"George" interviews Janet Reno

[mary yost <myost@xxxxxxxx>]

>From the September 1999 issue of "George" magazine, here is an excerpt of
an interview with Janet Reno written by their executive editor, Richard
Blow:

Q: In 1995, you were dignosed with Parkinson's Disease.  How much does that
bother you?

RENO:  Some days it does, some days it doesn't.  [Points to her hands.]
This is the primary symptom.  Some days I get stiff, but I think that's
from lack of exercise in this [right} hand, because of the shaking of this
hand.

Q:  Is that frustrating?

RENO:  No.   I just think of what it must be like for people who have
difficulties, who stutter, who have cancer.  And you think, Gosh, I'm
fortunate.

Q:  Do you worry about it getting worse?

RENO:  No.

Q: Not at all?

RENO:  No.  I know it's going to get worse.  But I watched my mother die of
lung cancer.  I watched other people I love die of different things.  We're
all going to die someday. So far, I think I'm fortunate.

Q:  What do you say to the people who have urged you to speak out more
about Parkinson's?

RENO:  I have told the people I love and have confidence in, "If you ever
see me impaired so that I couldn't be attorney general, let me know."
Otherwise, I just do my job.

Q:  And that's how you set an example?

RENO:  That's the point I make.  A lot of people tell me, "I've derived
such courage from watching you, and I can deal with my Parkinson's or other
diseases better because of it."  I'm very happy that I can do that.  I
represent the interests of all the people of the United States, not just
some, and I think I can use the time after I leave office to speak out on
this issue.

Q:  Is there anything that Parkinson's has affected your ability to do?

RENO:  It's  harder to take  notes of everything at a Congressional hearing.

Q:  Has your handwriting changed?

RENO:  My handwriting has changed.  It's wiggly, unless I write very carefully.

[The article continues, and ends with:]
RENO:  Well, I'm not a Davy Crockett figure. A lot of people have been
brought up around animals.  That doesn't make them Davy Crockett.

Q:  Yes, but how many people have wrestled alligators?

RENO: [laughs, holding up hands about two feet apart] They were SMALL
alligators.


from Mary Yost, age 51, first symptoms 1980, diagnosed 1990, working full
time still as a University administrator but reaching turtle-speed.
myost@xxxxxxxx