What politicians have you met? And what are your impressions?

...Here's my 2 stories (one cool, one creepy) We'll do cool first.

I work for a major airline in San Francisco, and Senator Barbara Boxer flies on us all the time to go to her vacation home. She's escorted by an airport duty manager, and taken through a private security check (but she still goes through it) but that's as far as any special treatment goes. She and her husband Stuart buy coach tickets and board with everyone else. The first time I realised she was flying on us, I upgraded her to first class and gave her passes to our airline lounge. She found out who upgraded her, sought me out, and told me I didn't need to do it. I said it was my pleasure, since she fights the good fight for me every time she goes to work. She told me that was her job and she was happy to do it. She's absolutely tiny, I tower over her since I'm 6'1", but I was as impressed with her as if she'd been a foot taller than me. She's everything she comes across as being. (She even laughed when I told her she could return the favour by introducing me to Russ Feingold. She said "You're not the only one who's asked me that." So I told her maybe not, but at least I'm Jewish. To which she said Shalom and boarded the flight.)

And as for the lounge, she decided to join up, and paid for a year's membership. She's now officially my hetero girl-crush. :loveya:

Now, for the creepy: I was a toddler when Eisenhower was prez, and my family lived in Baltimore. One time, we trundled down to Baltimore/Washington airport to pick up my grandparents, when the Secret Service showed up and started shoving people out of the way. "Move along! Vice president coming through."

So next thing you know, here comes Richard Nixon through the crowd, with wife Pat at his side. All the cameras were flashing in their faces, then Pat spotted my 3 year old sister and 2 year old me. She came over and squatted down to hug us--much to the shock of my parents. Then Tricky Dick himself came over, well aware of the photographers, and ACTUALLY KISSED ME AND MY SISTER. :wow: :wow:

I mean: eewwww!!! I seriously have no memory of it, but my parents enlightened me in 1971, when I was 16 and first stuck an Impeach Nixon sticker on my car. I had to call my grandma to confirm it; I figured my dad was just trying to wind me up. But granny swore it was true.

So there you have it. How 'bout the rest of you? Any experiences or impressions to add?