At a dinner with Lewis present, Bill Clinton recalled the time he met John Lewis in the 70's

[bigtree]

Bill Clinton Remarks at a Dinner for Representative John Lewis in Atlanta
April 14, 2000

"You know, John was up here talking about being 60 years old, and I was thinking about the first time I met him, when I was just a young man back in the seventies, held no office, wanted to get elected to something in my State, and was interested in helping a fellow from Georgia named Carter get elected President. And I remember John talking to me about all these stories we saw in the movie. Twenty-five years ago, my eyes were big. I thought, one of the reasons I liked politics and one of the reasons I'm a Democrat is I can sit here, a 29-year-old kid, and talk to John Lewis about his life. If anybody had ever told me 25 years later I'd be back here talking about a distinguished 60-year-old Congressman, and I'd be President, I'd have thought they were nuts. But I'm honored to be here."

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=58380

...on this point, there is at least one statement from Lewis which matches with Clinton's clear and somewhat detailed account.

[cali]

1. Funny. Lewis said he was introduced to the b. dog in 1991

[bigtree]

2. in that one account

...interesting how Bill Clinton recalls the first meeting in detail.

I was just a young man back in the seventies, held no office, wanted to get elected to something in my State, and was interested in helping a fellow from Georgia named Carter get elected President. And I remember John talking to me about all these stories we saw in the movie. Twenty-five years ago, my eyes were big. I thought, one of the reasons I liked politics and one of the reasons I'm a Democrat is I can sit here, a 29-year-old kid, and talk to John Lewis about his life.

[azurnoir]

3. hmmm 2000 minus 25 years would make it 1975 well past the era of civil rights marches

yet more memory hole politics

[tularetom]

4. What's your point?

Lewis claimed to have met both Clinton's during the era of civil rights demonstration, marches, bus rides and sit ins, which had virtually ended by the time of the death of King in 1968. That statement is demonstrably untrue and it certainly conflicts with the Clinton comments you posted.

[KoKo]

5. ...! True...

[bigtree]

6. I personally think when he met the Clintons is the least interesting part of the quote

...which clearly demonstrated this civil rights leader does not recognize Bernie Sanders as a civil rights advocate.

Obviously the Clintons would have been much younger during that era and not at an age where they would be participating in anything influential.

Whatever John Lewis recalls, his comments stung and likely registered among those who know the Ga. Rep. much more intimately than they do Sanders.