Exactly my experience interning at Roll Call in '97. I called about something my 1st week or so there, I can't remember what, and expecting the press office. But a quick pause and click later I heard the unmistakeable "yeah?!" After I stammered out one question, I hung up
You would call Barney Frank’s office & they would just put you on the phone with him. “Hold on for Barney.”
No one else did this, it was extraordinary in the pre-cell phone days.
Then he’d yell at you, curse, lie, butter you up, spin you, tell you the truth. He was unique