By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
One of Union City Schools’ own shared details of his long and successful career in politics with UC Middle School eighth graders on Monday.
Retired U.S. Congressman John Tanner, who served 11 terms and 22 years in the House of Representatives, informed and entertained Josh Keown’s social studies classes with his tales and experience in the federal government.
Tanner stood in the UCMS cafeteria – which he said served as the high school cafeteria during his days at Union City High School – and explained the interworkings of politics before answering multiple questions from the engaged group of students.
Co-founder of the ‘Blue Dog Democrats,’ which represented fiscal conservatism and responsibility, Mr. Tanner spoke freely of his experiences in Washington, D.C., while accompanied by his wife, Betty Ann.
The 81-year-old Tanner, who graduated from UCHS in 1962, shared details of his career path that led him to Capitol Hill after he succeeded retiring Ed Jones. John spent a great deal of his time as a major player in the NATO Alliance, and gave his personal opinion, when asked, of the four Presidents (George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama) he served under.
Mr. Tanner spoke extensively about one of the nation’s darkest days – 9-11-2001 – when terrorists guided planes into New York City’s World Trade Center Twin Towers, killing nearly 3,000 people.
“I was sitting in my office, and my assistant came in and told me to turn on the television,” he recalled. “At first, I believed it to be a private sightseeing plane. Then the second one hit. And then, I could feel the ground shake when another plane hit the Pentagon because it was right across the street from Capitol Hill.
“I sent my staff home, and soon afterwards, security came in and basically ushered me out for precautionary reasons. It was such a tragedy.
Tanner later discovered the act hit specifically close to home when it was learned that the wife (Sarah) of UCHS graduate Roge Escarcega and daughter-in-law of longtime local physician Rogelio Escarcega and Joanne Escarcega perished in the attack.
Sarah Escarcego had never visited the Twin Towers before, according to Tanner, until that fateful day when the buildings collapsed while she was in a breakfast meeting on the top floor.
He cited significantly altered security measures since 9-11 as one of the biggest changes during his time in office.
“Before then, you could drive your vehicle down Pennsylvania Avenue and to the Capitol grounds. Now, that route is closed for precautionary reasons, and there are metal detectors everywhere,’ he claimed.
Mr. Tanner finished his presentation with a colorful story of his junior year at UCHS when he was a player on the state semifinal basketball team under legendary head coach Ed Phipps.
John said he took an elbow to the jaw from an opposing player in the first minute of the quarterfinal game, a blow that knocked teeth loose and split his lip. He received medical attention in the training room, where the bleeding was stopped, and after the game, he was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center across the street from where the state tournament was being played.
He was accompanied by local doctor Pete Blanton Sr., who told the office personnel that he simply needed a needle and thread, but no medical attention from the staff. Tanner laughed when he recalled Dr. Blanton stitching his lip in a rudimentary fashion, as a “rather large woman” also in the waiting room fainted while looking on.
“But I played the next day in the semifinals,” he laughed. “And when Dr. Blanton finished, he handed the needle and thread back to the nurse, and we left.”
UCMS social studies teacher Josh Keown, who, with the help of student Suni Wright Johnson, recruited Tanner to speak, was naturally complimentary of Tanner.
“What a great resource we have right here in Union City who can supplement our lessons on federal government,” Keown said. “I’m so thankful that Mr. Tanner took his time to come and speak to our kids, and I am glad Suni had the idea to approach him from her church.
“Our students were attentive, asked great questions, and remained engaged the entire time. I’m proud of them and their desire to learn from one of our own.”