WHEN WHITE HOUSE!" CALLS
From Immigrant Entrepreneur to U.S. Ambassador
J P
The University of Utah Press Salt Lake City N M
T C S
It is important to remember that our Nation has a tradition of citizen soldiers and citizen public servants— individuals who have been willing to put aside their private lives and notwithstanding the costs in money, personal privacy, and all the rest, put their talents and energies to work for the Country that has so richly blessed us all.
—F F, P R R, D B, S
n February , , at the Utah State Capitol, I was sworn in as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America accredited Oto the Republic of Mauritius, the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, and the Republic of Seychelles, located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. On that same day, President George W. Bush officially opened the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. ;e coincidence of my swearing- in ceremony occurring within hours of the Olympic opening events was breathtaking. ;e idea that in between events President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush would pay a visit to our home, Fairfax House, in Salt Lake City, was nearly overwhelming. I had to pinch myself several times to be- lieve that after so many months of paperwork, seminars, meetings, and interviews, this was indeed really happening. But now, standing in front of Secretary of State Colin Powell with Governor Michael Leavitt looking on, my wife, Marcia, by my side, and my left hand on the Declaration of In de pen dence and the Constitution of the United States, I stood resolute to represent the country I love, to the best of my abilities. I didn’t yet know that the complexities of my assignment— including diplomatic relations with the host countries, our U.S. interests there including trade relations,
W W H C the potential problems of terrorism, and the regional challenges created by pandem- ics and human poverty— would further strengthen my resolve.
Marcia and I had been friends with the Bush family since actively supporting Presi- dent George H. W. Bush in the presidential campaign. In , I was appointed to the Industry Sector Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Business, which coordinated with the Department of Commerce. I was also asked to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Small Business Administration. In , the presi- dent appointed Marcia to the President’s Advisory Committee for the Arts, which later, under President Clinton’s administration, became the National Committee for the Performing Arts, “to support, enhance, and advocate national arts education.” As of , Marcia continues to serve as a member of the NCPA board, which func- tions at the Kennedy Center. In , I was asked by former President George H. W. Bush to serve on the National Finance Advisory Council for the George and Barbara Bush Endowment for Innovative Cancer Research, at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. I remained on the council until I had to resign from all boards as part of the ambassador nomination pro cess. On two occasions, August , , and July , , Marcia and I attended council meetings and afternoon retreats at Walker’s Point, the Bush family summer residence in Kennebunkport, Maine. At this seaside community, long considered the jewel of the southern Maine coast, President Bush and his wife, Barbara, hosted traditional Maine lobster and clambake feasts at the picturesque River Club. During our last visit, I had the thrill of speeding through the shallow waters off the rocky coastline with the former president at the wheel of his sleek new - foot Fountain Tournament Edition fishing boat. Powered by twin - hp Mercury engines, the high- performance Fidelity II left the Secret Ser vice in its wake. As the members of his security detail strained to keep up in their Zodiac inflatable boats, I asked the president, “Are you sure you know where the rocks are?” After a glance and a slight smile, he nodded— then gunned the engines! Only once did he slow down, to navigate around what appeared to be giant boulders beneath the surface of the clear blue ocean water. I held my breath and hung on as the boat was tossed by the chop. Offered another ride later that day, I opted instead to join Marcia on a tour of the beautiful grounds at Walker’s Point. Since the Bush campaign, I had also been following his son George W. Bush’s rise to power as governor of the State of Texas, and I considered myself one of the early supporters in his presidential campaign. We held one of his first national presidential exploratory committee fund- raising events at Fairfax House on July , . It was a successful occasion, attended by more than three hundred supporters !e Call to Ser vice and well- wishers. Since the president’s birthday was the day before the event, we surprised him with a birthday cake.
Earlier, in March , Utah Governor Michael Leavitt had invited me to go with him to Austin, Texas, to meet with Governor George W. Bush and have lunch together. A handsome Re nais sance Revival– style building, the Texas State Capitol was completed in , and is second in size only to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. After our meeting, the governor led us to the State Senate chamber, where one of the legisla- tors, a knowledgeable historian, concluded the tour with us. ;en Governor Bush went off for his daily jog, saying he would meet us later for lunch. While waiting for the governor at the historic Governor’s Mansion, we met up with Michael Dell, found er of Dell Computer, who was also joining us. I admired how Michael had changed the way people bought computers. By simplifying the technology and selling directly to customers, Michael turned a fledgling garage start- up into a multibillion- dollar, worldwide enterprise. After lunch, at which it was suggested that Governor Bush consider setting up a presidential exploratory committee, we ran into Karl Rove, a key advisor to the governor, who had lived and attended school in Salt Lake City. I told him about our lunch conversation and said I would be happy to help Governor Bush in his presi- dential campaign should he decide to run. Several weeks later, Karl came to Utah and spoke at my home to a group of business leaders I was trying to recruit. ;at night, Karl had dinner with Mike Leavitt and me. An interesting po liti cal conversa- tion ensued in which Karl discussed his fondness for President William McKinley and the style of campaign McKinley had run in , a realigning election that marked the beginning of the Progressive Era. President McKinley was pro- business, and many of his supporters were businessmen. He ran a successful, well- funded campaign, and would serve with Republicans having won control of both houses of Congress.
