Have you ever met a presidential candidate? (A place to share your story)

[SupportSanity]

When Bill Clinton was running for president, he made many campaign stops. One of his stops was in the city where I worked at the time.

His campaign stops had been well publicized - where he was going to be, his expected arrival time, and approximately how long he was going to be there.

The timing of this campaign stop was perfect for me. It was right at the end of my work day. It was also on my way to the train that would take me home. Perfect. The only down side was that it had started as a rainy day so I would have to wait outside in my business suit wearing a raincoat even though it wasn’t raining anymore. A little uncomfortable, but not too bad.

Barricades had been placed along the sidewalk for people to stand behind. Clinton would be in the street going along the barricades, greeting people who were standing on the sidewalk behind the barricades. Clinton’s security detail was stationed at various vantage points in the street, at the corners, and also several following Clinton closely.

I was able to get a spot right up against the barricade, about hundred feet or so from the starting point to my left. The chances of me meeting Clinton were pretty good.

Clinton arrived. He was in the street about a hundred feet to my left. He walked up to the people behind the barricade. He started shaking hands and signing autographs. And, he was going pretty quickly, working his way towards me.

As he got closer to me, I realized that I had a pen, but I didn't have any paper. I wasn’t going to be able to get his autograph. I couldn't leave without it.

With Clinton fast approaching, I remembered that I had my filofax/daytimer in my suit's breast pocket. It had paper in it. With Clinton about to come up to me, I pulled open my raincoat, opened my suit's lapel with my left hand to reach into my breast pocket with my right hand, and as I’m doing this, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Secret Service heads turning toward me. I realized Clinton's security detail might be misinterpreting my actions as a person taking out a gun to shoot Clinton. I took out my filofax/daytimer and held it up for all to see. Proof that it wasn’t a gun. Heads turned back, looking again at the rest of the crowd.

With Clinton in front of me, I quickly ripped out a blank page. Clinton shook my hand and signed the page that I had ripped out. He then continued on to my right, shaking hands and signing autographs for a little while longer. Then he was done, waved goodbye to everyone and took off to his next stop.

Today, I still have Bill Clinton's signature on that ripped out page.

And no one shot me. It was a good day.
.

[EYESORE 9001]

1. I met LBJ in 1964

He was already President, yet still a candidate.

[bmbmd]

16. He came to my uncle's funeral

In 1963 as vp, and I got to shake his hand. I was eight years old. He was the biggest man I had ever seen.

[EYESORE 9001]

56. I was 9

Yes, he was a sizable man.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

2. I met Lieberman when he was courting our paper's endorsement in 2004

He did a walkthrough of the newsroom shaking hands. The paper ended up endorsing him because he was the most Republican of the Democrats running.
I also got blocked from getting on an elevator by secret service when McCain was at the paper in 2008 for an interview.
Met Kitty Dukakis at a small rally in Flagstaff in 88 as well.

[ananda]

3. Yes, I met LBJ when I was 11, and he was running...

for the nomination against Kennedy.

It was in Dallas. My dad took some of us kids
to Wynnwood Shopping Center where he stood
on a bandwagon and gave a speech.

Then we went up to him, and I shook his hand.

[sop]

4. Clinton and Gore held a rally on the UF campus in Gainesville (1992), got to shake their hands at the rope

line after the speeches. Bill had a huge hand, long fingers and a firm grip; he looked me straight in the eye as he smiled. Al had a small, soft, slightly damp hand and a weak grip; he didn't smile or make eye contact. Hillary and Tipper were there, but didn't shake hands.

[Tommy Carcetti]

5. I shook Hillary's hand and wished her well at a rally in 2016

I also shook Bill Clinton’s hand when he was campaigning for Hillary in 2016.

And I exchanged greetings with then-Senator Biden in 2006.

[Aristus]

6. John Kerry. But this was in 2008, when he was campaigning for Barack Obama.

Nice guy. Not warm and cheery, but had a genial businesslike manner. He made his pitch for Barack Obama and then answered questions from the audience. I asked him, as a veteran myself, if he was ever going to go after those Swiftboat slugs who torpedoed his campaign in 2004. He gave a political, but appropriate answer: his focus was on getting Obama elected.

[SupportSanity]

22. John Kerry being attacked by "swiftboat veterans for truth". Truth in the title gives it away.

Now we know what "Truth" means. Doesn't stop it from still being used ie: Truth Social

SVFT was one of the first "gang up" against the candidate organizations that I remember. I'm sure there are many others.

[emulatorloo]

99. Fwiw, one of Trump's campaign managers masterminded the Swift Boat attack. He's a monster.

Everything about the Trump campaign makes sense now, doesn’t it.

Trump co-chair Chris LaCivita is the monster who masterminded the Swift Boat lie campaign against Kerry.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219213503

[SupportSanity]

142. I'm truly amazed at how many really awful people there are out there. And they all seem to find each other so easily!

[JohnnyRingo]

7. I met this guy back in '08

But he wasn't that well when I took this pic

[img][/img]

[2 Meow Momma]

8. I haven't but my mother shook hands with JFK in Ft Worth the day he was killed.

I was a child but I remember how traumatized she was.

[SupportSanity]

24. Wow. That's quite a story.

[wnylib]

35. What a disturbing experience for her.

I've often wondered about the people who were there that day.

[librechik]

9. I shook hands with Mondale at the 2008 Dem convention. He wasn't running that year.

I met Gary Hart (sigh)

Jesse Jackson (I was a delegate!)

Condaleeza Rice (Did she run? I'm not sure.) She was the speaker at my MFA graduation.

