Thoughts on Election Day

 

In 1988, I had an opportunity few Americans in my social class ever get to experience.  I was invited to the Residence of Portuguese Ambassador to the United States for an election returns watch.  My wife (at the time) was acquainted with the Ambassador’s wife through a woman’s cultural, social and charitable club.  I’d met her a few time and found her to be a nice lady.  That evening I met the Ambassador and my impression of him was that he understood our election process as well as, or perhaps better than, the average American.

There were Americans at the party that I’d known socially for several years and there were several members of the Portuguese Air Force that I knew from parties, and one couple from the World Bank that I’d taken to the Maryland State Fair a few years earlier.  With this introduction, I’m not trying to boost my standing in the diplomatic community (it was nil) and because I was invited as the guest of my wife, I chose to wear a business suit rather than my Air Force uniform, a choice I didn’t regret when a close friend, a US Navy Lieutenant Commander  also wore a suit. 

In past elections, I’d watched the returns in my own living room.  Now I was given the opportunity to see how people from another country and culture viewed our elections.  There were TV’s in each public room and chairs set up around each in such a manner as to also allow standees to watch.  Each room boasted a hosted bar and small buffet.  Let me say, the Portuguese really know how to eat and drink.

As returns were announced, the room I was in buzzed as if each state’s vote count was going to make or break the Vice-Presidents or the Governor’s campaign for President.  Relatively early in the evening, the media declared Bush to be the winner.  A short while later, as we were leaving, the Ambassador saw us and came across the room to thank us for coming and for the democratic way we choose our leaders.  I was surprised at the latter, but in retrospect, realized it was our forefathers who had derived a scheme to solve problems that no longer existed in 1988.