Later, in the fall of , I was invited by Heinz Prechter to go quail hunting at his ,- acre ranch in Wheeler, Texas. Heinz, who emigrated from Germany after World War II, was an early pioneer in the automobile sunroof business and founded the American Sunroof Company, which employed several thousand people. Heinz, an early Bush supporter, was hosting the weekend retreat for George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Among the twelve invited business leaders and active fund- raisers were businessmen Robert Wood (“Woody”) Johnson IV, who later became the own er of the New York Jets football team, and Dave Checketts, who was president and chief executive officer of Madison Square Garden. I had met Dave when he was president W W H C and general manager of the Utah Jazz basketball team. (Several years later, Dave founded and became the chairman of SCP Worldwide, the own er of the Real Salt Lake soccer team.) ;e main purpose of this retreat was for everyone to become better acquainted with George and Laura. Since bird hunting was not a sport I enjoyed, I opted to stay behind and talk with Laura and several other guests. ;e weekend turned out to be a great time for bonding. After some pointed ques- tions during a chat with the governor on the economy, his pro- business stance, lower taxes, and security matters, I was convinced he was the right candidate for the GOP, and I committed to fully support him. I wasn’t alone. By the end of the weekend, Gov- ernor Bush emerged as the “GOP moneyed elite’s candidate,” as noted in a report by Texans for Public Justice. During the ensuing months, the presidential exploratory committee was formed under the leadership of Donald Evans, the governor’s longtime friend and future U.S. Secretary of Commerce. ;e committee expanded nationally. I became Utah’s chairman and also a member of the national finance committee. We met regularly in Austin, Texas, tracking the groundswell of support as it came from every corner of our great nation. In the meantime, Utah was heavily involved with plans for the Winter Olympic Games. In June , the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had met in Budapest, where they awarded the XIX Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City. On April , , I was appointed by Governor Michael Leavitt and Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini to be a member of the Salt Lake Or ga niz ing Committee (SLOC) Board of Trustees. Later, on February , , I was also se- lected to be on the Management Committee. In early December , Governor Leavitt asked if my Hawker jet was available to take several SLOC members to Los Angeles. ;e trip would include Mitt Romney, whom the governor was trying to recruit as president of the Salt Lake Or ga niz ing Committee. I said yes, and a week later, on a snowy day, we met at the Million Air FBO, located at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Mitt had previously expressed ambivalence about the prospect of becoming head of the SLOC, but we were determined to prevail upon him to accept. Frankly, we needed a new, squeaky- clean image. ;e scandal- plagued SLOC was in trouble, damaged by allegations of bribery involving top officials. Although he was an outsider to Utah, Mitt had strong family ties to the state. He also had great credentials as a business leader who in , with two partners, had founded Bain Capital, the highly successful private equity investment firm. Mike believed he was the right person for the job. I looked forward to seeing Mitt and talking about the opportunities that lay ahead. Unfortunately, just before our departure, I received an urgent phone call from my office, and suggested that Mike and the others go on to Los Angeles without me. I said goodbye to Mitt, and prematurely but wholeheartedly welcomed him on board. ;at eve ning, Mike phoned to say he was confident that Mitt would agree to serve as the president and chief executive officer of SLOC. When Mitt was unanimously !e Call to Ser vice hired by the SLOC Board of Trustees on February , , it was great news for the committee, the State of Utah, and all the participating athletes and spectators from around the world. Once at the helm, Mitt discovered the full extent of the financial trouble facing SLOC. A numbers of sponsors either had withdrawn or were on the fence. ;e pros- pect of bud get cuts was looming, and Mitt was concerned that the Cultural Olympiad program would suffer from the cutback. One eve ning over dinner at Adolph’s, one of Park City’s favorite restaurants, we discussed the possibilities of raising money for this important component. We believed the cultural aspect of the Olympic Games was an integral part of its success. Without it, we would lose the people- to- people contact between countries and a substantial amount of cultural diversity. ;at eve ning I agreed to donate million if Mitt would match it. He did, and we were encouraged that others would do the same. Shortly after our meeting, Marcia and I received a letter from Mitt thanking us for our donation. “I could not have been more pleased by the powerful words and symbolic gesture which you made,” he wrote. “;e night will stand out in the his- tory of the ‘new’ SLC and Winter Games. I will not forget your friendship and help.” Within days, a committee to support the Cultural Olympiad was formed, chaired by Mitt’s friend Kem Gardner, a Utah businessman. Ultimately, more than million was raised. According to Ray Grant, the director of the Cultural Olympiad, all these efforts ensured one of the best- attended Cultural Olympiad programs in recent Olympic history.
