How Many Presidents Have Crossed Your Path?
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Since I'm writing this on Presidents Day, a rather silly, manufactured holiday, I hereby ask what might be a rather silly question of our readers:
How many presidents, or future presidents, or former presidents, have you met, or at least seen, in person?
As near as I can tell, my personal total (if you count seeing only at a distance) is five. But considering how many retired military and diplomatic types we have around here, I'm sure many out there can leave me in the dust.
My first presidential encounter came back - way back - in the 1948 campaign. Harry S. Truman was out to beat Republican challenger Thomas Dewey. He spent a lot of his time on a "whistlestop tour," and that's what brought him to our town of Carthage, in his home state of Missouri.
I would have been 5 or 6 when my dad took my brother and me down to trackside to let us witness this bit of history. I don't remember anything that Truman said as he stood on the back of a caboose and briefly addressed a big crowd of us gathered there before heading off to the next stop.
If he talked about foreign affairs, he surely would have said something about the Marshall Plan for European recovery from World War II, which was then brand-new - and which was the brainchild of Secretary of State George Marshall, who later retired to Pinehurst. The one thing I do remember about Truman was that he looked shorter than I expected - which seems a common experience when everyday folks run into celebrities.
Since I have no Eisenhower stories, we now advance to 1963. I'm finishing out my three-year Army enlistment at the National Security Agency headquarters in Fort Meade, Md., which gave some of my buddies and me opportunities to visit nearby Washington, D.C.
On one of those trips, we were walking along the National Mall when a helicopter went soaring overhead and settled down onto the South Lawn of the White House. We hurried over to the iron fence just in time to get a front-row view as President John F. Kennedy waved to us from a distance as he stepped down onto the grass.
I remember that this handsome young president walked stiffly, like one with back troubles. We had no idea that he was only a few months away from an appointment with destiny in Dallas.
No Lyndon Johnson sightings. But it was during the 1964 campaign that, as a college student and newspaper newcomer in Springfield, Mo., I witnessed an appearance by California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who had come to town to campaign for LBJ's opponent, Barry Goldwater. Reagan impressed me greatly, if only from a distance. I came away convinced that he had a national future of his own.
For a minor experience with Johnson's successor, Richard Nixon, fast-forward to a dozen years after his resignation, when he spoke at a meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors that I attended in Washington.
Most of us initially had little interest in listening to this disgraced has-been. But he answered questions about foreign affairs with such impressive grasp of the issues, and without a note, that we ended up giving him a long standing ovation. And at a reception afterward, I got to meet him. He had a firm, friendly handshake.
Skip Gerald Ford, and we come to Jimmy Carter. In 1978, during a two-week seminar at the American Press Institute in Reston, Va., our group got to visit the White House. We sat around the Cabinet table for some briefings from aides. And then the president himself briefly entered to speak with us in person. I have a framed, signed photo of that session, but you can scarcely make me out in it.
Funny the things you remember. Not only was Carter shorter than I expected, but I was also struck with his blotchy complexion. He looked like a fair-skinned person who had spent too much time in the sun, presumably in Georgia peanut fields, and had to worry about skin cancer.
My last such experience came 20 years later at the Carter Center in Atlanta. After stepping out of a meeting to visit the bathroom, I ran into Carter in a hallway. He shook my hand, and I took the opportunity to tell him how much I admired all he had accomplished since leaving the White House. Fact is, he's been better as a former president than he ever was as president.
So there you have it. Five out of 44 means a little more than 10 percent of the presidents we've had so far in this republic. Not bad. But surely lots of you can beat that.
Steve Bouser is opinion editor of The Pilot. Contact him at (910) 693-2470 or by email at sbouser@thepilot.com.
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Comments
teufelhunden 3 months ago
There's a interesting book out now about the secret service. They basically talk about the presidents they've served. They talk about what phonies the Clintons were and how respectful and gracious President Bush and Laura Bush were to everyone. JFK and LBJ were ridiculous cheaters and they talk about who was hateful, heavy drinkers and totally phony. Interesting and entertaining.
Courseaire 3 months ago
I've got 3 in my wallet right now.
DingoMike 3 months ago
Well Steve I hate to admit that I have never met any presidents. Heck 2 of those fellas came to Fort Bragg and I couldn't get away from work to go see them. You lucky cuss. I also believe that Jimmy Carter is a much better man then he ever was as President.
