Have you ever seen a President in person?
By John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109846)
Los Angeles, California
August 16, 2016 8:32am CST
The vast majority of Americans have never experienced even a long distance glimpse of a President. They are that remote a figure. Unless you are super rich, a delegate, on a championship sports team, have a White House invite or an "in," opportunity to see a President in the flesh is very rare for the common folk. Maybe you have seen a President on the campaign trail at a rally or giving a speech. Or attended a baseball game where a current or past President threw out first pitch. Perhaps a book signing? Long lines waited to see Bill Clinton with his autobiography. Jimmy Carter has done endless book signings since leaving office.
I have seen two Presidents in person. When quite young, I saw then California Governor Ronald Reagan a couple times at events. I shook then Georgia Governor Carter's hand when he was campaigning. Several decades later, I glimpsed Carter standing and taking a bow at an Atlanta Braves game.
You have to be lucky at the right place at the right time in this day and age to catch a President. Barack Obama has been to my city and everyone knew where he was to appear for a private fundraiser with big money Hollywood fat cats. Today's security measures are so stringent that it just was not worth the effort and hassle to just maybe get a glimpse of him exiting his limo. The public was warned of a police blockade for blocks surrounding the hotel.
Have any of you ever seen a President? Or maybe a Senator or Governor? Or if you aren't American, a Prime Minister, President or royal?
16 people like this
20 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
16 Aug 16
Yes we have John.
When my son was a toddler, we were visiting the American Embassy in London for some appointment, and Jimmy Carter and his bodyguards were coming in the embassy as we were leaving. My then toddler son ran right into Jimmy's legs lolz
..what I recall most was his very blue eyes and wide smile. Oh and Jimmy patted my son on his head too lolz
..what I recall most was his very blue eyes and wide smile. Oh and Jimmy patted my son on his head too lolz3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
16 Aug 16
@RasmaSandra It was an event that I will never forget Sandra..my son does not recall how he bashed into the Presidents legs lolz
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79886)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Aug 16
That I would have loved to have seen @TiarasOceanView 
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
Jimmy Carter is the President most people have seen in person. He gets around or did.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Aug 16
Hum, that's a good question. I've met/run into some actors, but no presidents!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
18 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts I had a run in with Alan Alda at Newwark Airport years ago. He lived in No. Jersey...I was dropping off my then boyfriend and Alda was in the gift shop and I sorta screamed real loud. My boyfriend asked him to give me an autograph - he said he didn't give them, but would shake my hand if I kept my voice down! LOL....turned out they were on the same flight to CA and when they got off the plane Alda said to him "Good luck with her."
There were more but that's my best story!
2 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
17 Aug 16
No. I've never seen a POTUS in person. And there's no reason why I should not have at least caught a glimpse. I once worked in the nation's capital and could walk to the White House from my job.
Obama came to our city of Austin, Texas. Still didn't see him!
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
17 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts - I'm old enough. But when LBJ was prez, I lived in Miami, Florida.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Aug 16
You aren't old enough to have seen LBJ in Austin!
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13023)
• Ireland
16 Aug 16
@johnroberts I've personally met a couple of our Irish presidents and also prime ministers. Had lunch with Bertie Ahern and several of his ministers as their guest at the Dail (partliament) once. Met several British PMs too and have held hands with several African presidents as a child. It never did me much good!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
That's pretty impressive even if it didn't do you much good.
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Aug 16
I never did see a Pres, but did see some near miss wannabes. Walter Mondale had dinner at a restaurant where I was dining on the Wharf in San Francisco once. He was VP at the time I think. I (of course) went to a George McGovern event here in Eugene when he was running (wish he had won).
I did get to meet Carol King at a McGovern volunteers meeting and that was fun!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts Wasn't it Texas Gov John Connolly in that car?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Aug 16
@JamesHxstatic You are absolutely correct. I was totally incorrect. Mixed up Johns. Connolly was wounded if I recall correctly?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Aug 16
I also saw George McGovern in person in New York City as well as Mayor John Lindsey who was in the car when JFK was shot. I went to a movie at Lincoln Center and saw Caroline Kennedy.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
16 Aug 16
I have never seen US President in person. But in the Philippines, I have seen in person Gloria Arroyo and Noynoy Aquino.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180769)
• United States
16 Aug 16
Well, I saw Obama when he was a candidate for President..I guess that counts!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
That's impressive. I saw Prince Charles (before Diana) quite close up in Beverly Hills.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79886)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts Bill Clinton came to Latvia I believe the first summer I was here that was 1994. However I just watched him on TV because the crowds in the city were unbelievable. I don't like to be pushes, shoved and crushed but it was my one chance that I could have seen a President in person. I have never even seen one of the Latvian presidents face to face.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
16 Aug 16
Jimmy Carter once visited Newcastle (in the North East of England) when I was a child. We walked about 2 miles to stand at the side of the road to watch his convoy of cars drive past on the way from Newcastle Airport to the City Centre. He waved and smiled from the back seat of one of the cars. Not very exciting!
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
16 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts True. Not sure it was worth the 2 mile walk each way and the 90 minute wait though!!
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
Yeah, not thrilling but still you saw a President. Not something that happens every day in the UK.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Aug 16
My girlfriend once waited on President Obama when he was still a Senator. She said he was the nicest of all the bigwigs in attendance.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
That's cool.Usually the case that you see them before they are President.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Aug 16
I think you have many opportunities to see the Queen or at least when she was younger as she makes so many personal appearances. Few actually ever see a President while in office and your royals always seem out and about.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19306)
• London, England
16 Aug 16
@JohnRoberts True, the Monarch gets out and about a lot more as they aren't actually involved in the day to day business of Government
@everwonderwhy (7357)
•
19 Aug 16
My favorite president I wish to hear, shake hands with is Abraham Lincoln-- if I could travel time. My great respect and love for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. I'd love to sit and listen to Former Governor Mike Huckabee he's very interesting to listen to and is wise.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
16 Aug 16
Never seen a single one. There haven't really been any I wanted to see to be honest. LOL
@FourWalls (68043)
• United States
17 Aug 16
Yes! In 1992 I was at a function at a hotel in Louisville. I started to leave but was told I couldn't because Bill Clinton was about to arrive. So I got to see Clinton walk in. I didn't get to shake his hand or get all that close to him or anything, but I did see him in person!
@fcmondez (413)
• Quezon, Philippines
16 Aug 16
No, I haven't seen a president yet in person, but I was able to see our province's governor multiple times. He was a former actor as well?