I think there were more. I worked for the PBS NewsHour for a long time, I don't remember everything. And the Denver Office was way off the beaten path for important people.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. I met John McCain

There was a fundraiser here in Grand Rapids in 2007. It was at a mansion that was a friend's friend's. We were out having beers and he said, "hey, you want to stop at a house and meet John McCain?" I thought he was joking. But nope, here we are, parking in back of this giant mansion in East grand Rapids and walking right in and there were a bunch of people talking to John McCain. So McCain is walking around and gets to me and shakes my hand and asks me my name. He was really warm, we chatted about a couple things and then he moved on. But then about 20 minutes when we decided to leave, he asks, "Hey John, where you going?" He remembered my name, and came back over and we chatted some more. He could not have been warmer as a person, and he was totally in his element enjoying himself. Working the room and genuinely seemed excited and joyful at meeting random people that he'd probably never talk to again. There's a special type of talent that it takes to work a room like he was, and that talent doesn't work unless you have a genuine interest in being nice to other people. I was blown away by the experience. Of course, I voted Obama, but I always knew that McCain was a good guy.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

18. My dad sat next to McCain on a flight from DC to Phoenix once

Said he was nice and chatty the whole way. My dad was a liberal Republican and until his death talked about what a class act McCain was. I don't know how he would've voted in 2008.

[SupportSanity]

25. Great story.

I'm always amazed at people who can remember names like that.

Someone once told me "If you want to be interesting, you need to be interested."

[kwolf68]

11. I met dennis kucinich

At Dulles Airport, he was with a moderate Republican congressman from Illinois. I went up and shook his hand and thanked him for everything he was doing. He asked about me, where I was from, genuinely seemed like a good guy. I kept the encounter brief as I wanted to respect his time, but I was impressed with him.

[wnylib]

26. I lived in a Cleveland suburb when Kusinich

was Cleveland's mayor. The local media always referred to him as "the boy mayor" for his age and even younger looking face.

[SupportSanity]

27. A friend of my parents was a deout Kucinich fan.

I think she was the only one I met or ever heard of who was a Kucinich fan.

[Rob H.]

12. Waiting for DU's two most notorious name-droppers to show up

[wnylib]

29. Two? I'm only aware of one.

[Rob H.]

44. One just showed up

The other lives overseas so they'll likely be here later.

[maveric]

13. JFK in 1960. I was four and can't remember it.

My parents told me he shook my hand at a campaign event in MA.

George HW Bush in 1979 NH. Came through our plant and shook hands while campaigning.

[FirstLight]

14. I met Bill when he was Pres!

I was working for the local newspaper here in Tahoe, circa 1998 (I was 28). And we were going to cover the big Environmental Summitt and him giving land back to the Washoe Tribe... I was a lowly rookie so I was gonna be stuck in the newsroomj while others got to actually attend.

Phone rang, it was ABC NEWS!!! for ME??? They had gotten my info from my local college, where I started as a jouranalist 2 year4s ago. They needed a runner for the Washington Press Corps and would I be interested!? DUDE!!!
I met Vija Udenans the producer, and got instructi8ons on taping down cords and prepping the room, and was to return bright and early with M&M's for the press corps in the AM...

While there the next day I got a peek at how the bread was made on TV (and how they paraphrase what's actually said...). I was staying in the press room, and realized my press creds were the same as EVERYONE'S, so I walked into the room with President Clinton and VP Gore...
I could FEEL the charge in the air, and the charisma pouring off them both.( They were both in sync then and the monica thing hadnt happened yet)

It was towards the end of the event and they were taking a break for photos by the Lake etc... so as the room broke, some were scrambling to get to Bill and shake his hand. I am pretty short, so (I jumped in top of a chair in the second row and stuck my hand through the heads and shoulders...!
He took my hand and I blurted "I'm a single mom on welfare and watched you on the convention," As I held up my Press Credentials to show him, I said, "And now I'm HERE."
His hand shifted in mine from a handshake to holding my hand in his with both..and he looked me in the eyes and said...
"I'm proud of you!"

The rest is a blur. I remember calling my ediitor in tears and telling him there was no way I could write this as an impartial observer, and had to write it as a personal column. Sat on the Beach and cried and poured it all out on pages...

That column and 2 others won me 2nd place in the Nevada Press Association Awards for 1997-98.

[SupportSanity]

30. Fantastic! What a story!

[electric_blue68]

132. How cool is that.

[wnylib]

15. Twice I have sort of "met" a presidential candidate.

The first time, was so fleeting that I can't say that we actually met. The second time was a Senatorial campaign before the candidate later ran for president.

When I was in high school in Erie, PA, VP Hubert Humphrey came to town to visit with the Democratic mayor. His motorcade from the airport into the city was scheduled to go past our school around 2:00 pm. The principal let school out early so we could watch. Humphrey's car slowed down to shake hands with students and I was right next to the car. I remember that his hand felt cold and moist.

The second time was when Hillary Clinton held a Dem Party rally outdoors in my western NY city during her first run for NY Senator, while she was still First Lady. After she spoke to the crowd, people lined up along the rope that separated spectators from the FLOTUS and her SS contingent to shake hands with her. She shook every single person's hand who was present.

I was able to speak very briefly with her as she shook my hand. She was personable and energized, very warm and friendly.

A family story about Abraham Lincoln. My great-great grandmother was 7 years old when her parents took her from their rural village to Erie to purchase some items. It was a big deal to go to "the city." While there, Lincoln's train made a brief stop on its way through Erie during his campaign for the 1864 election. My great-great grandmother was able to see him, wave, and get a return wave. It was probably a general wave in her direction, but she believed that it was meant for her.

[SupportSanity]

32. "personable and energized, very warm and friendly". That would make for a great candidate!

[wnylib]

43. Well, she did win that campaign and her next one for Senator.

She was much warmer in person than the media portrayed her in 2016.

[SupportSanity]

47. Hillary was having events that were women only. She was having one of these events right next

to an event that I was attending.

I was done at my event and was leaving. At the exit there was a woman asking if I (a guy) wanted to hear Hillary talk. Free ticket. Sure. So I was amazed as everyone else was. She was great.
But she had trouble filling these events with just women.

[wnylib]

54. The event that I was at in her Senate race was

for Dem Party members and included men and women, and a few children brought along with parents.

[electric_blue68]

131. I have heard that Hillary was much warmer, and at ease with individual, and small group encounters...

back then.
Very cool.

As for your great, great grandmother - wow, that's amazing!