LadyLynda 3 months ago
Ditto on Jimmy Carter - fine man - not so great a pres.......
citizen 3 months ago
I remember seeing-- but not meeting--Gerald Ford when he came to Pinehurst for the grand opening of the Golf Hall of Fame.
teufelhunden 3 months ago
The secret service thought Jimmy Carter to be very strange-he would be completely different in front of a camera. they said Gerald Ford was quite a character-very nice and very funny. They said Reagan was by far their favorite-he kept a "piece" tucked in his waistband. He was very kind, and respectful and gracious. They said that Obama is an enigma and Michelle was hateful.
clarabelle 3 months ago
teufelhunden - as usual - you are always the tool - simply regurgitating the crap you hear from faux news! Dumb as a republican filled caucus.
"Q: Does a recent book quote Secret Service agents saying denigrating things about Obama and other recent Democratic presidents while praising only Republicans?
A: No. The book's author, Ronald Kessler, states that a viral e-mail's descriptions of Obama and Clinton "are completely wrong." His book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties.
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/06/secret-service-tattletales/
geoffcutler 3 months ago
I met one president in person. Gerald Ford. But far better was meeting a sort-of almost president. George McGovern. I was quite young at the time, and when we shook hands he said, "and what state are you from, young man?" I said I was from Massachusetts. He said, "Ah, one of my favorite states."
Politics aside, George McGovern was a wonderful man.
geoffcutler 3 months ago
Come to think of it, if we must careen down the mountain on this sled to oblivion, I wish that George McGovern was driving, instead of who we've got.
clarabelle 3 months ago
" geoffcutler - Come to think of it, if we must careen down the mountain on this sled to oblivion, I wish that George McGovern was driving, instead of who we've got."
Right ........... politics aside!
btw - You don't think your "doomsday" scenario isn't getting OLD?
AFCHIEF 3 months ago
More useful comments from Clare! NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
geoffcutler 3 months ago
Must be very lonesome.
clarabelle 3 months ago
AFCHUMP
Almost peed my panties........ you telling someone else their comments are useless!
AFCHIEF 3 months ago
Clara Obama is waiting for you at the White House, needs his toilets cleaned, know you'd do it for free
clarabelle 3 months ago
" AFCHUMP............Clara Obama is waiting for you at the White House, needs his toilets cleaned, know you'd do it for free"
Now............. was that a "funny"............. from you?
btw - hope you are feeling better.........
teufelhunden 3 months ago
The book I speak of is very interesting indeed!!!
clarabelle 3 months ago
" teufelhunden - The book I speak of is very interesting indeed!!!"
I'll bet ..........did the aliens visit you again?
OldPilot 3 months ago
Presidents Day is "a rather silly and manufactured holiday"? It celebrates the birthdays of Washington & Lincoln and has been expanded to honor all former Presidents, including the first President, the image of whom appears on the Purple Heart. Once again Bouser shows himself to have the depth of a very shallow puddle in a parking lot! Is he stupid, just has bad luck when he is writing or simply senile?
moonchild7 3 months ago
I really enjoy politics and government but when it comes to the Presidents I've "seen" my history is sorta weird. I've "seen" one DEAD President, JFK at his funeral procession. Then I've seen 3 Presidential Candidates. First was George Wallace...I went to his speech in Wheaton, MD in 1972. That was the speech he gave before he went to Laurel, MD where he was shot. Then Eugene McCarthy in 1976 at a speech in Washington, DC, and finally John Edwards at a Campaign Rally in Chapel Hill in 2007. All losers, so I gave up trying to even go see an actual President anywhere. Oh, well.
Courseaire 3 months ago
I've met a few actors that played Presidents - does that count? After all, actors that play a certain roll become "so called" experts & are allowed to testify before Congress as experts.
clarabelle 3 months ago
which actors.............
geoffcutler 3 months ago
Teuf, what's the title of the book? Like to get a copy.
citizen 3 months ago
Geoff--the secret service book is probably Ronald Kessler's 'In the President's Secret Service.'
The_AnonymusProfit 3 months ago
I have met George Bush twice, and his son George W Bush three times. I have met Bill Clinton as well.
I have also had the opportunity to speak with Bob Dole and John Edwards.
As for future presidents, I have not "met" in person but just last week was on a lengthy conference call with Marco Rubio and I have met Jeb bush, both of whom will most likely be president one day.
And since Courseaire brought it up, I have met Martin Sheen who played Joshia Bartlet on the West Wing.
geoffcutler 3 months ago
Thanks!
buskwon 3 months ago
by buskwon
JimRussell44 3 months ago
Of course, the most famous actor to play a president was Ronald Reagan.