On January , , fifteen days before the opening of the Winter Olympics, Paul Rademacher, the director of Senate Affairs at the State Department, called to say that I and seven other ambassadors had been confirmed by the Senate. At the same time, the Secret Ser vice was in the pro cess of securing our home and grounds in preparation for President Bush’s visit to Fairfax House during the upcoming Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Our home, Fairfax House, was named after the adjacent street. Originally known as the Governor’s Mansion, it was built in for two- term Utah Governor George Dewey Clyde. Governor Calvin O. Rampton and his family lived in the Governor’s Mansion from to . During Rampton’s three terms, as Utah grew substantially, many notable dignitaries were wined and dined at the mansion, and many deals were struck there, or so I was told. We purchased Fairfax House from the State of Utah in when the state decided to restore the original turn- of- the- century ;omas Kearns Mansion, on South Temple Street, which had been used from until the late s as the official governor’s resi- dence. Marcia and I remodeled and expanded the house for our family of three chil- dren. We also continued to maintain the surrounding four acres of landscaped grounds W W H C and well- established woods. Periodically we used the lovely gardens for our children’s weddings, festivities, community functions, and po liti cal hosting events. After I received the exciting news from Paul Rademacher, the chief of the Presi- dential Appointments Staff at the State Department, Sharon Bisdee, phoned from Washington to confirm the date of March , , for my swearing- in ceremony, which would be held in the Benjamin Franklin Room on the eighth floor of the State Department. She added that the March date was the earliest Secretary Colin Powell would be available because of his heavy travel schedule. I was excited by the news— yet hesitant. I had spent nearly four years on the Salt Lake Or ga niz ing Committee and was committed to attend all the events of the Winter Olympic Games. We had plans to entertain visitors, friends, and guests from around the globe. We had also invited a number of Mauritians to be our guests, including the country’s current IOC member, Rampaul Ruhee, his son Raj, and Janeeta Anderson and her family, who live in Utah. In a previous administration, Janeeta’s father, Chitmansing Jesseramsing, served for fourteen years as the Mauri- tian ambassador to the United States. Because of all these events, planning for the Washington ceremony was going to be complicated. Marcia and I went over the logistics of having family and friends travel to Washington, D.C., finding hotel rooms, and arranging for meals and transporta- tion. Marcia was adamant that I take the oath on one of the original twenty- five copies of the Declaration of In de pen dence produced by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap in , instead of the Bible traditionally used for the ceremony. She said the Declaration of In de pen dence was the most important and appropriate document representing our country’s freedom and what it means to immigrants who come to this land. “Great,” I countered. “But where am I going to find one?” “Try to borrow one,” she responded. I immediately put in a call to my friend Ron Fox, who not only knew sources for such rare literary items but also was po liti cally connected in Washington. If a copy of the Declaration could be found for the occasion, this remarkable historian might well be able to do it. Meanwhile, pre- Olympic activities were under way. Having crossed the coun- try, the Olympic torch was traveling through Utah on its way to Salt Lake City and the Opening Ceremonies. On Tuesday, February , I was working late at my office when the phone rang. Gary Doxey, from the governor’s office, was on the line. He asked if I could meet the governor on the front lawn of the Capitol promptly at eight that night and ac- company him in the state he li cop ter for a flight to Provo. ;e governor wanted to be there when the Olympic torch entered Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards Stadium. We needed to be there on time, as a large crowd was expected, and enter- tainment and fireworks were scheduled. !e Call to Ser vice
I raced out of my office with just ten minutes to cover the twelve miles from my office to the Capitol. Luckily, there was no traffic in Salt Lake City’s downtown dis- trict to impede my excessive speed. ;at night the sky was slightly overcast; a chill was in the air. ;e only noise I could hear was that of the he li cop ter rotors spinning in a synchronized fashion. Mike was standing by the door of the he li cop ter, wearing a brightly colored Olympic jacket and surrounded by several Utah Highway Patrol troopers and his personal security detail. ;e he li cop ter climbed into the misty winter sky. Flying low over the city, we saw several high- rise buildings brightly lit and encased in shrink- wrap plastic film displaying massive silk- screened images of American Olympic athletes. Strobes and searchlights were everywhere, aimed at the sky. As we gazed from the he li cop ter, it was like looking into the Milky Way. Within minutes, though, we had left the metropolitan area. Clouds hid the moon and stars, and only an occasional light from a home below peeked through the cloud layers as we headed toward Provo. ;e governor sat quietly, deep in thought. Suddenly he turned to me and asked how the confirmation pro cess was going. I brought him up to date about my pending swearing- in ceremony at the State Department on March . “Why then?” he asked. I explained that was the first day Secretary Powell would be available. I also men- tioned Marcia’s request that I use an original copy of the