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The White House Visit |
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by Carol Ellis
Her secretary had called one evening just prior to his upcoming trip and asked if he would like to escort her to a dinner and, if so, to pack a tux. He responded that it would be his pleasure and he’d call when he arrived for the time of the gathering. This particular dinner wouldn’t be at one of the restaurants they normally frequented. It would be at the White House for the Christmas Holiday Dinner. They were to meet at her office and would leave for the White House from there.
All of the sudden we had three tuxedos in our home to choose from. We had “The Father of the Bride” tux (which was already OUT of the question), the rented tux or the one from our friend, another Bill. My husband tried on Bill’s gorgeous tux but it was just about one breath too small. The rental was our only choice. Not bad at all. He really looked so handsome. But now I had to suggest a new pair of shoes. I had pushed my luck with the tux. I casually mentioned shoes, with no luck. He was perfectly happy with the old black ones he always wore.
The big night arrived and the plan had changed a bit: Bill would meet my friend at the White House. The guards would be expecting him. She would meet him in one of the guest waiting rooms and together they would attend the dinner.
His date arrived and as they entered the dining room he heard their entrance announced. “Attorney General and Mr. Bill Ellis.” He was so proud to be with her. She had accomplished so much.
Did I mention that he also met President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice President Al Gore? AND, he also gave in and bought a new pair of shoes in Washington?
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There
was nothing unusual about my husband, Bill, inviting my best friend
to dinner when she lived in Washington, D.C. and he would be there
on business. They always tried to do this. He brought a little
bit of home to her since she didn’t get there that often. Washington
kept her busy, so trips back home were not nearly frequent enough.
But dinner on this trip would be different. 
Do
you remember in the movie “Father of the Bride” when Steve Martin
was in the attic trying on his tux for his daughter’s wedding?
He didn’t want to invest in another tux when he had a “perfectly
good one.” When Bill said there was nothing wrong with his own
personal tux with the wide lapels, I felt like I was reliving
that moment. “There is no way you’ll wear that tux to the White
House. Rent one, borrow one, anything but not that one,” I said.
He reluctantly agreed. 
The
night before he left for Washington having just heard the weather
report, my husband rushed to purchase a London Fog lined trench
coat, which he has needed for years anyway. The weather would
be cold and rainy. Hoping he would also return from the store
with a new pair of shoes, I crossed my fingers and waited. I shouldn’t
have bothered. All he came home with was the coat. 
As
he was escorted to the waiting room, it felt like all the ghosts
of past history were telling him to pay attention to where he
was and take it all in. Who knew when he might have this chance
again? At that point, Bill said he was acutely aware of all the
great men and women from all over the world, past and present,
who had walked these halls. For him it was a step back in time
that he would forever remember. To be where so few have been before!
He would never forget this night. 
His
date was Janet Reno, my best friend. She is the same person we
knew in Miami, only doing a different job. We didn’t and still
don’t call her The AG, Ms. Reno, General Reno or General. She
is simply known to our family as "Janny." She stood
for me at our 1981 wedding, gave us our wedding reception, and
took care of my youngest daughter Joni while we were on our honeymoon.
Janny let us celebrate many a birthday party in her back yard
and over the many years has become a loving friend of whom we
are all so proud. She shared a very special night with my Bill.
How lucky he was.