JimRussell44 3 months ago
While I did meet "W" at the White House, (something that Geoff Cutler refuses to accept), I have never actually met a real President. The next lowest point of my politician contacts involved me being asked to be in a reception line on the tarmac at RDU to meet VP Spiro Agnew as he stepped off his plane. I was there to meet a business associate arriving on a private aircraft and they needed people to be in the photos as he arrived. Evidently, nobody wanted to be seen with him because they had a tough time getting a line formed. While waiting for his plane to arrive, I did get to have a very nice conversation with a Secret Service agent who was a part of the group who were assigned to JFK during his presidency
geoffcutler 2 months, 4 weeks ago
JER, so it is you! Still carrying about that odd and as yet unexplained chip on your shoulder, I see. Probably time to get that looked at by a professional as it seems to have festered. I've never known of anyone to hold such a debilitating grudge.
debsalomon 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Sorry, gentlemen, but I've got the best story...won't tell it all. I had a lovely chat (interview) with then-president Bill Clinton in a diner, in Burlington, Vt., when he attended the National Governor's Conference there. No reporters, no interviews, no press conference was the dictum that preceded his short visit. But I was a "friend" of the diner owner, also (as a longtime reporter in a small state) knew the senator, governor and mayor who chose the eaterie (a Dem hangout) for lunch. The owner invited me to be one of the background people. Anyway, quite an experience...and a front-page story since AP, NYT, CNN, USAToday, Wash. Post, Time, Newsweek were right outside but couldn't get near him.
Shook hands with JFK when he spoke at Duke, my senior year, but he was still a senator. Now, let's see you turn this into something political or nasty!
debsalomon 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Almost forgot: Liddy Hanford (Elizabeth Hanford Dole) was my sorority sister at Duke...gorgeous, sweet, girl, on the "beauty court" as well as academic/leadership honors. Caught up with (don't call her) Liddy a couple times on the campaign trail. Where are she and Bob hiding out, these days?
Courseaire 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Liddy may be hiding from Bob since he acquired all that Viagra.
geoffcutler 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Deb, My mother-in-law said when she met President Clinton at a White House function that you just didn't realize how good looking he was until you met him face to face. She said her knees got weak. Did you find that to be true as well?
JimRussell44 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Geoff, no chip on the shoulder. I'm just a guy who doesn't allow posers to slide by without taking some flack.
geoffcutler 2 months, 4 weeks ago
JER, I must say I was impressed early on with your return. So polite and seemingly erudite. But then, it wasn't long before you were just the same old JER again. Personal attacks, insults and the rest. I don't remember actually saying I didn't believe your Bush story, I just said my story happened to be true. And I said that because you were the one who said you didn't believe my story, not the other way around. Perhaps we should do a little digging in the archives. Shed a little light on your comments of days gone by. Sort of like a JER's Greatest Hits album. And if there's no chip on your shoulder, or you're not carrying a grudge, why did you bring it up after all this time?
teufelhunden 2 months, 4 weeks ago
I've met governors and lieutenant governors but no POTUS face to face.
'ello gov'na!!!
JimRussell44 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Gee, Geoff, I don't know. Maybe it had to do with the subject of this article.
geoffcutler 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Gee, JER, I'll bet you could have told about meeting George Bush without bringing me into it.
moonchild7 2 months, 4 weeks ago
That's a great story debsalomon. What was the most interesting thing that he said to you in the interview? Seems you've had a very interesting life. Geoff, your mother-in-law said that Clinton was good looking in person? I find that difficult to believe, maybe he just had a "way with words." But on that "funny" note of having seen "Presidents"; I met James Brolin, at an Auto Show in Washington DC and had him sign his 'Photo" for me. He played Ronald Reagan in a tv show on Showtime in 2003. Now that man, in 1971, was gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! Clinton, not so much.
debsalomon 2 months, 4 weeks ago
Yes, Geoff, Clinton was good-looking in 1996; taller than I expected, ruddy-faced, a bit stocky and VERY friendly, just like a regular guy. Since I wasn't supposed to be there, as a reporter, we chatted about Vermont, Howard Dean (the then-governor) who stood beside us, grinning, and how he liked to dance to a band called Squirrel Nuts. Clinton noticed a pin I was wearing, by a Vermont folk artist. Sen. Leahy had some of his paintings in his office...Clinton remembered seeing them. Sen. Leahy told POTUS that I was interested in nutrition issues...also spoke about the diner, and the Greek family that had owned it for about 40 years. Really fun, informal chat. In a small state like Vermont easy to know elected officials, especially working at the state's largest newspaper. Then I rushed back to the newsroom and wrote it up...couldn't take notes, so had to get everything down before I forgot. Yes. Moonchild, I've had an interesting (but often sad) life. Writers need that....for perspective.
wrich49 2 months, 4 weeks ago
debsalmon...I saw Robert and Elizabeth Dole last year when my father went on a WWII Flight of Honor to Washington. They greeted the veterans on their arrival at the WWII memorial, That was a very special day for my father, and the gracious reception by the Doles made it even better. Of course, they are both older, and Bob seemed frail, but they were at their best honoring those who are a part of their generation.