So, who here has seen a former president in person? How about TWO? Me, I saw Former President Clinton a few months ago, then Bush last night, both at Butler. My sister was a Butler Alumnus, so she got first dibs on some tickets. Well, sure enough, we (My father and I for Clinton and my brother (Shark, here) and I for H.W. Bush) got to see both Clinton and Bush-in person! I must've picked up about, say 20 programs, along with every single ticket stub I could find ended up finding an unused ticket! I gotta say, no matter what your political preference, meeting any President is an unforgettable experience! Also, Former President Herbert Walker Bush is one funny guy! Now that I'm talking about this, who here has been near any President in their lifetime? Thanks for your time.

I shot JFK, does that count?

Well, the nearest I've probably been to a President was when we vacationed in Washington DC a couple of Summers back and we drove by the Whitehouse. Aside from that I have met the Speaker of the House of Represenatives. I'm a teacher and when Newt Gingrich was the Speaker he came to my school to give a talk to the kids about the importance of reading. Even though it wasn't the President it was still pretty cool. An hour or so before he arrived the Secret Service was there ahead of him checking everything out and those guys are all business all the time. (but then that's there job) I was walking up the hall and unfortunately had forgotten my name tag, one of them stopped me, asking who I was and where I was going, it was pretty intimidating. Luckily my assistant principal came by at that time to vouch for me.

Mike

Can't claim any US Presidents. However, while assigned to E company 1st Bn 17 Inf, (Camp Casey, Korea) during my 3 month tour on the DMZ (Guard Post 128); I met PM. Margerete Thatcher of England when she toured Pamojon (spelling) the peace talk city.

OK, I've been near (and even shaken hands with a few) Carter, Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, (somehow missed Clinton), George W. Bush -- all either while president or while campaigning for president. Saw VP Dick Cheney in January (no, we weren't hunting). Also met Justice Scalia, oodles of senators -- past and present (Bill Proxmire, Ted Stevens, Bob Dole, Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts, etc., etc.), several SecDefs and SecArmys, LOTS of U.S. Army generals (including Omar Bradley and Colin Powell ... my last boss was GEN "Scott" Wallace and my current boss is LTG David Petraeus), a few Sergeants Major of the Army, and a few significant generals and admirals from the other services. I've met and spoken at length with several Medal of Honor recipients, which I consider the most thrilling. Also met quite a few celebrities from sports, television and movies (more than I want to list). Why, you ask? Cuz I've been a journalist for almost 30 years, most of it with the Army! :-)

Here's one for readers of the New York Post: I knew Ralph Peters when he was a captain. He didn't like the way I edited his articles.

Closest I came was meeting VP Dan Quayle at a rally on my college campus.

This may seem wrong, but... LMAO!!! LOLROFL!

Saw Gina Davis at LAX in '96...

Hope he explained how he invented the internet.... :-)

I saw Reagan speak at Purdue while he was in office. Indiana University won the national championship in basketball that year (1987). The whole IU Purdue thing is a huge in state rivalry. So Reagan walks on stage and starts his speach with:
"Indiana had to win the national championship this season to send about 20 people to meet me in the rose garden at the White House. I flew the whole way from Washington to West Lafayette to meet meet you folks."

Classic.

Shaun

Dave, Al Gore invented the internets, Quayle had the potato(e) spelling disaster...

Shows how "Politically Alert" I am..... some times it really is difficult to distinguish between the two.

Man,that must of been one of the most unpleasant and scariest moments of your life.That eighties perm,that smile..i just got a chill running down my spine thinking about it! :-)I know this is ...I once made a cup of tea with a teaspoon of honey for Aussie PM John Howard when he was at channel Nine T.V studios as he was coming down with a cold before an interview.His bodyguard(top ex SAS bloke) watched me do everything from getting the honey out of the cooler to inspecting the teabag.That was def. one of those "damn i wish i had some laxatives" moments!
:-) :-)Cheers,Shay

Do ex-prezzies count? Saw both Clinton and Bush Sr at the Colombo Hilton when they were here last year on post-tsunami work. Also saw Pope John Paul II drive past in the Popemobile some years ago (guess he is a head of state too) also in Colombo. And my Dad met Idi Amin in the '70s when he visited Colombo for the Non-Aligned Conference!

I was assigned to a law enforcement detail that had to work with the secret service when Clinton visited our local mountains to declare them a National Monument. I didnt meet him, but was pretty much cammo'd up and helping provide security in the forest. Most I did was hear his speech.

I never saw any presidents. I had the chance to go see Bush when he stopped at Johnston during his 2nd campaign but decided traffic would be bad so I watched it on TV instead.

But I did get to see the first ladies helicopter fly over the house on September 11th.

Hi, I make a special point to stear as far away from ANY politicians that I can. And the higher up they are the farther I try to keep.

Take care, Larry

I have met Regan, Bush Sr. Clinton in person. I had this honor when they would arrive at the Air Bases I was stationed at. We would add additional security to the Air Force one and support aircraft while they were on the ground. I have some Jelly Bellies from Regan, M & M's from Bush Sr. and a Presidential coin from Clinton.

I have seen George H. W. Bush, VP Al Gore, and Laura Bush in person. George W. Bush was speaking literally down the street from my university, and, unfortunately, I wasn't able to go because I had an exam I couldn't weedle myself out of (believe me, I tried).

During a race one year hear at Talladega, VP Dan Quayle was the Grand Marshall. I was pulled from my regular post and place in the VP detail to provide medical care if needed. Missed the whole race.

Patrick

Close....
Shook Carter's hand in Sept '76. Start of campaign, so he wasn't President at the time.

Hi guys

I saw Carter back when I was in Jr High, I met former Ohio Congressmen now inmate James Traffican [spelling ??] I've also done a little bodyguard [baby sitting] work for a local mayor some years back.
All I can say is I know Bush Sr must have a great sense of humor. After all he gave us George Jr didn't he.
Harry

I shook hands with Reagan - which I still consider one of my life's personal highlights - a truly great President.. I also met Margaret Thatcher on several occasions

My wife was (un)lucky enough to get trapped by Spain's Muppet-In-Chief, Zapatero a year or so ago - her hand is recovering nicely.

The scariest was coming face to face with Fidel Castro's brother, Raul, (who is even more brutal than 'El Presidente') - the temptation to carry out a citizen's arrest was extremely strong but (fortunately) resisted...Jim

Got to talk to Prince Charles when he visited us while we were dismantling the Magor Pill medieval boat in a warehouse in Cardiff. Inevitable really since he was involved in the Mary Rose.