He ended up on the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000 and, after working his way up the Executive Branch food chain, he ended up working in the White House in the Advance Office.

In the 2004 cycle I was doing the luncheon speech at a fund-raiser in Connecticut. President George H.W. Bush was speaking that evening and we ended up sitting in the same room. I told him that my son worked for his son and how much it meant to me that I could dial the White House switchboard, ask for my son by name, and be connected.

President Bush smiled and said, "That's what I do, too." That's how we dads talk to each other.

The last event Reed did as a member of the White House advance office was the President's trip to Louisiana. The day before the trip, Reed called and said that he had just seen "the manifest" and I was on it.

In the shorthand of the office, "the manifest" was the list of who was going to be aboard Air Force One the next day. I had never been on Air Force One so this was a very big deal for me.

I have had many great experiences in politics. I've met hundreds of interesting people and been to dozens of amazing places. I cannot imagine a greater thrill in politics than a dad flying back to Washington aboard Air Force One with his son.

During the inaugural in 2001 Reed was known as Rich Galen's son. Four years later young staffers would ask me if I was Reed Galen's dad.

When your son moves beyond you in your joint vocation, that's when you know, as a father, you have done well. And that's the best Father's Day present anyone could ask for.