From the Desk of … Peter King
By Aaron ShortCity & State
July 31, 2012
Peter King has served Nassau County since 1977, when he first was elected to the town council of Hempstead. He has represented the western portion of the county in Congress since 1993. The congressman is known for his support for Irish revolutionaries in Northern Ireland, his outspoken leadership during the September 11 attacks and his love of baseball. He has acquired souvenirs and mementos from constituents over his 35-year career, many of which he displays on his desk and in his office so voters can recognize their gifts.
Brick from Notre Dame Stadium
“I went to law school in Notre Dame. I am a football fanatic. In 1997 they expanded the stadium, and this is from the old part of the stadium. My daughter gave it to me.”
Baseball
“I’ve thrown out a first pitch 12 times. I’ve only almost bounced it once, in 2009. I decided from now on not to pitch but just to throw it. You have to go to the rubber; you go there [and] there’s not time to practice. This baseball is from a Cyclones game in 2007.”
Photo of King with Yankees manager Joe Torre and Mayor Rudy Giuliani
“President Bush threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs in 2001. The country was at war; it was six weeks after Sept. 11. He was all set to throw, and security put a bulletproof vest on him. I was more nervous than he was. Jeter and the guys were giving him a hard time. I guess it’s a guy thing. He’s the president; he can’t be seen bouncing a ball.”
Photo of King and his wife with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush
“That was St. Patrick’s Day 2008 at the White House. President Bush was more reserved than Clinton, who had more rambunctious St. Patrick’s Day parties, but he had Mayor Daley of Chicago and Tim Russert.”
Massapequa Fire Department medallion and bell
“The bell is from the Suffolk County Fire Department. They want to make sure it’s always here when they visit. The volunteer firefighters are a big part of Long Island.”
Bust of President Ronald Reagan
“I got that as an award from the Nassau County Republican Party. They have an awards dinner every year. He’s the most prominent Republican president of our time.”
Cross
“That’s from Ground Zero. One of the Port Authority cops gave me that. When the building came down, a piece of steel came down in the perfect shape of a cross, and the cops started making crosses. Catholics started having religious services at the site.”
TV microphones
“Somebody left his microphone holder here one time. Then other TV reporters asked why I didn’t have their microphone holders, and they started giving them to me.”
Yeltsin doll/Giuliani bobblehead doll
“I got that in Russia. Somebody started giving them to me. Then others saw them, and then they bought me other ones.”
9/11 still shot from Channel 12
“That was taken the second the tower came down. They were evacuating the Capitol at 10:10 a.m., and I was getting everyone out of the office, and there’s one guy on the line who said, ‘Channel 12 wants to talk with you.’ The towers were still standing. I’m talking to the reporter, I give routine answers to the questions, and I heard in the background, ‘Oh my God, no!’ As I was speaking, the towers started to come down.”
Pakistani silver bowl
“I met President Musharraf on a trip to Pakistan. Pakistan is the scariest place I’ve been to, and I’ve been to Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland during the Troubles. You feel very vulnerable. It’s a free country and people can go everywhere, but that means the bad guys are going everywhere too.”
Irish Peace Agreement
“That was in 1998. I was very involved in the Irish Peace Agreement. It’s signed by every signatory.”