[obamanut2012]

17. Poppy Bush

I did some PT catering work in college for a college pofessor who owned a restaurant. It was used for a local fundraiser for Bush and Howard Coble, and she offered some of her students the job of clearing plates, filling water glasses, etc. It was good money.

Bush, Sr and Barbara Bush were very nice and polite, talked to us after about our majors, etc., and thanked us. Staffers gave us very nice tips.

Howard Coble did the same.

I still voted for their opponents, but they were at least nice to the help.

[Coexist]

19. I had an Obama moment!

I was volunteering for an Obama event. I had joined the Tampa O Train during the primaries, and his rallies were not that large, so we mostly checked tickets and got to watch the speeches. President Obama (at that time, not even candidate Obama!) was really good at making the rounds after the speeches to shake hands, and volunteers got to provide books, etc. and he would sign them and we would pick them up after the rally was over.

Well, President Obama gave a big speech the night before this one somewhere else. It caused the even to explode. it was HUGE! there were people everywhere and so hard to control in their excitement. I was posted at the corner of the stage; my job was to only let people with special tickets to the area that would show behind him in video. At the end of the speech, I moved forward to the edge of the stage area like we always did, for the quick handshake. As President Obama moved in to the area where the voters were, I saw the Secret Service get more alert. I felt the crush of the crowd moving me forward. They suddenly pushed forward HARD. I stumbled and realized I was going down. I felt a pair of hands grab me on both arms and steady me so I could stand back up.

I looked up to thank the Secret Service man and it was HIM! President Obama looked me straight in the eye with genuine concern and asked me if I was okay. I think I nodded yes and maybe said something?! I was so starstruck! LOL!

I had volunteered for him before that moment, but I worked my tail off for that man after that, I can tell you

[SupportSanity]

36. Saved by Obama himself! What an amazing story!

[mindfulNJ]

82. wow!

I probably would have grunted and drooled on myself!

[electric_blue68]

134. Wow, definitely unuque! Glad you were ok.

[CanonRay]

20. I met Joe Biden in New Hampshire in 2008

I was at the courthouse in Manchester doing genealogical research. Joe was there registering for the primary, and popped into the library to meet and greet. My wife and I were the only ones in there. We chatted a few minutes and he was very cordial.

[OAITW r.2.0]

21. Not me, but my wife, at the time, did have a coffee and chat with Barack Obama in 2008.

There were 4 people who got selected for this meeting....she was blown away with how accessible Barack was in the 45 minute sit down.

[Self Esteem]

23. I worked on the local Howard Dean campaign in 2003 (Summer of Dean!) & 2004.

I went to my first MeetUp in February, 2003. Dean was polling at like 2% and his anti-Iraq War stance drew me to him. The meet up was a locals discussing what we could do to help the campaign. I was tasked with creating a local website.

That summer was amazing. I was still in high school but totally invested. I manned booths at fairs and worked events. That summer, Dean made a stop in my city and I went and saw him speak. Didn't expect him to be as short as he was.

Worked my tail off for the campaign. Met him a couple times and even was able to get my mayor to endorse him.

Was heartbroken when he lost.

[BlueKota]

28. I haven't but my sister did get to meet Hillary Clinton

through a work function. I was so damn jealous. Same when she got to meet Louise Slaughter.

[ITAL]

31. Jack Kemp in '88

Kemp was doing a speech in my hometown. I was only about nine years old, but I was a big Buffalo Bills fan and my Mom took me (football in hand). I was kind of a precocious kid, so I was actually a bit interested in listening to his speech, even if I didn't really understand all about what he was talking about.

After he was done and shaking hands, Mom got me situated near the line as he was leaving. He saw my football, grabbed it and did a couple of pump fakes to one of his aides. He signed the ball for me (I still have it) and said a few nice things which I forget now.

Pretty cool memory.

[Rebl2]

33. Never met

a candidate, but met former President Truman, at of all places, my dentist office when I was around eight years old. The dentist had been in the military with him. It was back in the 60’s in KCMO.

[we can do it]

34. Joe and Jill here at Rehoboth Beach Starbucks

[indigovalley]

125. Nearly shook hands with Bill Clinton in the 90's

He was campaigning in Lacrosse, Wisconsin at a huge outdoor event. Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Hillary were all there. I got within about four feet of them when they started to shake hands with the crowd but there were too many people so I couldn't get close enough. I manage to tape it all with an old school VHS camcorder though.

When I was in high school in the mid 1970s I saw Gerald Ford in Lacrosse. I didn't care that he was a Republican--I just wanted to see a sitting president in person. It was in a civic center and he looked right up at me in the balcony as he left and I waved at him.

Hubert Humphrey also came to my high school one time and spoke in the auditorium but I was sick that day and didn't get to see him.

One time Jimmy Carter rode a boat down the Mississippi River near the town where I live. I didn't get to see him in person as he didn't leave the boat but he spoke to the crowd via a loudspeaker.

My mom had a favorite story of seeing FDR when she was a child. He was riding in an open car through our town and he looked right at her and waved.

[Vinca]

37. I met Bernie and John Kerry. Always wanted to meet Obama, but so far haven't.

[mopinko]

38. i met barack obama when he was running for the senate.

there was a rally the weekend b4 the election put on by the dupage dems, which was barely a thing at the time.
i was working for christine cegelis, in il6. some old timers here will remember her. at the time, i had an art car. an old mercedes that i rescued from a junkyard. i called the beat bush mobile. it was covered in letter size bumper stickers. on the roof, it had the words ‘beat bush’, i letter per 8.5” x 11” sheet.

my job on the campaign was ‘yard sign specialist’. i drove around rich burbs planting signs in that car. i planted some obama signs, too.
i drove it around the parking lot b4 the rally. it was an electric night. i’m sure he remembers it.
after the rally, christine and i chatted w him for about 20 min. i left them alone and drove the car around some more. i was driving past the doors when the 2 of them came out. he saw the car and broke into that famous grin and waved.

