I Finally Meet Wes Clark
Submitted by jordans11 on October 4, 2007 - 10:39am.
Book Signing | Clark | funny | story | Wesley Clark
This Tuesday I got out of class at 9:30 am. I had nothing to do until 3:15 pm, when I was to be picked up and brought to the private reception being put on for General Clark in Seattle. He was in town for a book singing at Third Place Books later that night. I was nervous after class and got absolutely nothing done at all from the time I was released from class to the time I got dressed and ready to go – I didn’t even eat lunch. It was that bad.
I had never been to any kind of “private reception” so I had no idea what to wear. Being a clueless male, I enlisted the help of my girlfriend Mara to decide on my wardrobe. Not only am I a male, but I am also a college student. That means that my only two choices are jeans and t-shirt, or “church clothes.” I decided I’d better go with the fancy stuff.
I was dropped off at the house and was very nervous. I was greeted by Laura, who told me to head inside and informed me that she would be looking better in a few minutes. A strapping young fellow opened the door and immediately asked “Are you Jordans11? I’m Stan Davis.” He was wearing a 4 star pin, a Draft Clark 04 Founder pin and also a Wes Clark Democrat pin. Later he handed out “Wes Clark: American Hero” chains and pins to the twenty or so people in attendance. It was clear who Stan had come to see.
My nervous feeling continued as I met a few more people, including Kelly, Allison, and E.J. I kept on glancing over to the door, wondering when Wes would walk in. Pretty soon somebody said “He’s here!” and several people made their way into the reception. I looked to my left and into the room came Wesley Clark. I was a bit frozen as he came right up to me, and shook my hand as I said, or at least intended to say, “I’m Chris, it’s great to meet you!” He replied, “Chris, thank you so much for your support.” It seemed like he didn’t know what to say to me except “Thanks” but I knew it was genuine. He didn’t go around the entire room greeting people and saying, “Thanks for your support,” to everyone. If I was him, what would I say to me? Probably “Thanks so much for your support.”
At that point I was not really interested in meeting new people and chatting with the guests, I was most interested in hovering within earshot of Wes so that I could hear his stories and just take it all in. I was amazed at how he would just walk up and hug people he knew and how people who worked on his campaign had such personal, casual relationships with him. It was the strangest feeling in the world standing right next to Wes Clark. After seeing him on TV so much, reading and writing about him so much, and believing in him so much, he had become more of an idea to me that an actual person. Yet there he was, bumping into me as he kept reaching for the sandwiches, each time saying “Ooops! Sorry ‘bout that,” to which I would reply, “Dig in. They’re all yours.”
Although I wasn’t around him the entire time (I didn’t want to appear to be some kind of creepy stalker), I heard him tell stories about Wes Jr., about his grandchildren, and even about his swimming routine during the campaign. Laura brought E.J. (who is in college) and I over to Wes to tell him that we had done so much for him, and we got his full attention. E.J. said it was an honor to meet him, and Wes started telling a story about Israel. I can’t even remember what the story was because I was so distracted by the fact that General Clark was standing right there talking to me. I also noticed that I was taller than him! When he was done with his story, I told him one of my own. I mentioned how a kid in my dorm is a diehard Obama fan with an Obama sign in his window. I ordered some Clark08 sings off the internet and replaced his Obama sign with a Clark sign when he was out of the room. I closed the curtain, and he didn’t notice for days. When he finally did find the sign, he was going to come give me a “piece of his mind”, but he had just read that Clark wasn’t running, so he decided to come give me a hug instead and say, “Don’t worry. Everything will be ok!” Wes got a good laugh out of that.
Later, as several people were gathered around talking politics with Wes, we got to talking about Hillary. He was quick to defend her, saying, “You know, a lot of people think Hillary is this cold, hard woman. If you know her she can be the nicest, warmest, kindest person you’ll ever meet. But if you screw up…boy! She will cut you like a knife! And if you think that if Hillary wins, Bill Clinton will be the next president, you don’t know Hillary! She’s got the experience, spending her whole life learning what it takes to be in this office, and she’s ready.” I remember also how Wes was so proud of his book. He said “You know I really hope it just sells a ton of copies! I was talking to Bill Clinton today, who just finished it and he told me ‘Wes, it really is a great book, especially at the end just purely for the message’. So I want to sell a lot of copies, but it’s not about me. It’s not about money. It’s about the message.”
