This afternoon I took an hour or so to walk a few blocks to Barnes & Noble at Rockefeller Center and meet Bob Dole, who was signing copies of his new book, "One Soldier's Story." I don't usually bother with this sort of thing, primarily because I can't stand long lines and it's not as though one has a chance to yuck it up with the celebrity du jour. A few observations, though, that I thought were worth sharing. MORE
First, as I waited along 48th Street, it was lunch hour and the sun was out, so plenty of folks were walking by and knew that the long line meant someone notable was signing books. Having felt uncomfortable before being openly Republican in this city, today confirmed why. I've hung around a good deal RNC protests and U.N. demonstrations but, one would have hoped, an American hero and public servant like Mr. Dole -- his political life largely in the rearview mirror -- would disarm the vitriol. No so. I'm still not sure I believe the things people said about this man. It was typical of the brusque, juvenile disrespect in which so many in this city pride themselves - grownups acting like insolent teenagers.
Mr. Dole himself was himself impressive. I have been to book signings before and they're usually geared toward one thing: volume. Again, not so. He is genteel and unassuming and took time to make eye contact with each person in line, asking names and saying "hello" and "goodbye" in a way that was more than perfunctory. I wouldn't say I was starstruck by Bob Dole the politician but I was very impressed with Bob Dole the man.
Replies: 1 Comment
Posted by:
Aaron
On Thursday, April 14th
He was good on the Daily Show last night as well.
