Washington Whispers
An Old Hand's Ode to Two Loves
Former Reagan communications and strategy aide Lyn Nofziger isn't just sitting around as he fights an uphill battle against bone cancer. He's creating a tribute to his two passions: conservative journalism and Ronald Reagan. With the support of important friends like former Attorney General Ed Meese, he has created the Lyn Nofziger Fellowship in Journalistic Excellence. The goal is to raise $500,000 to foster college kids interested in Reagan's conservative revolution and values. "He feels this is the best way to honor Ronald Reagan," says friend Cindy Canevaro. She says he is upbeat even though his cancer is progressing rapidly. Canevaro's brother, Mark Tapscott of the Heritage Foundation, says that to cheer up the beloved curmudgeon, several friends cut a video filled with their recollections of Nofziger's work for the Gipper. "He really had no idea that he meant so much to so many people," says Tapscott.
Oscars' MIA Still Shooting in Iraq
Hollywood agent and documentary filmmaker Patrick Dollard wasn't going to make it to the Oscars, but it had nothing to do with the traffic jams near the red carpet. Dollard, Oscar-winning Steven Soderbergh's longtime agent, is in an Iraqi hospital recovering from a roadside bomb attack that temporarily sidelined his project to produce a documentary series on life with the marines in Iraq. Dollard, who kept filming Young Americans after the attack--which killed two marines--says he's staying until he's finished. "I'm certainly not going to dishonor their work with what I feel would be a convenient but cowardly retreat."
On-the-Job Training for Yemen's Jailbirds
There are fears that Iraq is a training ground for bad guys. Here's some proof that may be true: Yemen believes that 23 inmates--including the mastermind of the USS Cole bombing--who broke out of a prison there last month imported their tricks from Iraq. The Yemenis said the digging techniques--using plastic tools and broomsticks--were similar to a prison break at the U.S.-run Camp Bucca in Iraq. Blame word of mouth: Some prisoners spent time in Iraq and very likely spread the Camp Bucca story.
A Sticker to Show You're Stuck on Bill
Are you still pining for Bubba? Now there's a way to show it. The director of the museum store inside the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark., is selling "I miss Bill" bumper stickers. "People would go to the library," says Connie Fails, "and say 'I really miss Bill.'" Her initial run of 500 sold out in three days. "I pull into the Kroger parking lot," Fails tells us, "and it's a hoot for me to see these bumper stickers."
With With Suzi Parker and Kevin Whitelaw
advertisement
