Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 18, 1993 TAG: 9301180095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CULPEPER LENGTH: Medium
CHURCH TAKES IN TOP DEMOCRAT
Annette Durham, a regular at Culpeper Baptist Church, had this to say about the Sunday morning service:"Fine sermon," she said. "We think he's a real good minister."
Agreed. But, just for the record, ma'am, how about Bill Clinton? Were you excited to be worshiping with the next president and vice president of the United States?
Yes, that was nice, too, she said. "Of course, most of this congregation is Republican. But, you honor the office of president."
So it went when Bill Clinton stopped in this town of 9,000 for church Sunday.
The sidewalks around the church were lined with several thousand well-wishers and activists. The streets were clogged with the 14-bus caravan that carried Clinton, Vice President-elect Al Gore, their families, staff, VIPs and media.
For a while, Culpeper was transformed into a full-scale media event like a Super Bowl or major natural disaster, with police and Secret Service agents lining the street. The agents kept the crowd back while activists pushed forward with signs declaring opposition to abortion, support for more AIDS research, even calling for the legalization of marijuana.
But the locals in this conservative, farming community kept their poise, smiling for the cameras, nodding and waiting for the throng to clear out, demonstrating how different life is in the heartland than in Washington, 70 miles to the north.
"I really think the only reason they came here is because it's the only church large enough to handle the crowd," said Martha Wind, another member of the congregation.
Culpeper may have been hospitable to Clinton on Sunday, but it was not so kind to the Arkansan in the election last fall. Two out of three voters here cast their votes for somebody else.
"I don't think he carried a single precinct," Durham said.
Wallace Berry drove over from Fredericksburg on Saturday night, stayed in the local Holiday Inn and scrounged up a ticket to get him on the church lawn during the service. Those outside heard the sermon over a loudspeaker.
Berry, who said he has attended several presidential inaugurations, starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt's third, called Clinton "gracious" and "young looking."
He shook hands with the president-elect as Clinton left the sanctuary and dived into the crowd, reaching for hands and listening to the momentary pleas of those who won his attention.
Berry surveyed the mayhem and shook his head. "The Secret Service is going to have an awful time with him."
Clinton had arrived on time for the 11 a.m. service. He heard a sermon that Pastor H.O. "Bert" Browning said he spent about two weeks preparing. He drew his message from the Book of Daniel, preaching that the real miracle of the story of Daniel was not his rescue, but his faith before his deliverance.
"History has no place for those who can only say yes," Browning said.
He conceded that his sermon was tailored to the president-elect.
What with the distinguished visitors and a fellowship hall turned into a center for the hundreds of reporters following Clinton, Culpeper Baptist canceled its Sunday School.
That might have worked out for the best, since Sunday was "Sanctity of Life Day" in the Southern Baptist Convention. Teachers were supposed to choose a lesson with an anti-abortion theme, including one, "sexual purity," about the importance of marital fidelity.
Although Sunday's visit was an exciting day for Culpeperites - Christmas decorations at many homes were replaced with American flags for the Clinton visit - it is not the first time the town has seen such important dignitaries.
The town and county, surveyed by George Washington, saw Thomas Jefferson ride through. Clinton's trip is meant to recall Jefferson's approach to Washington.
More recently, though, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower have stopped in town.
And Sunday, many were pondering a question posed in the 1960 presidential campaign when then-vice presidential candidate Lyndon Johnson's train stopped in Culpeper.
As it pulled out of town, Johnson hollered from the back platform, "And anyway, what has Richard Nixon ever done for Culpeper?"
Dr. Clara Eden, a member of the local Democratic committee, said she believes Clinton may actually do something for her hometown.
"This is a Republican town, with a lot of Democratic needs," she said. `I'm concerned about problems with the health-care system. I think Bill Clinton can bring solutions to those problems. We have them here just like everywhere else."