at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Oh yeah, presidential encounters. Can't count guys I voted for huh?

Saw Regan when he flew out to a local high school in Idaho Falls in 84 while on the stump.

My front yard is a mile from the end of our airport runway here in Boise. I took a photo from my front yard of Air Force One when Clinton made a visit here in 2000.
 

Jon_Are

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Jun 25, 2001
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I've been wondering how rare it is to see a President up close?
I see George Washington in my wallet all the time, and Abe Lincoln too.

Once in a while I'll catch a glimpse of Alexander Hamilton or even Andrew Jackson.

I rarely see Ulysses S. Grant and almost never see Ben Franklin.

Wait...those last two weren't even presidents. :D

Jon
 

Michael*K

Screenwriter
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May 24, 2001
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Saw George H.W. Bush when he came to speak to the Rotary Club back in 1989. Nope, I'm not in the Roatry Club...I was there to protest the sorry state of the economy. :D
 

Devin U

Second Unit
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Jun 23, 2002
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399
Never met a US pres, but when I was living in England, I met Tony Blair on Croydon High Street. He was campainging for a local Labour canidate. Got to shake his hand and talk to him. He asked me why I was living there.
 

Tim Hoover

Screenwriter
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May 27, 2001
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I shook Clinton's hand during a re-election campaign stop at my old high school. I brought along my cousin, who was 12 at the time. He was not impressed...
 

Marvin

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Apr 9, 1999
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Marvin
Just one: I saw LBJ wave from his limousine, riding in a motorcade during his re-election campaign.

I think I must be the only one on the HTF who knows who "LBJ" is...
 

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