A View from the "Well"

One of the first things I noticed as I sat in the well, was the demeanor of the witnesses. Some sat calm and reserved waiting for their chance to speak before the committee. Others were undeniably nervous, simultaneously bouncing their legs up and down while writhing their fingers together - as if this movement would be enough to distract them from the task that lay ahead. Some looked determined, knowing that nothing would separate them from accomplishing the mission that lay ahead. Having become accumstomed to a seat behind the panel of witnesses my "new view" showed me what a hard copy of a witness' testimony never could - their body actions and reactions. My view from the well also made me wonder what the committee, staff, and members of press (those accustomed to such prime seating) reagularly thought about those testifying before them. For example, do they even notice the nervous habits of indiviudals unaccumsted to testifying before the commitees? Ultimately however, I must admit that if I am ever given the opportunity to testify before a House or Senate Committee, nothing but butterflies will fill my stomach until the moment my testimony concludes.

 

Beyond the demeanor of the witnesses themselves, I could not help but notice the attitudes, expressions, and often lack of enthusiasm and interest of the public seated behind the panel of witnesses. Regardless of whether the indiviudal was a staffer, intern, or member of an outside organization, the "eyes glazed over" look was undoubtedly a common thread linking everyone together. It could have been the material, or the fact that it was a morning hearing - but the chatter and whispering I had become so accustomed to while sitting behind the well, was unnoticeable, and instead had been replaced by one laxidasical expression after another. I could not help but wonder if (A) this is what I tended to look like at an early morning hearing, and (B) if this was the scene our Senators and Representatives had become accustomed to. For both A, and B, I certainly hope this is not the case.

 

Finally, I feel that I cannot end this post without mentioning the general grandeur of the House and Senate Chambers. While I have always loved the experience of walking into a new new hearing room and admiring - or rather gawking - at all its glory, I must admit that from the well, one does indeed have a different perspective. The details that I would normally not take the time to notice were the things that became most apparent. For example, I had never noticed the wings on either side of the sconces on the wall - perhaps it was because I was never in a position to take notice of them, but from the well, it was impossible to not appreciate the beauty, detail, and symbolisim of the gold wings that held up the light fixtures around the room.

 

Undoubtedly, my view from the well was quite an experience, in fact, I prefer it to my normal seat behind the well and panel of witnesses. For now, however, I will have to wait until I receive another opportunity to sit in the well.