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Linda McMahon Takes a Pass on One of My Good Ideas

[Note: I ran across a summer resident this week who, after commenting that he missed my bookstore, remembered that last year I invited readers to request favorite columns from the past to celebrate my 20 years of writing a column on the peninsula. He then wondered if I might be inclined to reprint a column that ran back in November of 2000, during the height of the presidential election fiasco, when I wrote to Vince McMahon, president of the World Wrestling Federation (now simply, World Wrestling Entertainment) proposing a wrestling match between Al Gore and George W. Bush to settle the election once and for all. The reader and former bookstore patron went on to state that his wife did not believe I had actually done any such thing. Well, folks, in the interest of settling this marital controversy – at least – here is the column that contains my original email and the response I received from Linda McMahon (Vince’s wife and a two-time Senate campaign loser in the time since this column was originally published in the Door Reminder.)]

In last week’s column I proposed that the current presidential election impasse could be settled with a wrestling match between the two candidates. Specifically, I wrote and sent an email to Vince McMahon, of the World Wrestling Federation, asking him to organize such an event and encouraging him to split any revenue generated (through ticket sales and pay-per-view TV) between paying down the federal deficit and the country’s Social Security program.

Some of you may have wondered whether I actually sent that email. If you did doubt that I sent it, I can only presume that you are a relatively new reader of this column, because anyone who reads regularly would know that I am just strange enough to follow through with such an action. For those of you (bless you all) who knew that I sent it, yet had doubts that I would ever receive an answer to such an implausible (though, extremely attractive, given the current mess) proposition…well, I had my doubts, as well. Those doubts grew as first one day and then another passed without any word from Mr. McMahon.

And then, folks, late Wednesday evening, after Barb and Andrew were already in bed, I checked my email. What follows is the response I received from the WWF, along with a brief response I wrote in return.

From: Virginia Mierisch

On Behalf Of: Linda McMahon


Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 4:23 pm


To: [email protected]

Cc: Vince McMahon; Gary Davis


Dear Mr. Grutzmacher:

Your e-mail to Vince McMahon was forwarded to me for response. While we very much appreciate your idea relative to the ultimate wrestling match, let me make you aware of what the WWF has done during this election campaign.

First of all, we offered to both Vice President Gore and Governor Bush the opportunity to appear on our Thursday night program, Smackdown, on the UPN Network for a limited debate addressing the issues of that very hard to reach voter demographic, 18-34. Governor Jessie Ventura had agreed to moderate the debate between the two men, but neither candidate took us up on our offer. We explained that we would have additional entertainment proposed for our live and television audience whereby the candidates would arm wrestle each other in the ring. While there was certainly some stunting involved with this proposal, it was an opportunity to reach a disenfranchised segment of the voting population.

In addition, the WWF, in conjunction with MTV’s Rock the Vote, Youth Vote 2000, Project Vote Smart.com, and the National Secretaries of State registered over 135,000 new voters just in a two-month period. One of the WWF Superstars, the Rock, opened the Republican Convention by introducing Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House. I was with our Superstars at both the Democratic and Republican Conventions and was interviewed from the floor of both conventions and that footage was fed back into our weekly shows. The WWF produced PSAs, which ran on MTV, TNN and CBS throughout August, September and October which, first of all, encouraged eligible voters to register and after registration was closed in each state, we shifted our focus from registration to voting.

I believe we emphasized the importance of voting to millions of our viewers who might not have listened so attentively to these messages otherwise. And, last but not least, on Monday night before the election, Vince McMahon personally appeared live on our television program, Raw is War (the #1 show on cable television) and encouraged all of our viewers and live event attendees to vote on Election Day.

The WWF is proud of its efforts in this election year, and we only regret that the candidates did not take advantage of our offer. We might not be in this position of indecision today had they utilized this free time to make their points to today’s youth.

As an aside, did you know that in his younger days before he was President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a professional wrestler?

Thank you for taking the time to send your e-mail.

Cordially,

Linda E. McMahon

CEO

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.

Dear Ms. McMahon:

Thank you for your thoughtful response to my email. I confess that I was not aware of the offer that the WWF extended to Vice President Gore and Governor Bush. On the other hand, I did see several of the PSAs and was aware of the efforts the WWF put forth to encourage people of all ages to vote. You are to be sincerely applauded for your efforts.

I actually was aware that President Lincoln supplemented his income with wrestling in his younger days. Those who know me would point out that I am filled with all manner of obscure information, but I would simply point out that I am (I believe) one of only seven living people who have actually read all six volumes of Carl Sandburg’s biography of Lincoln.

As this election business continues to drag on, the idea of settling the issue in the wrestling ring has increasing appeal. As you probably know, the state of New Mexico settles election ties by “lot,” which – in past instances – has consisted of a single hand of poker. While poker skills are probably useful for a would-be President, I suspect that someone like Saddam Hussein would be far more impressed by a leader who won the right to lead with a victory in the ring.

Thanks again for your time and consideration. I wish you and your organizations continued success.

Stephen Grutzmacher