Can you believe that the most famous person I’ve ever met is Tom Daschle?
Does that even count? He’s was my state Senator for the entire time I’ve been alive, save these last few Thune years. I’d have to be in a cave not to meet him. I shook hands with him at a Democratic Party celebration party back in 1992 – the first year Clinton won.
I helped the Dem’s by going door to door encouraging people to vote. They did, apparently. And Daschle was re-elected. Or maybe he was just there. Regardless, my friend’s dad was talking to him and he introduced me. Daschle thanked me.
I also met Tim Johnson that night.
If there’s someone even more famous that I’ve met — which I classify as “shaking hands or engaging in a short conversation with” — then I’ve forgotten him or her. And whoever that is can’t be all that famous if I can’t even remember a name.
What about you? Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Just something that was on my mind. I didn’t want you to think I was neglecting BMOWP. I’ve just been very busy and very, um, outside. What I’ve Been Reading will be coming up soon.
So, yeah. Carry on with your day.
Well, all right, here’s my list, boast boast. None of them will have the slightest recollection of the handshake and a few words:
Hafiz el Assad
Prince Philip
Princess Anne
Kathleen Turner
Emperor of Japan (when he was Crown Prince)
Kings of Norway, Sweden and Spain
John McEnroe
RSM Brittain
Juan-Antonio Samaranch
Barbara Castle
etc
Show off.
I saw James Garner get out of a limo at LAX once. He jumped in of me, held out his arms, and said “Hey there!!!” I’m 10-years-old and thinking, “Holy cow…it’s ROCKFORD!!”
Sadly, his daughter or something was right behind me, and she came running past me into his arms.
I met Daschle too. He sat next to me on a flight to Minneapolis once (he wasn’t House Minority Leader back then). I loaned him my newspaper and he never gave it back.
Of course, I know John Thune fairly well. He goes to my church. Great guy.
Roger Ebert responded to two emails I sent him. Does that count?
I met Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He teaches a three-week study abroad program in Austria every summer that I attended a few years ago. Best educational experience of my life.
Kennedy is outrageously intelligent. But socially, he was awkward. He was fidgety and nervous. His handwriting was abominable. The way I described it later was that “his body is barely able to contain his intelligence,” and I think that’s quite accurate.
Well, you started it.
I met John Tesh outside of a Planet Hollywood once. He has big hands.
I also met the wife of the Duke of Northumberland.
I suppose you could count Mean Gene, too. But he’s not nice.
I met Colin Powell once. I also stood in an elevator with Rickey Henderson. I also shook the left-hand of Bob Dole. But the best ever was Ted Neeley of Jesus Christ Superstar.