i shook his hand many more times, as a volunteer in ohio in ‘08. he shook hands w all the volunteers that day. i was at the 1st rally of his reelect at navy pier. got the spendy seats and was on the ropeline.
i went to several ‘young professionals for obama’ event in 12, featuring both michelle and him. even tho i was neither young nor a professional. 1 of michelle’s event, i wanted to get her to autograph a book she had written about gardens and urban farms. the email they sent out said- do not bring anything for her to sign, so i didnt. but then there were several ppl there that did it.

so the next event i went to, w him, at the beverly art center, i bucked up my nerve, and took michelle’s book. when i got up to him on the ropeline, i had it in my hands. the ss looked at me and said ‘put that away’. i guess i took my life in my hands when i got up to him and asked him to sign it for me. he said- give it to them. so i did.
after that, it got lost. the guy who had invited me tracked it down at the headquarters downtown and i was able to retrieve it.
but yeah, prized possession. have long hoped to get it signed by the actual author. but…

[SupportSanity]

42. Great story. Any pics of the beat bush mobile?

[mopinko]

52. somewhere out there.

do u remember ben and jerry’s ‘pants on fire’ mobile? it was on a trailer. they had ppl from around the country drive it around. it was in madison, wi 1 time when there was a big rally. a bernie event, iirc. i met up w them and drove around town w it.
i broke down on my way home. a guy who was not pleased w my message, who didnt work on foreign cars nonetheless got me back on the road.
there’s pics from that day on an old photobucket account. i keep meaning to track them down.

it rly was a sad old thing. rusty brownshirt brown 4 door sedan. had a sunroof that leaked. put a bunch of money in it to keep it running, but when the floor boards gave way, i junked it. my ex never forgave me for buying that thing.

[electric_blue68]

135. Good stories!

[mopinko]

141. addendum to this story- christine ran a 2nd time. the dnc stuffed tammy duckworth in our race.

christine was a darling in 04. a dean dozen, invited to dc, met all the bigs. jan schakowsky supported her.
she never stopped running. we knew it wd take 2 tries. she had coffees, did grip and grins. she had a small army of volunteers lined up. the 1 thing she didnt have was cash. so the dnc dumped her. dick durbin decided this was the place to launch tammy’s career.
and no one had the decency to call her up and say shit. except 1 guy. obama.

tammy won the primary by 100 sketchy votes. du’er kevin spidel ran that campaign, and will pitt came in at the end. that night was so grim, w the bigs in the back room arguing about challenging the results. never got to talk to him that night, and he bugged out next day. i teased for a long time that he owed me a beer.

tammy got walloped in the general by peter roscum, and we later got joe walsh. didnt get a dem til after redistricting, when jan gave up some territory, and there were demo changes in the district. i’ll go to my grave convinced we wd have won.

[woodsprite]

39. Biden and Bernie. nt

[brooklynite]

40. Dozens

For the past 20 years my wife and I have gone to Iowa and New Hampshire during campaign season (the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote a story about us as “political tourists”). Outside of Secret Service protectees, almost all are approachable.

[Sibelius Fan]

41. My daughter and I I met John Kerry and shook his hand at a rally in Las Vegas.

Kerry gave out a big “aaaw” and his big smile when he saw my daughter, who was 6 at the time. 😊

[CountAllVotes]

45. Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Senator Kennedy was campaigning for George Dukakis when he was running for President in 1988 .

It was a rally that was held in an old building in the Mission District in San Francisco.

I got to shake his hand.

The energy coming off of him was unbelievable.

I miss you Ted!

[mopinko]

46. here's a 2nd hand obama story.

when he was a senator, 1 of my kid’s teacher’s hubs was brutally murdered. stabbed repeatedly. he was a dermo, slain in his downtown office. cops couldnt do anything. they only had a grainy bit of video of him leaving the bldg. but their son wd not let it rest.
he scoured the internet, on a hunch that the guy had been 1 of his patients. turns out the guy had been given a rx for retinol, and had a psychotic break. he found him on a message board where ppl bitched about bad docs.

an arrest warrant was issued. the guy was entitled to french citizenship, and fled there. they gave him a passport, and refused to extradite him cuz he was subject to the death penalty.
both durbin and obama tried to get the french to send him back but failed. the teacher wouldnt tell me exactly what he did, just that he went ‘above and beyond’ for her. knowing him, that meant hugs, meals, phone calls, etc.

he was eventually tried in france, convicted and iirc is serving life in prison.
not that i needed any more reasons to work my heart out for him in 08, but….

[SupportSanity]

48. That's quite a story!

[mopinko]

55. ikr?

she was 1 of my favorite teachers. she loved my son even tho he was a terrible student.
still keep in touch w her.

[mucholderthandirt]

49. One of my sisters met Bill Clinton.

He was going through NC (I have a memory of something about a train?), and she stepped right up and talked to him. She later became a huge Hillary fan.

Another sister met Prince Charles and had a brief moment of conversation (and basically a "hello, how are you" to Diana, as they were being moved along the line). This sister also a huge Hillary fan. Now that I think about it, both of my brothers Hillary fans.

There you go. My claims to fame-adjacent life.

[musette_sf]

50. I met RFK when he was running for US Senator for NY

in 1965. Shook his hand, I was in awe.

When I sat next to our now Speaker Emerita on a SFO -> DCA flight in 2012, I told her that meeting her was my biggest thrill since shaking Bobby’s hand.

[SupportSanity]

60. Great stories. I'd probably want to run for office if I had been sitting next to her flying across the US!

[Deep State Witch]

51. I Met Bill Clinton in '92

He was doing a rare campaign event in Maryland. I went to a large sports complex in Anne Arundel County to see him. I got to shake his hand, and it was electrifying.

[Silent Type]

53. Shook Jimmy Carter's elbow when I graduated from college. Missed his hand, but got his elbow. But he was still Governor.

[Chipper Chat]

57. Candidate Obama in 2007. I talked with him on the phone

Was working a hotel front desk in Florida when he stayed overnight there. He called down for a wakeup call. He used an alias but we all knew what room he was in. I said "thank you Mr. President" and he sorta chuckled and hung up.

[SupportSanity]

62. Did he say "Let me be clear" about the time he wanted to wake up!?

[Chipper Chat]

116. No

He sounded grumpy and tired.

