I have a couple of stories to tell that, I think, are interesting. They involve two former U. S. Senators from the State of Kansas.
When I was in Kansas I was active in the political scene, with my father, and had a chance to meet a Senator who later became a President (John F. Kennedy) and a number of people who later served in the U.S. Congress. Since I left Kansas in 1959 I never kept up with those political figures. Now almost 40 years later I made a couple of contacts.
First I wrote a letter to Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum. I knew her father in Kansas who was a Presidential candidate in about 1936 against the then President Franklin Roosevelt. Landon lost the election (I think he got only two small states). I have been in his house in Topeka Kansas but to my knowledge I had never met his daughter Nancy. Nancy and I both graduated from the same High School, I graduated in 1949 and she in 1950. I did not even know she existed at the school when I was there.
Nancy recently retired from the Senate and I wrote her a letter recalling her father and that I had been a guest in her house at one time. I also commented that we attended the same high school. I also recalled who my father was and that she may recall him and my mother. I mailed the letter in January just a few days before she married Senator Howard Baker - a busy time for them.
I expected to get a form "Thank You" note from her for my letter. Instead I got a very nice letter from her talking about some of the things I had mentioned in the letter. In addition she made a hand written note on something she had forgotten in the letter. I was pleased to get such a personal note.
A few months ago Senator Bob Dole lost his bid to be President of the United States. A couple of weeks ago he received a Citizenship metal for his long public service from President Clinton. I wrote him a note recalling some of the political times in Kansas and about my father and mother. I said some nice things about him winning the award and how he deserved it.
Bob was also from Kansas and I had met him on a couple of occasions while I was in Kansas. Again I expected to get a form "Thank You" note for the letter.
Yesterday I got a page from an area code of 202. Since I didn't know the number I just did not return the call. When I got home there was a message on my answering machine that Senator Bob Dole was trying to reach me by phone. This morning I called his Washington DC office and he was not available. Later this afternoon I again got a page from the same 202 area code. This time I immediately called back and was put immediately through to Senator Dole. He and I chatted a few minutes in which he thanked me for the kind words and we talked a little about his wife, Elizabeth, being a candidate for President in the year 2000. Again I was please that the Senator would take time out of his busy day to call someone who he hasn't heard from in almost 40 years.
As an aside to the above two notable people, I have also had the opportunity to meet the then Senator John F. Kennedy when he was on the campaign trail for President. I also worked with and for Senator Barry Goldwater who was a candidate for President in the 1960 election (I think). He was defeated by about the same margin that Landon was defeated. In addition I have had the pleasure to meet many members of the U.S. Congress and Governors in Kansas and Arizona State legislatures. In a smaller way I have met only a few in California.
Just a little history, for what it is worth, that each of you can file away.
