My son and I met Bill Clinton (wearing pink gym shorts) in the park across from the WH
It was the summer before his first presidential election and then-Gov. Clinton was jogging around the White House with a crowd of politicos and friends wearing hot pink gym shorts over his jogging pants.
I had taken my young son to see and meet him at an event across from the WH and we watched him jog by with the group and waited for him to arrive sitting in front of the stage where he was to speak.
He finally ended the run and we could see Bill toweling off in a small tent-like enclosure they'd set up for him. He quickly recovered from the run and bounded up on the stage like a teenager. He gave a short speech which was well received by the hundred of so gathered there, then, he came down off the stage to shake hands. We were in the front row and we were both excited to see Bill making his way down the line.
When he got to us, he paused for a moment and looked at us with that deep stare with his mouth slightly open as if about to express some surprise or greeting. I remember him taking both my hand and my son's together in his own two and holding them there for a long moment which has lasted in my memory all of these years since. His hands were large and puffy and they were surprisingly soft for such an imposing man.
After that amazing encounter, we followed him in circles around the park as he greeted people until my son was close enough to call out his name and hand him a campaign pamphlet for him to sign. "Bill . . . Bill," my son called out to him.
"Say Governor," I counseled him. He did, and Gov. Clinton looked up, took his flier and signed it for him.
We left after that. I was a hero for actually getting my politically minded ten year-old close enough to meet the man who was going to take on our nemesis Bush and win. It was a special day, and a special encounter with someone who I'll be eternally grateful to for his courtesy and kindness in acknowledging us, and for his subsequent victory in ending the Bush presidency. It's basically a love story, a love affair, as shallow as it may be, that has really never ended for me or my son.
= new reply since forum marked as read
...nothing more affirming than the CP hug of approval.