[bigtree]

58. My son and I met Bill Clinton (who was wearing pink gym shorts) in the park across from the WH

It was the summer before his first presidential election and then-Gov. Clinton was jogging around the White House with a crowd of politicos and friends wearing hot pink gym shorts over his jogging pants.





I had taken my young son to see and meet him at an event across from the WH and we watched him jog by with the group and waited for him to arrive sitting in front of the stage where he was to speak.

He finally ended the run and we could see Bill toweling off in a small tent-like enclosure they'd set up for him. He quickly recovered from the run and bounded up on the stage like a teenager. He gave a short speech which was well received by the hundred of so gathered there, then, he came down off the stage to shake hands. We were in the front row and we were both excited to see Bill making his way down the line.





When he got to us, he paused for a moment and looked at us with that deep stare with his mouth slightly open as if about to express some surprise or greeting. I remember him taking both my hand and my son's together in his own two and holding them there for a long moment which has lasted in my memory all of these years since. His hands were large and puffy and they were surprisingly soft for such an imposing man.

After that amazing encounter, we followed him in circles around the park as he greeted people until my son was close enough to call out his name and hand him a campaign pamphlet for him to sign. "Bill . . . Bill," my son called out to him.

"Say Governor," I counseled him. He did, and Gov. Clinton looked up, took his flier and signed it for him.





We left after that. I was a hero for actually getting my politically minded ten year-old close enough to meet the man who was going to take on our nemesis Bush and win. It was a special day, and a special encounter with someone who I'll be eternally grateful to for his courtesy and kindness in acknowledging us, and for his subsequent victory in ending the Bush presidency. It's basically a love story, a love affair, as shallow as it may be, that has really never ended for me or my son.

[SupportSanity]

63. That's right, Clinton used to jog a lot. Great story! Great photos!

A politically minded 10 year old. Pretty unusual. Great story. thanks.

[bigtree]

64. he's in his early 40's now!

...

[electric_blue68]

136. I love you've got photos! Cool story.

[Gaytano70]

59. I met Barack Obama

In 2004, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was campaigning for US Senate (against Alan Keyes, remember him? Lol). Obama met with our graduate student union, and I got to shake his hand. I thought immediately, "you'd make an excellent POTUS some day!"

[Doc Sportello]

104. I was there too!

Saw him speak at the Student Union. Completely packed and I came late so didn't get close enough to shake hands. There was so much buzz about him even back then. I had just moved to Urbana and saw these yard signs for Barack Obama for Senate. I thought, well with a name like that he doesn't stand a chance. Boy was I wrong and glad to be so.

[Gaytano70]

109. Amazing!

The people you meet through DU--Glad you replied, Doc!
I had just moved to Champaign the day before to begin my PhD at Krannert. I was a TA, so I had already been in contact with the GEO, and I was lucky enough to be one of the members organizing the event. I have a picture, but I dont think we can post a personal JPEG.

But I just got an Imgur account, and it works! Just click the link:
https://imgur.com/a/Jmh6fwA

[Doc Sportello]

110. I was also just starting as a teaching assistant in 2004

And older grad student in journalism. It was a heady time with Obama, the 2004 election, and becoming part of things like visits from nationally know journalists and Ebertfest. I still remember the electricity in the air that day at the Union.

[Gaytano70]

124. Yes it was!

I also remember traveling to snowy Springfield in 2008 when Obama officially announced his candidacy for President!

[gibraltar72]

61. Actually I have

Mr. Munn from Hillsdale Mi. Ran with his son Louie Munn a little bit. Mr. Munn ran for some wacko party maybe teetotalers. I hadn't thought of that in years. I'll have to look it up.

[Sneederbunk]

65. Shook RFK's hand three time but did not talk with him.

[kimbutgar]

67. I was on the street in SF when he came by in a convertible driving though a crowd of people and my Dad held me up

And he shook my hand. My Dad was so proud and bragged to his friends I shook RFK’s Hand. Sadly a week later he was assassinated and even though I was young it really upset me.


And when Kamala was running for SF district attorney she stood outside a muni train station talking to people and asking for our votes. I had a nice conversation with her and she was so gorgeous in person. Little did I know I actually met the future to be first woman president!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

66. I have been fortunate enough to meet Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden twice each

I was at two fundraisers for Hillary Clinton in 2016. At one fundraiser, Congressman Al Green introduced me to Hillary Clinton as a civil rights attorney (I am a corporate attorney) and took a picture of Sec. Clinton and me. I use that photo in my mailer to be a delegate to the 2016 National Convention in Philadelphia.

In late 2019, I attended two fundraisers for Joe Biden. At one fundraiser, President Biden signed some floor speech signs from his speech at the 2016 National Convention. On one sign, President Biden signed the sign "Keep the Faith". President Biden took my iPhone from me and took three great selfie pictures. President Biden is great at taking selfies. At the second fundraiser, I got to speak to President Biden to discuss stuttering. I used to stutter when I was young and the stutter still shows up when I am sick or tired. President Biden told me about the 20 or so young stutters he keeps track of and I got a Biden hug.

[SupportSanity]

93. Very cool stories. Your story brought me back to when ...

... I was in high school. I had a friend who had a bad stutter. We sat next to each other in several classes. I remember just taking the time to listen to him every time he talked. I thought that he was a cool guy. Very tough for him. Thinking back, I might've been one of the very few who took the time to just listen to him as he struggled through it.

Thanks for sharing your stories.

[nolabear]

68. No but Jimmy Carter slept at my in-laws' while running.

I met him later at a signing but we still chuckle over the fact that he slept in what we “kids” called The Chastity Room, across the hall from my hubs’ parents room.

They were a pretty good Democratic political force in their very Republican Southern city.

[sinkingfeeling]

69. I meant President Bill Clinton and Hillary at the airport in Springdale, Arkansas. Got to shake hands with both.

I also saw Richard Nixon and George H. Bush in Ohio., at campaign stops. Met John Edwards before he dropped out.

[greatauntoftriplets]

70. Yes, on my high school trip to Washington D.C.

We were heading up the Capitol steps, and VP Hubert Humphrey was coming down them holding a leg of lamb. He had been meeting with some Australian representative about importing more Aussie lamb.

