Online Chat With Middlebury Union Middle School
7th Grade
Senator Leahy's work required him to leave the chat on
January 29, 2003, early. What follows is the transcript from the
chat in two separate parts. Part I occurred on January 29, 2003.
Part II occurred on February 12, 2003.
Part I
sarajn1972 (11:26:48
AM):
Hi
Sen Leahy (11:26:56 AM):
Sara this is Patrick Leahy. It is Good to be with you.
sarajn1972 (11:27:09 AM):
Sorry about the delay.
Sen Leahy (11:27:50 AM):
I am here now but I may have to
leave early to go back to a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing - I think
the hearing will be going on non-stop until late tonight!
sarajn1972 (11:28:14 AM):
Ok-we'll start asking, then.
Sen Leahy (11:28:22 AM):
incidentally I do hope I am a better Senator than I am a typist so please
forgive any typos.
sarajn1972 (11:28:37 AM):
Same applies here
sarajn1972 (11:29:00 AM):
Were you at the State of the
Union address last night?
Sen Leahy (11:29:48 AM):
I watched the speech. I have been recovering from bronchitis and watched
it at home. First time I have missed one in years.
sarajn1972 (11:30:24 AM):
Hope you are feeling better. How
do you feel about going to war with Iraq?
Sen Leahy (11:32:03 AM):
I believe the President has made up his mind to go to war with Iraq. I do
not think that is a good idea. We can continue to contain Saddam and I
would rather the Administration concentrated on the Al Qaeda terrorists
who pose the real threat to our country. I have not been convinced that
the large loss of life on both sides that a war could cause has been
justified.
sarajn1972 (11:33:27 AM):
What would you do - if you were
the President - about Saddam Hussein?
Sen Leahy (11:35:21 AM):
That is a good question. I would give the UN strong support and help the
inspectors do their jobs by providing more intelligence to them. I would
then work with our allies to further limit Saddam economically and
politically. I would then work on a number of the repressive countries in
the Middle East to bring about more democracy. It is no wonder that so
many of the terrorists came from Saudi Arabia for example.
sarajn1972 (11:36:58 AM):
Speaking of terrorists-do you
think Bin Laden is still alive? What are the chances of him being
captured?
Sen Leahy (11:37:06 AM):
I apologize but I will have to go back to the hearing in a few minutes.
They are not going to break for lunch and I will have to be questioning
witnesses.
sarajn1972 (11:37:27 AM):
Can we schedule another time to
finish?
Sen Leahy (11:37:44 AM):
I think Bin Laden is still alive and I also think capturing him and his
close circle should be a bigger priority than going to war with Iraq.
Sen Leahy (11:38:06 AM):
I will be glad to schedule another time and will be glad to take one more
question.
sarajn1972 (11:38:51 AM):
We'll ask you a light /"real
tough" question-What is your favorite flavor of Ben and Jerry's?
Sen Leahy (11:39:42 AM):
Cherry Garcia! I told Jerry Garcia when he was alive that it was too -
there is always some in the refrigerator in our home in Vermont and in
Washington.
sarajn1972 (11:40:02 AM):
Wow! You met Jerry Garcia?
Sen Leahy (11:40:05 AM):
Hi Sara, it's Corey again
Part II
Sen Leahy (11:28:27 AM):
Hi - just got off the floor and am delighted to be with you.
sarajn1972 (11:28:49 AM):
Thanks for "chatting" a second time for us
Sen Leahy (11:29:31 AM):
I enjoyed the first one and was looking forward to this one. I understand
it is getting a bit cool in Vermont!
sarajn1972 (11:29:50 AM):
To say the least-about 25 below tonight!
sarajn1972 (11:30:38 AM):
Since we discussed Iraq the last time we'll ask
you a different type of question this time.
sarajn1972 (11:30:54 AM):
When were you first interested in politics?
Sen Leahy (11:31:04 AM):
My wife and I - and our grandson - are supposed to come home to Vermont
tomorrow but I may be delayed for a day or two. Fortunately our home is
very warm and has a great wood stove.
Sen Leahy (11:32:19 AM):
I think I have always been interested in politics. I was born in
Montpelier and our home was almost across the street from the State House.
I spent a lot of time in the legislature, delivered papers there and was
fascinated by the discussions I would hear from an early age.
sarajn1972 (11:34:10 AM):
Why did you choose to be a Senator, instead of
being in the House of Reps?
Sen Leahy (11:35:59 AM):
In the Senate every state is equal. California with 60 times our
population has 2 Senators - the as Vermont. I thought I could best
represent Vermont and Vermont values in the Senate where my vote would be
equal to any other state's. It does help that the three of us in
Washington almost always vote together when it is something Vermont needs.
sarajn1972 (11:36:48 AM):
We have discussed that balance in the Senate A
LOT in social studies class.
sarajn1972 (11:37:42 AM):
Since you have mentioned our other state reps,
how often do you work with Sen. Jeffords?
