I was unemployed, thanks the then current administration, twenty years old and was looking forward to voting in my first presidential election. It was 1980 and President Jimmy Carter, “Mr. Malaise,” was seeking re-election. His opponent was Governor Ronald Reagan of California.
One day, I notice the DPA had an
advertisement from the McMinn County GOP. Reagan was going to be
speaking at the West Town Mall in Knoxville and they were asking for
people to form a caravan to go see him there. Seeing as I had no
other particular plans, I decided to see if I could hitch a ride.
I told Dad about my plans and how I
cool it would be to see Reagan. Dad, of course, said, “You won't
get within a mile of 'im.” I argued that maybe I would and that it
would be a great adventure at any rate.
I arrived at the Republican
headquarters in Athens in plenty of time that day to find out what
was involved in the trip and if anyone would mind if I tagged along.
I expected there to be a great crowd that day, but, sadly, there were
only four ladies there, besides myself, and I was faced with the
dilemma of going home or going along. Fortunately, I was brassier
back then than I am now and they didn't seem adverse to me joining
them. Ere long, we five were on our way.
We arrived at the mall and it was a
beautiful, bright, sunshiny day! There were thousands in attendance,
all gathered in the parking lot that had been roped off for the
festivities. (I heard on the news later that there were over ten
thousand spectators present that day.) We five made our way into the
milling crowd and, I don't remember if it was on purpose or because
of the press, I found myself separated from the ladies who had
chauffeured me to Knoxville.
There were more people present than I
think I had ever been numbered among. I even remember a small group
of protestors, not even a dozen, holding signs that I can't recall.
There was a little shouting on their part and dirty looks from the
GOP supporters. I don't remember any problems, which speaks well of
the Reagan-ites. Besides, the tree-huggers were so far back from the
podium that they made virtually no impact on the circumstances.
Standing so far back, I had a good
vantage point to see, but it seemed to me that Reagan would be a mile
away at best. I wanted to get a better angle, but didn't know where
to go. (Maybe I was hoping to ensure that Dad's mile away prophecy
didn't come true.) So, I began to move stage left, believing I really
could not have done any worse.
As I moved along, working my way though
the throngs, I realized I was approaching the street that had been
marked off for, I supposed correctly, limo access. Furthermore, I
noticed a roped-off walkway not far ahead of myself. I decided that
was the place for me!
I worked my way up to the rope to where
I was no more than fifty feet, I suppose, from the speaking podium. I
was standing directly against the rope and felt comfortable that
little would happen from which I would not have a front row seat. I
stood there, enjoying the sights and watching the happy crowd. It was
not very long at all, before I noticed the VIP limousines pulling up
to a stop. As the doors were opened by the lucky people assigned to
do so, pretty much everybody who was somebody in the Tennessee
Republican Party began to make their way toward the rope path.
Among those I quickly recognized were
then Governor Lamar Alexander and Senator Howard Baker. They began
working their way down the line and I was, more or less, fortunate
enough to shake both of their hands. I remember saying something to
Baker like, “I voted for you Senator Baker.” To which he replied,
“Be sure to vote for Governor Reagan!” I always thought it a
little weird although perhaps I should not have. Perhaps it's because
I expected at least the words, “Thank you!”
There were many more besides them, but
apparently they weren't important enough for me to remember. I do
remember the Secret Service guys, all dressed in their suits and
shades watching the crowds with keen intent. I recall, poignantly,
one who had a very well trimmed beard.
Shortly thereafter, the man I had been
looking for stepped out of one of the big black sedans. Yes, it was
Ronald Wilson Reagan! Shortly in tow was his lady, Nancy. I'll never
forget that he was wearing that tan suit that I always thought looked
so spiffy!
Oh, yes, I was so excited! Here I was,
on the ropes, where I knew Reagan would have to walk within inches of
me.
Then, I began to notice something else.
The hundreds of people who too were pressing against the ropes. All
were hoping to get a glimpse of the man or, better yet, press the
flesh with him. I knew I had to do something a little drastic or he
would pass right by me. But what?
In only a minute, I found Nancy Reagan,
standing directly in front of me, making her way past us onlookers.
Before I could think about it long, the thought came to me and I
shouted, “Hey, President Reagan!” I hoped between the prophetic
statement and my renowned lung power, I would multiply my chances of
being noticed. Well, it worked. Suddenly, Nancy locked eyes with me
and smiled the biggest smile directly at me. Now, what to you say
when you're an unemployed, unknown nobody and you find Nancy Reagan
standing and smiling right before you? I said the only thing I could
think of: “Hiya, Nancy! Howya doin?” Yes, and it came out of my
my mouth just as hillbilly as it looks. I swiftly stuck out my hand,
she shook it. We quickly acknowledged and just as quickly passed the
moment.
Now, there, immediately to my left, was
Reagan himself, working his way down the line. He was shaking hands,
smiling at the greeters and moving almost too swiftly for my taste.
Fortunately, in only a moment, I found myself gripping his strong
hand, being the recipient of that famous warm smile and, after quick
looks in one another's eyes, he moved down the line and to the
podium.
It wasn't long after that, that I
decided that this was really not a good place to observe the speakers
on the dais. So, I found myself pretty much back where I had started
in the rear of the crowd. This, it turned out, was actually a good
place from which to both see and hear.
As best as I can recall, Baker gave
Reagan the formal introduction that day. This was, of course, as best
I recall, others made some, what they might call, appropriate
remarks.
I can't remember much at all of what he
said that day. I just remember cheering and applauding along with
rest of the enthusiastic crowd. I would say that the speech could not
have been more than twenty minutes other than being lengthened by our
applause. Yes, a grand time was had by all!
I do recall one specific line very
vividly. Looking back, it might have been even scarier considering
the, obviously, unforeseen assassination attempt awaiting him in the
future. At one point, after he had gotten well into his speech,
something caused feedback in the sound system, resulting in what
would be called a loud crack or pop. It was loud as thunder and
everyone took note, even Reagan. He looked around the crowd, smiled
and said, “I thought you were still in the Rose Garden.” We all
laughed and cheered!
As a note of explanation, this was
during the Iran Hostage Crisis and President Carter had vowed not to
leave the White House except on official business. (Which, I suppose,
included a lot of “official business” campaign stops.) It was,
more or less, a daily thing, seeing Carter giving press briefings
from the White House Rose Garden.
Reagan had been a man I had admired for
years. He quite nearly ousted President Gerald Ford for the GOP
nomination in 1976. No small feat considering Ford was a sitting
president. Reagan had always articulated pure conservative doctrine
and was a man considered capable, wise, intelligent, patriotic and a
fine Christian by all who knew him or of him.
Now, on with my story.
Somehow, I managed to find the kindly
ladies who had brought me there and we returned to our vehicle and
Athens. I can't recall anything we talked about, but if you know me,
you know I talked. I hope I wasn't too much of a pest to them.
I arrive back home to Mom and Dad,
terribly excited about all the events that had occurred. I could
hardly wait to tell Dad how wrong he had been about the distance
between Reagan and I. Though, I had to tell him a fun way. It went a
little like this:
“How did it go, son?”
“Oh, I had a blast, Dad!”
“I was right wasn't I? You didn't get
within a mile of him.”
“Yeah, you were right about that
much. I didn't get with a mile of him....but I did get to shake his
hand!”
