<p>It doesn’t matter if the recommendation is from a U.S. Senator or from the head of janitorial services at the zoo–what matters is what the person can say about you based on his or her own interaction with you. If somebody wants to write a rec for you because he was personally impressed with or grateful for something you did, then I say accept it with grace and send it in. I don’t see how it can hurt. If, on the other hand, this is something you are seeking, and the person is doing it as a formality, it’s probably not worth it. That’s the advice I would give for any outside rec, whether the person giving it is famous or not.</p>