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(U) Presidential Encounters
FROM: SIGINT Communications
Unknown
Run Date: 02/21/2006
(U) Editor's note: in commemoration of the holiday, we asked NSAers to tell us about their
encounters with US Presidents. Here's what we learned:
(U) Advice for Ike
(U) Back in July 1960 I met and spoke with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Even though I was
only 3 years old at the time, my family says I was talking with the President regarding his
interstate highway program. My eldest sister's youth choir performed at the Eisenhower farm in
Gettysburg, PA. My sister has a picture of President Eisenhower and me sitting at a picnic table
looking at a map; since I have an obsession with maps (major and backup routes for vacations),
my sister says I was discussing with the President where the next stretch of the interstate
should go.
-- anonymous
(U) Nixon Signs Ruble
(S) I had always wanted to meet a President of the United States, and I got the chance when
former President Richard M. Nixon came to Moscow in March 1994. I was working at the U.S.
Embassy as a DIA employee and heard one of his last speeches before he died on 22 April 1994.
One of the reasons he had come to Russia was to meet with Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
However, Yeltsin announced that neither he nor any member of his government would receive
the 81-year-old former President, the first U.S. President to visit the Soviet Union and one of
Yeltsin's earliest supporters. Apparently, Nixon offended Yeltsin by meeting freed conspirator
Alexander Rutskoi before meeting with Yeltsin -- a matter of protocol.
(U) After the speech at the embassy, I was fortunate to be able to meet Nixon and get his
autograph on a 200-ruble note, the only thing I had for him to sign. The next month, I stood in
line at the Deputy Chief of Mission's home to sign former President Nixon's memorial book. I am
so glad I was able to meet one of the U.S. Presidents.
--
(U)
with President Nixon
(U) Ford on the Campaign Trail
(U) It was my honor to meet Former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford. During his mini-term,
President Ford traveled to New Hampshire and campaigned for his re-election. When his
motorcade stopped in the town of Peterborough, the President gave a speech to the many
voters, who turned out to meet him in front of the town hall. Afterwards, he shook hands with
my wife and me. And then the motorcade continued on its way to Concord.
--
(U) Discussing Boats with Vice President Bush
(U//FOUO) Shortly after I started working at NSA, I had the privilege of doing an intern tour on
the staff of then-Vice President Bush (#41). On several occasions, I had the opportunity to sit in
on meetings the Vice President held with senior officials such as the heads of Customs and the
Coast Guard. It was a fascinating opportunity to see how our government works at the highest
levels. I also had two more personal opportunities to meet the Vice President.
(U) The first occurred at a Christmas party the Bush family held for all staff members at their
residence at the Naval Observatory. The Coast Guard Captain who headed our office had briefed
us on protocol and made arrangements to introduce all of us to the Vice President. Due to the
notoriously awful Washington DC traffic, my late arrival at the residence caused me to miss the
group introduction. When I arrived, I asked the Captain if he would introduce me at his
convenience. Unfortunately, the Vice President was engaged in greeting other guests. Later in
the evening, however, I spotted the Vice President standing by himself. Figuring it was "now or
never," I approached him and introduced myself, explaining that I had missed the "official"
introduction because of traffic.
(U) The Vice President graciously welcomed me to his home. He had recently returned from a
trip to Florida that my office had set up. While in Florida, the Vice President had the opportunity
to drive Blue Thunder, a "cigarette boat" that Customs used for drug interdiction. I asked the
Vice President about the trip and about his boat trip. I obviously hit a subject he favored
because he formed a big smile and started telling me all about the boat and its performance
capabilities. We continued talking about boats in general for several minutes until he was
whisked away to greet a group of newly arrived guests. The opportunity to have the Vice
President sign a photo taken of us talking at the party became the keystone to my (now nearly
complete) collection of Presidential autographs.
(U) The second opportunity to meet the Vice President took place when I left the White House to
return to Fort Meade. I was able to meet the Vice President in his office for a "farewell" and
photo opportunity. We had our photo taken again, and, as a parting gift, he gave me a set of cuff
links with the Vice Presidential seal and his signature on them.
--
(U) Watch for more anecdotes...
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108