Online Chat with Neshobe School 2nd Grade Students
November 16, 2005
Senator Leahy:
Hi, I just left my meeting and I am here.
N eshobe
School:
Welcome Senator. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
Senator Leahy:
I've been looking forward to it. Any questions?
N eshobe
School:
Yes. Our first question is from Lucas: What does it feel like to be a
Senator?
Senator Leahy:
Lucas, first and foremost, I am a Vermonter just like you. This is a very
exciting job with fascinating things to do and people to meet, but what I
enjoy the most is when I can be home in Vermont with family and friends. It
is a humbling experience to represent Vermont.
N eshobe
School:
Katelyn: Do you like working in Washington, D.C.?
Senator Leahy:
Katelyn, I do like Washington. It is a beautiful and historic city.
I went to law school in Washington and there are so many things to see that I still
have not seen them all. I hope you and your fellow students can visit sometime.
N eshobe
School:
Maia: How do you travel back and forth from VT to Washington, D.C.?
Senator Leahy:
Maia, I go back and forth many times a month and I usually fly. There are
many flights into Burlington and it is about a half hour drive to my
home. At least once during the summer I drive, but it is about 12 hour
trip
that way.
N eshobe
School:
Brady: What is the weather like in Washington, D.C.?
Senator Leahy:
Brady, it has been very warm this week, but a storm is coming
and it will get colder. The summers are VERY hot and it rarely
snows in
the winter. When it does, they don't handle it like we do - it stops
everything.
N eshobe
School:
Kayla: Do you ever see the President?
Senator Leahy:
Kayla, I do see the President often and sometimes we talk by phone. I
have been here with 6 different Presidents and have had the opportunity
to get to know them all.
N eshobe
School:
Danielle: Is it hard being a senator?
Senator Leahy:
Danielle, the hours are very long. Last night, I finished after midnight
and had a very early start. But
it is all fascinating because of all the different things you do. I just
left a meeting with the Dalai Lama and will be debating a bill on
pensions this afternoon on the floor. Yesterday, we were debating the war
in Iraq.
N eshobe
School:
Keenan: Do people treat you differently because you are a senator?
Senator Leahy:
Keenan, some do, and I try to discourage them. When I am home most people
know me well enough that they treat me the same as anyone else. I'm one
of the few Senators to have a listed home phone both in Vermont and
Washington and I try to act the same with everyone.
N eshobe
School:
Carson: What is the best part of your job?
Senator Leahy:
Carson, the best part is being able to represent my native state, which I
love so very much. The issues I deal with are very important to all of
us and to the next generations and I get to work with wonderful people
from both parties.
N eshobe
School:
Samantha: We read that you have a tree farm, how big is it?
Senator Leahy:
Samantha, it is several hundred acres and my family has had it for about
50 years. We selectively cut trees because it has become habitat for a
lot of different kinds of animals and I want to protect that. We even
have an occasional moose!
N eshobe
School:
Keegan: What is life like on a tree farm?
Senator Leahy:
Keegan, I don't have to do much work there unlike a dairy farm where the
farmers work VERY hard. The views are lovely and I enjoy the quiet and
the ability to hike in the summer and snowshoe in the winter. It
is very
different than Washington!
N eshobe
School:
Trevor: How many trees do you have on your farm?
Senator Leahy:
Trevor, there are thousands and I couldn't begin to count them all. I may even have some pictures
of my farm on my web site.
N eshobe
School:
Nate D: How big is the White House?
Senator Leahy:
Nate D, the White House is very big and goes down several floors below
the surface and several floors above. I've been in many parts of it, but have
never seen it all. I expect that even the President hasn't seen it all!
N eshobe
School:
Tyler: Are you friends with many other senators?
Senator Leahy:
Tyler, there are only 100 Senators to represent 285 million Americans.
Because of this, we tend to be friends even though we may differ
politically. Many of my best friends are in the Senate.
N eshobe
School:
Colby: What are you most proud of in your life?
Senator Leahy:
Colby, I am most proud of my family, my wife, our children and our granddchildren.
Next, of course, I am so proud to represent Vermont in the Senate.
Nothing I do in life after I leave the Senate will equal the opportunity
to be here.
N eshobe
School:
Nathan M: What is the hardest part of your job?
Senator Leahy:
Nathan M, the hardest part is keeping up with all the things I have to
read. Most days it amounts to several hundred pages of briefings,
emails, laws and so forth. Some days I don't finish all of my reading until
well after midnight.
N eshobe
School:
Lucas: How well do you know the president?
Senator Leahy:
Lucas, I know him well and knew him before he became President. I knew
his father even better because we had worked on many things together before he
became President.
N eshobe
School:
Maia: How much time do you get to spend with your family?
Senator Leahy:
Maia, I never have enough time with my family because I work many
weekends. However, we are all getting together for Thanksgiving and also
for Christmas. A couple weeks ago, my youngest son, who is a former Marine,
ran in the Marine Corps Marathon and we all got together for that.
N eshobe
School:
Trevor: Are you happy when you come back to Vermont?
Senator Leahy:
Trevor, my happiest times are when I come back home. Everyone on
my staff knows how happy I am leaving for the airport! Also, because our
children are grown up, my wife, Marcelle, can usually travel back and forth
with me.
N eshobe
School:
Colby: How do you get around in Washington, D.C.?
Senator Leahy:
Colby, I usually drive. The subway system does not go near the area
where I
live in when I am down here. Traffic is a LOT worse than even on Route 7!
N eshobe
School:
Maia: Does your family think it is cool having a Senator in their
family?
Senator Leahy:
Maia, I think they like just having me around. Of course there are
advantages, such as getting passes to see the latest Harry Potter movie
before it comes out.
N eshobe
School:
Thank you Senator for taking the time to talk to us today. We have to
go to gym class now. We hope you have a great day!
Senator Leahy:
I want you to know these were great questions. You are bright students
and you must have great teachers. Great being with you.
Neshobe School:
Thank you. It was great being with you as well.
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