Later during a talk about policy, I asked Wes what he thought of the Kyl-Lieberman Iran Amendment that had made me so frustrated over the last several days. His initial reaction was to kind of lower his head in a gosh, this is a tough one kind of way. He said, “I’m uneasy about it. You know, I put a call into Hillary on this afterwards. I may have voted for it just because what the amendment says is true, the guard has been carrying out terrorist activities, in supporting Hezbollah and all that. I’m just so concerned though, because there’s no talk. There are just threats.”
Sometime during this I wanted to ask Wes for a picture, but I was much too nervous. So far the only other person who had done that was Darcy Burner. I didn’t want to say “Ok Wes, you’ve had your photo op with Darcy now it’s time for Chris Jordan.” I don’t think I’m quite in her league, so I couldn’t do it. I did eventually get one at the book signing, however (with Kelly’s help!). It was also amazing to me how down to earth and comfortable Wes was. He’s not the “baby kissing” type of politician who walks in with his big cheesy smile and shakes everyone’s hand and says the same thing to every single one. He’s just…a normal person. He doesn’t dominate people; he just comes in, shares stories, and enjoys the company of everyone around him. Clark is the real deal, he’s genuine.
So from there we went on to the book signing where a good crowd gathered. My guess is a couple hundred people. Let’s just say they had to bring out a couple more rows of chairs because there wasn’t enough. After the speech and question session I got my book signed, got my picture, said goodbye to everyone, and that was that. It was quite the experience for me. I never dreamed I would be able to meet Wes in person, let alone actually talk to him and have him thank me personally for my support. He really is a one of a kind person, and in so many ways.
Not many people in this world actually get to meet their heroes and hold a conversation with them. I will never forget meeting him and won’t forget how much I admire him and his vision. I don’t only admire General Clark; however, for his views, I admire him for his service. He decided that money was not important to him and that he would rather sacrifice his life in service to the country than go be a businessman or an engineer where he knew he would be safe. He has truly walked the walk and I am truly grateful that I got to shake his hand. I just wish I hadn’t forgotten to bring him cheetos.
I understand your nervousness. Here in NYC, we had a lot of chances to meet the General during the campaign and then afterwards as well. For the longest time, I could get no more than "Thank you, General" out whenever I shook his hand....Eventually, I got up the nerve to say more and then it became really easy to talk to him...
But, as far as you not being in the same league with Darcy, that is something you should not worry about.
A couple of springs ago, I attended an event at Chris Heinz' loft where Wes spoke. There were all of these important looking men in suits and women in dressy stylish clothes....and me in my black jeans and jean jacket....And yet, when I stopped Wes to talk to him, he ignored all of those "important" people and stood and talked to me for so long that one of the guys running the event came to move him along...No one is "less than" with our General.
Meeting Wes for the first time can be a daunting and emotional experience, but you are right.....he is so down to earth and genuine, he immediately makes you feel at ease. I remember thinking....wow, that was just like talking with my next door neighbor. ;)
Thanks so much for the FIA and for all you do for Wes.
Cheers.
People want leadership......and in the absence of leadership, they will listen to anyone who walks up to the microphone.
Lewis Rothschild, in "American President"
Well, I've met Wes Clark several times. Tuesday was something like the 15th date I'd seen him in 9 states in 15 cities for 30 events. (I lost my notebook, so I'm doing this from memory.)
My highlights included meeting Darcy Burner, Luther Lowe, Lynn Markova, and...fanfare, please... the inimitable Chris Jordan. I wanted to meet that young fellow. As an admirer of good writing, I wanted to get a "feel" of Chris," who is truly an amazing writer.
