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Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)

32. In 1982, I was (16 years old) with a group of people in the corridor outside of the Senate...

Sat May 4, 2013, 12:29 PM

May 2013

...and saw the line forming up the staircase for the Senate Gallery. I simply went and stood in line, only to be stopped at the top of the stairs by someone wanting to see a pass. I said I didn't have one. All of a sudden, a man piped up behind me saying "Son, you want to get into the gallery?'
"Yes sir!" I chimed.
"Son, I'm Senator Jepsen from the Great State of Iowa and, if you want to go into the Gallery, you can go as my guest!"
"Can the group I'm with go with me?" I pleaded.
"Of course, son!" the Senator replied.

I went into the gallery and the first face I recognized was Senator Kennedy. The second was Amy Carter, who was serving as a page at the time. What an experience!

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In 1996, I visited Washington DC. I walked up the East Steps of the Capitol and into the Rotunda... [View all] Cooley Hurd May 2013 OP

A paranoid, failing empire. nadinbrzezinski May 2013 #1

So true! nt caledesi May 2013 #41

The Forbidden City LuvNewcastle May 2013 #2

In October I visited. And stayed 3 days. Need to go back and stay for another 5. So much to do. graham4anything May 2013 #3

No one is whining, Graham. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #6

Ben Franklin "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". graham4anything May 2013 #8

I seriously doubt Franklin meant "lock down everything in fear" with that quote. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #11

Walk softly and carry a big stick- Teddy Roosevelt. graham4anything May 2013 #16

I'm due beer money for this experience corkhead May 2013 #17

Bwah Recursion May 2013 #29

He also said something about those willing to give up essential liberties for temporary safety. hobbit709 May 2013 #18

No one remembers a plane being shot down on 9-11, because that didn't happen. Thor_MN May 2013 #43

I believe Graham is being sarcastic. He is emulating Third Way Manny but just isnt telling us. nm rhett o rick May 2013 #30

Hey, I lived in Alexandria for 5 years ... ah, the good times! nt caledesi May 2013 #42

The Birchmere! graham4anything May 2013 #44

No, the Senate, House and White House are frightened - not us. KentuckyWoman May 2013 #4

Buy a Congressman or Cabinet member. They'll let you in for the price of admission. leveymg May 2013 #5

I wrote Senator Gillibrand's office for Senate Gallery tickets... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #7

now, you know what, in thinking about it- graham4anything May 2013 #15

That's not true. In the '90s no reservations at the Capitol - walk in and wait in line for a seat. leveymg May 2013 #25

In 1982, I was (16 years old) with a group of people in the corridor outside of the Senate... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #32

Maybe that was to get to the offices and not the floor.Been a while. graham4anything May 2013 #33

There was a table down the hall that gave you a cine style ticket for admission. First come-first leveymg May 2013 #35

Hersheypark=The US Capitol? Cooley Hurd May 2013 #46

There was a shooting at the U.S. Capitol in 1998. CBHagman May 2013 #9

In 1996, we walked thru metal detectors before entering the Rotunda... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #12

He just shot the guard and walked through Recursion May 2013 #21

I guess so, but maybe bullet-proof vests might've been more in line? Cooley Hurd May 2013 #22

I worked in the Capitol in '93; it wasn't exactly laissez faire back then either Recursion May 2013 #23

I really LIKED the Visitor's Center! Cooley Hurd May 2013 #24

Well, the *real* fun part of DC is several blocks north Recursion May 2013 #27

Believe it or not, another place I made a beeline to was A Mitchell Palmer's old house... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #34

I used to work right near there Recursion May 2013 #36

I just LOVE DC! That's why I was so sad to see so much locked down. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #39

In 1999, my uncle worked for out Representive Drale May 2013 #10

When I first got to DC in '87, I used to drive around DC and even right in front of the White House MrScorpio May 2013 #13

That's the thing... even in Wartime Washington did things get this weird. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #19

I recall rubbing elbows with Muskie and McGovern... MinM May 2013 #14

I bumped into both of them when I was working in DC in the 90s. leveymg May 2013 #31

PA Ave was closed when that jackass flew a plane into the white house lawn Recursion May 2013 #20

To vehicular traffic, but not to pedestrians... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #26

Oh, sorry, I misread that. Was Lafayette Park open? Recursion May 2013 #28

I believe Lafayette park was also closed. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #37

In 1996, people used to queue up along that wall by the mile zero marker n2doc May 2013 #38

It saddens me so to see my beloved Carolina May 2013 #40

I mirror you sadness... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #45

Yes, that bastard Carolina May 2013 #47