obama and townsend

It was quite an emotional encounter last Wednesday when American President Barack Obama met and shook hands with 108-year-old African American named Lester Townsend at a town hall meeting in Indiana.

Townsend, the grandson of a slave, was meeting a serving American President for the first time and he was obviously happy about the encounter. In his amazement he wondered: “The grandson of a slave, shaking hands with the President of the United States.”

In Townsend’s lifetime, there have been 19 American Presidents with Obama being the 19th. Obama is also the first African American to become President.

Their verbal encounter went like this:

(First an official holding the hand of Lester Townsend introduces him to Obama with the words: “This is Lester Townsend, he’s 108 years old.”)

Obama retorts humorously: “No, he’s not.” (And turning to Townsend) “You’re lying about your age.” (There is laughter in the hall.)

(As Obama and Townsend shake hands)

Townsend: “The grandson of a slave shaking hands with the President of the United States….I never thought I’d see this in my lifetime.”

Obama: “That’s okay. What an honour to see you here. How come you look so good? What’s the secret?”

Townsend: “I haven’t found it!”

Obama: “What do you eat?”

Townsend: “Whatever they bring me.”(General laughter in the hall. Even Obama bends double with laughter.)

Obama: “I’m gonna try and make sure I look half as good as you when I’m 100 much less 108. So nice to see you sir. God bless you.”