What a great pic you got, Chris!! I'm so happy for you. You will treasure it forever. I have my pic of Wes with me not only as my blog pic, but on the front door of my apartment where everybody can see it.
I wish I had hustled over to the Drinking Liberally venue where Wes went after the book signing, but by the time I learned that that was where he was going, they were on the way out, and I had no clue where it was, LOL.
One of these days, if I live long enough, I want a pic with Senator Chris Jordan.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
"strapping young fellow" that you are! ;)
And future Senator (at least) Chris Jordan does have the earmarks alright. He and Wes both look great in that picture, which for some reason reminds me of another picture. It's of a young man from Arkansas with JFK.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark still could be the national security candidate.
And great to see your picture!
When Wes was here in DC I went to see him at Barnes & Noble. He was early and stopped into their Starbucks, where I was hanging out, so we said Hi early (I've met him several times, and he appears to remember me!)
He sat at a table and worked the phone, with his aide [? woman] who introduced herself to me after I ran out to CVS to get Cheetos and a camera! I gave her the bag of cheetos for him, and he ate a sandwich and talked on the phone up to the time of the 'presentation.' I was lucky that I remembered, and that there was a cheetos-purveyor nearby!
Wes has an amazing memory for people.
Sylvia/SaturnLadyDedicated2Clark has met Clark exactly twice -- in early January '04 in Manchester, NH for the "Draft Clark Weekend" and Tuesday in Seattle. She told me after the festivities in Seattle that Clark had said to her, "I remember you!" Amazing. I don't remember people I had met an hour before, much less almost four years ago, and even after all this time and events, based on my own ability to remember people, I never expect him to recognize me.
I met Sylvia in Manchester there, too. She said Tuesday night over dinner that we have a bi-coastal relationship, LOL.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
But I'm so glad you were there. That was such an amazing evening.
So happy you got to go to both the private reception and the book signing! And really appreciate you taking the time to report back to us! You're really a good writer and it was so fun to read this, this morning!
You did much better than many of us in meeting Wes for the first time! Even told a story that made him laugh! Wow!
All I could manage was "you give us hope" or something! LOL! And that was the 2nd time I'd met him. The first time I was too nervous to even approach him after he spoke, until Ruth pushed me forward and I was suddenly standing right in front of him -- don't even remember what I may have said -- probably thank you or something equally brilliant! LOL!!
Great photo of you and Wes! Guarantee he won't forget you if/when you meet him again!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
What a wonderful account, jordans!! PS tell your girlfriend she did a fine job dressing you too ;-)
It took me so many meetings before I could make my mouth correspond to my brain when first meeting the General. He must have thought I was English second language for those first few meetings! I don't know what came out, but they were sounds resembling words.
So happy for your fun experience and meeting. I see him tomorrow here but the venue is large and I'm presuming will be jam packed (UCLA)
Thanks!
I know what you mean by the mouth corresponding to the brain, it was really hard to concentrate when he was talking to you because your mind just thinks, "Wow....that's Wes....right there...."
You need to get yourself in on a "Blogger Round Table" where you spend good quality time in a small group. He thoroughly enjoys these and after the first 15 minutes or so, you relax into it and are able to actually form cogent sentences. Sort of. :-)
I doubt he's doing any on the book tour, the schedule being what it is-- not enough time. But he LOVES and respects his bloggers like no other in the lineup. Like you said, no cheesy smiling baby hugging phoniness... genuine warmth and appreciation.
one day, jordans. And may I say, that picture of you with Wes is adorable:)
something he said about his campaign
He said something like "You have no idea how it felt to be fired as a General, and then all of a sudden these thousands of people come to you and are willing to do so much for you. You just have no idea how that felt." He is sooo grateful to all the people who worked on the campaign. Just wanted to let you know.
I haven't been around much lately, so I am very happy I caught your FHA, this morning! Wow, what a great story. I'm very, very, very happy you were able to finally meet our general!
Great photo! A keeper!
((((Chris))))
...and tuck it in the back of a framed picture of you and General Clark.
Something tells me that you will have many moments in your life to reflect on that memorable experience meeting WKC.
