Ross Perot

[eytonxav]

A great american dead at age 89, RIP.

[JakeinChina]

Sad. I remember as a kid my old man voting for him over Bush Sr.

[Texas Proud]

Was a strange man at times but did love the country...

[Ronstar]

Great guy. I voted for him.

[sengsational]

I knew he wouldn't win, but voted for him because I liked his approach. I also agree that he was in it because he loved the country and didn't much like how it was being run.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sengsational I knew he wouldn't win, but voted for him because I liked his approach. I also agree that he was in it because he loved the country and didn't much like how it was being run.

Same here. It was my first election and I was more engaged than ever; it was fascinating to watch. There is no doubt in my mind that his running for president (in '92) shaped this country more than he is giving credit for.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronstar Great guy. I voted for him.

I agree, so much! I was living in Texas at the time, and thought his independent, maverick style embodied much of what I like about Texas and Texans. Anyway I really wanted to vote for him, but when it came right down to election day, I voted for a different candidate. I felt like since Perot wasn't supported by either major political party, voting for him would be throwing my vote away.

[kcowan]

I remember watching the TV series Halt and Catch Fire in which the mainframe portion was supposed to be Ross Perot in EDS days. Great guy. Cared about America more than politics. RIP

[Kabowest]

I remember him on TV with charts on poster boards. Sad to hear of his passing.

[eytonxav]

Since no one mentioned, "On the Wings of Eagles" novel by Ken Follett. Perot also is known for executing a mission to rescue two off his employees who were taken hostage in Iran.

[USGrant1962]

I just thought of Perot yesterday while reading one of the frequent posts around here that predict massive inflation due to the Federal debt. I thought to myself, been hearing that since Ross Perot and it hasn't happened yet.

Anyway, I am a deficit/debt hawk (for reasons other than potential inflation) and am glad he brought the issue to the nation's attention.

[JDARNELL]

Back in 2001 I was an Aide-de-camp for a General Officer at the Air Force Academy. Mr. Perot was coming for the dedication of the BG Robbie Rysner statue and the reunion of the Hanoi Hilton survivors. I spent 3 days with him ensuring his visit went well. He did not want the attention on him but rather the other guests. Starting with his lodging he refused to take the suite and just wanted a regular room. If someone was talking to him he would put the attention back on the POWs. They told stories about their time in the military and some of the funny things that happened when they returned home.

One story he talked about was during his service when his ship was transporting troops to the combat zone he was the junior officer and assigned the additional duty to conduct Sunday services. He said the first part of the trip every Sunday the fan tail was full with worshippers. Half way over the mission was over and everyone stopped attending. He just laughed and said he guessed his service wasn't that good.

I saw him dance with the cadets at a formal ball. He was the hit of the party. He told great stories and what a conversationalist. As he was waiting for the dedication of the statue while setting in the green room I asked him about NAFTA and his "Giant Sucking Sound" comment of jobs leaving the US. I asked him "Did you make money off NAFTA?" He just smiled and made a joke. Clearly a patriot but also well schooled in economics.

During the weekend I was talking to his secretary who had been with him for many years and was actually with him when they went into Hanoi to get the POWS. I never knew he was on the plane and how the North Vietnamese messed with them on their way in.

She was also with him on the campaign trail. She said he wanted to do everything himself like going to the rental car counter and getting his car. She also said he always called people that he met and helped him the next day but during the campaign he didn't have time. He spent a lot of time after contacting people and thanking them.

The day he left I was coordinating the arrival time to get to his jet and we were a little early. I told him that we had more time due to the take off window. He said well take off when I get there lol. At the airfield he gave me a tour of this plane and was hamming it up with the pilots. They loved working for him and talked about how wonderful of a man he was.

The day after he leaves I get called into the generals office. He says you need to take a phone call from Ross Perot. I thought to myself right. Sure enough he talked to me for 45 minutes thanking me for everything I had done, how he enjoyed his trip, and how he enjoyed my family. He said if you ever need anything you have my direct number and give me a call. I thought that was extremely thoughtful but never a call I would make.

