Bush spoke on FIRST

[Matt Leese]

I know Clinton invited the National Champions in 1996. I've seen the pictures to prove it. Actually, I think Clinton was busy that day and they had to settle with Al Gore.

Matt

[Andy Baker]

From what I can remember, I think that the White House stopped inviting the winning team to visit after 1997. I think that they would invite the Chairman's Award winning team along with the winning team.

Andy B.

[Joe Ross]

http://web.archive.org/web/199703032...ws/960716.html

[meaubry]

The White House visit ended in 96. We didn't get to go as the Chairman Award winner of 1997.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

This entire discussion frankly confuses me.
I see Robotics as a Haven from politics, discluding the threads, which are just plain entertaining at this point.

However, I see robotics as a place where there's more to think about, I hope, than what political party one stands for. To be honest, while I am very flattered as a FIRSTer that our organization was honored by past Presidents and hopefully will continue to be honored, I honestly don't like the idea of it being used as a political tool.

The FIRST organization will be just a photo op to the candidates/presidents until they get a true chance, as President Bush Sr. apparently did, to experience the competition season. Maybe we should work for that instead of arguing which president did it?