Joshua Kreisler, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy graduate and Kansas State University student, recently completed a six-week internship in Washington, D.C., working for U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann and gaining firsthand experience of the nation’s governmental processes.
Kreisler’s path to a summer internship in Washington began with his studies. After HBHA “gave [him] a great platform for college,” he decided to pursue a major in agricultural economics at K-State, despite having grown up in the suburbs with no agricultural background.
“I came [to K-State], saw how big of a deal it was, and kind of fell in love with it,” he said about agriculture and his major. “I’ve always been interested in policy and in law and government, so I guess they kind of meshed well.”
After a few months learning about state government as a legislative intern for Kansas Grain and Feed Association in Topeka, he set his eyes on experiencing national government.
“I knew I wanted to intern for a congressman or senator,” Kreisler said. “Being from Kansas, I had six options total, but I primarily applied to [Rep. Mann’s] specific office because he serves on the House Agriculture Committee.”
Mann represents Kansas’s first congressional district, often referred to as “The Big First,” which covers more than half of Kansas and spans two time zones. Like Kreisler, he also studied agricultural economics at K-State.
Kreisler applied via Mann’s website for an internship with the congressman in Washington, and, along with several other interns, was approved.
Logistically, Kreisler said going to Washington and finding lodging was “a little bit of a nightmare,” but he was fortunate to be able to stay with family there. He found that the local Jewish Community Center was less than a mile from where he was staying, and was able to use the facilities through reciprocity from being a member of The J KC. Patrons of the JCC in Washington even invited him to some Shabbat dinners.
Meanwhile, Kreisler showed up to work in the Cannon House Office Building directly across the street from the Capitol.
“I would be walking down the hallway, and people I see on the news, like Mitch McConnell and [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]... they just walked past me in the hallway, and I know they’re doing their job too,” Kriesler said.
Kreisler’s internship took place during a politically tumultuous summer. The most impactful gun legislation in 30 years was passed, he said. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, he was able to watch protests outside the Capitol from behind the police line before being sent home early. He said he also felt that since Jan. 6, Capitol security and police are “just very, very cautious.”
On a day-to-day basis, Kreisler’s responsibilities included joining the congressman’s meetings with interest groups and taking notes. In addition to the agricultural industry-related lobbyists that Mann would meet with, Kreisler remembers when Mann met with members of AIPAC and he saw Jews from Kansas City that he knew.
Kreisler considers drafting correspondence and floor remarks for the congressman his most meaningful experience.
“I have a framed congressional record as a gift for the speech that I wrote the first draft of,” he said. He “wrote the bones” of a speech about the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility recently built in Manhattan, Kansas. After a few revisions with a speech writer, Kreisler got to watch Mann give the speech on the House floor.
Being a Capitol tour guide, however, was the most fun job Kreisler did in Washington. After in-depth training about one of the world’s most recognizable buildings and all its details (and after getting lost a few times in the miles of tunnels underneath it), Kreisler got to show people all of its quirks and features.
“Your personality gravitates towards things that you think are cool, and you can kind of gauge your tour group and what their interests are,” he said. “Showing people a little glimpse into our history and all the different intricacies that went into building the Capitol was just awesome.”
Kreisler enjoyed his time with Mann. Mann would always introduce the interns to groups he was meeting with, Kreisler said, and the interns were invited into his office occasionally so he could see how they were doing.
“It was cool to see how he’s just a normal guy,” Kreisler said. “You see [politicians] on the news and TVs and giving speeches and seeming so professional… he’s just a 45-year-old farmer from Kansas.”
In a press release sent out from Mann’s office, Mann was quoted as saying, “Josh’s work ethic and professionalism have been great assets to our office this summer. He was a diligent worker, took initiative, and he was always willing to help Kansans whether it be in person or over the phone. I'm grateful for all his hard work on behalf of the constituents of the Big First District, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”
Now back at K-State, Kreisler is working at Mann’s Manhattan office while continuing his studies and waiting for the results of his LSAT. He plans on going to law school after graduation, and he believes that he could do good policy work by merging what he’s learned from Washington and suburban and rural Kansas.
“My biggest takeaway from the whole experience was that even though I'm not of a similar background that most of [Mann’s] constituents are — I didn't grow up on a farm — I still was able to empathize with them, connect with them, [and] represent their interests well in D.C.,” he said. “[Policy] affects everybody.”
