Dorsey Students Take Class in Government From the President

Six Dorsey High School students were among those who visited Washington in March as part of a program that gives youths a chance to meet their representatives and learn how government works. The highlight of their trip was talking with President Clinton. The following are reflections on the trip by four of the students. What struck me when I first saw President Clinton walking along the White House lawn . . . was his youthfulness. He seemed no older than my government teacher and . . . capable of blending into a crowd of regular citizens without being noticed.

When we were finally led into the Oval Office, he briefly explained to us that the media would be joining us for a few moments and that several photographs would be taken. I was shocked by the army of cameras and spotlights which quickly filled up the back of the room a few moments later.

After the members of the media were escorted out of the office, the President relaxed at the front of his desk and began to answer our questions.

I mentioned to the President that during the campaign, the news media continuously emphasized that he and many of his top advisers were recipients of Rhodes scholarships. I reminded him of Cecil J. Rhodes’ legacy. Rhodes did not want women to be recipients of the scholarship and he believed that blacks would never be “civilized” enough to be worthy of it. This man, who made his fortune through the hard work of Africans and for whom an entire nation was named (Rhodesia), sent the President of the United States to Oxford. I asked the President if he considered Rhodes’ legacy before accepting the scholarship.

The President responded by saying that when he was a Rhodes scholar, blacks were allowed to receive the scholarship and that he befriended several of them. Although women were not allowed (at the time), he sat on the panel which accepted the first women.

I also asked the President how he responded to charges accusing him of keeping projects like the Seawolf submarine in Connecticut, and the $8.25-billion superconducting super collider in Texas, going for political reasons.

The President responded that he was keeping both projects alive because he felt that they were necessary. He defended his decision by pointing out that the German and Japanese governments were actively involved in major science projects like the super collider. He believed that to keep the U.S. competitive, the government must take similar action. He did not feel that because the Cold War has ended that all military expenditures were unnecessary.

After I had asked my final question, the President smiled, shook our hands, complimented us on the quality of our questions and wished us goodby.

--UWANI Z. MARTIN

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The President was so nice and hospitable. There was no arrogance present. When I think of “down-to-earth,” I think of President Clinton.

When you talk to him he actually listens. He is for change and also for the people. The people’s views are taken into consideration before making decisions. I strongly feel that he is a positive image who is going to make great changes.

--KEISA BROWN

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It was very exciting to be standing less than two feet away from the President while talking to him in the Oval Office. I also had a chance to see the meeting room of the Cabinet. President Clinton is a very receptive person. He did not have an attitude that said he was any different from the rest of us. He is pretty much an average man with a non-average job.

--CARMEN BURNS

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Many people questioned the fact that (before I left,) I wasn’t too enthused about our meeting the President. My answer was: “He’s just another human being, so why should I get so hipped about meeting him?”

I must confess that meeting the President was a great honor.

We met President Clinton in his Oval Office. The interior wasn’t like what we see on television. It was very clean and homelike. President Clinton . . . even recognized one of the students as being from Belize. Previous to the meeting, each of us sent in a biography and it was evident that he had studied each person’s thoroughly.

Hopefully as I get older, I will appreciate the fact that I met him. But right now, I’m just concerned with what he’s doing to improve the world today, and from what I see he is doing a pretty good job.