Reitz served as a White House intern

Twenty-five years ago this week, a Portland man came in contact, quite literally, with the president.

The July 18, 1998, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about Andy Reitz of Portland serving an internship in the White House.

“I was leaning against the president,” said Reitz, referencing Bill Clinton, upon his return from an eight-week stint as a White House intern. “I was just in this crowd and was just pushed up against him.”

A Secret Service agent immediately told him to move.

“My first thoughts were, ‘Don’t shoot me,’” he recalled.

Reitz was one of only 1,200 from across the nation to be selected for the first summer session. He served under Cabinet Secretary Thurgood Marshall Jr. in the Office of Cabinet Affairs.

He returned with a photo album that included pictures of the Clintons’ cat, Socks, the presidential basketball court, Vice President Al Gore’s office, the Rose Garden and the entrance to the Oval Office.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Reitz. “It’s a dream come true. …

“I was in the center of political life. Everything that happens there can affect people all over the world. That was my realization.”

Reitz said he at one point found himself listening to a Gore speech about quality health care and what else the vice president felt he could be doing to improve it. He said it was that moment that he realized how honored he was to be there.

A junior at Wabash College majoring in speech and political science, he said he planned to pursue a career in law.

But, “I’m leaving the door open (to a career in politics),” he said. “My experience opened some new doors. I’ve always thought about politics. Now I can think about politics. I know I can make it happen.”