TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2001
Local politician attends inauguration
By Carol Bogart
Staff Writer
While many liberal Democrat Hollywood celebrities stayed away from the inaugural festivities Jan. 20, others, like Ohio's Drew Carey were happy to celebrate the change in leadership in Washington. Like Carey, a comic and ex-Marine, local dignitaries of the Republican stripe flocked to the nation's capital to welcome the country's second President George Bush.
Republic mayor Del Ray Fox submitted a request for tickets to fellow Republicans in Washington. He says, "I contacted Congressman Gillmor's office and worked with the staff there. I had received a previous letter from the Ohio Republican party that my name was turned in as one of the dignitaries who was invited and sent on to the Congressional committee (that's) responsible for the inauguration."
Though Fox never received a packet the letter said he would, he nonetheless wrote asking for tickets. "The day I got the confirmation," Fox says, "I was pretty excited and looked forward to a trip."
Fox received four tickets and took along a co-worker, CROSSWAEH nurse Edna Wilton, Wilton's nephew, Zach West, who, at 13, already has presidential aspirations, and Fox's brother, Don, who works for Vaughn Industries in Carey.
All four say the rainy, cold weather did little to dampen the high spirits of Republicans who saw their man make it into office by the narrowest of margins.
Wilton remembers, "It was cold, it was rainy, it was miserable out. But you were witnessing history. You were getting to see how a regular, ordinary citizen could get to be a part of the whole process."
It was Don's first trip to Washington. "The biggest thing that wowed me," he says, "was the buildings. The buildings and the people. As far as the buildings, so massive. Once it came inauguration time, (I was) overwhelmed by the 500,000 people in a very small area."
He admits he and others in the crowd grew cranky after hours waiting in the frigid damp for the presidential motorcade. "As far as getting into the inauguration grounds, we all got held up because of the motorcade. But they held us up an hour-and-a-half ahead of time."
Irritability was running high, he says, "especially with the protesters in that same group."
But then ... "Lights and sirens were coming down the street," Fox says, "and it was the motorcade. I am almost 100 percent sure I saw George W. Bush waving out the side of the (vehicle)." Don echoes, "It was a really neat experience to be there. I'd probably love to do it again. Hopefully under better conditions." Don jokes, if his politician brother is ever elected president he'd go again and deadpans, "We'd have better seating."
Even though much of the view of the motorcade was through the backs of heads, all four say the trip was worth it.
One highlight was a tour of the White House. Fox says, "It was freezing cold, icy. We stood in a long line." Once inside, he noted a large photograph of Barbara Bush prominently displayed, and evidence of the previous night's celebrations. "The centerpieces were this platform -- huge -- with an eagle on top of a pedestal with elephants surrounding this, all made out of chocolate," Fox says. "They wouldn't let us taste them, but boy, did they look delicious."
Attending the inauguration had special meaning for Zach who says, "I've always been a politician, I've liked government things. I've invited Paul Gillmor to the school (Old Fort) before, too. I hope to be president one day. I want to go to Harvard for a law degree."
Zach has his own ideas about education reform. One change he'd like to see: "Personally, for Old Fort, no open enrollment. It's a big headache for the parents. (It results in) bus delays."
Fox, who'd been to D.C. before in a leadership role with the F F A, says this was the first time he'd been to such a huge event. An event that was not without protest.
"There were a lot of individuals from Florida passing out literature," Fox recalls. "There was also a group of Floridians passing out literature hurting the Democrats' side. It was unique to see it coming from both angles and not just the recount issue and the pregnant ballots and the chads that we never knew existed before this election."
It's been reported the new president made a stop at each and every inaugural party, if only briefly, but was home in bed before midnight.
Fox and his entourage went to lots of parties, too.
"We got invited to, I think, six different parties. Unfortunately, we weren't able to attend everything. The first one we went to was a reception from Congressman Gillmor's office," Fox says.
Fox and his group stayed in the same hotel as Ohio Sen. Larry Mumper and his family. Fox says, "We were able to meet and chat a little with them. We also attended the Ohio reception."
Wilton says none in the Fox party tried to discuss issues with any politicians. "It was a celebration for the presidency," she says. "It really wasn't a format to discuss issues."
The restaurant where the Ohio reception took place, Fox says, was designed to hold 400 people. Twelve-hundred tickets were given out. "It was quite tight," he says. "But it was still a celebration. As we walk in, the Ohio State marching band is playing. It was just an upbeat, lovable time."
Zach agrees, saying, "It was fun. I liked it a lot. I got to meet Larry Mumper. Mike DeWine. I like the Washington monument. And I like the Capitol."
Fox was particularly impressed with a new collection of bronze statues memorializing the Korean War. He says, "It just is phenomenal. It's like the (soldiers) the statues represent are coming to life and you're right there on the battlefield with them."
Should Zach or Fox one day become president, Wilton hopes they'll tackle "family issues. Educational issues. Social issues, because the family is the basic unit of society and we're failing our families. We're very, very busy. It's hard to work in the important issues because there's so many things pulling at all of our time."
Fox says the inauguration filled him with "inspiration to definitely go higher than I currently am. I have some goals in my own mind and I think some of them will come true. I look forward to those times to serve the people of the county, the people of the state and also our nation at some point."
Asked what he thinks about his brother's political career, Don hesitates. Fox pulls out his wallet and pretends to give him money to say nice things.
"How does a brother say that it is pretty cool and not sound stupid?" Don says, shyly, then adds, "I think that it's pretty cool the way that he's pursuing the political career and planning on going farther."
Yes, Don says, he's proud of him.