Waiting on 16th Street near the southeast entrance to the White House, the woman behind us was fretting on what she would say if she had a chance to talk to the President. "Should I call him Mr. President or Barack," she said. "I've known him so long." We advised her that Google says that you address him as Mr. President and the First Lady as Mrs. Obama. "That sounds good," the woman acknowledged.
My wife Cathy and I were in line on December 16 to attend the White House Hanukkah Party, which itself had become somewhat controversial because the guest list had been reduced from to 400 from the 800 that President Bush had made his custom. From the looks of the line, it looked like President Obama had opened up the guest list somewhat. We had been invited through my current position as President of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. One president to another, so to speak.
The security was tight, not surprisingly, given the recent embarrassment at the State Dinner. Our names were checked on the list no less than three times, before we even got to the entrance. Still, the social staff was very friendly and the Secret Service called me back only because I had left my keys at the magnetometer. Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary, greeted us as we entered, and it was clear very quickly that we were in a very special place. Paintings of Presidents were on the walls of the East Room, Red Room and Green Room. A bust of Lincoln centered the hallway. Alexander Hamilton looked as if he were unhappy about the nation's current financial distress.
Lots of Senators and Representatives sampled the latkes with us, because there are lots of Jewish Senators and Representatives. It says a great deal about where Jews are in America today. The assembly seemed to be attracted to the beef sticks and sushi, all glatt kosher according to the program. It even identified the rabbi who gave the food his blessing.
I said hello to Sen. Al Franken, whom I had addressed prematurely at an inaugural party before the election was settled. Cathy asked him if the Senate, tied up in the health care debate, had finished the reading of a bill, six or seven hours worth. Franken looked dour. "I saw Senator Coburn in the hall and asked him why he was making them read the amendment." Franken said. "Coburn told me, 'It's an important bill. We should hear it.' I asked him then why was he in the hall." Franken saw someone else and went off to mingle.
We wandered in the area where a huge crowd had gathered and it was apparent the President was about to come out. First came the Vice President and then the President and Michelle Obama came out. Everyone clapped. Mrs. Obama had borrowed a beautiful menorah she had seen in Prague that had been saved from the Holocaust. A family whose father is in Afghanistan lit the candles -- six in all. Then the President and the First Lady shook hands -- and more hands -- and more hands. They stayed quite a while and everyone, including Cathy and me, were happy. I could have sworn that Michelle said, "Happy Hanukkah, Bob." Maybe not, but I'm sticking to my story.
We wandered into another room and I said to the military attache that it was a good crowd. "Lots of people in a good mood," I said. He looked knowingly. "I'm Jewish, sir," he chuckled. "Good food always brings us out."
There were a few people to talk to and we sat down with some desserts. Then another military attache came over. "You can avoid long lines if you get your coats now," she said. I smiled. "You did that very graciously," I said.
On the way out, we took another look at the beautiful decorations, listened to the a capella singers offering Hanukkah songs and a small military trio playing Ladino tunes. The night was bright, with holiday lights. For someone who grew up in Milwaukee, of modest means as we say, a great miracle happened here.