It was important to share the personal experience with him. He is besieged with earth-shattering questions from sunrise to late hours. Your levity was a welcome relief.
Thanks for your joyful essay. It brought me gladness.
Gordon has a great idea there, Chris. The photo is priceless and so is your account.
I'm just thrilled for you having finally met the General.
And so very happy that you were able to hang out with him until you found your voice.
One small lesson I take from your FHA:
Do not get between Wes and a plate of sandwichs.
Great FHA Chris, insightful and just plain fun!
"Some of us are still eating hotdogs...
...and that's an astonishing thing." -- Wes Clark
Reading your comments about meeting General Clark for the first time and your anxiety beforehand reminds me of a senior I know who is in his 70s and his first meeting with General Clark.
One is never too young or too old to feel the magnetism of this man.
I am so glad you had this chance to meet your hero.
I included it in here:
it's making me so sad...
Even with the upbeat music, the photos are all taken in more hopeful times, and everyone's so happy. It makes me sad for what might have been... I hope some day I can move past this feeling of loss that overwhelms me.
But, I have to remember, I would never have met any of you (well, probably not, anyways) if not for Wes. And that is a treasure I will cherish my entire life.
Thanks, shortie. Saved to my favorites to watch again and again!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
I have so many pictures I'd like to see here. Jen, remember the lunch we had in Ohio? Gosh, we haven't heard from some of them in ages. I think if we all pitched in we could make this a feature length film. :)
"Some of them put on their cowboy boots and put their feet up on the desk." -Wes Clark
I admit to having a terrible memory, but that day in Columbus is fresh in my mind as if it were only a few weeks ago! It was such a special, special day meeting all of you!
I tried downloading (uploading?) one of the photos I have to Photobucket and posting it here but it's way too big and I don't know how to downsize it.
The link is here:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd128/zeph55/235439300xQqslV_ph.jpg
Clockwise: Ohio, Ruth, Susan, Rich, Sean, Jen, Spring, kramer, Phyl
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
with Wes:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd128/zeph55/GeneralClarkColumbus.jpg
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Wes at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Oct. last year - the first time I got to meet him, and I too was first tongue-tied, then gushing, then blushing. But he was so warm, I settled down.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/Gabriele317/gabriele/Wesandme.jpg
"We are the leaders we are waiting for". Hopi Elders
Clark and Clarkies in Topeka 3/5/04 here.
Clarkies in D.C. September '05 here. I was at a convention and invited some Clarkies to join me for dinner.
The first (and only, so far) WesPAC Annual Dinner here.
Clark and Clarkies in Nevada November '06 here.
The first WesPAC fundraiser, New York, May '04 here.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
PAGE NOT FOUND....
I haven't seen that one for a long time....I'd made the embroidered card for him and signed by all the Clarkies there. Then, after the speech and dinner, as he was getting on the elevator to leave, someone in the crowd hollered: "Wes, this lady has a card for you"....he came out of the elevator, and somebody literally pushed me through 3-4 rows of humans, and there I was, standing "shoulder-to-shoulder" with General Clark!!while he read the card. You were in that group, too, Stan... I was as tongue-tied as everyone is the first time you're in the vicinity of the General. What a memorable evening. Some where I have a video of it--don't know who filmed it....maybe Ksenja (sp?).... Too bad you missed the one in Lincon, the next month. We got to go to a fundraiser in the afternoon, and I had a pix of him with Gert on one side and me on the other--he had an arm around both of us. He's one fantastic person!! I think Jai took that one. I love to hear of others' meetings with Wes.
Don't be sad. This is part of a letter I sent him right after he'd endorsed Hillary:
Sure, it would be fun to help you become the most powerful man in the world, but I honestly believe the world may need you in a slightly different role. The guy in the figurehead position at the top isn't always the most important. I think Senator Clinton will have a great team, and I not only hope but I also think you will be a part of it.
No, I don't trust her. And I also doubt she can win. But I do trust Wes. He thinks this is the best path forward.
Don't be sad. We're only changing. And we need to change to grow.
