The 2008 ILF journey to Washington DC proved to be filled with excitement,
an overload of information, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Tuesday, May 13
We landed early Tuesday morning and made our way to our lunch at Portofino’s in Crystal City where we all speculated that had Tony Soprano ever come to Washington, he would have broke bread in the back patio room. We were then off to the Pentagon where we met up with Plainfield native Major Robert Palmer (ILF 1997), Chief Master Sergeant Dave Conaway and Senior Master Sergeant Marcos Lopez. Before attending an informative lecture on Indiana’s military reserve structure, we were ushered into the Hall of Heroes where the names of all the recipients
of the Medal of Honor are displayed. The class paused for a humbling moment in the September 11 Memorial Chapel built at the impact site where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the outer ring of the Pentagon on that unforgettable morning in 2001. The entire experience—walking through the labrynthian halls of the Pentagon surrounded by the honorable men and woman of our nation’s military—was a stirring reminder of the pride every American citizen should take in those who protect our nation’s freedom. Upon leaving the Pentagon, we checked into our hotel in Crystal City before heading to dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Alexandria. We were served appetizers in the back courtyard and had the honor of listening to fellow Hoosier Ellen Engelman Conner speak. We caught up with Mrs. Engelman Conner on the tail end of her work with the FCC and just as she was reporting for duty as the Director of External Relations for NASA in Houston. She shared her first hand experience of living life on the Hill and spoke openly and honestly about the hardships that go along with living in the fast lane. She emphasized the importance of working in public service because you WANT to help others and for no other reason. Having thick skin on the Hill was also a big emphasis. The class ended the wonderful evening by reveling in a delicious dinner in the same room where political figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison and James Monroe enjoyed their own dinners over two hundred years earlier.

Wednesday, May 14
Wednesday morning we were off to Capitol Hill to visit the Senate Chambers. We were escorted into a private room on the Senate side where US Senator Richard Lugar fielded questions about the current political environment in the Senate. Besides offering his thoughts on the oil market and foreign policy, Lugar spoke highly of his long relationship with the Indiana Leadership Forum. The next treat in the schedule was a meeting with John Sullivan, the House Parliamentarian. Sullivan is only the 4th person to hold the non-partisan position of Parliamentarian since the office was created in 1928. Mr. Sullivan and George Rogers (ILF 1996) from the Office of the Republican Leader, took the group onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a few minutes before members of Congress began filtering in to debate the 2008 Farm Bill. Though the group joked about being seated on the wrong side of the aisle, the gravity of the experience was overwhelming. The Capitol proved to be a very busy place that day so we walked over to the Capitol Hill Club to have a late brunch while listening to Nancy Bocskor, a political consultant who specializes in raising money and winning campaigns. Nancy spoke on winning campaigns without losing your souls, sanity, or savings. Nancy emphasized the importance of fostering relationships and building upon those contacts you encounter during your professional and personal lives.

US Representative Mark Souder also made a visit to the Capitol Hill Club and offered his take on the 2008 House races and current legislation he is undertaking. He also took questions from our class before leaving to get back to a vote. Our next visit was to C-SPAN by Union Station. We were able to view the telecasting room with the Capitol building backdrop. After snapping a group picture in the interview studio, the class met with CSPAN founder and CEO Brian Lamb, recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Lafayette native graciously fielded questions for
over an hour, sharing anecdotes from his many interviews of the top history- makers of the last few decades, including every president since Nixon. He also spoke about political news is reported, and the trials that came along with network competition as well overcoming technological advances in the industry.

Making our way back across the Capitol lawns, we enjoyed a late lunch at the Republican National Committee building. We had visit from Congressman Steve Buyer and Congressman Mike Pence who discussed their recent votes on the House floor. Both men also discussed their views on the future of George Rogers (ILF 1996) and House Parliamentarian John Sullivan just off the House Floor.

Dale Moore, Chief of Staff at the US Department of Agriculture, spoke to us as we were seated around a table that was made especially for a meeting held by Ronald Reagan. Mr. Moore filled the class in on a few behind- the-scene details on President Bush’s attempts to restructure the nation’s rural economy while defending the President’s promise to veto Congress’s version of the Farm Bill that was just then meeting approval on the House floor. Several class members opted to take part in the age-old class bonding ritual of an after meeting drink at the Capitol Hill Club 75 Grill Room where many congressman where spotted. Fun was had by all!

Thursday, May 15
Another beautiful day began with a security check as the group headed to the East Wing of the White House to begin a walking tour of the historic rooms that have housed every U.S. President since John Adams. Once inside the White House, class members enjoyed visiting each room at their own pace, soaking in the atmosphere and privileged views of the South Lawn. A quote from the second president carved into the fireplace mantel of the State Dining Room—“May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof”—was a reminder of the important roles that members of organizations like ILF can play in a presidential election year.

After a quick coffee break, the group walked over to BIPAC for a meeting with Senior Vice President Bernadette Budde, one of the premier Congressional observers in the nation. Essentially an election year weathervane, Budde shared with the group her forecasts for every high-priority
race in Indiana, additionally breaking down her perspective on how the presidential race would affect many of the others. We also got to see a demonstration of the Prosperity Project, a web based tool for business to give their employees information about candidates and elected officials.
We then had a group lunch at the historical Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House. This was one of our last opportunities to visit with one another before heading to our last session and then home.

After lunch, the class headed back to the White House, this time to meet with West Wing officials in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door. Keith Hennessey, the current Economic Advisor to President Bush who took over the role formerly held by ILF founder Al Hubbard, sat down with the class to discuss many facets of the U.S. economic situation. He was followed by Jay Hein from the White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a fellow Hoosier who discussed his
role in organizing many of the president’s policies toward religious institutions and charities. The last briefing of the day was hosted by another Indiana native: Matt Shilling from the White House Office of Public Liaison. Shilling graciously answered questions on his own experiences working with the president and shared with the group his story on how he came to work at the White House, the epicenter of the Washington political scene.

It was then off to the airport where, to our surprise, Congressman Steve
Buyer was flying home on our same flight. He greeted us again and we were all home by late Thursday evening. Very few elite citizens of our sprawling nation are afforded such a wide breadth of encounters in our nation’s capitol like those the members of the Indiana Leadership Forum get to experience every year. Many thanks to all of this year’s sponsors and to ILF Executive Director Holly Davis and Judy Klink for delivering another highly successful trip to Washington, D.C.