Declaration of In de pen dence instead of a Bible. I added that Ray Grant had told me Norman Lear was bringing his original copy of the document to Utah for display in the Capitol Rotunda during the Olympics, and that I planned to have Ray ask him if we could borrow it for the Washington ceremony and return it within twenty- four hours. Lear’s copy was the only one known to be in private hands and had been discovered only in , concealed on the back of a painting. Lear had purchased it in for . million. “Mike,” I said, “I really want to make this once- in- a-lifetime event very special by having the Declaration of In de pen dence.” ;e governor fell silent again. ;en, grinning, he turned to me and said, “Let’s do it here.” “Where?” I asked. “Here, at the State Capitol on Friday.” “Mike, it can’t be done.” “Why?” he asked. “We need to have Colin Powell.” “Okay.” “What do you mean, okay?” “He’ll be here on Friday.” “Here in Salt Lake City? You’re kidding. Mike, do you think this is really possible?” W W H C
“Yes, we’ll do it here.” “Will Powell do it?” “We’ll find out in the morning,” he quipped. Just then the he li cop ter landed in the LaVell Edwards Stadium parking lot, and a large crowd gathered to greet Governor Leavitt. Mike moved through the crowd shaking hands, hugging children, laughing and talking. What a great communicator he is, I thought. What energy he has. After the ceremony, as we flew back to Salt Lake, my mind was racing. Mike’s suggestion of holding the swearing- in ceremony at the Utah State Capitol that coming Friday would eliminate a lot of the problems involved in planning for a larger, more complicated event in Washington. But Friday was only three days away— and the day of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Could Mike really pull it off ? After we landed on the front lawn of the Capitol, I thanked him for the he li cop ter ride and walked back to my car, thinking that fate had put us together that eve ning. When I told Marcia the news, she was delighted— and even more determined to get the copy of the Declaration of In de pen dence. When I said it was in the works, she was pleased. However, I explained the document was in an airtight display case and I could only place my hand on the glass surface while taking the oath of office. By this time it was late, and I was tired— the busy day and night had done me in. I needed to close my eyes for a few hours. After all, at four- thirty in the morning, the Olympic torch would be heading toward Orem, a town several miles north of Provo, Utah, and we had to be there on time. Earlier, I had asked our oldest granddaughter, Ashleigh, to take my segment as torchbearer in Orem. She was overjoyed with the idea, and with receiving the official Olympic torch relay outfit: blue and white run- ning pants, parka, hat, and gloves. She was less than thrilled, though, about having to wake up at three in the morning in order to get to the starting line on time— and she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Nevertheless, at three o’clock Marcia and I were on the road, driving to meet Ashleigh and the rest of our family to cheer her on. Ashleigh was all smiles. Just a few hours later I was back in my office and on the phone talking with Ron Fox. Governor Leavitt had given him the assignment of putting together the swearing- in ceremony. I then called Sharon Bisdee at the State Department to let her know what had transpired. I also alerted Blossom Perry, the country desk officer in the State Department’s Office of East African Affairs, and Alayne Peterson, the governor’s administrative assistant, who already had the ball rolling with the governor’s staff. Now we just needed approval from Washington. Over the next several hours, phone calls were made back and forth between the White House and the governor’s office. By nightfall there was still no answer. As ner vous as I was, I reminded myself to have confidence in Mike’s ability to put this together. ;at eve ning was the James Beard Foundation dinner, one of the pre- Olympic sponsored events. When Marcia and I arrived, we were delighted to see Ray Grant and hear that Norman Lear was already convinced that loaning us the document was !e Call to Ser vice a good idea and had agreed to move the document from the Capital Rotunda into the Gold Room for the swearing- in ceremony. We were elated by Norman’s kind gesture; to our knowledge, no other original copy of Declaration of In de pen dence had been used for such a ceremony. But we still did not have final approval from the White House. I spent most of Wednesday night making a list of all the things that needed to be done before the ceremony. For security reasons, Ron was told, only twenty- five people would be allowed in the Gold Room. We had sixteen family members; that left only nine invitations for close friends and well- wishers. It wasn’t enough, and I was deter- mined to press for more. I also worried we still hadn’t heard from Washington. At seven- thirty ;ursday morning, my administrative assistant, Marlene Luke, and I waited at the office for Ron to arrive. We were to work on the details of the event and prepare the invitations. After an hour, I was concerned by Ron’s absence and unable to reach him on his cell phone. When he finally did appear, he looked frazzled but satisfied. “;e White House cleared the way,” he said. “What a relief !” I exclaimed. After scanning the invitation language and reluctantly adding an additional five names to the list, Ron raced off to the printers. I called Sharon, who already knew that the request had been sent to Secretary Powell for final clearance and White House approval. An hour later, Governor Leavitt’s office called with final affirmation. Shortly after, Ron confirmed that the fifteen- minute ceremony was