[ERD50]

While he seemed unlikely to win, I do recall that at the time, I thought the debates were much more productive than if he hadn't run. He pretty much forced the other candidates to talk about substantive issues, rather than all the stuff they like to talk about that doesn't mean one wit to the future of our country.

For that, he has earned my respect and gratitude. RIP.

I also recall his running mate, probably a great guy, was just out of his league in those debates. But he came up with a great line, as they threw barbs at each other - "I feel like I'm at a tennis tournament (or ping-pong game?)!".

Well, that's at least as I recall it.


-ERD50

[aja8888]

JDARNELL, great story and glad you told it. Some of us (me included) didn't know much about the man behind his name.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDARNELL Back in 2001 I was an Aide-de-camp for a General Officer at the Air Force Academy. Mr. Perot was coming for the dedication of the BG Robbie Rysner statue and the reunion of the Hanoi Hilton survivors. I spent 3 days with him ensuring his visit went well. He did not want the attention on him but rather the other guests. Starting with his lodging he refused to take the suite and just wanted a regular room. If someone was talking to him he would put the attention back on the POWs. They told stories about their time in the military and some of the funny things that happened when they returned home. One story he talked about was during his service when his ship was transporting troops to the combat zone he was the junior officer and assigned the additional duty to conduct Sunday services. He said the first part of the trip every Sunday the fan tail was full with worshippers. Half way over the mission was over and everyone stopped attending. He just laughed and said he guessed his service wasn't that good. I saw him dance with the cadets at a formal ball. He was the hit of the party. He told great stories and what a conversationalist. As he was waiting for the dedication of the statue while setting in the green room I asked him about NAFTA and his "Giant Sucking Sound" comment of jobs leaving the US. I asked him "Did you make money off NAFTA?" He just smiled and made a joke. Clearly a patriot but also well schooled in economics. During the weekend I was talking to his secretary who had been with him for many years and was actually with him when they went into Hanoi to get the POWS. I never knew he was on the plane and how the North Vietnamese messed with them on their way in. She was also with him on the campaign trail. She said he wanted to do everything himself like going to the rental car counter and getting his car. She also said he always called people that he met and helped him the next day but during the campaign he didn't have time. He spent a lot of time after contacting people and thanking them. The day he left I was coordinating the arrival time to get to his jet and we were a little early. I told him that we had more time due to the take off window. He said well take off when I get there lol. At the airfield he gave me a tour of this plane and was hamming it up with the pilots. They loved working for him and talked about how wonderful of a man he was. The day after he leaves I get called into the generals office. He says you need to take a phone call from Ross Perot. I thought to myself right. Sure enough he talked to me for 45 minutes thanking me for everything I had done, how he enjoyed his trip, and how he enjoyed my family. He said if you ever need anything you have my direct number and give me a call. I thought that was extremely thoughtful but never a call I would make.

Thanks for sharing that...very cool memories of a very cool dude.

[kimcdougc]

I voted for him against everyone's wishes that I not throw away my vote. My vote. Great man. Rest in peace.

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFW_M5 Since no one mentioned, "On the Wings of Eagles" novel by Ken Follett. Perot also is known for executing a mission to rescue two off his employees who were taken hostage in Iran.

Note: This was a non-fiction book, not a novel.

[eytonxav]

Ross was also IBM's greatest salesman ever. He was given a yearly quota and would beat it in a week. They kept doubling his quota and he kept beating it in record time, and that went on for quite a while. He then went on to found EDS and ran for president 2X. I remember the short book he wrote on the evils of the deficit where he explained everything in layman's terms. Not sure if I still have the book somewhere in my library.

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningBum Note: This was a non-fiction book, not a novel.

Thats correct, it was non-fiction.

[scrabbler1]

Perot, whom I voted for twice, cemented my independent, outlier streak although I didn't become a registered Independent for a few more years. RIP Ross Perot.