Ah, young love.
Notes in class, awkward hand-holding and zero kissing.
The experience was a little different for Bill and Hillary Clinton -- their story involves stalking and... fish?
The former president paid a sweet tribute to his wife at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night. Sure, he touched on a lifetime of her impressive political achievements.
But in doing so, he also revealed some untold secrets about how the couple first met.
Let's break it down:
1. They met in a very fitting college class.
The first time I saw her we were, appropriately enough, in a class on political and civil rights.
2. Bill basically stalked her.
After the class I followed her out, intending to introduce myself. I got close enough to touch her back, but I couldn't do it. Somehow I knew this would not be just another tap on the shoulder, that I might be starting something I couldn't stop... And I saw her several more times in the next few days, but I still didn't speak to her.
3. Hillary made the first move.
Then I saw the girl again, standing at the opposite end of that long room. Finally she was staring back at me, so I watched her. She closed her book, put it down and started walking toward me. She walked the whole length of the library, came up to me and said, 'Look, if you're going to keep staring at me ...and now I'm staring back, we at least ought to know each other's name. I'm Hillary Rodham, who are you?'
4. Their first date was not your average college date to the bar.
And I thought, well, heck, since my cover's been blown I just went ahead and asked her to take a walk down to the art museum.
5. They took some time apart so Hillary could... what?
And then between college and law school on a total lark she went alone to Alaska and spent some time sliming fish.
6. Hill turned down a pretty romantic proposal...
I first proposed to her on a trip to Great Britain, the first time she had been overseas. And we were on the shoreline of this wonderful little lake, Lake Ennerdale. I asked her to marry me and she said, 'I can't do it.'
7. ...and a not-so-romantic second one got her attention...
So the second time I tried a different tack. I said I really want you to marry me, but you shouldn't do it... And she smiled and looked at me, like, what is this boy up to? She said, 'That is not a very good sales pitch.'
8. ...but he bought her a house instead of a ring...
And one day I was driving her to the airport to fly back to Chicago when we passed this little brick house that had a for sale sign on it. And she said, 'Boy, that's a pretty house.' It had 1,100 square feet, an attic, fan and no air conditioner in hot Arkansas, and a screened-in porch. Hillary commented on what a uniquely designed and beautiful house it was. So I took a big chance. I bought the house.
9. And it was the third try that sealed the deal.
...When she came back, I picked up her up and I said, you remember that house you liked? She said yeah. I said, while you were gone I bought it, you have to marry me now.