set for : p.m. on Friday, February , , in the State Capitol’s Gold Room. He stressed that no more than thirty people could be in attendance. By late afternoon, the printed invitations were ready to be hand- carried to family and friends. Ron also said he had a copy of a edition of a book containing the Declaration of In de pen dence and Constitution that we could have and use for the event, rather than Lear’s glass- covered document. During the dress rehearsal for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies at Rice- Eccles Stadium on ;ursday eve ning, the governor pulled me aside to reassure me that every- thing was set. I embraced him and thanked him several times for making this dream come true. By the time I returned to my suite and slumped down on the couch, I was limp. Tears came to my eyes as I reflected on what had transpired during the past forty- eight hours. ;is was a great honor. ;irty- four years earlier, in , another Utahn, Congressman David King, had become the first U.S. ambassador to Mauritius. I was to become the second such diplomat. Now, back home, as it neared midnight, I prac- ticed the oath of office and reviewed my ac cep tance speech. Early Friday morning, I was fully awake watching several national news chan- nels showing President Bush boarding Air Force One and heading west. After a short stopover in Denver, he would be arriving in Salt Lake City to participate in the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games. W W H C
At : p.m., when Air Force One landed, Governor Leavitt was there to greet President Bush and Secretary Powell. He accompanied the president on a courtesy call to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints (LDS) before driving up State Street toward the Capitol for the two o’clock Olympic kickoff event. We too were on our way. SLOC had assigned John Peterson as our driver to take us around to the different Olympic venues, and to get us to the swearing- in ceremony on time. Although the ceremony was slated for one- thirty, we had been cautioned to arrive early enough to avoid the crowd assembling in the Rotunda to see Presi- dent Bush. ;e first wave of family members was waiting in John Peterson’s van, parked in our driveway, with the second wave ready to go. Ner vous ly pacing outside the house, John worried we’d be late. Finally Marcia and I made it out the door and into the van for the three- mile ride to the State Capitol. John then returned to pick up the rest of the family. Passing through the security magnetometers at the side entrance, we were es- corted by several Utah Highway Patrol officers through a growing crowd of people waiting for the president. Located next to the governor’s office in the west wing of the Capitol, the splendid State Reception Room is often called the Gold Room be- cause of its elaborate polished bird’s-eye marble, gold- leaf moldings, original paint- ings, and nineteenth- century furniture. ;e room was used primarily for official events, visiting dignitaries, and high- level functions; the ambassador swearing- in ceremony would be a first. Inside this exquisite space, I immediately saw Norman Lear’s precious copy of the Declaration of In de pen dence. On the nearby wall was a painting of George Washington in prayer at Valley Forge, by American artist Arnold Friberg, a great American icon best known for his religious and patriotic interpretation of historical events. I couldn’t help but think nothing else could have been more appropriate. Marcia and I, our children— Steven with his former wife, Drue; Deirdra with her husband, Farhad; and Jennifer with her husband, Tony— and our six delight- ful grandchildren, Ashleigh, Chelsea, Garrett, Hannah, Alexandra, and Savannah, were chatting with guests when a number of dignitaries arrived, followed by press photographers. ;e cabinet members travelling with the President included Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez, Secretary of the Interior Gayle Norton, and EPA Director Christine Todd Whitman. Other luminaries included Justice Ted Stewart, Congressman Chris Cannon, as well as Lieutenant Governor Olene Walker and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. National Security Advi- sor Condoleezza Rice and White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer also stepped into the room to see what was going on. Because President Bush would be speaking at the Winter Olympics kick- off event, security was tight at the Capitol. Utah Highway Patrol officers and Secret Ser vice were stationed everywhere. At exactly one- thirty, the doors to the Gold Room were closed. In the distance, you could hear the faint strains of the Mormon !e Call to Ser vice
Tabernacle Choir practicing “;e Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Ron, who was in charge of the event, stayed in contact with the Secret Ser vice, and when he was told Secretary Powell was about to enter the Gold Room, he announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and Governor Michael Leavitt.” Secretary Powell walked toward me. We shook hands and warmly embraced. For a moment he admired the encased Declaration of In de pen dence while I explained its presence in the Gold Room. Standing between Secretary Powell and Governor Leavitt, I suddenly began to tremble and feel weak. Luckily, an adrenaline rush kept me going. In his introduction, the governor spoke about the visit he and I had made to New York and Ellis Island. We had attended a dinner at the restored monument, which for many de cades had served as a portal for immigrants coming to America. ;e governor recalled asking if I had been there before, and I replied, “Only once”— when I came through Ellis Island with my parents and my brother, escaping the Holocaust. I was immediately flooded with memories.
