Jim Schlesinger loved pursuing additions to his Virginia bird
list. I became aware of this after I found a Western Kingbird on a Cape
Charles CBC many years ago. Following the compilation Jim button-holed
me for the directions to the exact spot where I had found the kingbird.
The next day he went out and added it to his Virginia list.
A few years later he appeared along Route 250 in Highland County
during the appearance of one of Virginia's last Bewick's Wren. That
long loping gate and that deep voice were characteristics I won't easily
forget. "You got the bird there, Bob?"
I also ran into him at the Manassas Battlefield where he was
looking for another bird to add to his list. I can't remember now what
the species was, but I hadn't seen it, and so I couldn't help him find it.
Twice he arranged, or rather his secretary arranged, for me to
accompany him into the Great Dismal Swamp in the spring to see
Swainson's Warbler, and twice his secretary called to cancel the trip.
That would have been a fun time.
I understand that Jimmy Carter also does some birdwatching, but I
doubt that he pursues his Georgia list with any more diligence than did
Jim pursue additions to his Virginia list.
Bob Ake
Norfolk
On 3/27/14 4:45 PM, Chileddie wrote:
>From Politico:
A Washington think tank confirms that James Schlesinger, a hawkish and erudite
Republican who served in top Cabinet-level posts under three presidents, has
died. He was 85.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, where Schlesinger was a
trustee, confirmed his death Thursday. The onetime University of Virginia
economics professor built an impressive national security resume as defense
secretary for Republican presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and the
nation's first energy secretary under Democratic President Jimmy Carter.
Earlier he was a top White House budget official, chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Continue Reading
Former Sen. Sam Nunn, a Georgia Democrat, who sparred with him as chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee called him "a remarkable public servant."
Jim was also an avid bird watcher. I recall seeing Jim on one splendid Spring day at
Monticello Park in Alexandria when the park was filled with migrating warblers. Before
Noon, Jim made a call on his cell phone and stated that he had to cancel a lunch meeting
because "the birding was too good to leave for lunch." Despite his enormous
responsibilities, bird watching took precedence. RIP
Eddie Gomez
Arlington, VA
-----Original Message-----
From: POLITICO Breaking News <breakingnews@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: chileddie <chileddie@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Mar 27, 2014 12:10 pm
Subject: POLITICO Breaking News
Former energy secretary and defense secretary James Schlesinger has died, the
Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he was a trustee,
confirmed to the Associated Press on Thursday. He was 85.
Read more: http://politi.co/1loYOTj
For more information... http://www.politico.com
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