No reporter coverup: Kennedy kept sex secret
The Girls Club
Torie Clarke's departure as Pentagon spokeswoman won't be the blow for the yack-yack sisterhood that many feared. We learned that Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld has put a "women-only" sign on the office. He wants another Torie: a politically savvy spokeswoman who hasn't done military work. "He doesn't want," an insider says, "somebody beholden to the brass."
Stay Home, 41
Conservatives are going nuts over reports that "41," as former President Bush is known in the White House, will repay a favor and campaign for Arnold Schwarzenegger. "He could actually seriously damage Schwarzenegger," a prominent righty told us. Reason: Many conservatives haven't forgiven Bush for flip-flopping on taxes and being soft on abortion.
Waiting For Kerry
President Bush and his political staff don't buy the hype on Democratic presidential primary front-runner Howard Dean. "I'd be surprised if [Sen. John] Kerry doesn't surge soon," says an insider. In fact, many Bush aides expect Dean to fade and Kerry to take the nomination. There's another faction that doesn't think a Washington insider can get it, leaving Dean as the likely victor. But there is something both sides agree on. "They all sound like jerks," says a Bushie.
Gephardt's Fail-Safe
Presidential candidate Dick Gephardt may not top the voter polls, but, boy, is he the buzz in political circles. Democrats talk that he'd be a great veep choice for Sen. John Kerry. His strengths: Labor loves him and he has Midwest roots. In GOP circles, there's chatter that he's still eyeing a Senate bid if his presidential hopes die on Super Tuesday. Republicans are calling Sen. Kit Bond's Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Nancy Farmer, a "place holder" for Gephardt. Ain't happening, promise his aides.
Scott! Scott!
New White House spokesman Scott McClellan is ignoring the normal practice of calling only on big shots seated in the first few rows. Instead, he recognizes even back-row squatters, giving the pressroom a democratic feel. "Everybody yelling, `Scott! Scott!' " says Washington Times reporter Joseph Curl, "is making the briefing fun again."
Family Ties
Gary Bauer, who built the conservative Family Research Council from a tiny Capitol Hill basement operation into a huge Washington think tank before leaving for a failed 2000 presidential bid, could return to the FRC. Ever since Ken Connor left the top spot, Bauer has been besieged with E-mails to come back and revive the organization. Bauer's not talking but has asked financial backers of his American Values group to help FRC out too.
Hot Enough?
Reporters and aides who think President Bush cares that you can't stand the 100-degree-plus temps at the Crawford, Texas, summer White House, beware. He actually takes a perverse pleasure in their plight. "He knows that a good 75 percent of the staff and press corps hate it," says one. "But the more he can make them sweat the better."
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With Richard J. Newman
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