So I’ve recently left my local small-town news producing job for something bigger and better.

And what a better way to start this new chapter of my “news life” than with a little trip to our nation’s capital for a political event. I was at the State Department in Washington D.C. Monday for the swearing in of the highest ranking Iranian-American in U.S. Government.

Goli Ameri was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs on May 12, 2008 and she had plenty of people with her to celebrate. In her introduction of Ameri, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joked about the 100 plus crowd by saying “Goli I see you’ve brought a few friends with you.”

Condie herself was surprisingly warm and funny unlike the cold serious face I’ve seen on TV before. She talked about how as a descendant of former slaves it was an honor to have an Iranian-American woman as part of her team.

Ameri’s first official swearing in was on March 19, 2008 and she started her State Department job soon after. Monday’s event on the 8th floor of the State Department building was also an official swearing in but even more so a celebration. At a dinner reception Ameri hosted Monday night she was gracious to all her guests and seemed sincere when she thanked each of individually for being there with her. She did not seem so pleased however when I asked her for an interview.

My aunt who did fundraising for Ameri, had promised a couple of Persian language media outlets that she would get them an interview, but when we asked Ameri she referred us to her press secretary. He in turn told us to e-mail him.

My aunt said that e-mail would not do and while she would usually be the one going after what she wants (that is why she is so good at fundraising) she was handicapped by a knee injury and forced to sit on the sidelines. It was up to me to do the job.

Ameri would have none of it. She explained that she could not just give an interview “on the fly” and had to run it by her press secretary. I figured she was just being coy and pressed on. Finally she blew me off by saying maybe later. For now, Ameri said, she had to get back to being a good hostess. So I took my journalist hat off and put my dancing shoes on -figuratively- that is.