It Was Love At First Sight For Vice President Kamala Harris And Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

23 May 202404:45

Summary

TLDRIn this insightful interview, Douglas Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. President or Vice President, discusses his commitment to combating anti-Semitism and hate. Emhoff, who takes his role at the White House very seriously, has been actively speaking out against hate and participating in the National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism introduced by the Biden administration. He emphasizes the importance of living openly and proudly as a Jewish person, highlighting that hate affects everyone, regardless of their background. The interview also includes a light-hearted account of how Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris met, leading to their upcoming 10th anniversary.

Takeaways

🔬 Douglas Emhoff is the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. President or Vice President and takes his role and the responsibility that comes with it very seriously.
🌍 Emhoff has been actively speaking out against hate and anti-Semitism, emphasizing the importance of combating these issues globally and within the United States.
🏛 He has been involved in the National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism, introduced by the Biden White House, and continues to work on this issue both publicly and privately.
📅 The rise of anti-Semitism is not a new shock to Emhoff, as he has been tracking it since events like Charlottesville and the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.
💡 Emhoff believes that fighting hate is a collective responsibility, affecting all of society regardless of one's religious background, and that it is detrimental to the country and democracy.
🏡 Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris are planning to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in August, and their relationship began through a blind date set up by a mutual acquaintance.
💌 The couple's first interaction was a text message during a Lakers game, which led to their first date and the beginning of their relationship.
🗓️ After their first date, Emhoff sent Harris an email outlining his availability for the next six months, showing his serious intentions early on in their relationship.
💑 The couple fell in love at first sight and were discussing their future by the end of their first date, which has led to a lasting partnership now spanning over a decade.
🎉 Emhoff's appearance and discussion in the transcript highlight his commitment to his role, his advocacy against hate, and his personal journey with Harris.

Q & A

Who is Douglas Emhoff and what is his significant role in the White House?
-Douglas Emhoff is the second gentleman and the first Jewish spouse of any President or Vice President in the United States. He takes his role very seriously and is committed to combating hate and anti-Semitism.
What responsibility does Emhoff feel as the first Jewish person to be a White House principal?
-Emhoff feels a strong sense of accountability and responsibility. He believes it's part of his role to speak out against hate, including anti-Semitism, and to live openly and proudly as a Jewish person.
What initiatives has Emhoff taken to celebrate his Jewish heritage at the White House?
-Emhoff has initiated events such as having a Hanukkah party at the Vice President's residence and celebrating Passover. He aims to live openly and joyfully as a Jewish person in his role.
How does Emhoff respond to the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world?
-Emhoff is deeply concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism and has been actively working to combat it since early 2021. He has spoken and written about the issue and participated in the first-ever National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism introduced by the Biden White House in May 2023.
What does Emhoff believe about the impact of hate on society and democracy?
-Emhoff views hate as a poison that affects everyone, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. He believes that hate is bad for the country and democracy and that it must be stopped.
How did Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris meet?
-Emhoff and Harris were set up on a blind date through a mutual acquaintance who thought they would be great together.
What was the initial interaction like between Emhoff and Harris when they first met?
-After a tense meeting, a woman asked Emhoff if he was single and suggested he should meet Harris. Later, he texted her during a Laker game, and they exchanged messages, leading to their first date.
How did Emhoff's early morning phone call to Harris affect their budding relationship?
-Emhoff made a 7:30 a.m. call to Harris, which she didn't answer. He left a four or five-minute voicemail, fearing he had made a mistake. However, they still went on their first date, which turned out to be successful.
What was the immediate connection like between Emhoff and Harris on their first date?
-On their first date, they experienced love at first sight and were discussing their future by the end of the date.
How did Emhoff express his interest in continuing the relationship with Harris after their first date?
-Emhoff sent Harris an email the next morning outlining his availabilities for the next six months, showing his serious intent to pursue the relationship.
How does Emhoff reflect on his relationship with Harris as they approach their 10th anniversary?
-Emhoff reflects fondly on their relationship, noting that they are still together 11 years later, and he shares the story with laughter and appreciation.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Douglas Emhoff's Role as the First Jewish White House Spouse

