I*: So what’s the story about Lawrence and President Clinton?
Well, you know, Larry was a great favorite at Corvette clubs and big car rallies. And there were big sponsors for these and there still are great car rallies all over the United States. One of biggest is put on by a man by the name of Jager in Pennsylvania. So he had a big car rally and President Clinton came with his ’64 Mustang.
And so he, being President of the United States, he just thought he was automatically entitled to be in the parade of these Mustangs. So he comes to Jager’s big rally in Pennsylvania and says..."I’m Bill Clinton, I’m here for the rally. So what do I do to get in the parade?" "That heap?" says Jager, "No way." "You know, I’m President of the United States." "Not with that heap." And he said, "Well, then could I at least meet Larry Shinoda?" And Jager says, "Well, I’ll ask Larry."
So anyway, my brother is always very gracious to people and he liked Bill Clinton so he did get to shake Larry Shinoda’s hand because he was the designer of that, of his Mustang. But he never did succumb and let him get in the parade.
* “I” indicates an interviewer (John Esaki)
Date: September 9, 2011
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
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