In , during what has become known as Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, in Germany and Austria, Nazi storm troopers, the SS, and Hitler Youth groups broke into and pillaged thousands of homes and businesses while the German police stood by and did nothing to stop the destruction. Window after window was broken and smashed. Nearly two hundred synagogues were vandalized and burned. Hun- dreds of sacred Torahs were desecrated; one hundred Jews were killed; and more than thirty thousand Jews were rounded up, arrested and sent to concentration camps. Among them were some of our relatives and close family friends. ;ere was shock and outrage worldwide, but no one challenged Hitler. Jews were singled out by being forced to wear a yellow Star of David. Out of fear we hid in our apartment. ;en one night, mere weeks before the German borders were closed to all Jews leaving, we disappeared into the dark, heading toward freedom.
“Only in America could the son of immigrants fleeing the Nazi Holocaust rise to such prominence in the business world. Now he enters public ser vice for his nation,” Governor Leavitt said in his remarks. ;is brought tears to my eyes. Secretary Powell then spoke about our similar immigrant backgrounds. He went on to say, “We both went to the best college, which was attended by many immigrants, City College of New York, where we both studied geology.” Jokingly, he added, “I went into the Army, and John went on to make money.” When Secretary Powell asked if I was ready to be sworn in, I was shaking, but I said I was. Marcia held out the book containing the Declaration of In de pen dence and Constitution, upon which I impulsively placed my right hand, when I should have used my left. Secretary Powell smiled and waited a beat before quipping, “Now, put your right hand on it,” which gave everyone a good laugh. W W H C
.. ;e swearing- in ceremony conducted by Secretary of State Colin Powell, February , . (Photo courtesy of Newman Photography)
Secretary Powell then asked me to repeat after him the oath of office:
I, John Price, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domes- tic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the Office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.
“Congratulations, Mr. Ambassador!” he concluded. ;anking Secretary Powell, I stepped up to the podium and spoke about what I wanted to accomplish in the host countries and how I believed I could make a differ- ence. I promised to make trade, business promotion, and economic development among !e Call to Ser vice
.. ;e Price family at the swearing- in ceremony, February , . (Photo courtesy of Newman Photography)
the top priorities during my tenure in Mauritius. I pledged to protect and preserve the fragile Indian Ocean ecosystem, and confront the challenges of pollution and oil spills. “I am deeply honored,” I said. “I look forward to working with the citizens of all three countries— Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros— to build stronger relation- ships and understanding between our countries.” And I spoke of my family’s support as I changed careers from being a business- man to serving the country I love so dearly. After a few photographs were taken with Secretary Powell, Mike and Jackie Leavitt, and Marcia and our family, the ceremony was over. It was hard to believe, but I was now officially a United States ambassador. When I heard the rd Army Band of the Utah National Guard play “Hail to the Chief,” I knew President Bush was entering the Rotunda. Upon leaving the Gold Room, I stopped to talk with Condoleezza Rice, Ari Fleisher, and Chief of Staff Andy Card, who were waiting for President Bush to make his remarks. I was told the president had been standing nearby during parts of my swearing- in ceremony, which made me smile. But there was no time for reflection. W W H C
We were cautioned by the Secret Ser vice that if we wanted to get back to Fairfax House in time to greet President Bush and the First Lady, who would be arriving in thirty minutes, we should leave immediately, because of the tight security. ;e plan was for the Bushes to relax and have some down time before dinner and the eve ning’s Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Because we would have the honor of hosting the President, our house had under- gone weeks of preparation by White House advance teams and security personnel, with extra mea sures being taken specifically as a consequence of the September , , terrorist attacks. ;e Secret Ser vice and the White House advance team had worked in tandem with our security and property manager, Mike Washburn. Our house was wired for secure telephone communication ser vice worldwide, and our property was protected by the more than twenty- five people stationed on the grounds. Military vehicles and personnel were positioned on nearby hills, sharpshooters were concealed on nearby rooftops, and several he li cop ters hovered above our home. ;e invited media allowed onto our property were confined to a small section of the garage, where tables were set up with food and drinks. Two large- screen tele vi sion sets were mounted for viewing the president’s events during the day and at the eve- ning’s Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Since the president’s entourage would have little time to shop for Olympic memorabilia, we set up a temporary Olympic gift shop in the garage as well. Marcia and I anxiously waited at the front portico for the President and Mrs. Bush to arrive. But at the last minutes we were rushed by the Secret Ser vice down the back hallway— for security reasons, the President would be using the rear en- trance of the house. Several athletic- looking men wearing dark suits followed closely behind the President, one carry ing what appeared to be a black box and an attaché case. Trailing after them were Roland and Lois Betts, the president’s traveling