Sen Leahy (11:38:38 AM):
The balance is an interesting thing. I have been in the majority 4 times
and the minority 4 times. It is so nearly equally balanced that I expect
control will go back and forth for the rest of my life. Fortunately for
Vermont, the seniority system counts greatly in the Senate and Senator
Jeffords and I are among the more senior members.
Sen Leahy (11:39:44 AM):
Senator Jeffords and I talk almost every day. He sits right behind me in
the Senate and our staffs are in constant communication to work on things
for Vermont. It helps that Jim and I have known each other a long time and
get along well, as do our wives.
sarajn1972 (11:40:23 AM):
What are you working on for Vermont now?
Sen Leahy (11:42:15 AM):
We were working throughout the weekend and late the other evening on the
appropriations bill. There are many things from agriculture assistance to
high tech jobs in that bill all of which would help Vermont's economy. I
am also working on money for our "first responders" the police and fire
and emergency personnel who have to answer first if there is another
terrorist attack
sarajn1972 (11:42:57 AM):
What is a typical day like for you?
Sen Leahy (11:46:11 AM):
I usually get up very early and check my computer for overnight e-mails
and , if I am in Washington, read the Vermont papers online. I check most
of the news wires for national and international items and than head into
the office. I get briefings all day including classified ones if
necessary. Often I have to be at a couple hearings at the same time [my
staff covers for me if I can't be there] and if there is a debate on the
floor of the Senate, I will go there. The days often stretch into the late
evening but all of it is very interesting. I also try to get home to
Vermont several times a month.
sarajn1972 (11:47:10 AM):
How well do you know the President?
Sen Leahy (11:47:13 AM):
I try to get to the gym for an hour's workout when possible but that, like
a lot of meals, often gets dropped if there is no time.
Sen Leahy (11:47:31 AM):
I knew the President
sarajn1972 (11:48:00 AM):
Do you mean Clinton?
Sen Leahy (11:48:48 AM):
I knew the President's father much better when he was Vice President and
President and still talk with him often. I do not know the current
President as well but do see him periodically at the White House and other
places for meetings.
sarajn1972 (11:50:08 AM):
Would you ever consider running for President?
If not, do you have higher goals other than being Senator?
Sen Leahy (11:50:25 AM):
I have known 6 Presidents and usually get along well with them. I remember
going overseas to the funeral of King Hussein in Jordan. On Air Force One
there was President Clinton and former Presidents Ford, Carter and Bush.
It made for a fascinating trip.
Sen Leahy (11:51:30 AM):
I will never run for President. My goal is to be the best Senator possible
for Vermont and then, when I am not Senator, be able to live full-time in
Vermont at my home which I miss a lot when I am in Washington
sarajn1972 (11:52:23 AM):
How often do you get to travel to other
states/countries because of your job? Which were your favorites?
Sen Leahy (11:54:56 AM):
The White House just invited me to go next weekend to South Korea with
Secretary Powell for the inauguration of their new President, but I think
my schedule may not allow it. I do travel a lot in other states on Senate
business and often get overseas for foreign policy matters. I was at NATO
headquarters a few weeks ago as well as Italy. the two most fascinating
places I ever went to were Tibet and Antarctica.
sarajn1972 (11:56:05 AM):
Wow! When were you in Antarctica-their summer I
hope?
Sen Leahy (11:57:18 AM):
I was there in the 80s. It was their summer and when I arrived at the
south pole a ham radio operator from Cornwall Vermont reached me and
patched me thru to my parents in Montpelier. It was very exciting
Sen Leahy (11:57:35 AM):
Time for one more and than I have to go back to the floor.
Sen Leahy (11:58:16 AM):
Incidentally I am very impressed with your questions. Tells me I am
chatting with bright students who certainly have great teachers
sarajn1972 (11:59:44 AM):
What do you think of Howard Dean running for
President. We also have two Cornwall residents here-one of which is the
son of Ben and Jerry's artist Woody Jackson (since we discussed Cherry
Garcia last time). Thank you for the compliment!
Sen Leahy (12:01:33 PM):
I am looking at a great water color by Woody which has a place of
prominence in my office and have a couple more at home. I think Governor
Dean is impressing the national media and a lot of people around the
country. A long way until the nomination but he is doing very well in many
states.
Sen Leahy (12:02:04 PM):
Great being with you and we will post this transcript on my web site. Stay
warm and have a good day at school
sarajn1972 (12:02:14 PM):
Well, thank you for your time!
sarajn1972 (12:02:55 PM):
we appreciate it
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