Williamstown Elementary School Online Chat
April 15, 2008
Williamstown
Elementary School: Hi Senator Leahy, We are very excited to
being chatting with you
Williamstown
Elementary School: I'm Jesse Dumont, 1 of 3 fifth grade
teachers at Williamstown Elementary.
Sen Leahy:
Hi - Just got here and I can see you!
Williamstown
Elementary School: great the kids have worked hard on their
questions so I am going to turn it over to them
Sen Leahy:
Go ahead - and as you can see i do my own typing so don't
hold typos against me
Williamstown
Elementary School: no problem! here is our first group
Williamstown
Elementary School: Joe, Michael, Vincent, Where have you
traveled to for your job and what did you do there?
Sen Leahy:
The coffee i am drinking is Green Mtn Coffee Roasters
Sen Leahy:
Joe, Michael and Vincent I have traveled to every continent
including Antarctica and the South Pole. I have to go to Russia to meet
the new President next month but i especially like traveling home to
Vermont several times a month. Usually i meet with government officials
and our own intelligence people in the countries i visit.
Sen Leahy:
Incidentally some of my ancestors settled in Williamstown over
100 years ago
Williamstown
Elementary School: wow that is interesting, thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: Dylan, Elisa, Tommy, Why did you become a
lawyer and why is law your favorite topic?
Sen Leahy:
I grew up in Montpelier living in front of our family business. I
became the first Leahy to go to college [my sister the second] and the
law always fascinated me. I especially liked the idea of being able to
try cases and got a chance to try a very large number when i was State's
Attorney.
Sen Leahy:
Dylan, Elisa and Tommy if you visit Washington we'll show you the
Judiciary Committee i chair
Williamstown
Elementary School: thank-you!
Williamstown
Elementary School: Carissa, Aric, Theron, What are you
children’s’ and grandchildren’s names and how old are they?
Sen Leahy:
Carissa Aric and Theron I have a son Kevin married to Carolyn and
he lives in Middlesex as do I . He has two children Roan and Francesca.
A daughter Alicia married to Lawrence who live in Virginia with two
children Sophia and Patrick and a son Mark married to Kristine with a
daughter Fiona
Sen Leahy:
The grandchildren range from 5 months to 10 years old
Williamstown
Elementary School: wow, thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: Evin, Sharlene and Chandler, What is you
favorite piece of technology and why?
Sen Leahy:
Evin Sharlene and Chandler I should probably say the technology I
am using now to communicate with you but I am also an avid photographer
[just had a photo show in Barre] and I guess I really like my camera.
Will be using it at the White House tomorrow to take pictures of the
President and the Pope.
Williamstown
Elementary School: thats exciting
Williamstown
Elementary School: thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: sorry repeate
Williamstown
Elementary School: here it comes
Sen Leahy:
that's ok!
Williamstown
Elementary School: Taylor, Melinda, Katie, Will, Which law
are you most proud of writing and why?
Sen Leahy:
Taylor, Melinda,Katie and Will - I wrote the Organic Farm Bill
and because of that law we have a lot more organic food throughout the
country, in school lunches, in our farm's markets and it has made people
healthier. I am very proud of writing that law and Organics are now a
$14Billion dollar industry as a result
Sen Leahy:
I also wrote the law that bans the export of landmines and the
Leahy War Victim's Law to help war victims all over the world
Williamstown
Elementary School: that just got a round of applause!
Williamstown
Elementary School: thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: Hunter, Evan, Jeremy, In what ways have
you helped Vermont communities since you became a senator?
Sen Leahy:
Thank you for the applause
Sen Leahy:
Hunter,Evan and Jeremy I have brought well over a billion dollars
of jobs to Vermont to help communities. Have also worked with any
community that has asked on everything from bridge construction to law
enforcement.
Williamstown
Elementary School: wow thats alot, thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: Billy, Ethan, Andre’, Is your family proud
of the work you’ve done as a senator and do any of your children want to
become senators?
Sen Leahy:
Incidentally i am very impressed with the questions - it shows
you are very good students and must have excellent teachers. Your
families must be proud of all of you.
Sen Leahy:
Billy, Ethan and Andre my family has been very supportive and i
could not do this without their help. My wife and I have been married
for 45 years and she is the greatest help along with a superb staff in
Washington and Vermont. Each of my children have great careers ranging
from law, medicine and even jet pilot so i think they will each have
their own career.
Williamstown
Elementary School: you must be proud
Williamstown
Elementary School: thank-you
Sen Leahy:
i am very proud of all of them
Williamstown
Elementary School: Dylan P, Brittany, Justin
If you could spend a day with any one in the world
who would it be (they can be dead or alive)? And why would you choose
them?
Sen Leahy:
Dylan P., Brittany and Justin that is a hard question because
there are so many. I think I would like to spend it with Abraham Lincoln
and ask him how he had the strength to keep going as he worked to keep
our country united. If he had failed we would not begin to have the
blessings we have today as a country.
Williamstown
Elementary School: thank-you
Williamstown
Elementary School: Dylan M., Andy, Kylie, What is your
favorite sport and why?
Sen Leahy:
i have time for one more and than i have to go
Williamstown
Elementary School: okay
Sen Leahy:
Dylan M., Andy and Kylie I enjoy watching basketball but i was a
champion competitive shooter in college and still do a lot of target
shooting. For pure escape I like ocean scuba diving but i don't get many
chances to do that with my schedule
Sen Leahy:
Again I hope you might visit me in Vermont or Washington - I am
very impressed with your questions and wish you well. Now a big wave!
Williamstown
Elementary School: you rock! we like those hobbies
Williamstown
Elementary School: bye thank-you
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