Bubba bellies on up--to a brand-new salad bar
Talk about your bad luck. Right as former President Bill Clinton readied for heart bypass surgery last week, we got word he's fulfilling a dream: opening a restaurant that will serve all his fatty favorites, like fried chicken, meatloaf--even tollhouse cookies from Hillary's recipe file. Now when he visits Cafe 42, attached to his Little Rock library and museum opening in November, he'll have to stick to salads. In fact, changes are being made to include a very large salad, olive, and cheese bar for Bubba to belly up to. Friends describe the new eatery as a "hip" place that will serve entrees on dishes signed by Clinton. Aides say the world-famous eater wants his restaurant overlooking the Arkansas River to be a "destination," and to help it grow he won't charge a museum fee just to get a table; it will have a separate entrance. About the name: Clinton picked it himself. Seems he likes how former President George H. W. Bush and President Bush refer to each other by the presidential numbers, 41 and 43, and wants people to remember he was 42.
Getting pumped for the big fight
There'll be no more Nantucket windsurfing for John Kerry or Crawford chain-sawing for George Bush . It's time to prep for the next--and last--big fight, the televised election debates. "They'll be very important," says Kerry campaign chief Mary Beth Cahill. In Kerry's corner, the candidate will watch tapes of Bush's old debates with Al Gore and former Texas Gov. Ann Richards for tips. "Kerry," says an insider, "is convinced that Bush is a deceptively skillful debater, like none he's ever faced before." He'll be especially tuned into how Gore's eye-rolling and moans helped Bush. Kerry's no slouch, either. Aides say that when he ties on the gloves for the debates, Kerry morphs into an aggressive brawler. The Bush team has heard that, so they ordered up videos of Kerry's debates, like the famous matches with former Massachusetts guv William Weld. Bush's team has even quizzed Weld, who warned that Kerry will say anything to win. One trick to pump Bush up: Aides cut a highlight tape of Kerry's personal attacks on the president. Bush listens to them--for inspiration.
Heinz--not Kerry
It's still Teresa Heinz, not Heinz Kerry, when it comes to the Heinz Family Philanthropies. A spokesman reveals that the outfit "never changed" the letterhead or her signature when she decided to add "Kerry" during the primary campaigns. One letter dated July 29, 2004, is signed "Teresa Heinz." Campaign associates insist that she permanently changed her name and that the letter was a mistake. But a Heinz spokesman said the philanthropies are sticking with Heinz so that nobody gets confused about who she is.
The Bachelor's Pick
The Bachelor whom women seem to despise, Missouri banker and restaurateur Aaron Buerge, has made time in his busy dating life since the show ended to star at Barbara and Jenna Bush 's GOP bash in New York. After meeting with the Bush twins, we asked whom he'd rather date. "Barbara," he said without hesitation. "She's very warm, very friendly." He likes that she has "wild hair." What's wrong with Jenna, we asked the dater in chief? Nothing, he says; it's just that Barbara made time to talk to him and Jenna didn't. So it wasn't that he likes brunets over blonds? "It doesn't make a difference," he explains, adding that he's dated about "half and half."
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