Douglas Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. President or Vice President, discusses his commitment to combating hate and anti-Semitism. He emphasizes his responsibility to use his position to speak out against all forms of hate, highlighting his active participation in events like the National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism introduced by the Biden White House. Emhoff also mentions his personal efforts to live openly and joyfully as a Jewish person, including celebrating Jewish traditions at the Vice President's residence. He expresses concern over the rise of anti-Semitism and hate crimes, describing it as an 'epidemic of hate' and a crisis, and pledges to continue working on this issue both publicly and privately.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡First Jewish spouse

The term 'First Jewish spouse' refers to Douglas Emhoff being the first Jewish person to be a White House principal spouse. This is significant as it represents a milestone in diversity and inclusion within the highest office of the United States. The script mentions this status as a source of responsibility and a platform to advocate against hate and anti-Semitism.

💡White House principal

A 'White House principal' is a term used to describe the spouse of the President or Vice President who holds a prominent position in the White House. In this context, Douglas Emhoff, as the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris, is considered a White House principal and uses this role to promote unity and fight against hate.

💡Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is a form of discrimination against Jewish people. The script discusses Emhoff's commitment to speaking out against anti-Semitism and all types of hate, highlighting the rise of hate crimes and the importance of combating this issue, especially in the context of his role as the first Jewish spouse in the White House.

💡Hate

Hate, in this context, refers to the general animosity or prejudice against individuals or groups based on their identity. The script emphasizes the importance of fighting against hate as a societal issue, with Emhoff taking a stand against it, particularly in light of the rise in hate crimes.

💡Muuza

Muuza, or more commonly known as 'minyan', is a Jewish term referring to a quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal religious activities. The script mentions Emhoff's intention to have a muuza at the vice president's residence, symbolizing the celebration of Jewish traditions and culture in a public and significant setting.

💡Passover

Passover is a significant Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The script mentions the celebration of Passover as an example of Emhoff's commitment to living openly and proudly as a Jewish person in his public role.

💡Hanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is another Jewish holiday celebrated by lighting a menorah over eight days. The script mentions 'manur lighting', likely a mispronunciation or typo for 'menorah lighting', as part of Emhoff's efforts to celebrate Jewish traditions in the public sphere.

💡Epidemic of hate

The term 'epidemic of hate' is used by Emhoff in the script to describe the alarming increase in hate crimes and incidents of discrimination. It serves as a metaphor to illustrate the urgency and severity of the situation, emphasizing the need for collective action against hate.

💡National strategy to combat anti-Semitism

The script refers to the first-ever National strategy to combat anti-Semitism introduced by the Biden White House. This strategy represents a formalized, coordinated effort by the U.S. government to address and counter anti-Semitic incidents and promote tolerance and understanding.

💡Blind date

A 'blind date' is a social outing between two people who have not previously met, often arranged by a mutual acquaintance. In the script, Emhoff shares the story of how he and Vice President Harris met through a blind date, which adds a personal and relatable aspect to the narrative.

💡10th anniversary

The '10th anniversary' mentioned in the script refers to the upcoming milestone in Emhoff's relationship with Vice President Harris. It provides a glimpse into their personal life and the longevity of their partnership, which is a testament to their connection and compatibility.

Highlights

Douglas Emhoff is the first Jewish spouse of any president or vice president.

Emhoff takes his role as the first Jewish person ever to be a White House principal very seriously.

Emhoff has been speaking out against anti-Semitism and all types of hate since before October 7th.

Emhoff believes fighting hate and anti-Semitism is part of his obligation and responsibility.

The Biden White House introduced the first ever National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism in May 2023.

Emhoff has been working on combating anti-Semitism almost non-stop since October 7th.

Emhoff calls the rise of anti-Semitism an 'epidemic of hate' that has been building for years.

Emhoff emphasizes that hate affects everyone, not just Jewish people.

Emhoff believes hate is bad for the country, democracy, and is a poison that must be stopped.

Emhoff and Vice President Harris are celebrating their 10th anniversary in August.

Emhoff and Harris met on a blind date set up by a client.

Emhoff sent Harris a text during a Lakers game and they bonded over basketball.

Emhoff called Harris at 7:30am the next morning, leaving a 4-5 minute voicemail.

Emhoff and Harris talked about their future on their first date and fell in love at first sight.

Emhoff sent Harris an email with his availability for the next 6 months after their first date.

Emhoff and Harris are still happily together 10 years later.