Was Nixon, not Clinton, the `first black president'?; The Supremes' darned robes; Ridge Inc.; In the mail--still; The 'Nam ticket; Ike's face-lift; The 411 on 9/11; Promise breakers; Secret Service lite; Jack, be nimble; Hey, soldier
The 'Nam Ticket
It's still two years off, but there's already talk of a Democratic ticket that might be able to challenge Bush-Cheney on the war issue. Who? Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and California Gov. Gray Davis. Kerry was highly decorated in Vietnam, and Davis earned a Bronze Star there. We hear they got on famously during a recent visit and "connected" when discussing their experiences in 'Nam.
Ike's Face-lift
Among the security precautions taken by the White House after the September 11 attacks was the evacuation of 750 Eisenhower Executive Office Building workers in window offices facing wide-open 17th Street NW. Now, we hear, they may not return for years. But not because of a security threat. Instead, feds may use the evacuation as an excuse to finally renovate the old heap of a building. White House administrator Phillip Larsen says it's in bad shape and in need of new plumbing, wiring, and security. Just two weeks ago, a pipe burst at 2 a.m. and wasn't found for two hours, flooding a corner of the massive building. The renovation, however, isn't a sure thing: A price tag in the hundreds of millions of dollars will probably delay it.
The 411 on 9/11
They've scoured thousands of handwritten and computer documents and drawings seized at Afghan al Qaeda hide-outs, but so far law enforcement sources say they've found nothing mentioning the September 11 attacks. But they hope to find details on the Pentagon and World Trade Center plot in the mountain of data. Says one: It's like "drinking from a fire hose."
Promise breakers
The Republicans are back to conspiring again, this time to bankrupt Social Security. Or so claim the Democrats. In its latest bid to win back the House majority, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tells us of its plans to attack GOP Social Security reforms as a "secret plan" to "gamble" away the retirement program. Check out www.breakingthetrust.com. The GOP says it simply wants to give Americans a small percentage of their payroll tax to put into stocks.
Secret Service lite
Look for the U.S. Secret Service to take over security for a growing number of major events, the result of its successes at the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics. But getting that expected call from President Bush could put a hurting on the manpower-short service. So the agency is coming up with a scaled-back plan to instead provide the training and security model for local cops to handle the job.
Jack, be nimble
It's being dubbed the "battle of the Republican uber-lobbyists," pitting Haley Barbour, once the face of the GOP, and quiet Jack Abramoff, his biggest competitor. The jockeying for the top spot kicked into high gear this month when Abramoff helped open the posh Signatures restaurant, down the street from Barbour & Co.'s Caucus Room. This place is hot--and booked with GOP fundraisers. And he's already planning another restaurant, a kosher place, called Archives. Also, Abramoff's lobbying team just beat Barbour's over an Indian casino issue in Louisiana. What's more, he's a big pal of Rep. Tom DeLay, the likely next House majority leader. "He's the face of the new generation," says an ally.
Hey, soldier
The stateside loved ones of U.S. troops in Afghanistan are talking dirty to their aviators, soldiers, and sailors. Pillowmail.com reports a surge in E-mails ending with the military address, .mil. It allows adults to send erotic Mad Libs. Titles include: "Wash and hot wax" and "Forget dinner, let's have dessert."
In Quotes
"I was a mediocre high school wrestler, and I wear a feather boa around the Senate on occasion."
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, on what he has in common with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura
"The ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match."
PRESIDENT BUSH, on Osama bin Laden
"I am a pest; I am a stone in the shoe of a lot of people living here in this town, a squeaky wheel."
BONO, U2 singer, after discussing AIDS with Bush
"You can draw a crowd to a speech, but you sell more tickets to a public hanging."
MITCHELL DANIELS, director of the Office of Management and Budget, saying he was quoting Churchill, before a contentious congressional hearing
Sources: ESPN, Washington Post, Associated Press, Washington Post
Whispers Web page: Nancy or Tipper as senators? www.usnews.com/whispers
With Chitra Ragavan and Betsy Streisand
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