"Meeting Rush Limbaugh: He Was a Very Humble Man"

 

                      

This blog was originally published on Feb. 18th of this year.

  When Rush Limbaugh, who died yesterday at age 70, had his TV show in the 1990s, I went from NJ to NY on three occasions to be part of his studio audience. I always went in either January or February as that was the slow season for my carpet cleaning business (my Boss, ME, would always understand, Lol)!! After all, for the REST of the year I worked six days a week, so it was nice to do "special" things in the winter when business was "dead." It was especially nice to do UPLIFTING things. (By the way, the photo above is FROM one of Rush's TV shows...more later).

The first time I attended a taping of Rush's show was on 2-22-95 and I went alone...my wife stayed home as she was Homeschooling our three kids and that type of work HAD no slow season!! The show was taped at a CBS studio in NYC and I remember waiting in a long line to get in to the studio. As Rush came past us, wearing one of his "Rush ties" that was as bright and optimistic as HE was, I was videotaping his entry with my small, hand-held 8mm camera.  As he approached me, I said how much Beth and I appreciated him and he said "Thank you, Sir." The fact that HE called me "SIR" was mind-boggling to me....I've met lots of celebs and believe me, very few treat you like you are something special!! (Note: the show did not allow camera in the STUDIO but again, we were in a hallway OUTSIDE the entry point when I met him). Rush was respectful to EVERYONE...his fans, his staff, EVERYONE he interacted with on the set that day. I was more impressed by this manifestation of good CHARACTER than I was of his obvious communication skills.

The second time I attended a taping of Rush's TV show I brought Beth (we got a babysitter) and it was Rush's 45th birthday that day, Jan. 12th, 1996. The show was, remarkably, NOT about him as I'd expected but very enjoyable, nonetheless. After the show he signed autographs and I got him to sign "See, I Told You So." He treated each one seeking an autograph with respect and again, not all celebs do that. But it was my THIRD trip, on Feb. 6th, 1996, that REALLY showed me who Rush was. You see, it was former President Ronald Reagan's 85th birthday that day...and the entire SHOW was a tribute to The Gipper!!

That was 25 years ago this month and on Feb. 6th, I posted this update on my Facebook page...

If you search "Rush Limbaugh-Tribute to Ronald Reagan Part 1" on YouTube, you can see videos of this show and that shot of Charlie and me above flashes across the screen (I'm the bearded guy). But WATCH ALL FOUR VIDEOS of Rush's tribute to Reagan, please!! Those unfamiliar with Rush often think that he was arrogant, or vain, but believe me....if he WAS, that his show on his 45th would have been a tribute to HIMSELF. And, that tribute to Reagan would never have happened (IF Rush Limbaugh was arrogant or vain). Instead, he honored ex-President REAGAN and bypassed HIMSELF (three weeks prior).

Unlike my last post, where I mentioned meeting the late Cicely Tyson, I can't PROVE many of the things I've said about meeting Rush Limbaugh. And many who don't know the REAL Rush wouldn't believe me about his humility even if I could. No matter!! In 1998, on my birthday I think it was (Feb. 12th), I called Rush's RADIO show and got on the air with Rush. This happened one other time, also and he always treated me with respect even though I don't recall saying anything really brilliant or noteworthy. Something about CLINTON, who was President then.

The Beatles once sang "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." NOT that I think this life IS the end, mind you...but the point is RUSH HONORED AN EX-PRESIDENT, RONALD REAGAN, WHEN HE WAS ALIVE AND WHEN HE DIED (2004). AND YESTERDAY, AN EX-PRESIDENT HONORED RUSH...so the honor that Rush showed REAGAN came back on HIM!! I close this blog by reminding everyone that Trump awarded Rush the Medal of Freedom when learning he was terminally ill a year ago, and yesterday he issued this tribute after his death.....

RUSH LIMBAUGH WAS THE LINK BETWEEN RONALD REAGAN'S PRESIDENCY AND DONALD TRUMP'S.

WE LOVE YOU, RUSH, AS WE LOVED THOSE TWO GREAT PRESIDENTS.

Previous blogs about Rush, written last year.....

***FEB. 4th, 2020

Rush’s cancer and my hope for him

http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/.../rushs-cancer-and-my...

***OCT. 20th, 2020

Good news about Rush

http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/.../good-news-about-rush...

***DEC. 23rd, 2020

Was Rush saying Goodbye for good today?

http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/.../was-rush-saying...