Boys Nation senator hopes to meet the president, too

Associated Press

Future President Bill Clinton, a delegate from Arkansas, shook hands with President John F. Kennedy during Boys Nation in 1963.

The annual Boys Nation gathering in Washington, publicized some years back by a high-profile photo of a future president, includes a Maple Grove High School student this year.

By NORMAN DRAPER, Star Tribune

Last update: July 22, 2009 - 1:06 AM

Thanks to a famous photograph, Hahn Chang's South Korean relatives had an inkling of what Boys Nation was all about.

The photo, taken in 1963, shows future President Bill Clinton, then a high-school-age participant in the Boys Nation program, shaking hands with President John F. Kennedy.

"They just automatically brought up the Kennedy and Clinton picture," said the 17-year-old Chang, a Maple Grove High senior-to-be and 2009 Boys Nation senator. "They knew about the picture, but they didn't know what it entailed."

Chang is one of two Minnesotans who were selected to participate in Boys Nation, being held this week in Washington. The other is Graham Wyatt of Buffalo High School.

The exercise in public policy and democracy-in-action for aspiring future leaders began in 1946. This year, it comprises 98 students from 49 states.

In addition to Clinton, prominent Boys Nation -Boys State alumni include newsman and author Tom Brokaw, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and U.S. Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

Current Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is an alum of the companion program, Girls Nation. Another member of the 1963 class with Clinton was former Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad, representing North Dakota.

'A cool opportunity'

Chang's participation in Boys Nation began with the state version, Boys State, held last month at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. That involved 385 participants who were nominated by their teachers, then selected by members of the local American Legion posts. The American Legion veterans organization runs the Boys State and Boys Nation programs.

"With Boys State, at first it was just something to do over the summer," said Chang. "It sounded like a cool opportunity. I want to be a diplomat when I'm older, so it seemed like a natural fit." Once he got to Boys State, a whole new dimension of its importance opened up to him.

"When I got there, I was impressed by the whole program, how we created our own government at various levels." Plus, he had the sense that he was rubbing shoulders with kids who will have some say in the future of the state.

"That was one of the best things about Boys State," Chang said. "They emphasized the point that everyone there is going to be a future leader of Minnesota."

Participants in Boys State and Boys Nation play the part of mock legislatures, introducing and passing legislation. Fourteen students were selected as outstanding Minnesota Boys State participants. Interviews then whittled that number down to two -- Chang and Wyatt -- and two alternates.

Boys Nation involves not only national-level exercises in governance, but plenty of time to listen to speakers and see the sights.

"We get to tour all the monuments and stuff," said Chang, who also plays violin in the orchestra and runs for the Maple Grove track team.

The crowning moment of the week could be a meeting with the chief executive himself.

"We actually get to be in the White House," Chang said. "Usually, the president, depending on his schedule, comes to address us. That's something I'm really excited about."

Norman Draper • 612-673-4547

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