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Motorcade ride keeps reporters running
By TODD
GOTTULA
Hub Staff Writer
KEARNEY — Along with seven other
members of the statewide media, I traveled in the 19-vehicle
presidential motorcade with the White House press corps, White House
staff and members of the national media during President Bill
Clinton's visit to Kearney Friday.
So when I had my first, and only,
opportunity to ask the President of the United States a question, I
fired away.
As Clinton walked to Air Force One at
1 p.m. following his 4½-hour stay in Kearney, he approached the
group of reporters I was in. It was then that I shouted, "Mr.
President. What did you think of the archway? What do you think of
Kearney?" I didn't think he would answer me, but he did.
President Clinton walked up to me,
shook my hand and said, "I loved it. It was an amazing place. An
amazing place. Kearney is a fine city." He then moved on, shaking
the hands of other reporters on his way to Air Force One.
In addition to Clinton's departure, I
had the chance to travel in the motorcade and witness President
Clinton's Kearney visit from start to finish. Here is a journal of
the highlights and information from the inside of the motorcade
looking out:
6 a.m. —
Press credentials are issued at the Tri-City Arena to 228 members of
the media. An additional 55 members of the national media arrived
with the president.
7 a.m. —
As a group of 30 reporters and photographers wait inside the Kearney
Municipal Airport, White House spokesman Jason Schechter asks those
in the press pool to come up front. Eight of us step forward and are
briefed. Some reporters make rude comments and have jealous looks on
their faces. Some are angry they haven't been picked for the press
pool. This is when I realize it is a special honor to be part of the
press pool. One writer from a national newspaper asks why we were
picked. Schechter just laughs, later commenting that we should feel
honored to travel in the motorcade.
7:10 a.m. — The press pool is briefed by Secret Service and White House
staff.
7:45 a.m. — The media members go through metal detectors and is patted
down. We are told to line our camera bags on the sidewalk and get in
a line. Drug dogs check all of our equipment, and our possessions
are searched by the Secret Service. Each photographer is told to
take a picture using flash while the Secret Service looks on.
8 a.m. —
We are escorted to the runway and placed in a roped-off area 40 feet
wide by 20 feet deep. I've been standing outside for one hour. It is
cold, my hands are numb, and I am questioning whether or not this is
going to be worth it. Right now, this feels like a job, and it's not
very exciting.
8:10 a.m. — A White House official tells us President Clinton's plane
should arrive in 15 minutes. I start talking to a Secret Service
agent who says, "Nebraska isn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Kearney is a nice city. It's not as desolate as other places we
visit, and people are friendly here."
8:15 a.m. — A plane and its landing lights can be seen in the distance
to the south. Everybody scrambles to get their camera equipment.
Schechter laughs, then turns and tells me Clinton's plane is still 5
or 10 minutes away. The first plane is full of White House staff,
Secret Service agents and national media.
8:25 a.m. — Lights appear again from south of the airport. Between 20
and 30 Secret Service agents quickly move onto the
runway.
8:32 a.m. — Air Force One lands and makes its way toward an awaiting
group of national, state and local dignitaries. The press pool is
separated from the rest of the media.
8:35 a.m. — The tone of Schechter's voice changes. "Hurry up. Move. Come
on guys, you can't walk slow. It's time to start working, so get
ready to move quickly." Standing within 30 feet of Air Force One. I
didn't expect to be this excited, but I have chills. Fellow Hub
reporter Amy Schweitzer turns to me, smiles and says: "Todd, I think
this is going to be something we never forget." I just nod my head
in agreement, numb as I soak up what's happening.
8:39 a.m. — I see President Clinton for the first time as he emerges
from his plane. I begin shooting photos, realizing it's time to
start working.
8:50 a.m. — Clinton greets the official welcoming party of city and
state officials, and we are rushed to our spot in the motorcade. A
member of the White House staff tells us to get in the white van
that says "local pool." We begin walking to the van. A woman tells
us we better learn to "move our feet and run." I am sprinting to our
van, and thinking that today is going to be absolute madness. Our
van is 14th in line of 19 vehicles in the motorcade.
9 a.m. —
The motorcade stops, and Clinton gets out to shake hands amidst a
group of 1,000 people at 39th and Avenue N who have gathered to
watch the motorcade. People are crying and screaming in excitement
as Clinton moves through the crowd.
9:25 a.m. — Clinton makes his first appearance on stage at UNK. I find
a spot directly in front of the podium and shoot two rolls of film
in just more than two minutes.
9:40 a.m. — During UNK Chancellor Gladys Styles Johnston's speech, I
notice Clinton looking over a folder that says "Presidential
Statement," and jotting down notes. I wonder if he is rehearsing his
speech in his head and not paying attention to Johnston.
10:35 a.m. — I go into the hallway during Clinton's speech and begin
talking to Washington Associated Press photographer Ron Edmonds. The
winner of a 1982 Pulitzer Prize for his photo of the attempted
assassination of Ronald Reagan, Edmonds has covered politics in
Washington for more than 20 years. He tells me crowds in Kearney
today are larger than he expected. He said more people are lining
the street than usual, and the contingent of national media is
larger than usual.
11:25 a.m. — On our way to the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument,
the motorcade stops at Horizon Middle School. This is the first time
I get really close to Clinton. He is only 5 feet in front of me as I
take pictures of him shaking hands with students. I get too close at
one point, and a Secret Service agent grabs my arm and pulls me
back.
11:40 a.m. — As we approach the archway, a White House official in our
van says. "So, that's the arch," as if he wasn't impressed. His
comment draws laughter. Schechter tells us about Clinton's recent
visit to Vietnam where the motorcade traveled through rice paddies.
"Those people didn't even quit what they were doing. They just kept
on working."
11:45 a.m. — Clinton arrives at the archway. The first thing I notice
are the Secret Service snipers on top of the archway roof. I try to
land a short interview with the Secret Service. The agent I am
talking to is polite. He tells me a lot of interesting information
then says I can't quote him because he's not allowed to talk to the
media.
12:55 —
The motorcade arrives at the airport. I exit the motorcade van for
the last time and make my way to the area where Clinton will get
back on Air Force One.
1 p.m. —
I experience the highlight of my day, and one of the most memorable
moments of my short journalism career, when President Clinton shakes
my hand.
1:07 p.m. — After boarding Air Force One, Clinton's plane pulls away
from the airport.
1:11 p.m. — Air Force One leaves the ground and disappears while flying
south out of Kearney.
NOTE: In
addition to Gottula and Schweitzer, other local and statewide media
who were part of the press pool Friday included: David Hendee and
Jeff Bundy, Omaha World-Herald; Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star;
Dale Johnson, Lincoln's KFOR radio; Lon Dean and John Klukas of NTV
Channel 13 of Kearney.
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