Online Chat
Stowe Elementary School
February 13, 2001
Stowe Elem.: Here we are in the chat room!
Sen Leahy: Glad to be with you - I understand the ice storm scuttled plans last time.
Stowe Elem.: Thank you for chatting with us Senator Leahy, Eric wants to know if there are any things you have voted on over the years that you would like to take back.
Sen Leahy: Eric last year I became only the 21st American [out of nearly 2000] to cast 10,000 votes in the US Senate. I know there must be some of those I'd like to do over. One involved a vote on former President Bush's nomination 24 years ago to be director of the CIA. I have told President Bush that.
Stowe Elem.: Michael would like to know if you voted for or against that nomination.
Sen Leahy: Michael I voted against it because the CIA had become very politicized and former President Bush was coming from a position as the chairman of the national Republican party. I would have voted the same way if he had been the chairman of the Democratic Party. I wanted the CIA out of politics. George Bush did a great job as Director and I told him that I regretted th vote later and even urged the newly elected Jimmyh Carter to keep Bush on.
Sen Leahy: Please excuse the typos - I'm a better Senator than typist!
Stowe Elem.: Maeve would like to know if you had had any other jobs before being a senator.
Sen Leahy: Incidentally former President Bush tells me he is happy Carter did not keep him on or he would never have become President later on!
Sen Leahy: Maeve I have been in the private practice of law , than I was State's Attorney of Chittenden County for 8 years and was than elected Senator.
Stowe Elem.: Jon would like to know what is it like to go from meeting to meeting all day long.
Sen Leahy: I was born in Montpelier and had a lot of different jobs growing up as I put myself through school
Sen Leahy: Jon it can get pretty hectic. I usually get up very early and read e-mails [and sometimes answer e-mails from my staff and others until midnight]. The one good thing is that most of the meetings are very interesting - but being with all of you is the best part of today.
Stowe Elem.: Ruth would like to know how you became so involved in the land mine project.
Sen Leahy: Ruth I saw my first landmine victim along the border of Honduras and Nicauragua. A young boy who lost his leg. The image was striking and i began the Leahy War Victim's Fund which spends 13Million dollars each year to help landmine victims
Stowe Elem.: Mike would like to know where you went to college.
Sen Leahy: I know that no matter how much help you give that you have to get rid of the landmines to really help and I have gone all over the world - with a lot of other dedicated people - in an effort to ban landmines. Eventually they will all be banned.
Sen Leahy: Mike I went to St. Michael's callege in Winooski as an undergraduate and Georgetown for law school.
Stowe Elem.: Casey would like to know what was your biggest influence to become a senator.
Sen Leahy: Casey I think I always wanted to be a Senator. Growing up in Montpelier I was very aware of our state government, my parents were a great influence because they instilled in me a love of history and reading, and when I was in law school I got to observe the Senate more and knew I could do the most for Vermont in the Senate.
Stowe Elem.: Keith would like to know what do you have to do for the rest of the day today.
Sen Leahy: Keith I have a lot of meetings until late this evening. I will be meeting, among others, with some members of the Vermont National Guard who are in Washington and I will meet with the President of USAirways to talk about the proposed mereger with his company and United Airlines and what that means for Vermont.
Stowe Elem.: Zuzana would like to know what is your favorite sport?
Sen Leahy: Zuzana I love to scuba dive and will spend time doing that in April. I enjoy going to baseball games with my children and my favorite hobby is photography.
Stowe Elem.: Ben would like to know how many children you have.
Sen Leahy: I have three Ben. Two sons and a daughter. Both sons are married and I have a three year old grandson.
Stowe Elem.: Keenan would like to know what is your favorite Greatful Dead Song.
Sen Leahy: Keenan my favorite is Black Muddy River. Jerry Garcia and the Dead performed it during his last concert in Washington and dedicated it to me.
Stowe Elem.: Katie would like to know did you attend the inauguration.
Sen Leahy: Katie I did attend the inaugaration and sat near the new President. I told him after that at least I got to wear a hat! I alsways go to these but left after it was over to go to Vermont.
Stowe Elem.: Greg would like to know if you played a sport in high school or college
Sen Leahy: Greg in High School I was manager of the basketball team but did not play. In college I was on the rifle team and competed throughout the northeast.
Sen Leahy: Probably have time for one more question.
Stowe Elem.: Elizabeth would like to know is there any you especially like or dislike about your job.
Sen Leahy: Elizabeth I am lucky to have the best job in the world and very grateful my fellow Vermonters let me have this job. The hours are long and I rarely get weekends off - but everything I do is fascinating and I love it.
Stowe Elem.: Thank you for chatting with us. As student council members, we have been looking forward to talking with you about a variety of things. We would love to have you visit us sometime here in Stowe when you are back in the state.
Sen Leahy: All of you are very fortunate to go to a fine school - and to have the teachers you do. Your teachers and your parents work very hard to give you the education you are getting and I do hope I can visit you there some time.
Sen Leahy: Enjoy the day!
Stowe Elem.: Thank you, see you later!
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