gelatik
24.05.02, 02:53
Chandra Levy, an ambitious 24-year-old from suburban California, came to
Washington in September 2000.
She got an internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which she hoped would
launch her on a bright government career.
In late April 2001 her internship ended, and she decided to return home for her
graduation ceremony at the University of Southern California (USC).
She packed her bags, cancelled her health-club membership, and e-mailed her
mother that she had bought her plane ticket - but she never made it back from
Washington.
High hopes
Chandra came from Modesto, a sunny spot at the northern end of California's
Central Valley, and a mixture of middle-class suburbs, shopping malls and
vineyards and farms
The Levys were a happy, well-to-do family. Her father, a cancer specialist, and
mother, a sculptor, own a large suburban home with stables for horses.
But Chandra soon decided that aptly-named Modesto was too small for her.
She was fascinated with politics. After graduating from UCLA she got an
internship with California Governor Gray Davis.
However, she aimed higher, and was toying with the idea of becoming an agent
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Speculation
Like many bright young things interested in government, she made her way to
Washington and became an intern.
Her position as an intern partly explains why her subsequent disappearance
attracted so much publicity.
Ever since the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski,
any story involving a Washington intern was bound to make the headlines.
Experts estimate that up to 50,000 interns come to Washington in any given
year. Most are happy being paid little or nothing, in exchange for a chance to
work for a powerful agency or a leading politician.
Typically, interns perform administrative chores, occasionally write research
projects and give tours of the Capitol to visiting constituents.
Chandra was apparently thrilled with her budding career in the federal
government.
She also reportedly bragged to friends that she was having an affair with an
older man - which later led to speculation about her relationship with Gary
Condit, the Congressman who represented her home district.
However, her career was dealt a blow when she was turned down for a permanent
job.
Her life, it seems, came to a similarly abrupt halt a few days later.
