Posted on 12/18/2004 3:55:44 PM PST by Former Military Chick
To begin at the beginning, last Thursday, I was standing in a line of mostly Jewish supporters of President Bush, for the second annual White House Hanukkah reception.
The line was in the spectacularly well decorated East Room, on the spectacularly well done, ultra-cheery White House first floor, with its beautiful green trees, garlands and lights. In the entryway was the most impressive menorah I have ever seen, a fierce eagle perched on top of it.
The guests were in a great mood--mostly, I suspect, because we had been invited but also because Mr. and Mrs. Bush were having a White House Hanukkah reception at all.
For we Jews to have such elevated recognition of our holidays in an America that two generations ago would have treated the idea as a setup for an Ike and Mike anti-Semitic joke is a marvel of America's growth in diversity and tolerance.
As I stood in line, I thought of the many times I had been in that room. In the late '60s and early '70s, when my father had been an economic advisor to Mr. Nixon and then I had been a speechwriter for him, I often attended receptions there, with everyone in the room looking over shoulders to see who was more important that the President might talk to, compared with whomever he was talking to.
I had been to a few prayer services there, led, as I recall, by a Reverend Hudnut from Indiana. I might have even gone to a Jewish service there.
And then I had a startling recollection: The last time I was there was August 8, 1974, the blazingly hot, humid day Richard Nixon resigned and gave his heartrending farewell speech to the White House staff.
I cry even now as I think of it, and I was crying that day, standing with my girlfriend, Pat, who was also crying. My parents sat nearby--not crying but sobbing.
Mr. Nixon spoke from the heart in a way few men or women in public life ever do, and one of his remarks came roaring back at me as I stood in that line last week. I am paraphrasing here, but what Mr. Nixon basically said was, "We tend to think when terrible things happen that it's the end of everything. But it's not. No matter what happens, it's always a new beginning. The young must know it, the old must know it--always a new beginning."
How right he was. When I left the East Room that horrible day almost 30 years ago and watched our commander in chief take off in his helicopter, I had little thought that the GOP would be back in the White House in glory, that we would have a GOP President (the fourth since R.N.) who would be loved by a staggering margin of voters, that we would have a GOP Congress...indeed, in many ways, for the first time since the 1920s, a Republican America.
I can recall Fred Dent, the Secretary of Commerce, seeing my tears and putting his arm around my shoulders. What would he think--what does he think?--of the turns America has taken?
How amazing the twists life takes. How little I dreamed I would return to the White House as a Hollywood star, back with my first wife as my second wife (yes, married to each other twice) or that I would be famous for answering hard questions and inquiring about Ferris Bueller on a day when he ditched school. Or that I would be in that room for the first time without my parents nearby.
As the line moved, I thought of the surprises life has in store for us all. We make plans, and God laughs. Sometimes he laughs in a good way, sometimes in a sad way and sometimes even in an angry way.
I thought of Mr. Bush (who greeted me when I got to him by telling me he had just seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off again on Air Force One and that he had loved it) and how I hope he knows how much life can change without any suspicion.
He and all of us saw it on September 11. I hope and pray our President is alert to the possibility that the ground can shift under his feet again--possibly because of war, more likely because of a sluggish economy mired in disappointment after the bursting of the Clinton bubble.
If he is on his toes, getting the right advisors--not just pals but the best men and women for the jobs--he can prepare a bit, but some events are out of even federal government control.
A supple and resilient spirit, a trust in whatever the Almighty sends us, may be the only real preparation while we still live. "It's always a new beginning," said Mr. Nixon. "The young must know it. The old must know it." I hope Mr. Bush knows it. I hope I know it.
Economies wax and wane. Wars and scares of war come and go. The stock market rises and falls. Parents, whom we held so dear, lie in cemeteries under snow. And some old pals from those days are still around and still dear friends.
But around the menorah or Christmas tree, it is always a new beginning.
There are some writings that although they are dated they are still timely. I very much enjoyed this writing by Ben, and thought others might like to read it this holiday season.
If you are fan of Ben, his intellect, his savvy know how, his wit and his candor of being a republican then you to will understand why I think Ben shoots the moon.
Ben Stein **ping**
Ben Stein rocks. He is ONE celebrity that I would be thrilled to meet.
Good essay and certainly not out of date.
A previous writing of Ben's *ping**!
I've heard him as a guest on Loveline a couple of times. Brilliant and intelligent guy.
Other interesting fact is he was badly injured in a Civil Rights protest in Cambridge, MD in the 1960s...some redneck hit him with a truck and he ended up with a badly injured...rear end.
I always sort of wondered why he didn't run for elective office but as it turns out he had some pretty serious long term problems with drug abuse he discussed on Loveline (now beaten) that would probably cause him problems in a campaign.
On the other hand, why would he want to run for elected office?
This headline encapsulates so much truth. When I had the two worst things to-date happen to me -- a divorce and an arrest for cocaine possession -- it turned out to be the best two things that ever happened to me. The arrest was shown to be made in error, and the divorce got my attention, and I changed just about everything in my life.
Now my life is better than it has ever been. My serenity is great; my happiness and joy is complete. My connection with G-d the strongest it has been in my entire life. The 'terrible things', in fact, were a new beginning.
I was enjoying this piece until I read the word "diversity" in it.
I too, am a Ben Stein fan. Therefore, nothing he writes can ever be "out of date". They are all priceless, ageless gems. The above article proves my point.
Some folks have to fall flat to realize that there is much more to their lives then where they are at, at that time.
Please add me to your Ben Stein PING list. Please? Pretty please....?
Bueller...?
Have had a similar experience in my life...
Had to change d@mn near everything...but now I am a human being.
As I say, I used to be a "hot dog"...now I'm just a "weenie" (but infinitely better for it).
Perhaps he captured them with Ferris Buehler's Day Off.
Thanks FMC. . .I agree he is so special; he is a 'glass of good wine' reading experience. . .so to speak ;^)
I think that is the most fabulous way to describe how one feels as he reads his essay's. He indeed has a gift.
Ditto
Well chosen. Thanks.
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