'A Veneer Man'
Updated: Sep 26
A 1996 visit with Senator Mike Mansfield
I was a 23-year old student at Sarah Lawrence College. Through the Mansfield Center at University of Montana - which had given a small grant to help publish my book We Are Missoula - I was invited to meet Mike Mansfield briefly in his Washington office.
On Friday, I traveled to Washington D.C. to meet Mike Mansfield. It was a one-day trip - I left Bronxville, NY at 4:30 am to arrive in D.C. by 11:00 am.
I didn't mind making the effort, because I hoped for an engaging, exciting interaction with the famous Senator Mansfield. I thought our Montana connection would at least create a sense of casual camaraderie.
I also hoped to learn from him, to hear some sort of wisdom from a man who has spent his lifetime in politics, shares my love of Montana, and has lived an interesting, international public life.
I expected him to impart useful insights, or to at least take some interest in a young person who came all this way for a meeting. But what I encountered was something else entirely.
We sat down, he offered me some Sanka (instant coffee!) with creamer and sugar, and his secretary brought in some chocolate chip cookies. I presented him with a copy of We Are Missoula which he thumbed through and then set aside.
He seemed to be expecting a question from me and I had one ready for him:
"With our shared love of Montana, what do you see as the best way a young person can serve the state?"
I suppose this might be a difficult question to answer on the spot, but what surprised me was that he really didn't address me at all. He talked about Montana and then, when he had finished, said NEXT. As in, next question.
He did this at the end of every question, as if I were a reporter. He even asked me where my tape recorder was.
We really didn't have a conversation except at one point when I had asked him what parallels he noticed between the cultures of Japan and Montana. He said he didn't really see any parallels, only comparisons.
Then he asked me what parallels I saw, and I mentioned that I found it interesting that Japan and Montana share a similar chronology. Japan started "Westernizing" in the Meiji period beginning in 1865, about the time that Montana was first being settled and developed.
I suggested that although the cultures are quite different, as are the economies, attitudes of the people, etc., I felt that they have both experienced periods in their history where their identities are challenged by outside influences.
"But Montanans have a strong identity," he argued, and we left it there.
He used to deliver groceries to Charlie Russell.
Before I left, I asked him if he had seen the Vermeer show at the National Gallery, thinking that he might like to go with me.
"I'm not much of a Veneer man," he said. "I'm a Charlie Russell man, myself," adding that he used to deliver groceries to Charlie Russell.
...A veneer man.
I thanked him again for his help on my project, adding that if he ever needs my assistance in any capacity, and especially where Montana is concerned, I am at his service.
His last words - and maybe the only words of the kind of wisdom I was looking for - were, in effect: "It's up to you. You and your generation are responsible for the future."
He walked me to the elevator and as I entered, he said, "I am going to give you a Japanese farewell."
He took a deep bow with his arm outstretched above his forehead as the elevator doors closed.
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