A story of friendship Dr. Lester Sitzes and the United States Ambassador to Israel
“It’s an incredible time to be here-front row witnesses to some of the most consequential moments in modern history,” United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
By Stephanie Harris
Who knew that spending time in a dental chair would enlighten you on the life of the United States ambassador to Israel? Dr. Lester Sitzes, is a dentist who practices in Hope, Arkansas, and is a close friend of Mike Huckabee, the U S Ambassador to Israel. Photos of the hunting buddies are spread throughout the office. Sitzes uses the pictures on his exam room walls as conversation pieces for his patients.
Mr. Huckabee, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, grew up in “a place called Hope.” a quote made famous by former President Bill Clinton.
According to this childhood friend and confidant to Huckabee, Dr. Sitzes, the friendship started out in grade school with local kids playing a game of marbles. Sitzes, who isn’t a public political figure, talks openly about his friend Huckabee’s rise to the top and the very essence of who he is as a person and what his position means.
Listening to Sitzes special memories of this story of the former Evangelist ,former Arkansas Governor, Television Host, former Presidential Candidate, and now U.S. Ambassador to Israel, appointed under the Trump administration, Sitzes believes that his good friend had always been “destined for great things.”
Ambassador Huckabee, according to Sitzes, had some low points on his rise to fame. Sitzes said that from very early on he was “ sort of a wingman” for Huckabee. Sitzes said he believes his trusted friend does not take his position lightly. “In the past with the ambassadors, it has been more of a social thing,” Sitzes said. But with Mike “it’s a real job.”
With the current global conflicts in Israel rising to the forefront, the ambassadorship is more important now than ever in U.S. history, according to Huckabee’s recent statements. Sitzes said that Huckabee had made numerous trips to Israel and already had crucial connections in place when he was appointed to the position. “I can’t imagine anyone else being better for this position.” Huckabee expressed recently a description of what the ambassadorship means making it clear that he is the designated representative for America and the President in Israel The President has made it clear that United States would support Israel in the ongoing conflicts. One of his pastoral jobs included preaching at Beech Street Baptist in Texarkana, Ark. Literature and biographical information about Huckabee says that he has always spoken openly about his faith. Biblical literature says Israelites are a special people chosen by God, to whom He gave land and made promises that Huckabee said he believes will ultimately be fulfilled.
Sitzes said that Huckabee was “perfect” for the ambassadorship. “ I don’t think we even know what all this position entails. I’d love to hear Mike talk about what he does sometime,” Sitzes said.
A screenshot of this text circulated social media and various news platforms last June.
The text read: Mr. President God spared you in Butler, Penn., to be the most consequential President in a century-maybe ever. The decisions on your shoulder I would not want to be made by anyone else. You have many voices speaking to Sir., but there is only ONE voice that matters, HIS voice. I am your appointed servant in this land and am available for you, but I don’t get in your presence often because I trust your instincts. NO president in my lifetime has been in a position like yours. Not since Truman in 1945. I don’t reach out to persuade you-only to encourage you. I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else’s. You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears, and voice and to make sure our flag flies above the embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. I will not abandon this post. Our flag will NOT come down! You did not seek this moment. It sought YOU. It is my honor to serve you.” Mike Huckabee
The Dentist and the Preacher
Sitzes, who has practiced dentistry in Arkansas for many years, has been actively involved with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Boy Scouts. “I’m not a politician” he said, but, he works diligently behind the scenes of his dental practice changing lives of youth and helping preserve and “protect the nature,” in the “Natural State” by his service in both organizations.” I’ve done a lot in scouting and still am. I really care about those kids and have gotten to know so many neat families over the decades. God willing, I’ll make 50 Years as an adult leader plus the 10 as a youth. Doesn’t mean I’ll quit then, but it will be a personal benchmark,” he said.
These two friends have led very different lives, but have remained a pair that for the greater good of society continue in service to others. This dentist and this preacher have shared many hunting expeditions, too. The hunting duo photos hang on the walls as a nice distraction for the patients during dental exams and procedures.
