Working for Hillary Clinton in 2004, Meeting Kamala in 2013

Written by Ben Meiselas

I’ve been reflecting on the arc of history tonight: the history of our country, my personal history, and our collective histories. I was sitting at the dinner table with my wife, Xochitl, our 2-month-old daughter, Ximena, and our 22-year-old niece, Katie. Several generations of women gathered at the table. I was sharing the story of working for Hillary Clinton in 2004, meeting Kamala Harris in 2013, and the profound impact both had on my life. There I was, surrounded by several generations of women, reflecting on the trailblazing women who shaped my life and fought to make our country better

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Here’s the story I shared:

In 2004, I was a student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I interned for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton when she represented New York. I had four main jobs as an intern. I gave Capitol Building tours to constituents, picked up Senator Clinton’s favorite sunflowers across the street from her office in Union Station once a week, sorted constituent mail, and ran through the Capitol Building tunnels to deliver her speeches before she took to the Senate floor.

Hillary Clinton taught me the importance of being diligent and always prepared. Her staffers also convinced me to pursue a law degree at Georgetown Law School, something for which I’ll always be grateful.

Fast forward to March 2013. At the time, I was a third-year lawyer and attended a fundraiser for Kamala Harris, then California Attorney General. The event was held at Morton’s Steakhouse in downtown Los Angeles. I had the opportunity to meet Kamala, and I vividly remember the speech she gave that day. Her words still resonate with me.

She said that the most important advice for lawyers was to “appreciate the power of their pen.” She explained that lawyers sign legal documents every day—documents with enormous impacts on people’s lives. She urged us never to forget the weight of that responsibility. The power of the pen should be used wisely, with discretion, and with focus and force when deployed.

It was one of the most brilliant speeches I had ever heard. Even now, I often ask myself: Am I using the power of my pen—or my platform—wisely?

Things seemed much simpler then. Perhaps they were, or perhaps time casts an ambiguous gloss over the past, making it seem simpler. I don’t know. But as I sat at the dinner table with some of the most important women in my life, memories of Clinton and Harris came rushing back, and I think I understand why.

The historical continuum of those who fought for our rights and freedoms weighs heavily on me as we—the Meidas Mighty—gear up for the generational fight of our lives. None of us wanted to live in this timeline, but here we are, at the epicenter of a historical showdown that will define our nation. History is watching us all, and it’s calling us to action—right here, right now—to protect our democracy.

To use the power of our pens and platforms for good.

And in the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “So it goes…”

And here we go.

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