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June 13, 2006 - King's Point, NY Hug to the Chief
Gabe Whitney graduated in June 2006 from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The commencement speaker was George W. Bush and, in the process of accepting his diploma, Gabe gave a bear hug to his Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Bush had a bit of a startled look on his face in response to the enthusiasm and pure size of 6'8", 285 lbs Gabe, and the pictures caught by the national news wires, appeared in papers across the country. The NY Times called for an article and mid morning on Wednesday, Gabe’s father, Eli, got a call from NBC's Today Show trying to find Gabe. They flew Gabe, Eli and his wife to New York and his daughter from Chicago for and appearance on The Today Show with Matt Lauer. Then they were whisked off to the MSNBC studios in New Jersey for an interview and then to Fox News afternoon airing. Gabe was constantly stopped in the street in NYC and asked for hugs, a phenomenon unusual for New Yorkers. Then Gabe was flown to Los Angeles for an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Several weeks later he returned to Hollywood for and appearance as himself on the NBC daytime soap “Passions”. It was a great series of events for the young midshipman. When asked why he hugged the President, Gabe replied, "If anyone needs a hug these days, it is certainly President Bush."
Watch video interview from the Today show!