Has anyone ever met a sitting or former president?

[MajorChode]

I came close one time. It was about 1986 and I was in the military at the time. My unit was conducting exercises at a small airfield near Americus, GA. There were only about 6 of us there at the time doing a survey of the airport. We noticed some workers had pulled a small private jet out of the hangar. A guy in a suit came up to us and introduced himself as a Secret Service agent who was protecting Rosalynn Carter that day and he told us she would soon be flying out. We were all carrying M-16s, but only one of us had live ammo. The SS guys took a look at our weapons and checked our ID cards, but didn't require us to put them away. One of our guys asked if we could meet Mrs. Carter and he agreed to ask. When she arrived we all got to meet her. We had a bit of small chat about what we were doing and where she was going, then she left. I was left with the impression that she was a very elegant lady and a pleasant person to be around.

[madaboutharry]

1. My parents met JFK during the 1960 election.

They were deeply involved in the campaign in Los Angeles. They met him at someone's house where there was a party for him and the local campaign workers.

I never met a president.

(But I did met Barbra Streisand at a wedding).

[Demobrat]

2. I met President Gore

when he gave a speech at the Commonwealth Club in SF.

[Booster]

3. I met Nixon when he did an in-studio interview where I worked.

Not a very pleasant man, and we all had to wear parkas because he insisted the studio be kept at 50 so he wouldn't sweat.

[TahitiNut]

4. Side-boy for JFK in 1962; shook Jerry Ford's hand in rope line in 1976.

That's not really the same as "met" ... but close, I suppose. The most 'senior' American politician I've actually "met" (i.e. he knew my name) was Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams. He was a friend of my family since my uncle served on his staff and in his cabinet when he was Governor of Michigan.

[billybob537]

5. Shook hands with Ford and Carter

At Hanscom AFB in Mass, Didn't realy get to say much but hello.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Define 'met'

I am not being snarky. Do you mean simpoly something like shaking a hand in a rope line as 'met' or do you mean formal introduction and name exchange and conversation?

I 'met' JFK at Bridgeport (CT) Airport in 1959.

[MajorChode]

12. Close enough

I'm just interested in hearing stories about personal experiences and/or how that affected your ideology, if at all.

[Why Syzygy]

7. Did you see the photos

someone posted awhile back? A DUer had a backyard party related to organizing for Obama, I believe. Both the Carters showed up. It was amazing. He just glows.

I got a letter from Ronnie once about his Star Wars. I always wrote a lot of letters, and that's what I received as a reply. :D

[MajorChode]

14. I used to write Raygun letters too

I've written several members of congress also, mostly Republican. I like to ask detailed questions to tie up some poor slob staffer. Sometimes all you get are form letters back. Sometimes they actually take the time to provide a thoughtful response.

[ThomWV]

8. I've seen two (Eisenhower and Johnson) but never got close enough to one to hit him with a rock

[Kolesar]

Saw President Clinton at the school gym ten blocks from my house

like your account, though :)

[dysfunctional press]

9. i met the man who SHOULD have been a sitting president at the time...

i met al gore at a book-signing in...2002(?). i had him sign my copy of "earth in the balance".
i also shook hands with george bush(the elder) when he was vice-president, at a columbus day parade in chicago.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. By that measure ......

.... I spent about 15 minutes in a very small group chatting with Wes Clark back when we still had hope for him being successful.

That impacted me. He's smart. He's liberal in a way that I am liberal. He loves his country. So do I. He's smart. He's also scary smart. And he has an easy laugh.

[dysfunctional press]

19. but al gore actually won the voting- wes clark wasn't even on the ballot.

THAT'S what i meant about "should have been" the sitting president.

[Bobbieo]

10. I sat on President Roosevelt's lap when I was about 6 or 7 when he was

campaignimg for president. He was in his boat cruising the St Lawrence River and the Great Lakes

[Bobcat]

11. Fmr. Pres.

Met GHWB when he was campaigning in '88. He stopped at our HS. He could at least speak in complete sentences....

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Yes, saw Nixon and Poppy Bush. Met Clinton a couple of times.

[SmileyRose]

15. President and Mrs Carter - several times - hammer in hand.

The church I go to does a lot of work with Habitat and I've talked the business I work for to do so also. President Carter and Mrs Carter are some of the best, most decent hardworking people anyone will ever know.

[Subdivisions]

16. Do future presidents count?

If so, I had dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Bill Clinton while in college in Conway, AR. I met former President Carter at a Habitat for Humanity project. I met George H.W. Bush at a hotel in downtown Fort Worth where I worked. I met George Bush when I questioned him about his environmental policy while he ran for governor of Texas against Ann Richards (who I also interviewed). And, finally, I spoke with President Obama at Reunion Arena in Dallas following the conclusion of his rally speech. I just happened to be among the current and former members of the Dallas City Council, as well as former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, when he came down the line shaking hands.

