Foreign Affairs (Part 1)
Early in 2003, I was sitting in the office of Stifel Chairman, George Herbert Walker, on the top floor of the Stifel building on Broadway in downtown St. Louis. Bert was telling me that he had just hung up with members of the White House staff who had invited him to join the President at noon the following day at Lambert Airport in St. Louis. The plan was to hop into the Presidential limousine and ride with the President as he motored to the St. Louis Club in Clayton to give a speech.
Naturally, Bert excitedly accepted the invitation and eagerly prepared for the President’s arrival. Bert did not know the exact purpose of the meeting but hoped it involved an opportunity to serve the United States internationally.
As Bert described to me later, he joined President Bush the next day at Lambert and together they rocketed along the Inner Belt towards Clayton. After a little catching up, the President asked Bert if he might be interested in serving the country in some capacity? Bert responded positively and the President followed up by asking if he would like to be an Ambassador? “Absolutely”, said Bert. “That would be quite an honor.”
“Well, said the President, what country do you have in mind?” Bert had no idea so he responded that he would go anywhere the United States could use him. After a short silence, during which Bert stared out the window towards the countless municipalities hurtling by, President Bush picked up the special Commander-in Chief phone in the limousine and barked into the receiver: “Give me the State Department”. When State picked up, the President said “I have Bert Walker with me here in St. Louis and he is willing to serve as an Ambassador. What have we got?
After a short pause, the President put his hand over the phone and asked Bert “Is Hungary OK? Yes, sir, Mr. President” at which point the Commander-in Chief growled “nominate Bert Walker as the next Ambassador to Hungary!”
As the limo pulled into the St. Louis Club, Bert thanked his younger cousin for according him this honor and watched W board the elevators with Secret Servicemen to deliver another speech. Bert then returned to downtown St. Louis.