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Contact: Jenni Brockman Phone: 804-443-3357 Fax: 804-443-6781 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tappahannock (September 30, 2002) - All 158 St. Margaret's School students got a civics lesson they'll never forget last week, when they met Vice President Dick Cheney at the White House. "It was the chance of a lifetime for many of our students and faculty," said Head of School Margaret R. Broad, "and an outstanding example of the opportunities that are possible at a strong, small school." 
Photo left:
St. Margaret's School students and faculty had the rare opportunity to meet Vice President Dick Cheney on their visit to the White House last week.
Public tours have not been offered at the White House since 9/11. Thanks to a current parent who works for the Vice President, the SMS group was able to view the ceremonial rooms on the mansion's second floor under the watchful eye of Secret Service agents who doubled as tour guides. Agents tailored some of their remarks to the interests of teenage girls; for example, telling them that Susan Ford's senior prom in the East Room was the only dance in the history of her high school that everyone attended. The group also learned that one of President and Mrs. Bush's dogs is a Scottie, the same breed as the SMS mascot. Following their tour, students and teachers were escorted by a cadre of Secret Service agents across the White House grounds to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. There, they were briefed by presidential and vice-presidential advisor Mary Matalin, who encouraged the girls to keep an open mind about the world around them. When you are ready to take a position on an issue, she said, be ready to substantiate it with facts. On a lighter note, Matalin-the mother of two young children-looked out into the audience of neatly uniformed young women and joked that while she currently was dealing with the "Because I said so" stage of parenting, at least she had the teenage years to anticipate. Also addressing the group was Deputy Domestic Policy Director Ron Christie. Christie told students that they are the country's future and gave SMS Community Service Coordinator Mollie Conklin a handbook outlining the community service projects available through America's Service Corps. For many SMS students and teachers, however, the day's highlight came when Vice President Dick Cheney squeezed a moment into his busy schedule to greet the group and pose for a photograph. Cheney acknowledged their applause, exchanged greetings with Head of School Broad, graciously stood for multiple photos, then was off in his black limousine to his next engagement, leaving the group with stories to tell about the time when they were just a few feet from the second-most powerful man in the world. |
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