I Rode a Moped to The White House
2002 Boaz Rauchwerger
It was the summer of 1966. Having graduated from high school at the end of May, I worked as a disc jockey on KOKL Radio in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, during June and July of that year.
My family had immigrated to the U.S. from Israel just ten years before that and I was very patriotic and proud of my new country. The goal of that summer's broadcasting job was to earn enough money to go to Washington, DC to see the sights and to meet my senators and congressmen.
For me, there was a patriotic theme to much of that summer. After reading an article in the "Reader's Digest" about ringing bells for freedom on the Fourth of July, a high school friend, Pat Barnes, and I, decided to conduct such a campaign all across the state of Oklahoma.
We wrote and produced radio public service announcements, wrote letters to newspapers and got editorial support. We had newspaper stories written about our grass-roots campaign and appeared on radio and television news programs. We even met with the Governor of Oklahoma. Then, at 12 noon, on the Fourth of July, 1966, thousands of people and church steeples across the state rang bells for freedom. It was an amazing moment.
Now onto Washington, DC. When I arrived there that August, I discovered that I was too young to rent a car. However, there were mopeds available for rent. If you can't be a big wheel in Washington, at least you can get a couple of wheels going in the right direction.
Off I went, in my suit, a briefcase under one arm, maneuvering my moped with the other. The first day the moped died right in front of The White House. No problem. This was a big adventure for this Israeli immigrant.
I met the senators and congressmen from Oklahoma in their offices. Being the "big time broadcaster" from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, I had written letters ahead of time to ask for a brief audience. Amazing things happen when we're bold enough to ask.
Still wearing my "broadcaster's" hat, I rode my moped to one of Washington, DC's television stations and parked right outside the front door, in view of the reception desk. There was a fellow-broadcaster named David working there and I wanted to meet him. I told the receptionist that I had come all the way from Oklahoma to do just that.
Glancing at my mode of transportation, perhaps she thought I had traveled on my moped the entire distance. I was not about to change that assumption. It was either that or the confidence I was faking that got her to go and see if David was available. She came back shortly and motioned for me to follow her. We walked down a long hall and entered a television studio where David was concluding a broadcast.
He walked over and, with a warm, subtle smile, said, "I understand you've come all the way from Oklahoma. Let's go down to my office so we can talk." The corridor leading to David's office passed by the radio studios of the station. As we passed one glassed-in radio booth, he pointed out a man named Mr. Scott. David commented that Mr. Scott would be famous one day.
We sat in David's office and talked about radio and television for about 45 minutes. This busy man was so kind to me that day. I shall never forget it. Amazing what lasting positive memories come from kindnesses along the way.
Have some of us gotten too busy these days to stop and show some kindness to people who cannot benefit us in any way? If so, let's change. Let's pay more attention.
Doing kind things for others is like making a deposit in the emotional bank vault of life. When you make enough deposits, the Universe somehow knows and begins paying you interest. That's not why you should make the deposits, it's just a fact of life.
We never know in what form those interest payments will come, but they'll come. Someone will help you in a moment of need, a door will be opened to a great opportunity, people will speak in glowing terms about you, money will come to you unexpectedly.
Many seasons have passed since I rode a moped to The White House and to WRC Television in Washington, DC. I will forever remember the genuine interest that David, that's David Brinkley, showed in me. He and Chet Huntley anchored the top-rated nationwide NBC evening news in the 60's and 70's – The Huntley-Brinkley Report. On the door to his office was the following sign: The Brinkley-Huntley Report.
Oh, the matter of Mr. Scott? The man David Brinkley pointed out in the radio booth was the future weatherman on NBC's Today Show, Willard Scott.
Let's go out of our way and be kind. David Brinkley did on that August day in 1966 and I'll never forget the gesture.
A Daily Kindness Affirmation
I always look for opportunities to show kindness.
Article reproduced with permission from Boaz Rauchwerger. You may reprint any of these articles in any publication or Web site so long as you credit Boaz Rauchwerger as the author and include this Web site address, www.Boazpower.com.