He was very cordial to the group of school girls, and shook hands with many of us including me. He had handed the lamb roast off to some aide.

[angrychair]

71. I am fortunate

I have got a pat on the head/shoulder to a hand shake from every president since Jimmy Carter with the exception of TSF but also including presidential candidates Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders.
I was a little kid when I met president Carter (Pat on the head) 50 years ago to pat in the shoulder and a slight smile from President Biden about 2 years ago as he was working the line.
Funniest story was the lead up to meeting president Obama. It's during sequestration in 2013 and I worked at a defense contractor in which he was coming to speak to highlight the impact of it in defense and those jobs. I volunteered to be part of a of staff that would help direct people and setup chairs and so on.
Several days before he came they wanted us to met with some of the forward staff and Secret Service as we would have some limited access within the back areas. I was busy and forget to bring steel toes to get to the building where the meeting and event were being held. My FIL had worked at the same company but had passed away not long before that in an accident and a member of his staff had brought me his stuff from his desk that included an old pair of steel toe shoes.
I quickly put them on and made my way to the building.
Here is where it gets interesting. We are being moved about in the back areas which had already been secured and people were setting up in different areas. As we are being walked around and talked to we hear yelling from behind us to stop.
Apparently the shoes I grabbed were very old and the soles were falling apart and leaving these little crumbling pieces of black rubber everywhere I walked 😵‍💫
I was so embarrassed. Everyone had a laugh and things went fine, got to shake hands with the president on the day of the event. It's funny now but so embarrassing at the time

[SupportSanity]

95. What a way to get noticed. By the way....

..... I relate to your story. I have a pair of steel toe box shoes from 1984. Still in good condition. They were a free perk from a job that I had. They still look good, but I haven't worn them in quite a long time. Brings back memories. Thanks.

[allegorical oracle]

97. Would've loved to have met Carter. In my heart of hearts believe he was

probably the truest and most genuinely intelligent and trustworthy presidents we ever had.

[electric_blue68]

137. "...I have got a pat on the head/shoulder to a hand shake..."

I love that line!

[Big Blue Marble]

72. I met Obama

in the summer 2007. It was very early days in the campaign. He came to our town
for a rally and afterwards I went up to the stage and shook his hand.

Later during the primaries, Michelle came to our campaign headquarters and I met
her and shook her hand.

[LeftInTX]

73. I got almost that close to Biden in December 2019. I was one person away from getting a selfie with him!

Then, his security motioned that it was time to leave.

I have met Nancy Pelosi also.

Oh yeah Julian Castro was a presidential candidate. He was my city councilman. LOL
Way back when, he was the guy who showed up at HOA, neighborhood and parks meetings etc. Duh...
I had a nice chat with him on the way to his birthday party last year. Does he count? LOL
I know his mom too. His mom was also my temporary council woman. She's a long time activist here. Very intelligent woman. I also know his twin brother. He was my state rep and then my congressman. So, yeah when we see each other we chat. They recognize my face and always say hi etc, but they don't know me by name.

I also know most of the South Texas Democratic delegation. (Does that count? LOL)

[SupportSanity]

96. Does that count? Why not! Thanks for sharing your story.

[ArnoldLayne]

74. I met and shook hands with Bill and Hillary Clinton in Wheeling WV in 1992. It was a Town Hall Meeting in a Church

they had in 1992. I also met Al Gore at the same Town Hall meeting.

[lobointexas]

75. I sort of "met" John Kerry

The Kerry / Edwards campaign did a "whistle stop" train ride through my small home town in New Mexico. They didn't have an official stop there, but the train went real slow and people reached out to shake their hands. I shook hands with John Edwards but not John Kerry.

I did meet Bill Richardson when he was Governor of New Mexico. He later ran for president, but I don't know if that counts as a presidential candidate.

[dslyahoo]

76. Never met, but saw up close

I was in Berlin when JFK’s motorcade drove by. I was 5 years old and waved at him. He smiled and waved back. Still remember the day, the sights, the sounds.

When they were presidents, I saw GW Bush speak at a Naval Academy graduation; I saw Bush Sr speak at a Boston University graduation; and I saw Obama speak at the Naval Academy and at an Ohio State University graduation.

[49jim]

77. Hillary and Bill

Shook hands with Hillary and Bill signed a piece of paper for my wife. We were at the New York State Fair in Syracuse NY 2004. Hillary was running for the Senate.

[demosincebirth]

78. Met JFK 1960, in Oakland at DeFermery park

[hardluck]

79. I met Kamala Harris

In 2016 at a fundraiser held at my law firm. It was cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. She gave a speech and then mingled with the 50 or so people that were there. This was during her run for senate.

We all were impressed and thought she had a bright future on the national stage.

[Greybnk48]

80. JFK drove right past me in a convertible in Levittown, PA 1960!

That was a thrill for the this 12 year old punk!
In 2004, I was given a VIP pass to see John Kerry at Lawrence University where I live. I was lucky enough to shake his hand as I was in the front row before the barricade. I was fervent that he win against Dubya and said so.

I think Kerry thought I was a whacko!

[SupportSanity]

98. It would've been a very different world if Kerry had won! Thanks for sharing your story!

[mindfulNJ]

81. I worked on Jerry Brown's campaign in 92

I met him a few times. Very cerebral guy...I was intimidated!

[DET]

83. Not Directly

I grew up in Hyannis on Cape Cod while JFK was President. We lived a couple of miles from the Kennedy Compound. JFK was known for greeting the local residents, but I never met him (was quite young at the time).

RFK’s family was more visible around town. My mother and I once played mini golf behind the large brood in the center of town. We attended the same church as the Kennedy’s in Hyannis - St. Francis Xavier, a beautiful little church. I remember seeing RFK taking communion at the alter. His family would get a lot of attention when they went to mass. Rose Kennedy went to early morning mass every day at St. Francis. It was an interesting time.

