It was the early ‘60s. The age of the protesting youngster had not yet arrived. Teenagers were expected to do as they were told.

Traditionally the high schools in Anchorage hosted both a junior prom and a senior ball each year.

Then came the year that one principal thought two formal dances were one too many. He announced there would be no junior prom.

He hadn’t considered the president of the junior class, a young man who might actually have been the one to touch off the coming age of protesting youth.

One of the city’s major hotels had only recently completed a beautiful, large ball room that was soon to open to the public. The junior class president met with the hotel’s sales manager. He left with a signed contract to host the junior prom in the new ball room. The prom would be the first major function to be held there.

Was the contract good? Probably not. The junior class president was sixteen years old. The hotel didn’t have to honor it. But both the junior class president and the hotel knew the press would be advised if the contract was canceled. The junior class president was counting on it. The hotel didn’t want it. The junior class president was sure the principal didn’t want it either.

As young as he was, the junior class president was learning about politics. He learned that a little insurance would be a good thing.

He sent letters to Governor Bill Egan, Senator Bob Bartlett, Senator Ernest Gruening, and Congressman Ralph Rivers inviting them to be the guests of honor at the junior prom. He received very polite letters of rejection from three of the four. From Senator Gruening he received a letter stating, “Dorothy and I will be there.”

Senator and Mrs. Gruening did show up at the prom. Surprisingly, they were the hit of the evening. The pair, by then in their ‘70s, were great ball room dancers. So good that the teenagers gave them the floor, cheering and applauding as the couple performed like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The principal was not pleased with the junior class president but was smart enough to know not to press the matter.

Many years later, the junior class president was a lobbyist in Juneau. The principal ran, successfully, for a seat in the legislature. The principal decided the young lobbyist was a good friend to have. The junior class president was smart enough to know not bring up old memories.