Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - "some of his friends may have crank-called former President Clinton"

dy156 · 06-08-2005, 07:36 PM

Well, in a slightly similar situation, I never did.

This may not do much to help you prevent this from turning into a political thread, and it will certainly out me to any of my friends that peruse these boards, because they've all heard the story before.

Twas the night before the NAFTA vote, and all through the House of Representatives, all the creatures were stirring. It was the night of the House debate on NAFTA, a was a media frenzy, and the the place was was bustling late into the night, after a very long day. Because all the tv people were there, most congressman were too. This was not at all usual for just debates. All the then-living presidents had come out in favor of it, and people were saying "anything that Ross Perot, Jesse Jackson, and Pat Buchanan are against cannot be all that bad an idea." But the President, joined by most Republicans, was just right on the line for having enough votes for it to pass.

There I was, just a lowly page, answering phones.

"House Democratic Cloakroom, this is [Dy156]"

"This is the White House and I have the President on the line. He needs to speak with Chairman Rose."

(gulp)
"I'll find him, can I put you on hold?"

"Sure"

I race around trying to find Chairman Rose, a man with gray hair and glasses whose face I had had to memorize when I got there.
(wait, did I just put the president on hold.. no, just an operator.)

Continued searching frantically and asking about him, but to no avail.

Finally, I pick up the line.
"Uhm ma'am...

"Hold on.." --beep

"Ma'am, he's not on the floor, or in the cloakroom, and I even checked the speakers' lobby and the Rayburn room. I asked around, and it seems he's just not here."

(in that famous southern Arkansas drawl)
"Just have him call me at ###-#### if you see him." --beep

"Did you get that?"

(wait, did I just call the President 'ma'am'?! I thought I was talking to the operator!)
"Yes I did, and I'll make sure to give him this massage as soon as I see him."

"thank you" --click.

I told my boss about the call and to really keep a lookout for Mr. Rose, because he had a message from the President.

"Lemme' see that, that's not the white house number, they all start with ###!"

"well, it sure sounded like it was him."

"hold on, lemme' check something."

A few minutes later..

"Yep, that's a White House number, but it's a private residence line"

So I gave him the messsge, but not before I wrote down the, or at least one of the, White House residence lines. I kept it with me for awhile, just in case, and because I thought it was kinda cool, but thankfully never gave in to temptation to drunk dial that number, even years later.

06-08-2005, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
dy156 cookie Location: in the backwoods	Well, in a slightly similar situation, I never did. This may not do much to help you prevent this from turning into a political thread, and it will certainly out me to any of my friends that peruse these boards, because they've all heard the story before. Twas the night before the NAFTA vote, and all through the House of Representatives, all the creatures were stirring. It was the night of the House debate on NAFTA, a was a media frenzy, and the the place was was bustling late into the night, after a very long day. Because all the tv people were there, most congressman were too. This was not at all usual for just debates. All the then-living presidents had come out in favor of it, and people were saying "anything that Ross Perot, Jesse Jackson, and Pat Buchanan are against cannot be all that bad an idea." But the President, joined by most Republicans, was just right on the line for having enough votes for it to pass. There I was, just a lowly page, answering phones. "House Democratic Cloakroom, this is [Dy156]" "This is the White House and I have the President on the line. He needs to speak with Chairman Rose." (gulp) "I'll find him, can I put you on hold?" "Sure" I race around trying to find Chairman Rose, a man with gray hair and glasses whose face I had had to memorize when I got there. (wait, did I just put the president on hold.. no, just an operator.) Continued searching frantically and asking about him, but to no avail. Finally, I pick up the line. "Uhm ma'am... "Hold on.." --beep "Ma'am, he's not on the floor, or in the cloakroom, and I even checked the speakers' lobby and the Rayburn room. I asked around, and it seems he's just not here." (in that famous southern Arkansas drawl) "Just have him call me at ###-#### if you see him." --beep "Did you get that?" (wait, did I just call the President 'ma'am'?! I thought I was talking to the operator!) "Yes I did, and I'll make sure to give him this massage as soon as I see him." "thank you" --click. I told my boss about the call and to really keep a lookout for Mr. Rose, because he had a message from the President. "Lemme' see that, that's not the white house number, they all start with ###!" "well, it sure sounded like it was him." "hold on, lemme' check something." A few minutes later.. "Yep, that's a White House number, but it's a private residence line" So I gave him the messsge, but not before I wrote down the, or at least one of the, White House residence lines. I kept it with me for awhile, just in case, and because I thought it was kinda cool, but thankfully never gave in to temptation to drunk dial that number, even years later.