The last week I would spend as part of the congressional minority began with attending the Holiday Party at the White House with my daughter Anne. Since she will likely be overseas serving in the Peace Corps for the next two holiday seasons, we thought now was the time.
I tend not to go unless it’s convenient with family and friends. Large parties are not my most comfortable venue. And my frustration with the administration’s policies doesn’t put it at the top of my list anyway.
I had just finished reading Frank Rich’s column about the president being disconnected from reality in Iraq. There was some curiosity on my part about the mood of the holiday party amidst the growing specter of an administration divorced from reality internationally, facing huge problems at home, and with so many defeated Republican incumbents.
All in all, Anne and I figured it would be fascinating.
The evening was cold, the temperature having plunged from 70 degrees a couple of days prior to a sub-freezing temperature. The bracing climate and the spectacular holiday decorations put me in a festive mood and I enjoyed watching Anne, who had never been in the White House before, drink in the history as well as the people.
This is the time of year when a thousand people from the Hill, Republican operatives, and administration officials all converge, dressed up in holiday finery. Attendance is supposed to be limited to one friend or family member although there appeared to be several who found a way around it.
It was delightful to meet family members of colleagues. One of the first people I encountered inside was Congressman Jim Leach and his wife Deba. I had been working for the last couple of weeks to spotlight his potential as a permanent representative to the United Nations and just that day we had heard that John Bolton had withdrawn his name from consideration for reappointment. It was hard to exchange only holiday pleasantries when I was so focused on the prospects of this outstanding public servant potentially representing us on the world stage. He is one of the class acts in Washington DC, a person who makes serving in Congress rewarding and gives public service a good name.
There were a number of other defeated Republicans that I observed, mostly talking to one another. You had to wonder what they were thinking and discussing as they huddled, standing in line for their picture with the President and First Lady. I was curious as to what the President was thinking about people who were so damaged by his policies and their allegiance to him. Did he feel any sense of obligation or responsibility? Were they frustrated or having regrets?
Although I had only gone to a couple of these events, there appeared to be a few more Democrats than usual. And their spirits were high. It was exciting to talk to our Speaker-Elect, Nancy Pelosi, and her family. Anne has long been a fan of the Congresswoman and she in turn had been kind to Anne. Meeting her husband Paul and daughter Christine, we discussed prospects ahead, which were every bit as invigorating as the breath of cold evening air.
In conversation with some of my Republican colleagues who were re-elected I felt a sense of relief. They not only dodged the electoral bullet and avoided being drug down by the Tom DeLay scandal and corruption, but they were also relieved that the cloud over their ability to serve was lifted. People had been increasingly candid about their frustration over the mismanagement and misdirection of the House Republican leadership. The practice of having only a handful of people, (only a few of those elected) being the decision makers for the Republicans made their power in the House much less satisfying and much less effective. I encountered others after the party who were candid about their frustration with the President's policies and have quite negative reactions to both him and his administration.
One of the ordeals for all presidents and first ladies is the receiving lines for pictures. The Congressional Holiday Party is perhaps the granddaddy of them all with hundreds of people shepherded about by Marine Corps officers dressed in resplendent uniform, complete with braided medal and ribbons of valor. People were assigned cards color coded to regulate the flow of traffic. I can’t imagine how many hundreds of guests worked their way through the serpentine corridors, past the folding screens, through one long hallway and four different rooms, until at last you would present the card with your names and address (double proofed, of course) to be presented by one of the officers to the President and First Lady.
When our time came time, which in total lasted scarcely more than a couple of minutes, we were greeted graciously—Anne standing next to the President and me with the First Lady. A smile, two quick shutters of the camera, and a couple of personal exchanges. I noted with pride that Anne was on her way to the Peace Corps, which prompted a gracious and positive response from the President, expressing his thanks for her sense of service and an affirmation from the First Lady. Ten more seconds and we were gone. The photo is on its way to us, a memento of Anne’s opportunity to meet another President and First Lady and to reflect on their differences and style. Her experience with the Clintons had been positive, both from her personal contact and her assessment of his administration. As much as she opposed the Bush administration and its policies, she was a little disarmed by how friendly, outgoing, and considerate he was as he had these dozens and dozens of brief encounters through the evening.
We took our time working our way through the rooms looking at the history, the art, meeting more of my colleagues from both parties. Both Anne & I found ourselves thinking about what the White House represented, what it's become, and what it will be in the future. Anne agreed to be my "date" again in three years, when she will be finished with her overseas assignment and we will celebrating the first year of a new President (hopefully one from our team) and facing new challenges.
Until that time, here’s to eternal hope of the holiday spirit and for peace and goodwill among humankind.