THE FIRST TIME I MET HUBERT

Walter Mondale was different. One time I

Was on a photo assignment and asked Mondale

To say something that made him smile, and

He grinned at me and said pussy. Cute, but

Not great. A great politician remembers

And is remembered.

I met Hubert Humphrey several times.

The first was during the student strike at

The University, 1970. I took my seat in

The Botany Buildroom lecture room and he

Emerged from the cloakroom, struggling

With a sleeve. I was working afternoons

For his opponent in the senatorial primary,

And holding him responsible for the War,

So seeing him in the flesh I slid down

Behind the desk, hoping he would pass.

But I don't think Hubert Humphrey ever just

Passed a person by. He stopped and smiled,

Rubbing his hands so I thought they'd burst

Into flame. "What are you reading?" I

Returned his smile, only mine a bit

Smugger. "Medieval philosophers," I said.

"Let's see, let's see," he said, rolling

His eyes. "Albertus Magnus, Bonaventure,

Aquinas, Augustine, Peter Abelard -- who am

I forgetting?" I stared at him, blinking.

"No one," I said. "Hubert Humphrey's the

Name," he said, holding out his hand.

"Yours?" Reluctantly, I slid my hand

Across the desktop. "Michael Finley," I

Mumbled, smiling crookedly.

Five years later I was a fan -- the DFL had

Healed, and he and I were both (once

The California primary had laid him out) for

McGovern. One night at a mixer for Don

Fraser he was pumping and clasping every

Which way, and suddenly he was face to face

With me. "Hello, Senator," I said

respectfully, "we met once a long time ago.

My name is --"

"Albertus Magnus, Bonaventure, Thomas

Aquinas," he said, and clapped his hands,

Laughing. "How have you been, Mike?

Gee, it's terrific to see you."

It was usually that way. Rumor had it that

He never ever forgot a name -- if you were

Pregnant and hadn't met for years he would

Ask the sex of your six-year old. There

Were votes to be won, but moreover, friends

To be made. A remarkable man.

Rumor had it that he had more affairs than

Teddy Kennedy -- the difference was that

Kennedy sent them away every day, but

Hubert fell in love with every one.

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