While acting as a chief of staff in Washington in the early 1970s, Lee Greif met Randee, the woman who became his first wife. When they met she was employed as a chief of staff for a senator of Missouri, Thomas Eagleton. Lee and Randee became good friends with Thomas Eagleton and they considered him to be a terrific guy and they often kept his company. Eagleton was a dedicated public servant, so having his support was a huge asset to Lee. Lee began to see him as a role model and major source of inspiration. Eagleton would later go on to run as Vice President on McGovern’s presidential campaign. The 5 years that Greif would spend in Washington as chief of staff for Peter Peyser was an important and fondly remembered time in his life. He would apply the knowledge he learned here to all the other challenges in this life.