Well, he was so real and sincere - as if we’ve been friends for a while.
What really struck me was how humble he was, in spite of his accomplishments in life.
I asked him about a picture of a river in his office and he told me that was the river where he worked as a lifeguard when he was young. Then he mentioned that he did quite a few rescues as a lifeguard, but the guys seemed to be not as thankful as the women who he rescued.
Again, it wasn’t boasting as if he was a ladies man. Rather, I think it was a comment about men’s egos.
To speak with kings and not lose the common touch - Kipling.
In an airport I guess right after college, I ran into Dean Rusk, Secretary of State for JFK. I spoke with him for 15 minutes and he was very down to earth. At times like these, you wish you could have prepared a few questions in advance!
And I now discover that Rusk was born in Georgia and died in Athens, GA where I now live. I'll have to visit and say a prayer at his grave site nearby.