Dinner with a Presdident

Tonight was bigger than any blog post will able to convey but I’ll write if anything for preservation of my own memory.

Jeramie and I left around 6:15, parked on F street and walked over to the south east gate to the White House.  I showed a secret service agent my driver’s license and he allowed me to pass.  I walked through a tent and put my cell phone and camera in a basket.  They allowed both.  We proceeded up the East side of the Mansion, the Treasury to our right.  There is a big black building that houses the motorcade.  I found it to be very interesting and not so discrete.  I bet its hard when you have 50 vehicles in it though.  We entered through the East entrance, greeted by marines in uniform.  We were allowed into any room.  We started in a room I don’t know the name of, but if you check my facebook album, there is a picture of the roses that were on the table.  It was a library of sorts though.   It also had a mens restroom.  Right across was a sitting room that is primarily used for the First Lady’s tea gatherings.   We made our way upstairs to find a 4 piece marine jazz band playing in the foyeur which is up against the main hall.  Mind you, the architecture in the White House is nothing short of breath taking.  Very ornate, the floors, the hand rails, the moldings, the walls, the wall paper, the painting, the ceiling, the columns, the stately eagles everywhere, the Seal of The President over the Blue Room.  We got a drink, I had ginger ale, although they had beer, wine, and a few cocktails.  We then proceeded to the West side of the mansion to ballroom type of room.  There we enjoyed flank steak, rack of lamb, stuffed shrimp, blackbean salad, and a W shaped cookies.  There were also dessert tables that had a bunch of different hors d euvre type of sweets from cappucino puffs to lemon cake bites.  We wandered around, Jeramie introduced me to people.  I saw Madeline Albright from across the room.  I met Karen Nichols, Kevin Madden, Joshua Bolt (chief of staff), the usher to the President’s family.  I also Mercer Reynolds from across the room.  Then a marine approached us and said that red tickets may get in line.  When we first got there, we were handed a ticket.  It was a set of instructions for the receiving line.  We lined up in the main hall, carefully ushered by the SS Marines.  They allowed us to go back downstairs and get in a line.  We handed in our red ticket and received a green piece of paper that had our names and address on it.  This was our voucher to meet the POTUS (President Of The United States), who is affectionately referred to by most people in the RNC as “The Boss”.  We got in line, entered into a library behind the people in front of us.  When we reached the door to the room that had the POTUS in it, we were stopped by another SS Marine, he verified that we were who the card said we were.  He very explicity said looking at Jeramie “You will stand next the President, and you Mr. Armstrong will stand next the Vice President.”  I couldn’t believe it, both Cheney and Bush!  When we were in that room there was an SS Marine at my right side up until I was introduced to Bush and Cheney standing next to Cheney.  We posed for the picture, I saw a flash and the next thing I know I’m in the Dish Room.  I couldn’t stop smiling, I had just met the two most powerful men in the world, shook their hands and exchanged simple greetings with them.  I don’t remember clearly, but I think I said, “Thanks for what you have done, its an honor to meet you.”  If they responded, I’m sure it was a simple “Nice to meet you” but I don’t really recall.  This may the first time in my life I was literally star struck.  To see the President, stand next to him, shake his hand, and pose with him.  Its still surreal.  We walked back upstairs, mingled some more.  I was taking photos like a tourist would the first time they see the Capitol building.  About a half hour later, an SS Marine approached us and said, “The President will be arriving in the East Room in about 20 minutes.  Proceed there if you wish to hear him speak. “  So we did, we lined up in the makeshift aisle that was created by SS Marines.  We stood there, camera and cell phone camera equipped.  Bush and Cheney walk in.

Cheney introduced the President.  GW stood at the platform, he looked tired.  Not like he didn’t get enough sleep, but there was a look about him, like he couldn’t wait for the next 9 days to go by.  His words echoed his look.  Very witty speech.  He made his remarks: “I’m leaving this position with my head high, and knowing that I made progress.”  He went on to thank the people in the room for making him successful, he was especially thankful for the prayers.  He spent a good 3 minutes talking about how nothing was possible without prayer and that the difference was so noticeable.  He went on to tell stories of how he met with the families of fallen soldiers, he talked about how his administration shaped history and laid a foundation for peace in the future.  He went on to say that he’s enjoyed it and can’t wait to return to the “Promised Land…Texas”.  On his way down from the podium, he shook hands of those in the aisle.  So I got a second handshake that night.  I’m still in disbelief that I got to see him deliver a speech from about 15 feet away.  Amazing.

Jeramie and I walked around some more to meet some of his old colleagues and we eventually made our way back out of the east side basement door.  Upon our exit we were given a red box with a black “W” on the front of it.  Inside is a frame for the official White House Photo that will come in the mail, a book of The 43rd President’s Accomplishments and an invitation to see them off on the 20th from Andrews AFB.

All in all I still can’t believe it all happened.  It was a life goal of mine to meet a President. I accomplished that tonight and met the VP as well.  Words fail me but just know that I haven’t stopped smiling since about 6:30 tonight.