My friend, Brent Clanton, is another old radio man like me, but he's actually been successful at it for a lifetime, where as I was never able to progress my 55 year broadcasting career to anything more than an avocation.
Brent owns Clanton Communications, LLC, which produces and hosts CBS Radio's "Talk650 Morning Show" on KIKK-AM in Houston.
Brent wrote this piece, and I asked him if I could post if for all on ActiveRain to be able to read.
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Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush
The Back Table at The Houston Club
It's not often you happen upon a chance to meet two former Presidents of the United States (George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton)
Timing is everything, and on a bright and sunny Friday afternoon, the two past-leaders of the Free World gathered in a small dining room of The Houston Club to share a meal and swap ideas.
What do former Heads of State have for lunch when no one's supposed to be looking (except for the Secret Service detail)?
According to the Head Chef at The Houston Club, Luz Botello, Mr. Clinton favors chopped salads and veggies. Apparently, even Presidential bypasses require that the President bypass his former diet.
Mr. Bush accepted a hamburger with relish.
The Presidents did not dine entirely alone; the Great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, Jonathan Sandys, happened to be in the same room, and was introduced for a quick photo op. A Club member in-the-know had pulled his first-grader out of class to meet the men; Mr. Clinton especially took time to chat with the boy and sign his autograph book, while his father captured the moment on a cellphone camera.
A Secret Service agent glowered closeby.
Who knows what they spoke of?
Perhaps another humanitarian collaboration to benefit Japanese Quake/Tsunami victims.
Perhaps an offer of Presidential advice on how to handle domestic issues.
Perhaps they just wanted to get together and share a meal.
The food was good, the room was their's, and only a small cluster of admirers and curious on-lookers mingled nearby.
After 90-minutes, the conversation was finished, the dinnerware swept from the table, and the sun streamed through a slatted window at a lower angle, sending angular shafts of light across the room. Mr. Bush was the first to emerge, and I heard a woman call out, "we love you, Mr. President."
Bush #41 responded, "aw, you're just saying that to be nice..." and eveyone else had a good laugh.
His handshake was still strong, his voice still clear, the look in his eyes still sharp.
Mr. Clinton posed for photos at several points along the way from dining room to elevator lobby.
Hand pumping with anyone within reach, eyes constantly moving over the group gathered to see living History walk past.
Thinner, with silver hair turned white, still Presidential.
History marches past us everyday.
Sometimes, we get to see the history-makers making plans, having lunch, and being friends.
Copyright 2011 - Brent Clanton
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