Students get insider's look at Washington politics

Published: 2006-07-28

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- Shaking President John F. Kennedy's hand in 1962 was one of former President Bill Clinton's most memorable experiences from his youth. After that moment, he knew he wanted to become president of the United States and make a difference in the lives of Americans. This may be true for the 97 high school boys from 49 states across the country who were in Washington July 21-29 for the American Legion Boys Nation program, a youth leadership conference marking its 60th anniversary this year. Catholic News Service interviewed several Boys Nation participants July 24 at Marymount University in Arlington, a suburb of Washington. They all attend Catholic school and will be entering their senior year in the fall. Many of the young men raved about the quality of their peers in this year's conference. "It's just been an awesome experience, the guys I met, it's just been amazing," said Thomas Augustine,17, a student at St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge, Iowa. "This is my third time to Washington on a leadership conference. ... This is the highest caliber of teenagers I've ever been involved with, so its great to be around kids who like politics and enjoy talking about it like I do."

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