Sunday, January 8, 2012

Mr. Speaker!

January 1, 2012, Macabbee's Deli in Des Moines. Shortly before the Iowa Caucus. 
It was one of the most exciting conversations David Hirsch has ever had:

 Newt Gingrich walked in three minutes early. That is unheard of. Bill Clinton used to be at least two hours late (at least when I saw him). Other candidates average at least 30 minutes late.

The Speaker started shaking hands, maybe three seconds a person. I was about the fourth person he shook hands with. I thanked him for his clarity on the middle east, then told him I wanted to give him a copy of a book about Lincoln that I co-authored, pulling it out as I talked. He looked at the cover, and asked, "Is this the book on geometry?" I said, "Yes." He said, "I have the book on my Kindle. It has changed the way I give speeches." He said he would accept the book only if I endorsed it. I opened the book to the already endorsed title page.

Photograph by Dr. Alan Koslow