companions. It had been several years since the president’s last visit. After warm greetings and a quick tour of our home, we offered the President and Mrs. Bush the privacy of the master bedroom suite and the adjacent family room to enjoy during their visit. In the kitchen, two Secret Ser vice agents watched our caterer, Mary Kraft, and a New York chef from the James Beard Foundation prepare special dishes for our guests. While Laura and her friend Lois rested, the president removed his tie, un- buttoned the top button of his shirt, and relaxed with a cigar outside the garden room, chatting with Roland, his old Yale chum. ;e outside temperature was falling below freezing, and I suggested the president come in out of the cold. He consider- ately asked, “Do you mind if I smoke a cigar?” I replied, “I like a good cigar once in a while myself.” Over a cup of coffee, we discussed the countries in Africa to which I was being posted. Roland asked if I had a map of Africa so he could see exactly where they were located. I quickly went to my office and brought back a full- size map of Africa, which !e Call to Ser vice included Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles, Indian Ocean island nations off the east coast of Africa. I gave Roland a brief overview, then thanked the President for the honor to serve our country. I also asked if he would inscribe the book containing the Declaration of In de pen dence that I’d taken my oath on. On the inside front cover, the President wrote: “To my friends, John and Marcia. ;anks for serving our nation. Best always, George Bush, Feb. , .” After a short discussion about Utah’s hard work in hosting the Winter Olympic Games, and how special the Opening Ceremonies were going to be, the president put out his cigar and asked to be excused until dinner so that he could rest. Roland also retired, so I joined Andy Card, Condoleezza Rice, and Ari Fleischer at the makeshift gift shop, where they were buying Olympic memorabilia. Marcia was in the kitchen with Mary Kraft and the chef putting the final touches to the dinner menu for the president and his party. Several of the president’s staff pre- pared the breakfast room for a quiet early dinner. And, of course, the Secret Ser vice looked on. Once everyone was seated for dinner, Laura told Marcia what a lovely experi- ence the ambassador posting was going to be. “Enjoy it, since it’s not forever,” she said, and suggested, “You can always go back to what ever you are currently doing.” We both agreed that was good advice from the First Lady. ;e dinner turned out to be a lovely experience, although Marcia and I were both ner vous. At exactly five o’clock, Brian Montgomery, the White House Director of Ad- vance, entered the room with the President’s eve ning schedule. ;e President jotted down some notes on a card and excused himself. Minutes later, after thanking us for dinner and our hospitality, the President and his entourage were gone. Exhilarated and exhausted, Marcia and I reflected on the events that had taken place that day. It was almost like a fairy- tale afternoon, unforgettable and over much too quickly! Marcia particularly enjoyed the President’s written notation in the book and later that night was delighted to find the note he left on the pillow in the master bedroom.
Dear John and Marcia, ;ank you so very much for your wonderful hospitality. Laura and I appreciate your friendship. You can judge a man by the quality of his shower. You are indeed a fine man. We send all our very best wishes for your new assignment. God speed, George Bush
John Peterson was at the door at six o’clock that eve ning to take us to Rice- Eccles Stadium, where we joined family and friends for the Opening Ceremonies. It had been a long road traveled since Utah was awarded the XIX Olympic Winter Games in June by the International Olympic Committee. Now, on W W H C
February , , the time had come to, in the words of IOC President Jacques Rogge, “let the Games begin!” ;e Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games were truly artistic and magical, beginning with the lighting of the Olympic flame, which inspired the theme, “Light the Fire Within.” ;e entertainment included singer LeAnn Rimes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the Utah Symphony Orchestra; cellist Yo- Yo Ma; the singer Sting; the Dixie Chicks; and Olympic skater Kristi Yamaguchi. As part of the cultural events, representatives of the five Native Ameri- can tribes of Utah entered on five rotating platforms adorned with patterns from each tribe, signifying both their culture and the five symbolic rings of the Olympic movement. A sad moment was seeing the tattered American flag that had hung at the World Trade Center as a tribute was paid to the catastrophic events of September , . ;e next seventeen days of the Winter Olympics were hectic and fun- filled. ;ey were also incredibly challenging logistically, since the competitive events and cultural programs were spread out along the Wasatch Mountains, a range nearly a hundred miles long. But there was no stopping us from attending as many events as we could. After all, this too was a once- in- a-lifetime experience for all of us. On Saturday, February , as the ice skating competitions at the Delta Center were coming to a close, I hosted a party in our suite in honor of Mauritius. John Peterson had located several of the country’s flags, which we proudly displayed on the walls. ;e eve ning was lively with congenial conversation among our family and guests, including IOC member Rampaul Ruhee and his son Raj; Jacques de Nava- celle of Barclays Bank and his young son; and Janeeta Anderson and her family. It was enjoyable getting acquainted and sharing mutual interests. Marcia and I said we looked forward to being in Mauritius and participating in everything this new assignment had in store for us. Sunday, February , was the last day of the Winter