Me the People

By Barbara Koontz

Go on a journey with me to Washington, DC. I was a twenty-two-year-old girl in 1975 who got to experience behind the scenes working in congress! It has been forty-two years since I wrote my diary and experienced Washington, DC, fi rsthand. You can come with me to the Chinese Embassy, come meet President Ford, go to the House and Senate fl oors with the members of congress. The congressional intern program is fantastic with many town-hall meetings and fantastic speakers. Fast forward to today. Nothing has changed! All the frustrations we are experiencing in congress today are the same as they were forty-two years ago! I am sharing my diary with you and want to encourage young people to challenge our elected offi cials. You too can go to Washington and see fi rsthand how our government works without being elected to offi ce. Washington needs a lot of help!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543447217

Barbara Koontz

I am a wife, mom, daughter and grandma in a wonderful family. Politics always fascinated me. I was inspired while volunteering for various politicians. After I graduated from college, I became aware of the opportunity to be a Congressional Intern for my Congressman. I applied and was accepted for the position. I had discovered that my life’s passion was to be a teacher and had graduated from college with a teaching credential. But, I had not dismissed some career in politics before beginning the teaching profession. This book is a verbatim copy of the diary I kept while spending 2 months in Washington, D. C. My interest in politics has never waned. For the past few years the political turmoil in Washington, D. C. caused me to pick up that diary because I was seeing the same kind of inaction, confusion and frustrations today that I had witnessed 42 years before. The Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun,” and it’s right as far as American politics is concerned. What I learned about our country, the beauty of the Washington D. C. area, the new friends I made and the American history that came alive for me made for a real life fantasy and dream come true, I returned to my home and married my best friend who I love more each day. We have 3 successful sons who are doing well on their own. As I watch and read the news each day my heart longs for the better things that could be in our Nation. I was perhaps too young to appreciate all I did and witnessed during my time in Washington, D.C. but will never forget the foundational blocks of how this nation was formed and the great people who risked it all to create a great nation. And by the way… I had more fun than a person is entitled to as I roamed the halls of Congress and experienced Washington, D.C. as a 22 year old.

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Copyright © 2017 by Barbara Koontz.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2017913224

ISBN:                    Hardcover                  978-1-5434-4723-1

                              Softcover                     978-1-5434-4722-4

                             eBook                          978-1-5434-4721-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 09/13/2017

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June 30, 1975

I am a 22-year-old girl who is about to embark on a dream of my lifetime. At 6:50 AM, I left from Fresno, CA, air terminal via San Francisco to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. Surprisingly, I had no problems finding gates and checking in at the airports. My dream job was just ahead of me. Politics has always intrigued me. I did volunteer work for various candidates and volunteered at the local Republican Central Committee. When I was a real little girl, I was a Nixonette. My mom organized a group of civic-minded young girls and established the Nixonettes to promote Richard Nixon. I was a miniature version of the Nixonettes. In college, I walked precincts, called voters to encourage them to vote, organized precinct workers, and much more. Now, I will get to see what the elected officials that I helped get into office do.

On the airplane, I met a fascinating Australian couple who were vacationing in the United States. The husband, Peter, was a neurologist and the wife, Schootsie, a psychologist, and they were very fun! Peter spoke great English, and we had long discussions during the trip. Both had been practicing psychiatry, and our talk was like a session of it. They encouraged me to tackle my dreams.

Phil, Bob Mathias’s (R congressman from CA) administrative assistant, picked me up at the Dulles Airport. I had met Phil at several Republican events in California where I volunteered with the Republican Central Committee. I was selected to be Congressman Mathias’s congressional intern, but he was defeated in the general election. I lost my job before it even started. I still wanted to be a congressional intern, so I applied and successfully secured the job with Congressman Bill Ketchum of California, who represented my district.

Phil picked me up at the airport and took me to his house, where I met his wife, Carolyn, and was able to freshen up for a baby shower I was going to attend. The shower was for one of Congressman Mathias’s staff members. I tried to be perky and fun with the new acquaintances at the shower. The flight and time change pooped me out!

The ladies were all so kind and helped me jump into my new role in Washington, DC.

July 1, 1975

I reported to the first day of work late—11:00 AM. I was too overwhelmed at the sights and beauty of the district to be taken away. Carolyn drove a few extra streets to show me the surrounding area. One thing that caught my attention was the policeman who was directing traffic in a major intersection. He had complete control of the intersection and traffic. As he was directing, it was like he was a choreographer. He was dancing as he directed. The whistle in his mouth caught the attention of the drivers who weren’t watching the road. There was no traffic congestion. This guy was in complete control of his intersection!

I did finally show up at the office and received full, detailed instructions of my duties. The staff consisted of about 9 young people (20–30 years old). There were 3 interns in all, but there was a lot of work to go around. The staff took us out to lunch today at the Hawk ’n’ Dove, then back to the office to work.

Chris, Congressman Ketchum’s administrative assistant, assigned me to my committees, where I would be responsible for finding out which had the major legislation in session. I was to review and monitor it for the congressman. I was assigned to five committees:

1. Rules

2. Judiciary

3. Education and Labor

4. Armed Services

5. Ways and Means

The list of what I am to do is endless. Here are some examples:

1. Prepare responses to constituents’ requests

2. Augment the staff when necessary

3. Do an independent research for presentation

4. Tour and broaden my perspectives of the district

5. Attend House and Senate sessions

6. Attend committee meetings and monitor progress of legislation

7. Prepare briefing papers on current legislation and departmental regulations

8. Participate in the formal intern programs

9. Attend congressional and departmental regulation

10. Read daily the Congressional Record, Congressional Quarterly, current publications, House reports, Roll Call, and trade journals and more

There is an endless amount of good but hard work.

Today, I had Carolyn bring my luggage to my new home. Marion, the landlord and an employee on the Hill, walked me home to show me the way. Luckily, she will be here for a few days to teach me the ropes. The apartment is beautiful. It is a row house behind the Library of Congress. Everything is old in this town, but pretty much restored.

The other interns live in the dorms at Georgetown University. I am so lucky to live where I am. The row houses are 3–4 stories high. In my house, 4 people live. I live on the second floor. The second floor has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room.