Hanging With Hillary

Rob grills Hillary on the first Bill Clinton campaign trail in 1992.

My senior year was the best year of high school by far. I didn't rule the school, but I represented both Nutria East and West when I was on the air as a DJ at WNTH, 88.1 FM, the voice of Nutria High. This was from October of 78 to June of 79. Three months after high school, I got a pro radio job at WVVX in Highland Park, Illinois. I did Saturday nights from midnight to 5. (I've always been a night owl.) My favorite show was August 12, 1980. It was a Tuesday night. That moment is frozen in time forever. It was the second night of the 1980 Democratic National Convention. I had two people on the phone, one impersonating Ted Kennedy and one doing President Carter. We had a fake debate. I was for Ted Kennedy—big-time. So the joke was that President Carter said, "I resign," and I said, "Oh, Ted Kennedy is now president! Hooray!" I also once did a parody song on my radio show. Remember Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"? I did one called "It's Still Takeout Food To Me." The catch line was, "Chicken wings, onion rings, even if it's greasy things, it's still takeout food to me!" I love fast food. I would go to Jack in the Box — they only have those in California now. In July 1989 I moved on to being a customer service rep for a Cablevision in Wilmette, Illinois. The great thing was that I got to work in public-access TV. I did local sports and my own show, where I came up with the title—"Overtime." (I hope I'm not coming across as too hyper or manic. I'm just really into this.) My greatest thrill was interviewing Hillary Clinton in 1992. It was only a minute and 15 seconds. Somebody told me that she would be at the community house in Winnetka at such-and-such time and such-and-such date. I said, "We gotta get over there." After her speech we talked and the interview aired on public-access TV! It's ironic, because it was 13 years ago and I can still remember every question. It was a puff piece—because I like her so much. I said, "Mrs. Clinton, if I may say so, you are a very articulate speaker. Do you enjoy these campaign appearances?" She answered the question with whatever she said—I can't remember. I asked her if it was good to be back in her home area. She said, "Yes." We shook hands and I said, "Thank you very much," and then I held the mic up to her mouth and she said "Thank you…ROB." She's so famous now. I think she'll even be the next president. If I showed that tape to a TV station maybe I could get a job. Rob suffers from major depression and bipolar disorder.