Residual Forces

One of the most memorable things we did in Washington DC, not having to do with seeing our Nation’s Treasures, had to be meeting Geores, otherwise known as the tailor of the Presidents. Carrie and I (ok, maybe more me than her) fell in love with Old Ebbitt Grille. We had a couple dinners there, a lunch, and occasional cocktail while out and about when our feet needed a rest. 

Well Sunday night we came in and there was just one seat left at the bar, second from the end. A short little man with long white hair (and an accent thicker than molasses on a frosty Roseau  morning) stood up and offered his seat so we could both sit down. A true gentleman, and well, Carrie was sitting closest to him, so who wouldn’t? 

As we were sitting there we started to talk to him, rather he with us. I mentioned early on that we were from Minnesota (something I did all the time because I found people were nicer to a couple of idiots who don’t know where they were going since we’re from out of town).

He instantly started talking about Rep. Jim Ramstad (R MN3). He had made him suits as well and had nothing but wonderful words to say about him as a person. If Rep. Ramstad gets word of this post, he really must say his goodbye’s to him before he leaves office this Fall. 

Anyways, we spent a good hour or so talking with George and he had all sorts of stories. We told him we were there to see the Pope at the White House and he mentioned he happened to make suits for President Bush. In fact he seemed to have been involved in that suit.

Now the French accent, despite some 40 years in the US, was pretty tough to catch everyword, but have you ever met a tailor who has a shop across the street from the White House and makes suits for the who’s who of the world. Yeah, the world. He does suits for Rudy, Bloomberg, Rove, and Kofi Anan. The night was truly one of the most memorable ones. 

(Photo credit to my girlfriend)

(That’s Rudolph Giuliani)

On Wednesday after we went to the White House for the Papal visit, Dorothy Fleming the Republican Party Deputy Chair and I went to the Catholics for McCain event and Carrie went off to do some shopping and grab lunch. She went to George’s shop and got some more stories and even a kiss I am told.

Once Dorothy and I were done at the McCain event, I got her in a cab so she could get back to catch her airport shuttle to head home. Then I reconoidered with Carrie at Old Ebbitt for one more round and so I could get some lunch before our long day to head home. She told me about his shop and we decided I needed to go say good bye too. 

Now Carrie had already gotten me a little present, a souvenir of our trip that was more memorable then the ‘Deny Everything’ coffee mug from the Spy Museum. But when we got into the shop, gone was the joyful friendly Georgie from Old Ebbitt, here was Mr. de Paris who went into sales mode after he saw my suit I was wearing. 

Now it is a nice suit, I spent a lot on it, and I think it is a bit above the off the rack type that many wear. But well, he started showing a few of the suits and cloths he would use on my suit …. should I get one. He also went on to say how every man needs a black, blue, and grey suit. Now this is a tailor to the most powerful men (and women, like a CNN anchorrette) in the world, and here he is trying to sell me a suit. (little does he know the size of my paycheck)

But despite his tactics, the bottom line came down to my bottom line. I left his store with the fantabulous tie Carrie bought me, but also the promise to George that I would be back to have him make me one of his suits. 

The guy is the best example of what America is all about. French immigrant. Worked his way from the bottom of the line to making suits for the President of the United States. And here I am just a property manager, lowly blogger, and volunteer political activist who just may have to take out a 2nd mortgage to pay off the credit card bills from my trip to DC.

Meeting Geroge kinda makes me feel like I am not fully living the American dream as I should. Maybe that we all do have the ability to be great, even if it would just be the suit on our back or tie around our fat necks. Or, maybe…. maybe some day I can call DC my home away from my Minnesota home.

George, I wasn’t lying, I’ll be back for a suit. I promise!