[valleyrogue]

84. Too many of them to mention including meet and greets after an event.

I feel very fortunate to have gotten to see in person and/or meet various candidates of both political parties as well as former and future presidents and former and future first ladies. It helped for me to have been a political junkie since about age 13 but especially when I lived in Nevada.

The stories are too numerous to talk about here. I also have scads of autographs from those I have seen, especially in 2008, when I saw all the Democratic candidates except Mike Gravel, I think it was who was also running that year. I also saw many of the GOP candidates that year.

I am truly lucky I got that chance.

[Music Man]

85. I shook Obama's hand in a rope line in 2007.

Also shook Howard Dean's hand after he ran for president but when he was running for DNC chair, whenever that was. 2005-ish?

Met Dennis Kucinich when he spoke at my college. Late 2000s, forget exactly when.

Also saw Hillary Clinton speak in '08 and Bernie Sanders in '16.

[karynnj]

86. I have met both John Kerry and Howard Dean after their runs, but my story of meeting a candidate is of Bernie

Last edited Sat Jul 27, 2024, 11:58 AM - Edit history (1)

I live in Burlington, Vermont. A few weeks before Bernie had his heart attack, my husband and I went to a potluck dinner before a NPA meeting in our section of town. One of the organizers was Carina Driscoll, his step daughter.

All of us made plates and took seats chatting with neighbors. In walks Bernie and Jane, who went to the end of the line, ignored offers to jump the line and sat at the same table we were at. (His stepson was at our table.) Carina told us that she knew he was in Burlington and she had told him about the community dinners, but she was surprised that in the middle of the campaign he came. He seemed to most enjoy the kids that came over to him.

[pfitz59]

87. Personally, never.

As part of a group, once or twice.

[Jokerman]

88. He had only been a Mayor at this point but...

I had a ten-minute conversation with Bernie Sanders outside his congressional campaign office in Burlington VT.

I also shook Al Gore's hand but that was just part of a long reception line at a campaign rally.

[frogmarch]

89. I met Nelson Rockefeller and his wife Happy

in 1963 when I was visiting an aunt of mine in Albany, NY. We were having lunch at a restaurant there, and the Rs stopped by our table to say hello to my aunt, whose late husband had been a friend of theirs. She introduced me as her hick niece from the Nebraska sticks. The Rs took over and asked me all about western Nebraska, which was where I lived, and told me they would love to visit the Sandhills and go snow skiing on there, just like I said I did. As they were leaving, Mrs. R gave my shoulder a hug and whispered "Stay strong," in my ear, and Gov. R clasped my hands in his and wished me well. Nice people. Which is more than I could ever say of my aunt.

[H2O Man]

90. Yes.

A couple of them. They were just people, not any different than anyone else.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

91. Talked to McGovern during a fundraiser. Stood next to him

For about a half an hour. We talked about the fact that both of our parents had been Republican and that we had “broke the mold.” This was a fundraiser for Wesley Clark.

Also shook hands with Howard Dean, Dick Gephardt, Wesley Clark.

Unfortunately, my parents were rabid Republicans and dragged us around to fundraisers so I met and shook hands with a few Republican Presidents: Nixon, Dole, George HW Bush. We had a tour of the capital by Jerry Ford.

[ecstatic]

92. Elizabeth Warren in 2019

I went to her rally in Atlanta and then stuck around for the rope line (super long wait but worth it). We took a pic together, and despite what must have been a super long day, she read my T-shirt which had the letters MMM and a drawing of a peach on it, and she assured me that they would get it done! She is great and she has so much energy, it's unreal!

As far as other presidential candidates, that remains to be seen - I've been to a rally and met with Stacey Abrams. Also, went to rallies with Warnock, Ossoff, and I think Ayanna Pressley. I went to a rally with President Barack Obama in 2022. Unfortunately, I didn't get to personally talk to him because the crowd was really tall and aggressive and I'm short and couldn't force my way to the front. He did the rope line for 5 to 10 minutes and then got out of there.

[allegorical oracle]

94. A few. Met Nixon, Humphrey and John Lindsay when I was working at a daily paper. When working on

Capitol Hill met Shirley Chisholm -- AMAZING -- she was absolutely regal. While working for FEMA during Hurricane Andrew in Fla met Bill Clinton. (Softest hands I ever shook.)

[SupportSanity]

117. That's the second comment about Clinton's hands being soft!

[CoopersDad]

100. Yes, met and shook hands with Governor Jerry Brown

I saw RFK alive at a rally when I was 11 y.o. in 1968.

[Voltaire2]

101. I'm from New Hampshire. I can meet as many as I want.

They show up at pot luck dinners at our community barn.

I ran into McCain looking mopey in a shitty hotel lobby in Nashua. You never know where they might be lurking.

[biophile]

102. I met Carter when he was running in the primaries.

I had a boyfriend from Abington PA and we were at his friends house. The friends family and dad were big Democratic supporters in Montgomery County. He talked to me and my boyfriend in the kitchen there. He told my boyfriend that he had good taste in women! I was 20 in 1976 - Carter was the first president I could vote for and was so proud of my first choice! I think I have good taste in presidents!

[PJMcK]

103. Senator Ted Kennedy

In 1980, I was invited to a "Broadway For Ted" fundraiser/rally in NYC when he was challenging President Carter for the Democratic nomination. I didn't support Sen. Kennedy's candidacy but I went because my boss invited me. At the reception, I met the Senator and chatted with him for a couple of moments.

Two things. First, he wasn't as tall as I expected. Second, later in the evening, he remembered my name!

[elleng]

105. I met General Wesley K Clark (retired) on several occasions in DC,

early during his campaign, and thereafter.

Established a number of long-term friendships from early on, and they persist.

[displacedvermoter]

106. Met Bill and Hillary Clinton

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2024, 12:58 PM - Edit history (1)

at Syracuse University day before New York Primary in 1992. Bunch of us who were volunteering got to meet them on campus. I had just got out of Air Force, was in library school, starting a new life. Only had a few minutes with them, but it was really obvious they were serious people who had a serious plan.

And forgive me for saying so, but it struck me that Hillary was the smarter of two really smart and driven people. I subsequently met her years later when she was a US Senator and I was the director of a large public library and active in New York Library Association. Again, very smart and very knowledgeable, even when talking about library funding issues and library service in ethnically diverse communities.