Thanks a gazillion, Shortie. I actually know and have met so many of these wonderful people.
As Uncle Duke said when he heard Bob Denver singing "Rocky Mountain High," Lord take me now. Although that's not what Uncle Duke meant, it just doesn't get better than having this family.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Wes Clark -- Don't settle for less.
Make America All It Can Be!
http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
Another refrain going through my head: Is That All There Is?
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is ...Peggy Lee
I am so pissed that everyone got to have a great day with Wes! ggrrrr! I am so mad at myself for letting work get in the way!
Kevin
Washington Woman
http://washingtonwoman.blogspot.com
Elect Marty Campbell
will be unmatched peak experience :-) I shouldn't think that -- have a feeling you will have
a lifetime of inspiring others and being inspired;
It was the strangest feeling in the world standing right next to Wes Clark. After seeing him on TV so much, reading and writing about him so much, and believing in him so much, he had become more of an idea to me that an actual person.
Chris, I only met Wes once, back at NCCM in 2005, and you sum up with these words exactly what it felt like for me.
Thing is you got a terrific photo with him. I travelled halfway around the world and got one of the worst photos I've ever taken when I stood next to him (and as someone who's got some hideous pics of myself, that's saying something!) This is no reflection, btw, on the photographer -- none other than the marvellous Arky Sue!
Thanks for the report. I'm inspired to see someone so inspired by Wes!
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
http://thumb17.webshots.net/t/61/61/3/32/4/418333204zscVdn_th.jpg
It was taken when we were helping canvass for Hackett. Remember? LOL, what a weekend. At least we made it out of there with our lives...
Proud to be an American.
fundraiser in the Hamptons:
http://thumb17.webshots.net/s/thumb4/1/30/25/171613025LZFFbv_th.jpg
(Geez, Wes and Gert looked great, but I really hate what the humidity did to my hair that day.)
Proud to be an American.
Love the umbrella! What a day that was. It's still one of my favorite Clarkie events of all time. Didn't we drive around forever in a caravan trying to find a place to eat? And we kept losing cars?
We drove around in the pouring rain, and lost a couple of cars along the way. What a great lunch we had - none of us could stop smiling - that I remember like it was yesterday. Wes had just given that fabulous speech at the Dem convention a few days before. Too bad we can't turn back the hands of time.
I think there is a pic of our lunch group in the same folder as the one with the umbrella.
But what a crazy place the Hamptons is - one main road, and then B*sh upped the terror level to tangerine or something and I had to head out to the airport at 2am to beat the freakin' traffic. Ah, memories...
Proud to be an American.
thank you,Chris, for it especially, but also for your wonderful first-person account.
Oh lord, how I wish my bookshelves were as orderly as General Wes'.
But then, I never even completed Military Adminstrative Services 101.
(I think that was the name of that elective course that I started taking but then dropped,waaaaay back there as a junior in college.)
Anyway, it had a lot of handsome and fit and interesting boys in it.
A lot of them were in ROTC and were big flirts. I do remember that part of it.
But that was in the wonderful days when people still talked about flirting and made a point of distinguishing it from true sexual harassment.("Oh, you know, he was kinduv flirting, but not offensive.Not At all :) ".
Clearsky
Gen. Clark is a lot to discover about than just meeting him once... I am halfway finishing his book A Time to Lead and besides Gen. Clark’s great mind and many talents, he is definitely not a boring person...
I hope you get to meet him again. And cool UN shirt! And I can picture you working for UN one day ;-).
Thanks for this wonderful description. I'm so truly happy for you and I'm so glad you had such a good time. That picture of the two of you is a treasure--I wonder if someday we'll see it in documentaries like we've seen the picture of JFK shaking Bill Clinton's hand. I have such a strong feeling that someday somebody is going to be writing blog posts like yours about the excitement of meeting you!
What a great picture! What a wodnerful account! I'm so glad you got to meet him. He is one of a kind, isn't he? And he is lucky to have you as a supporter...It's young people like you that give me hope for the future in this messed up broken world.
Great story you had to tell Wes, too.
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark