Shook hands with Bill Clinton about a week before the 92 election. He appeared at the Goodyear blimpport (or whatever they call it) in Akron with then Sen. John Glenn. Word of advice to future advance men: Don't ever plan a candidate's speech in a blimp hanger. The acoustics could not have possibly been worse if planned. I and the crowd around us litterally couldn't understand one word in five due to multiple echos.
After the speech I edged my way up through the crowd and got to shake his hand. I told him I was a law student and was inspired to use my degree to improve my community. It's nice to realize I've kept that promise.
He actually did that thumbs up while nodding his head at biting the tip of his tongue thing! To me!! I thought primarily bad impersonators did that, but no, there Bill was in the flesh.
The day before the 84 election (yes, I'm an old
) I was a 15 year old volunteer for the Mondale campaign and shook Geraldine Ferraro's hand at a rally in Market Square (downtown Pittsburgh). If you recall the flap over HW Bush being caught on mike after the veep debate telling a crony "we aimed to kick a little ass last night". I told Ferraro "I know you've heard this countless times before, but kick their ass!". God bless her, she forced a laugh for the callow youth before her and said "we will". I also briefly spoke with her beautiful daughters and developed an instant teenage crush.
Oh, almost forgot. Very early in the 88 campaign, before the Donna Rice scandal hit, I was among a small group of supporters who met Gary Hart when he came to Pittsburgh and visit the Rainbow Kitchen (a well known soup kitchen/food pantry for the poor and homeless). There were more media than supporters, but it was neat. I stuck around afterwards to volunteer time there.
