Bob Schieffer: Congressional Leader Refused To Share Waiting Room With Member Of Opposing Party

Bob Schieffer: Congressional Leader Refused To Share Waiting Room With Member Of Opposing Party

During CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, host Bob Schieffer revealed that a congressional leader who recently appeared on his show requested (via a staffer) a separate private room "because the boss didn't want to share a waiting room with someone from the other party."

Schieffer shared the detail during a commentary on the impact of the increasingly venemous tone of national politics. "What a different world it was back then," Schieffer said, referring to 1969, when he first arrived in Washington, "when members didn't go home every weekend to raise money and actually stayed in Washington and got to know one another. I can remember social occasions back then when Democrats and Republicans who fought by day actually enjoyed each other's company after hours. No more. They say such awful things about each other today, they're uneasy socializing and generally don't."

"Not long ago," Schieffer added, "a staffer for a congressional leader actually asked if we could provide a private waiting room for his boss who was appearing on Face the Nation because the boss didn't want to share a waiting room with someone from the other party."

So which congressional leader was he talking about? A review of recent Face the Nation guests shows the most recent program with guests that fit the description took place on March 21, when three congressional leaders were featured on the show:

- Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. Majority Whip;
- Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Minority Leader
- Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Assistant Majority Leader

Who do you think it was?

UPDATE: Terry Partridge at FireDogLake has more speculation about the guest to whom Schieffer was referring.

Watch the full commentary below:

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