GovernmentExecutive.com

My colleage Rob Brodsky sends in this classic story from Jim Williams, acting GSA administrator, told at the Government Contract Management Conference:

"As GSA administrator, Williams is tasked with officially naming the winner of the presidential election so that GSA can turn over the keys to the transition headquarters to the president elect and so that GSA can release funds for the transition. So, late in the evening on election night, Williams heads over to the transition headquarters in NW Washington. They set him up at a table with an official pen and get ready to take a photo of the historic moment. At first they bring him the official letter to sign naming Obama as the apparent winner but it did not have the proper letterhead. So, GSA aides rushed around to find a computer and printer to print out a new letter with the proper letterhead. By the time that the letter arrives, Obama is already giving his acceptance speech in Grant Park. So, when it finally arrives, Williams looks down to sign the historic form, officially naming the first African American president in history, and the letter says that the winner is …. Sen. John McCain.

Woops."