I think she would have been a better president than Bill. I guess we will never know, though!

[marybourg]

107. I almost saw Bill Clinton when he was a candidate.

Unfortunately it was in New Mexico, where nothing went well the whole five years I lived there. On the upside, the Lt. Governor was on line for admission right in front of my spouse and me ( yes, the Lt Gov. stood on line, just like everybody else, in NM) .

On the downside, Clinton was situated right in front of the UNM bookstore for his speech. The UNM Bookstore was 1 flight down from the Great Lawn, in what was essentially a large well which could hold about a hundred people. The rest of us, perhaps somewhat more than a thousand, were arrayed up on the Lawn, encircling the well, looking across at each other, while hearing the candidate’s voice wafting up out of the well.

I now live in AZ.

[WiVoter]

108. Kerry, Bernie, Clark, Edwards

[sanduca]

111. Pete!

My candidate for 2020 primaries was Pete Buttigieg.
Went to see him speak in Salt Lake City, Utah.

[dansolo]

112. Joe Biden passed right by me at the train station

My son was travelling to New York on Amtrak from the Wilmington station. I noticed there were a lot of police around. When the train arrived, I saw Joe Biden getting off the train (actually I noticed the secret service agents first). This was while he was VP. He was rushed out of there pretty quickly.

[Cha]

113. Yes! I met Hillary in Upper State New York in 2000

When she was on a Listening Tour. I spoke to her and took her picture.

TY and for your Bill Clinton Story

[Crunchy Frog]

114. I never met one, but

my Uncle Albert was a high powered, liberal Memphis lawyer, and was reputedly good friends with Al Gore's daddy, who was also a high powered, liberal Memphis lawyer.

A friend and I once stumbled into a talk and book signing by Al Gore, in a big Denver book store, but didn't actually meet him. I think this was before he was the veep candidate, so a long time ago.

I don't usually like to meet famous people because I get starstruck.

[lees1975]

115. I've met three.

I got invited to a reception for Bill Clinton at the Old State House in Little Rock when he was running the first time and was governor of Arkansas. I guess I could say I've met four, since Hillary was also there, though it would be a long time before she ran. When I was teaching high school in Texas, our school's eighth grade Texas History class did a two day field trip to Austin every year and I volunteered to help as a chaperone one year. We met then governor George W. Bush, who made a habit of visiting with eighth graders visiting Austin. When Obama was campaigning for his first term, a friend of mine who had M.S. and some mobility problems got passes to a reception prior to one of his big fund raising events at a large black church in Houston, and asked me to accompany him and help him navigate. We were almost first in line to shake hands.

[hatrack]

118. Shook John Kerry's hand at a rally when he was running in 2004 . . .

And I waited on Bob and Liddy Dole (believe it was 1992) in a restaurant in Kansas City. They were quite charming (lots of practice I'd imagine) and tipped 20%(!).

Bob ordered a Gin Gibson with extra onion juice, which seemed a good fit for his reputed political personality.

[Passages]

119. In Iowa, Obama. It as pretty magical at the time.

Speaking at a concert hall packed with students at Grinnell College, he said students who attend school in the state have established residency by doing so and are able to take part in the caucuses. The Illinois senator is polling strongly among young people in Iowa and could have much to gain in the close presidential nomination race from coeds willing to cut short their holiday and take part in the caucus.

https://www.cleveland19.com/story/7452792/obama-presses-students-from-out-of-state-to-attend-iowa-caucus/

[TomSlick]

120. I've spoken with Bill Clinton three times and Hillary once but not during a presidential campaign.

It comes with living in Arkansas.

[ecstatic]

121. You jinxed me in a GREAT way. Just got an invite to see VP Harris next week

[Sequoia]

122. I met Jimmy Carter

When he was President and came to Spokane, Washington to dedicate River Front Park. Car came right by us and we exchanged a few words. That night I was invited by a friend to a party with Air Force One guys. I still have a book of matches with the logo they gifted me as a souvenir.

[highplainsdem]

123. Bobby Kennedy, in 1968. I'd arrived too late to get close to the stage and was still outside when he arrived

and got to shake his hand.

[roamer65]

126. Shook Jerry Brown's hand in 1992.

[Sun-Moon]

127. At a Human Rights Campaign fundraiser in Chicago

We met Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama.

A night I will never forget. They were both so down to earth.

[Timewas]

128. As a Child

Many Many years ago, I got to shake Truman's hand as he walked in a street parade of some sort in Mpls.

They used to do that back in late 40's early 50's

I am not sure exact year but I was probably in third or 4th grade on a class deal to see the parade or whatever it was.

[AllaN01Bear]

129. nope.

[56miSSie]

130. JFK in October 1960

He was passing through my small village in PA. I was 4 years old. A group of people had gathered. My Mom held a large Kennedy sign, my Dad held my brother, and my Grandmother held me. The small motorcade stopped, and my Gram--at the front of the crowd--reached me to Kennedy. He held me for a brief moment and kissed my forehead. I always say that is when I was baptized a Democrat.

[Quixote1818]

133. Met Wes Clark in Albuquerque and have a signed NM cardboard flag from him. Super nice guy!

Was working for his campaign there.

[Bundbuster]

138. I met Wes Clark in 2004

Later felt strongly that we missed the boat when he never held a national political office. He was extremely intelligent, sincere, honest, and just a great guy.

[neverforget]

139. I shook Bill Clinton's hand in 1992 in Billings, MT at Rocky Mountain College.

I was on the rope line outside. We could see through the window when he was done and he changed his suit jacket. He then came out and started shaking hands. As he got closer to me, the crowd was surging towards him and a small child was popped out of the crowd. He picked the child up and gave them to their parents. That happened right in front of me and I got to shake his hand and all I could say was "Cool!" It was great!

I still have the Clinton/Gore yard sign.

[LudwigPastorius]

140. McCain, Perot, and Giuliani (Yes, I live in a red state, and these were all work related.)

Nobody I really wanted to meet.