[SOS]

18. Best way to meet a President...move to NH

I went to HS and college in NH from 1975-1983.
Shook hands with Reagan, Ford, Bush 41 + a bunch of others...Shriver, Udall, Harris, Anderson, Kennedy...pretty much all of 'em in the '76 and '80 elections.

But the best ever:

I was coming out of a Stop and Shop in Concord NH in 1976. It was snowing. There on the corner, alone, was Jimmy Carter handing out brochures.
He said he was having a campaign stop at the Ramada Inn. Asked if I would like to come along.
So Carter and I walked over to the Ramada together!
I still have the signed brochure.


My first vote ever was for Carter in 1980.

[XOKCowboy]

20. My Big Dog story...

We were working a big convention. Many political speakers including Bill Clinton, Karl Rove, Bill Richardson, etc. On the day that Clinton was speaking we had to wait for the dogs to sweep the room then we got into position back stage for the show. In comes the Secret Service with the Big Dog. Normally it's in and out for the VIPs and we're nothing more than the workers. Not Clinton. He came over to the tech area and introduced himself and shook everybody's hand. Smiling, totally at ease, not concentrating on his speech prep. A few seconds later he took the stage in front of 3000 people and with no notes gave an incredible speech. Three standing ovations. He even waved and thanked us as he was leaving. Total class act.

The next day KKKarl gave his speech. His bodyguards were big, silent, gray suited guys who shuffled him into the Green Room and back out making sure he didn't speak to anyone. Plus his speech sucked and he only got a smattering of applause. :)

[WVRICK13]

21. I Did

Met Gerald Ford at Amy's prom party. Was a freshman in college and took my room mates sister to the prom when her date stood her up.

[SoCalDem]

22. Eisenhower patted me on the head and shook my hand

when he visited Panama.. He came to an on-base baseball game, and we literally ran into him in the parking lot as we exited the ice cream parlor near the PX.. The PX/Commisary shared a parking lot with the ball fields next to it...He was leaning against a big blue base bus, just chatting with people..

I asked my mother who he was, and she said.."That's the president..he's from Abilene (15 miles from my hometown)..go say "hi" to him".. so I did.. I walked right up to him and said "I'm from Kansas too".. i think I was about 6 or 7

[Greyhound]

23. Both Clinton and Gore.

Atlanta 1992. Al was nice enough but Bill Clinton is one of those astonishing personalities with the charisma to fill the room. Hillary was there too.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

24. Not a President, but now I can say I've met a Vice President.

Then Senator Biden was giving the headline speech at the local JJ Dinner. During a break before his speech, I went out of the ballroom to make a phone call or use the restroom. As I was walking out, Biden was walking in with several handlers. I said to him, "Good to see you, Senator" and he replied, "Good to see you too, young man."

That's as close as I can say.

[conscious evolution]

25. Carter crashed my party.

[Earth_First]

26. I met Dennis Kucinich many of times in New Hampshire and Iowa in '04

Spent two weeks in each state that year working for the campaign...

Great time!
I wish I could afford to do it again!

[tammywammy]

27. I went to a Q&A with Former Pres. HW Bush

I didn't meet him in person, but was only 50 feet away. He was very funny and it was a nice event.

[deaniac21]

28. Bill and Hillary used to work out at the Downtown YMCA with

me in LR.

[ferrous wheel]

29. Almost...I met Carter before he was elected and Johnson after he was done!

Also spoke to Barry Goldwater on the ham radio several times ...back in...62? Somewhere thenabouts.


;-)

[SergeyDovlatov]

30. I've met Bill Clinton when he visted Moscow sometime in the 90s

He made a speech about how it is important to vote and got the honorary Moscow State University diploma.
I was sitting in the 4th row.

Didn't affect me much. I cannot forgive Clinton the NATO serbia bombing campaign.

[Blue_In_AK]

31. No,

but I've met several governors, including SWWNBN.

[Missy Vixen]

32. I met the Honorable Al Gore, Nobel Prize winner

does he qualify?

[marlakay]

33. My kids met Bill Clinton and talked to him in book line

My son-n-law had his uniform on and since he is in air force Bill talked to him to thank him for his service. That was about 4 or 5 yrs ago. He signed his book for them after.

[bmbmd]

34. LBJ came to my uncle's funeral.

He shook my hand, then asked to go to the bathroom. He peed in my Grandmother's toilet. What a guy.