Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

On my mind: By Jeremy Langley

So the lecture was over. I, along with about 1,500 other persons had just finished listening to the 42nd president of the United States offer a lecture at Ouachita Baptist University.

Ill let you in on a little secret if I may. Im a student at Ouachita, finishing up my degree in political science and mass communications, so I had procured a ticket to sit onstage with a "select group" of students during the lecture. I thought that would be neat at first, but then I got to thinking about the fact that I would have to look at the back of Bill Clintons head during the entire lecture.

Then another opportunity arose  sit in the press section. So thats what I chose to do, knowing the whole time that I may be giving up my only opportunity to shake hands and talk with the president.

During the lecture I listened to every word the president said. I snapped photos from several angles, even moving up to the stage at one point to get a close-up. But I wanted badly to meet him.

When the lecture was over, I started to leave after seeing that the president was working the crowd of students who had been sitting on the stage. I thought about my missed opportunity, but it was my choice to sit with the press instead of on the stage.

Then I noticed something. The president was leaning down greeting a large group which had gathered on the floor at the edge of the stage. This was my opportunity.

I turned my 6'6' self into human bulldozer of sorts it seemed as I pushed my way to the stage through hundreds of people moving in the opposite direction. Then when I finally reached the stage I waited for the president to make his way to me.

People were pushing, and Ive never felt so claustrophobic in my life. Then there he was, standing just about a foot from me. I, along with everyone else was holding up my program for him to sign. I thought he would never take mine, but he did.

Amidst all of the chaos, people were shouting, "Mr. President, Do you remember this person or that person who worked on your campaign or traveled with you to Africa?" He did.

I wanted him to say something to me. I wanted to shake his hand. I had to think of something. At last! I thought of it, and it worked. Heres how it went down as best as I remember it:

ME: Mr. President do you remember Joe T. Dunn?

CLINTON: Well I sure do!

ME: Thats my uncle.

CLINTON: How in the world is Joe T. doing?

ME: Hes doing great, still gardening all the time.

CLINTON: I was just talking to Harry Thomason from Hampton the other day, and we talked about Joe T. Ill tell you one thing, Joe T. Dunn stood up for me in Hampton, Ark., when no one else would.

ME: Yes, sir, he is a big supporter. He even had a life-size cardboard cutout of you in his store for the longest time.

CLINTON: You tell Joe T. I said hello.

ME: I will, sir, and it was a pleasure to meet you.

Then he reached down and shook my hand as he gave me my program, now autographed.

I was on cloud nine. I had just held a conversation with the 42nd president of the United States. I know, I know, there were people who got a lot more access than did I, but for me this was big. This was HUGE.

I wonder if hell remember me as "Joe T.s nephew" if I ever run into him again.