The Times

Wednesday, July 7, 1976, page 23 (of 37)

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She met President by luck and that's not all

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer Maria Plasencia, 17, was sitting on the Senate subway on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. when a voice beside her said, "I like your hat." When she turned around, she saw that she was sitting next to none other that Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. "I hearly fainted," admitted the South Miami High School grad. "You know, he doesn't look like he does on TV. He's short and fat, and one of the ugliest men I've ever seen." On another trip to Washington, Maria bumped right into President Ford. She said she got so involved in talking to Florida Rep. Dante Fascell in his office, that she missed her group's bus to the White House. She grabbed a cab, sweet-talked a guard into letting her inside, and ran right into the President as she dashed to catch up with the tour. "He's a very nice man," said Maria, who lives at 6279 SW 15th St. "He's very large and fatherly-looking." Although the bizarre, chance meetings will always be fond memories, Maria certainly does not consider them her claim to fame. The Cuban-American students has devoted the past few years to be omming actively involved in American government - on a local, state and national level. Her two trips to Washington were part of the "Close-Up" program, where some 600 high school students are chosen each year to go to the nation's Capital for an in-depth study of the federal government. She also served as a leader of the Youth Focus on Government Committee. The program was established by the Metro Commission to create a liason between the Dade County Board of Commissioners and the area schools, in an effort to familiarize students with the operation of the county government. She was an intern in a pilot bicentennial overview program for junior and senior students interested in careers in public administration. As an intern, Maria served as an officer who was attentive to the committee's tasks and goals and functioned as adviser to the county administration. In another position, Maria served as an intern in the office of the County Commissioners and successfully planned a follow-up workshop seminar for the Washington, D.C. Close-Up experience. She assisted in the sponsorship of a monthly television program on government affairs and actively participated in Youth in Government Day, taking the place of Metro Mayor Steve Clark. In addition, Maria was president of the Bicentennial Club at South Miami High and a member of the student government her sophomore year. "And, I'm involved in a thousand political campaigns," she added. "Something I'm trying to push for this summer is for the Florida legislature to change the running age from 21 to 18. "But I don't think it will come up til the 1977 revision of state constitution." Maria said she doesn't think it's the least bit strange that a Cuban-born girl like herself shomld plunge head-first into American government and politics. "Cuban sometimes appreciate the freedou Americans have more than Americans, because we lt lost ours," she explained. "This is my country, and the governmnent is about as close to perfection as it can get. "The worst problem we have here is apathy... a lot of people don't even vote, and then they complain about their governmnent. "This is government BY the people, not just for the people." Maria said she hopes to attend George Washington University and major in international affairs and poilitical science. "Then, maybe I'll go into international law and join the Diplomatic Corps as an ambassador." Maria presents a bouquet of roses to Commissioner Clara Oesterle at the installation of officers for the Youth Focus on Government committee.

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