Jamie Brown Hantman - Heels in the Arena: Living Purple in a Red/Blue Town

Its a Friday in November 2005, and Im at work. Today that means Im sitting on Air Force One in the office of the President of the United States, who is sitting at his desk across the cabin from me. Its still hard for me to believe. Almost every White House staffer has secretly had that moment when you assume someone is about to come quietly over, tap you on your right shoulder, and whisper in your ear, Theres been a mistake. Were not sure how you made it in here, but youve got to go. Right. Now.

But, for today, that hasnt happened. Im on this plane working for President George W. Bush as a Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. What that means in plain English is that Im one of the Presidents lobbyists to the Senate. Please dont let that turn you off. Yes, there are some shady lobbyists who represent suboptimal clients like tobacco. I get it. But the good guys have lobbyists too. The American Kennel Club has a lobbyist. The AARP has a whole slew of lobbyists. Sweet little puppies and Nana are well represented in Washington, DC.

One of the core responsibilities for the Presidents lobbyists is to be with the President whenever hes with a Member of Congress. Because guess what happens when were not there? Mischief happens. If a Member is alone with the President and then comes out of the room and tells you the President agreed to let the Congressmans sons boy scout troop hold a sleepover in the State Dining Roomwell youre going to spend the rest of the day cleaning that up. Because you know he wouldnt actually agree to that. So, in a nutshell, its just better to be there so youre an eyewitness to what the President actually commits to doing.

One of the coolest places to fulfill this duty is on Air Force One. When the President travels around the country, its smart politics to invite the Senators and Members of Congress from the districts the President is visiting. Even jaded Members of Congress get excited about traveling on Air Force One, so its a nice perk to provide (one you hope they remember when youre asking for their support on something). Plus you can use the travel time to help build your personal relationships with them.

Today were traveling to Pennsylvania; that means Republican Senator Arlen Specter, the senior senator from the state and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is on the plane. Im the White House liaison to the Committee and getting Judge Samuel Alito, the Presidents nominee to the Supreme Court, through committee is a top priority. So if Arlen Specter is with the President, then Im going to be there, too.

When most Members of Congress travel on Air Force One, they spend their time toward the back of the plane in a guest section with nice touches like personalized place cards and presidential M&Ms. The Legislative Affairs liaison will sit with the Members, mostly making small talk. Then at some point during the trip, the President will either come back to the cabin and hang out with the Members for a while, or theyll be invited up to the Presidents office to visit with him.

Like I said, thats how it goes for most Members. But as anyone who has been around Washington , DC, for a while can tell you, Arlen Specter isnt like most Members. He is Old Schoolhe rose in the Senate when there was real power involvedthe power that comes from appropriations earmarks and rigorous oversight of the Executive branch. Not coincidentally, when the Washington Post would publish the Top Ten Worst Jobs in Washington list around Labor Day, staffer to Senator Specter would sometimes make an appearance. Dont get me wrongI actually liked Senator Specter very much, but hes not what youd call a low - maintenance public figure.

What does this mean when it comes to Air Force One travel? Unlike most Members, who will excitedly and cooperatively make their way toward the back of the plane to their assigned area, Arlen Specter heads straight into President Bushs office and makes himself at home. That means I head straight into the Presidents office too.

Today the conversation between the President and Senator Specter is focused on the Alito confirmation. The committee process is going well, and the Senator seems pleased to have a positive update for the President. He also manages to sneak in some unsolicited words of advice for the White House team, as he is wont to do. Then he excuses himself to use the restroom. That leaves me alone with President Bush and Karl Rove.

The President starts talking about an arts event hed hosted at the White House the previous evening. One of their mutual friends from Texas had been in attendance and the President mentioned that the woman had lost a ton of weight. I have no idea what she had looked like prior, but from the way he described it, it sounded like one of those massive Biggest Loser transformations. After he relays this news, he pauses and thinks for a moment, then hesitantly adds, but you know, she looks a lot older now.

Without thinking, I chime in: Well, you know what they sayat a certain point a woman has to choose between her face and her ass.

Silence fills the cabin. The next seconds feel like an eternity to me.

President Bush thinks for a moment and then, mercifully, starts to nod his head in agreement. Thats absolutely right.

Thank you, Jesus.

This is the story of my life. Not every detail, of courseI mean youre a busy person, plus now I have a daughter who will read this someday. But I want to tell you a story about mothers and daughters, about politics, about getting along with people on the other side of the aisle, about being a woman in some bonkers situations, and about successthe kind of real success I still strive for every day.

I hope my story will entertain and perhaps inspire you, but most of all I hope that it will show anyone interested in government service that there is a path for you to step up and make this country better. You dont need to be rich or connected, but you do have to work hard.

Id also like to state at the outset that in spite of the antics of the current president, you dont need to be a raging jerk to get to the top. Ive been in The Room Where It Happens enough to see its possible to serve the country well while still being a decent human being. The political arena is and always will be an arena, but its not just populated with swamp creatures who draw their lifeblood from Twitter owns and cable news hits. Washington is filled with civil, principled people driven by a scrupulous commitment to the rule of law. I know because Ive been there, and Ive had the honor of serving under their leadership.

Yes, Ive been in some rarefied air. Ive assisted a Senator, served in a high - level position at the Justice Department shortly after 9/11, and landed a dream job working in the White House, where I spearheaded our work with the Senate to confirm two Supreme Court Justices. Ive dined with Presidents, represented our country in the capitals of Europe, and attended Hollywood movie premieres. Eight - year - old me dreamed about having such experiences, and I hope youll find them as interesting to read about as they were for me to live.

My journey to DCs inner chambers has a humble beginning. My family was not wealthy or connected, but my parents believed that with love, faith, education, and hard work, they could raise my sister and me to go further in this life than they had. My mother, a teacher, pushed me and believed in me. Ultimately, the most important lessons I learned came from her.