From the Nov. 8, 2001 edition of The Wayne Herald:
Dickey accepts invitation
Bob Dickey of Laurel nearly threw away an invitation to spend an evening with President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C.
Dickey received what he thought was junk mail on Oct. 14 inviting him to travel to the nation's capitol. He said no one else from Nebraska received such an invitation.
The event, held Oct. 25, was in conjunction with the National Republican Governor's Convention. Dickey said he has been a member of the National Republican Party Committee since 1972 and this is where the invitation may have come from.
After finding that the couple could get inexpensive airfare to Washington, D.C., a decision was made to accept the invitation. They arrived in the capitol city several days early to attend several other events.
Among the speakers during the Washington trip was Karl Rove, Senior Advisor and Assistant to President George W. Bush. Rove was with the president in Florida on Sept. 11 when the bombing took place and spoke of the activities of that day.
Due to the events occurring in the United States, President Bush was unable to actually attend the reception. Instead, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke to the group of approximately 400. He explained what is happening in the government at the present time.
Later Dickey got a chance to speak with the governor of Oklahoma who, during an invocation, had prayed for an Oklahoma vitory over Nebraska. The two men later had a chance to discuss this prayer request.
