He was a Senator and Presidential candidate who saw the world clearly. Long after he left the Senate and ran for the Presidency, an issue would be solved, a law changed.... I took a certain pride in knowing the guy who made that stuff happen. He took great pleasure in progress and worked for change in agriculture, education and healthcare....and of course veterans benefits. I got to know him better when I starting documenting the WWII Memorial in 2001-2004. He supported my being on the construction site and wrote the introduction to the book. He then encouraged my participation in Honor Flight and from then on we saw a lot of each other!
I was the only photographer present when he invited all the Senators and Congressmen who were WWII veterans to lunch in April 2004 at the World War II Memorial a week before it was opened. It was a beautiful Spring day and we sat in the warm sun on the plaza and they told jokes. I suppose it was his way of thanking them for their service and also for the site location which was a hotly debated subject. He knew the real cost of war and was a sensible force.
And yes...He would come down to the Memorial for most of a day and often. He enjoyed chatting and would sit with veterans all day long if he could...and he did!
I'll miss you Bob.