Olympic Games. Our morning began with Governor Leavitt’s reception at the State Capitol honoring New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose popularity had soared after the / attacks. ;e Capitol was packed with people, and Mayor Giuliani’s words were inspiring. Also, this was the first time I was considered a dignitary and included on the dais. ;e term “Mr. Ambassador” was slowly starting to sink in. Later that eve ning, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, were ex- pected to be present for the Closing Ceremonies at Rice- Eccles Stadium. Flying into Salt Lake City with their daughter Mary and her partner, Heather Poe, they planned to watch the ice hockey championship match that afternoon between the United States and Canada. ;en they would come to Fairfax House for a brief visit and din- ner before attending the eve ning ceremonies. Our home was, of course, ready, still wired and very secure. Marcia, our daughter Deirdra, and I were determined to attend this historic hockey event with the U.S. team in the finals. But here, too, timing was crucial. We !e Call to Ser vice had to be at Fairfax House to greet the vice president and his family. Fortunately, our seats were directly across from where the vice president and his wife were sit- ting, so we decided that when they got up to leave, we would as well. Immediately after the game— Canada won, to , for the gold medal— we returned to our home in a he li cop ter provided by the State of Utah while the Cheneys traveled by motor- cade. Even so, we got back only minutes before the vice president’s motorcade pulled into our driveway. Ron Fox, who also did advance work for the vice president, arrived with an Olympic medal that he presented to Vice President Cheney. We gave U.S. Olympic team hats to the women and an Olympic baseball cap to the vice president. Since the temperature was steadily dropping, we also had Olympic down coats, jackets, and gloves for everyone to wear while sitting outdoors in the president’s box for the Clos- ing Ceremonies. After a few photographs were taken, followed by a brief tour of our home and art collection, the Cheneys went off to rest in the master bedroom suite. Security again was tight, with he li cop ters hovering above and military personnel stationed in the hills behind Fairfax House. ;e garage area was once more set up for the staff to have dinner and watch the events on tele vi sion. Meanwhile, our caterer, Mary Kraft, and a chef from Halifax, Nova Scotia, were working in the kitchen under the watchful eyes of the Secret Ser vice. ;ey prepared a stunning dinner for seven that included fresh wild salmon flown in from Nova Scotia. At five o’clock, we sat down at the dining room table, which had been superbly decorated with flowers. During dinner, the vice president offered insights on a num- ber of global issues. Lynne spoke about her new children’s book, America: A Patriotic Primer, which would be coming out in the spring of . Our daughter Deirdra discussed her book, Healing the Hungry Self, which dealt with a diet- free solution to lifelong weight management. Deirdra and Lynne agreed to exchange copies of their books by mail. Promptly at six o’clock, Cheney’s staff jumped into action. Within minutes, our get- together was over, and after a warm exchange, everyone left to attend the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies at Rice- Eccles Stadium. We were hustled off to the stadium by a state trooper escort and arrived just as the ceremonies were beginning. ;e extravaganza that followed is nearly impossible to describe. ;ere were many participants dressed in brightly colored costumes, and a parade of compet- ing athletes. On a large temporary ice sheet there were choreographed skaters, in- cluding Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill. Onstage were a number of performers, including Kiss; Earth, Wind, and Fire; Bon Jovi; Harry Connick Jr.; Christina Aguilera; and Gloria Estefan. For the finale, a fireworks display lit up the Utah sky. As we were leaving the stadium, heavy snow started to fall and visibility became poor. As we drove toward the house, I received an urgent call from Mike Washburn telling us we had fifteen minutes to “hurry home, pick up a toothbrush, and leave.” W W H C
.. At Fairfax House with Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney, February , . (Photo courtesy of Newman Photography)
;e Cheneys’ plans to go on to Jackson, Wyoming, that night had been cancelled, as the Jackson airport was socked in with terrible weather conditions, and they were all returning to Fairfax House. As we neared our home, we saw that the police had already cordoned off the streets. Inside the house, the Secret Ser vice was reinstalling equipment that had been removed just hours earlier. Marcia and I quickly packed, and as we were pulling out of the driveway we glimpsed Cheneys’ motorcade slowly coming up the street. Marcia decided to bunk with our daughter Jennifer, who lived nearby. Since I had to be in Park City early the next morning for meetings, I decided to drive to our home near the Deer Valley Ski Resort. Some thirty miles from Salt Lake City, it was close to where many of the Olympic events had been held. As it turned out, the heavy snowfall made it impos- sible for me to reach our ski chalet by car; I didn’t have four- wheel drive and the snow !e Call to Ser vice was unrelenting. Wearing only a pair of loafers and a light fleece jacket, I left the car by the side of the road and walked the last half mile to our mountain retreat. At that moment, trudging through the snow and soaking wet, I didn’t feel much like a U.S. ambassador. Later, as I reflected over a cup of tea about the events that had begun with my swearing- in ceremony on February and continued through seventeen days of an exhilarating Winter Olympics, reality sank in: I would soon begin a new chapter in serving my country.