4th of July White House Memories

There are few better tickets in Washington, D.C. on the 4th of July than an invitation to a picnic on the White House lawn. A few years after I left the White House, a friend in the first Bush White House invited me to this annual event.

The picnic itself was pretty simple, hot dogs and ice cream were the primary fare. But no other picnic in town has the President's own Marine Corps band performing patriotic music.

Among the staff, guests and their family was the ever present "mainstream media." You can learn alot about these folks from their actions, not their words. One excellent example was provided by Sarah McClendon. Youngers readers wont' remember Sarah, but think frumpy old bag like Helen Thomas but with red hair. Sarah's distinction is that she used to lecture President Reagan on his inadequacies at press conferences.

Well, this great champion of equality couldn't be bothered with the long line to get into the ladies restroom. She grabbed a uniformed White House guard, pulled him away from his duties and had him close the men's restroom and stand guard while she used it.

Photo by Michael Miller

Anyway, I'm getting away from my story:

While the view of the fireworks from the White House is one of the best in town, a real fireworks bug like me always wants to get closer. Maybe it's because I learned how to make fireworks from the World Book Encyclopedia at an early age, but I always like to get a feel for the expert's display close up.

I walked out the black iron White House gates and headed down to the beautiful rectangular reflecting pool that separates the Lincoln Memorial from the Washington Monument. In those days they launched the fireworks from the current location of the World War II Memorial. An even better view can be obtained from the middle of the reflecting pool which is shallow enough to wade and July 4th is one day you can do it without getting arrested.

Standing in the middle of the reflecting pool with Lincoln at my back and the Washington Monument towering above was the perfect spot. Just one problem. The wind changed and as smoke from the rockets drifted over me, a light drizzle fell. I smelled like gunpowder for days.

Ah, but what a view!

Happy 4th of July to one and all. This is the greatest country in all the world. It's the only one where people will risk death to get in, and no one risks death to escape!

Turn the sound up on your computer and as Lee Greenwood's anthem "Proud to be an American" plays, feel free to stand up and salute!