I first met President George H.W. Bush (“Bush 41”) at a fundraiser in Rome, New York. He was appearing on behalf of Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY).
At age 23, I was making $13,000 a year as the receptionist to Congressman Boehlert, who represented my hometown of Cortland, New York. Though I certainly wasn’t living glamorously, I was doing just fine in Washington, D.C., enjoying the glitter that came with working in the nation’s capital, eating free food at Capitol Hill receptions and meeting all kinds of people I never thought a small town gal would ever get the chance to meet.
President Bush was then-Vice President to President Ronald Reagan. I recall being very shy at the time – which is totally unlike who I am today. I was hesitant to approach the Vice President and stayed near the corner.
President Bush wanted to shake every hand in the room. When he came towards me, I already had a piece of paper and pen for him to sign an autograph for me. He was genuinely interested in who I was and where I was from. Little did I know that this would not be the first time I would meet President Bush and that nine years later, I would oversee Bush Cabinet Affairs and White House liaison at the Republican National Committee.
But this is just the first story. More later.