February 5, 2020
Whiteley, Smith attend State of Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sitting in the balcony of the U.S. House Chamber for President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was one of Poplar Bluff’s own — Police Chief Danny Whiteley. “Every member of Congress … we get one ticket for one guest to sit in the balcony for the State of the Union,” explained Congressman Jason Smith. “It was pretty easy to decide who would be a good pick to represent our congressional district this year.”...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sitting in the balcony of the U.S. House Chamber for President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was one of Poplar Bluff’s own — Police Chief Danny Whiteley.
“Every member of Congress … we get one ticket for one guest to sit in the balcony for the State of the Union,” explained Congressman Jason Smith. “It was pretty easy to decide who would be a good pick to represent our congressional district this year.”
Smith said he was excited to have Whiteley be his guest.
“I think he is a good reflection of the type of folks that represent our area,” he said. “ … I know he thinks a lot of President Trump” and “respects the president’s strong leadership and his empowering of local law enforcement.
“I thought he was the perfect person to come up here to represent our area.”
During his tenure representing the Eighth Congressional District, Smith said, Whiteley has been someone he can call for advice or to get information “regarding combating the opioid epidemic (and) combating crime and drugs in our local communities.
“He was always there. … Almost every time I talk to him I learn something new.”
At lunch Tuesday, Smith said, he again learned something new.
This time it was “in regards to what these criminals and drug traffickers are doing to beat the system,” he said.
For Whiteley, going to Washington was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I felt very privileged to have been invited by Congressman Smith and very grateful for that,” Whiteley explained.
While in Washington, “I got to tour the Capitol,” Whiteley said. “Congressman Smith, one of his staff members, I walked more with him (Tuesday) than I’ve walked in the last 15 years.”
Smith said he also got to introduce Whiteley to Donald Trump Jr.
“He loved that and took a picture with him,” Smith said.
Meeting the president’s son occurred at breakfast Tuesday morning at Whiteley’s hotel.
“Actually, what was funny, I was sitting there and here comes all these Secret Service guys … and then Donald Jr. and that Kimberly Guilfoyle came up there,” said Whiteley. “I kind of looked (and thought) I think that really is him.”
The younger Trump, Whiteley said, was “very congenial, very friendly. He had no problem (taking) the picture. He just seemed like genuinely a good guy.”
Also on Tuesday, Whiteley met with Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley.
Upon arriving at the Capitol, “the security was just unbelievable,” Whiteley said. “When I got to think about it, when you’ve got every cabinet level (person), members of the Supreme Court, the president, I can understand why they had that kind of security.”
According to Whiteley, it was a “flawless operation” put together by the U.S. Secret Service and Capitol Police.
“It was a phenomenal effort,” he said.
The president’s speech was “just extraordinary,” Whiteley said. “In my thoughts, there were too many great moments to say which was particularly the best one of all.
“ … One I thought probably effected me as much as anything was when the soldier was reunited with his wife and kids. That was pretty neat.”
On a side note, Whiteley said, the “guy that got thrown out was like six or seven people from me on the same row.”
Kicked out for yelling at the president reportedly was the father of a Parkland, Florida, shooting victim.
Another “side note,” Whiteley said, was Urban Meyer, one of the most famous coaches in college athletics, being seated about four seats down on his other side.
“When (Meyer) walked in front of us, me and this guy I was sitting next to, we both looked at each other and said, ‘Who is that?’” said Whiteley. “He said ‘I don’t know, but I know I know him,’” as did Whiteley.
“Then, the guy behind us said, ‘That’s Coach Meyer.’ …I didn’t expect someone like him sitting there, but he was real pleasant. He seemed like a good guy.”
The scene inside the House Chamber, according to Whiteley, was like “you see on TV. You had the anti-President Trump contingent all on one side.”
“I didn’t think they acted particularly professional on a lot of stuff, but, overall, that’s typical politics,” Whiteley said. “I guess that’s nothing unusual.”
When Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi tore up the president’s speech at the conclusion of his address, “that’s when she tipped her hand, what her feelings were,” Whiteley said.
After the State of the Union, Whiteley said, it was close to midnight before he reached his hotel Tuesday after what he described as an “extremely long day.”
It was then, Whiteley said, that he found out his flight home for Wednesday had been cancelled due to weather, and he had to look for alternative flights.
Before leaving Washington Wednesday, Whiteley also met with Uttam Dhillon, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Also in attendance was Bill Callahan, the special agent in charge of the DEA’s St. Louis division
“We got to discuss some of the heroin and meth problems that we have in Southeast Missouri,” Whiteley said. “ … We had a pretty lengthy one-on-one with the director.”
Whiteley said he was “on the go” the entire time he was in Washington.
“Overall, I think it was an extremely successful trip,” Whiteley said. “ … it was a very great personal experience.
“It was a very beneficial experience from a law enforcement standpoint to be able to sit down and talk with the senators and congressman and DEA director.”
Having the opportunity and privilege to go is something “I wouldn’t trade,” Whiteley said.
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