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You Never Know – Unless You Try

Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2023
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by AMAC, Robert B. Charles
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You never know…If you do not try, you will never know. Sometimes, you just throw the ball and say a prayer. Thirty-five years ago, in what will seem unimportant, my aim finishing law school was to “clerk” for a conservative federal judge. Odds were long, but idea strong. No connections, I resolved to try.

For context, you must know this is like deciding tomorrow you will sign up for the judicial Olympics, or write a best seller, or invent some meaningful thing. America has roughly 200 law schools. In 1987, more than 40,000 students signed up annually and graduated from law schools.

America had just 870 Article III federal judges. When I graduated in 1987, President Ronald Reagan had been able to get confirmed only 71 judges to US Courts of Appeals, only 233 federal district judges. While not all law students wanted to clerk and not all judges appointed by non-conservative presidents were non-conservative, my chances of getting a clerkship with a Reagan-appointed judge were roughly 304 in 40,000, or one in 132, less than one percent.

Of course, kids do not think about things that way, and I was just an overgrown kid – an already conservative, never-say-never, pie-eyed, overgrown kid. In general terms, there were more annual UFO sightings, meteorites hitting the earth, and lightning strikes of farm animals than Reagan judges.

Still, none of that bothered me. If you do not try, you will never know. Right? My strategy was simple. Let the prospective judge know you are conservative, place no geographic restrictions, personalize each letter, accept the rejections.

To appreciate the longshot, recall that in 1987 our computers were just word processors. We had no email, text, social media, cell phones, or digital communication. We used paper, envelope, one stamp, which we licked. On the envelope, we scrawled an address, then found a mailbox.

All this is to say, never give up, never give in, never stop dreaming, never let someone else’s laughter dissuade you from chasing your dream. I had not been on law review, another strike against me. I did like writing, had published a bit, but that was it.

Merrily, I went on my way, an industrial strength applicant for a make-believe clerkship. I carefully drafted 300 letters, personalizing each after studying the judge’s opinions, found in a library book. I put each of 300 letters in an envelope, addressed it, licked and applied the stamp, found a mailbox.

Gradually, responses trickled back. First slowly, then more quickly, rejection letters. They tended to thank me for applying, compliment me for nothing in particular, wish me good luck. The killer sentence always began “Unfortunately…”

All this was okay, expected, but the pile – which became a conversation piece – showed me the price for trying. Of course, I desperately wanted to clerk, but was learning how to manage rejection too.

Weeks became months, and dark letters kept coming, hundreds of rejections. Then one day, I got a ticket to the ball, just the chance to interview. From 300 letters, I got six interview offers, two in Maine, three in California, one in Seattle – all district judges, except Seattle.

When people tell you the cost is too much, you are crazy, just smile. I had zero money, none for air tickets or hotels, up to my ears in educational loans, now this. I booked flights.

All six interviews seemed okay, last in Seattle. Then came round two of the dark letters. Nice to meet you, but “unfortunately…” and “wishing you every success.” Two from Maine, three from California.

Sometimes you just gather yourself, take a deep breath, sit back, and wonder if the people who think you are crazy might not…be right. What gave me the audacity to think any federal judge, able to pick anyone from anywhere, ties to their own law school, would want me? What wild hair …?

Then it came, the last letter. The Honorable Judge Robert R. Beezer, former United States Marine Corps, appointed by Ronald Reagan to the US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, March 1984, three years prior, was asking me…to become his clerk. I just about collapsed, scrambled for the phone, said “Yes, Sir, it would be my honor.”

There began one of the best years and strongest professional relationships of my life, he and his wife mentoring, reinforcing, guiding, later visiting my family, hosting forays back, until at last – 11 years ago this month – that good, true, cheerful-to-the-end, rock-ribbed conservative took his leave.

Bottom line: If you believe in something, an idea, goal, job, mission, or calling – no matter how long the odds, steep the path, unlikely the outcome, do not quit, stay with it. You will not always get what you seek, but you will know you tried, and sometimes – when you least expect it – the ball gets caught. Directly and indirectly that was the lesson I was taught – by a good man, good judge, good conservative, a US Marine who saw his share of strife, and in one stroke, changed my entire life. You never know.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.

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Will Trueba
Will Trueba
1 year ago

Fantastic article! Thanks for sharing.

Texas Resister 64
Texas Resister 64
1 year ago

May he rest in peace and security.

Ann
Ann
1 year ago

What a beautiful story and I loved reading Mr. Charles’ down-home way of writing. So sorry Senior Judge Robert R. Beezer took his “leave”.

Carol
Carol
1 year ago

Thank you Mr. Charles for writing so eloquently and I felt as though you were speaking directly to me. I needed a shot in the arm right now and you definitely provided that for me. Best to you, Carol

Joe from Las Vegas Nevada
Joe from Las Vegas Nevada
1 year ago

Thank You for sharing your story and Life Lesson. No participation trophy here. You get knocked down, get the hell up!

David Millikan
David Millikan
1 year ago

Great article.
It is sad though that WOKE GARBAGE is in our Law Schools and Medical Schools degrading our educational institutions more.

SusanW
SusanW
1 year ago

Thank you, Robert! Such an important message to send to everyone. Whether you are 5 years old or 95, never give up on your dreams. As an educator, my message to my students, my own children, and now, grandchildren, is/was to never let rejection, defeat, or obstacles ever deter you from achieving your goals and more importantly, achieving your passion in life.

I am convinced that one reason our suicide rate amongst our youth is so high is because they’ve never been taught or prepared for failure or rejection. We must educate and model for our children and grandchildren that failure and rejection are part of the journey. I often tell my children that my courage throughout my life has been my “spiritual muscle” that has given me the strength to persevere and triumph even when it seemed impossible. Never stop dreaming until the curtain comes down. Have a great day!

Esther
Esther
1 year ago

Great article! Just what I needed.

johnh
johnh
1 year ago

Robert, thank you for sharing this story. I imagine that it will bring back a lot of memories for people that were looking for their first job out of school.

Jeannie Huppert
Jeannie Huppert
1 year ago

This is 1 of best articles I’ve read. After having undergone all the “stuff” we have in last 3 yr., most of us really need & appreciate this encouraging article!

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