Hungry Governor
Preaching, March-April, 1986
Christian Herter was running hard for reelection as Governor of Massachusetts, and one day he arrived late at a barbecue. He'd had no breakfast or lunch, and he was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate and received one piece of chicken. The governor said to the serving lady, "Excuse me, do you mind if I get another piece of chicken. I'm very hungry." "Sorry, I'm supposed to give one piece to each person," the woman replied. "But I'm starved," he repeated, and again she said: "Only one to a customer."
Herter was normally a modest man, but he decided this was the time to use the weight of his office, and said, "Madam, do you know who I am? I am the governor of this state." "Do you know who I am?" she answered. "I'm the lady in charge of chicken. Move along, mister."
