NDAA at the Chief Justice Swearing-in Ceremony
On September 29, 2005, leaders of the three separate-but-equal branches of government gathered in the historic East Room of the White House and witnessed the swearing-in of the 17th chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. Thus began the John Roberts era, which could very well continue for the next two or three decades. Appropriately, the event was broadcast around the world and reported in thousands of newspapers in dozens of languages. What may have not been reported was the fact that one of the few organizations represented in that room on that historic day was our very own National District Attorneys Association.
NDAA Executive Director Tom Charron, General Counsel Jim Polley and I were given the opportunity to be present when President George W. Bush presided over the swearing-in of Chief Justice John Roberts. The invitation was extended to us the day before the event. Jim and Tom had the luxury of merely commuting to NDAA headquarters in nearby Alexandria. I, however, with the help of both local and NDAA staff, made last minute flight arrangements to leave O’Hare airport on the morning of the event, meet up at NDAA headquarters, go to the White House and return to Chicago the same day. In between, we were not only able to witness history in the making but we also took advantage of the opportunity to re-acquaint administration and congressional leaders with NDAA’s agenda and priorities.
The swearing-in ceremony was followed by a reception in the State Dining Room at the other end of the first floor of the White House. Walking down the red-carpeted hallway between the two rooms, I found myself next to Senior Associate Justice John Paul Stevens (more about this meeting later). As soon as I entered the State Dining Room I was able to speak with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. General Gonzales immediately recognized me as the leader of NDAA and expressed warm greetings to our members and a continuing desire to work with us on issues of common interest. From then on, Tom, Jim and I were able to meet with several members of the Senate Judiciary Committee from both sides of the aisle. We were able to thank Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa for his pivotal role in stopping a damaging piece of legislation regarding the regulation of methamphetamine precursor ingredients. We also discussed our concerns about not letting the offending provisions back into the bill during the conference committee proceedings. Tom Charron was able to touch base with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina with regard to the funding of our National Advocacy Center in Columbia and was met with a very positive reception. We even had the opportunity to visit with the actor and former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, who had worked with Justice Roberts in preparing him for the judiciary committee hearings. Tom Charron recounted how Senator Thompson had portrayed an investigator in a movie based on a case that Tom had actually prosecuted while serving as the district attorney in Cobb County, Georgia. I pointed out that while Thompson who portrayed an investigator in the case went on to a stellar career, first in movies and then in the United States Senate, that the actor who portrayed Tom apparently found that portrayal to be a dead end since he was never heard from again.
As for my previously referenced conversation with Justice Stevens, I wisely avoided any discussion of recent Supreme Court rulings, e.g. “Justice Stevens what were you thinking about when you came out with this Crawford v. Washington decision.” Instead I opted to discuss his appearance in the WGN broadcast booth during a recent Chicago Cubs telecast. Not only did Justice Stevens throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field that evening, but he also recounted the day in his youth when he was present at Wrigley Field and the legendary Babe Ruth hit his famous home run after first pointing to the outfield wall. I was able to squeeze into the conversation that I was speaking to him as President of the National District Attorneys Association, and a fellow long-suffering Cubs fan.
This day, however, was not just about an impressive visit to the East Room. It was, first and foremost, a recognition that the National District Attorneys Association is starting to make an impact not only on Capitol Hill but also in the White House. To my knowledge, the only other organization represented in the East Room that day was the National Association of Attorneys General by its president, Attorney General Stephen Carter from Indiana. It has taken much time and effort, but I am pleased to report that those persons with whom we work in the Justice Department, the White House and Congress have recognized the importance of America’s local and state prosecutors. I commend the previous leaders of our organization who successfully laid the groundwork for what we are accomplishing today. Now it is important that we measure our strides and continue our progress among the three branches of government. As we tackle our nation’s problems involving violence, drugs and other crimes, it is important that we solidify our relationships in Washington.
As I said in my first letter, it is my privilege to represent NDAA and America’s prosecutors. Together, we will advance our agenda and promote the safety of all our citizens.