“ I treasure the friendship I have with Mike. I absolutely do and I am thankful for it. Being friends with him has made me a better person.”
Sitzes said it has been “one surprise after another” that proved his friend “moving on up”. Huckabee actually began his career at the age of only 13 years announcing local sports. “He had gotten hurt and couldn’t play anymore,” Sitzes recalled. He said local officials asked Huckabee to announce the local games. “Turned out he was pretty good at it,” Sitzes said.
Sitzes, who had gone along to help Huckabee with equipment when he was announcing, also mentioned that he would like to see the old KXAR Radio station in Hope restored for a historical museum highlighting the start of the man’s political and evangelical role in history. “Did you know Ronald Reagan also got his start in radio?” Sitzes began to see the signs from early on that something was special about his good friend. “ It wasn’t until we were coming back from Boys State, that we started to realize he was truly special. He won the governorship at Boys State with very little prep work or money,” Sitzes recalled.
“All he did was hand out cards and go around and talk to people. He just blew everyone out of the water.” Sitzes repeated that he and his group of friends knew from very early on that his childhood friend” had a higher purpose”.
Janet Huckabee, Mike’s wife, Sitzes said, was also a very dear friend to him. He told of one of the hurdles the couple had to overcome early in the Huckabee’s marriage. Sitzes said Mrs. Janet Huckabee had some health issues and had been told she would never be able to have children. He said she not only recovered and later on had three children, but one of them, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is currently serving as the Governor of Arkansas.
According to Sitzes, Huckabee experienced more shaky ground after losing his campaign for senate and being hospitalized with pneumonia. Sitzes was his campaign manager at that time.
Sitzes recalled, “ Mike was very sick with pneumonia the day before the election and didn’t feel well and was very, very down. He was probably at the lowest point he had ever been. He wasn’t used to losing elections. When he lost to Dale Bumpers, it was the same night Bill Clinton was elected president.” Huckabee confided in Sitzes.
“ I really really prayed about it, and I felt like this is what God wanted me to do.” Sitzes quoted his friend. He had gone to the hospital to sit with Huckabee during this very trying time and encouraged him by saying, “Mike, You didn’t do this for nothing. Something good is going to come out of this. I don’t know what it is. But something good is going to come out of this.
About 30 days later he called me and said, ‘ “You were right…something good has come out of that election. Jim Guy Tucker is moving up to governor. Since Bill Clinton has been elected, they are going to have a special election, and I am going to run for Lt. Governor.”
Sitzes went on to explain that what had happened from that first election, was that even though Huckabee had lost, he gained name recognition, plus he had new people in all 75 counties. So he already had a structure in place. ‘ “ He said, this is it! There it is, this is why I ran for senate.” Huckabee is more known for his wins of course, but his losses always lit the pathway to something bigger. Noone had believed Sitzes, when many years ago, he told people that Mike would eventually also serve as governor of Arkansas.
“ A preacher, become governor? Na.. it will never happen,” Sitzes recalled a conversation as far back as the 1980s . “Then Huckabee won as governor,” Sitzes said. “It was a wild, surreal time.
Think about this: after he ran for president and lost, what happened? He got to be friends with Donald Trump. The moral of the story is…you don’t have to win every political race to win in the bigger picture. And that is what has happened in Mike’s case. He’s lost some races, but he actually came out better for it.”
Sitzes said the thread that really kept the group of friends that still get together was the positive influences and experiences they shared growing up in a small town Southwest Arkansas.
Huckabee sent an update for this article, through a text to Sitzes. U.S Ambassador Huckabee said:
“We are doing well but it’s been quite intense. In the year and few months since we moved to Israel we have been through 5 wars and spent more time in the shelter dodging ballistic missiles than we imagined. Since we have been coming here for so many years and know the country, it doesn’t seem all that strange. It’s an incredible time to be here-front row witnesses to some of the most consequential moments in modern history,”
