LIBERTY — Two dozen people heard Janet Weir Creighton talk about her experiences as former Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under President George W. Bush on Saturday morning at Denny’s on Belmont Avenue for the monthly Memories of a Lifetime program sponsored by the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society.
To make everyone feel welcome, Laurie James of Warren played the accordion as people filled the space.
Weir Creighton has had a long career in politics.
She was the recorder and auditor of Stark County and then became the mayor of Canton.
She is now the chair of the Stark County Republican Party and a member of their Board of Elections. She gives speeches on topics as varied as conditions in Stark County to the history of gardens at the White House. The latest speech in her repertoire is about presidential pets.
When she was not reelected as mayor in the predominantly Democratic city, she at first thought her political career had ended. Then she got a call from a friend who recommended her for Director of Intergovernmental Affairs during the final year of Bush’s term. For this reason, her speech was titled, “When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens.”
Her job was to be a liaison between the President and municipal, county, and state officials.
She reported to Barry Jackson, who replaced Karl Rove as Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs.
Her office was next door to the White House in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
In addition to hosting elected officials in Washington, D.C., her job took her to many places, such as Guam and Cape Canaveral, Florida, to see a space shuttle launch. She flew to Iraq during the Gulf War because the governors of Indiana and Nevada wanted to see their National Guard troops.
She also accompanied the President to natural disasters in Tennessee and Iowa. She noted that Bush ordered staff to dress casually for these events, as he did himself.
“We’re meeting with people who haven’t been able to take a shower in several days, so he felt it was inappropriate to greet them in suits and high heeled shoes,” she said.
Her job also involved interacting with Indian tribes. She showed the audience a picture of a Native American playing a peace pipe as a sendoff after their meeting in Oklahoma.
Weir Creighton said although she is a Republican, as a local official she has always recognized the importance of civility with people who have a different political philosophy.
“There’s an old saying that all politics is local. You have to learn to work across the aisle, and you have to give in order to get,” she said.
George Selak of Liberty said the speech was “wonderful,” adding, “she’s an amazing person to do all those things. Talk about living a full life.”
Hubbard resident Judy Black added, “She made it feel like you were right there with her throughout her experiences.”
Shirley Eckley of Hubbard said she enjoyed the talk as well. Besides being the vice president of the society, she is a descendant through marriage of William Holmes McGuffey, so for her he is not just a historical figure, but a family member.
The William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society was founded in 1961 in honor of “America’s schoolmaster,” who lived in the area during much of his childhood and who was best known for writing the McGuffey Readers, the immensely popular elementary school textbooks that sold over 120 million copies from 1836 to 1960.
Among its accomplishments, the society purchased the McGuffey Homestead, now known as the McGuffey Preserve, in Coitsville Township. They transferred it to Mill Creek MetroParks in the hope that it would be well-maintained. Society president Richard Scarsella said Coitsville trustees have recently expressed interest in purchasing the property for $1 in order to care for it.
The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. May 16 when Mark Dawidziak, former correspondent for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal, will deliver a program on Edgar Allen Poe.
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