Washington Whispers
Now Warming Up, Hillary the Comic
When Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton last month popped off a funny seemingly aimed at her hubby-"What in my background equips me to deal with evil and bad men?"-many didn't believe her aides who claimed it proved she's a jokester. "People just don't want to believe that she's funny, has a sense of humor, or is three dimensional," says one. Well, as they say in Missouri, show me.
Let's start with her laugh. "People think that big belly laugh of hers is not real, but it is," pleads a friend. "She has a deep laugh that just makes you cackle." And apparently, it's heard often by staff. That's because she regularly plays pranks on them. Her fave: throwing surprise birthday parties. Sometimes Bill Clinton's the butt of a joke, like the time the former president was waxing on about signs of life on Mars to the press and she whispered to staff: "OK, Bill, why don't we go upstairs and watch the Sci-Fi Channel." A private humorous moment took place in the Rose Garden when the two played catch, warming up for tossing out the first pitch at different baseball games. "She laughed that she had the better arm," says a Hillary pal, who adds that she used to be addicted to baseball on Game Boy. So why can't she show she's a lovable yuckster? "She's not comfortable on TV, so it doesn't come across," says an ally, "but she'll get it."
And if Elected, He Won't Serve
There's been a lot of buzz lately that smooth communicator Tony Snow ought to run for office once he leaves President Bush's employ. It started when the press secretary began campaigning for Republicans and has heated up with his rounds in GOP circles to suggest better ways to communicate-and win. But, alas, the grip-and-grin life isn't for the former newsman. "I am absolutely Shermanesque," he tells us. "After this job-the best I am likely ever to have-I'm going to do something that will enable me to spend much more time with the family."
Grave Sale: Personal Effects
Auctions commonly follow death, but it's rare-we hope-that parts of the deceased are bid away along with their personal effects. That will be the case at the next online auction from our friends at Alexander Autographs, the big trafficker in political and celeb mementos. The February 24 and 25 alexautographs.com sale will offer some especially grim relics: seven gold-filled molars from Greek shipping tycoon and Jackie O husband Aristotle Onassis and two swatches, one bloodstained, from the limo JFK was riding in when he was shot. "Weird and chilling," says Alexander's Bill Panagopulos.
Almost as Good as Being in Baghdad
When Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus got the Iraq assignment, it meant another star, and his wife had a very special plan. The daughter of a four-star herself, she'd pin her dad's fourth star on her hubby. One prob: The change-of-command ceremony happens in Baghdad. Well, thanks to a suggestion from the previous Iraq team of Gens. John Abizaid and George Casey, Petraeus has crafted a pretty good backup plan: a video link of the promotion ceremony, the morning of the change of command, with his family back home. "They can share the occasion," Petraeus tells us, "and that will be nice."
A Win No Matter What the Outcome
Here's an "only in Washington" tidbit: Former Cheney aide and CIA leak case target Lewis "Scooter" Libby and former suspect Karl Rove use the same PR firm. But it didn't start out that way. Rove, accused by Libby's lawyers of hanging the former veep deputy out to dry, uses Mark Corollo, a former Justice spokesman, for his press. Libby is linked with Barbara Comstock, also a former Justice aide. Well, the two friends have teamed up to form Corollo Comstock Inc. And what a start: Whatever happens in the Libby trial, they can claim a victory.
Laura Loses to Family, Fishing
What's better than working for first lady Laura Bush? Well, in the case of spokeswoman Susan Whitson, it's starting a family and fishing. "I will miss working at the White House and with Mrs. Bush very much," she says. But time's up after handling questions for nearly two years. Her goal after leaving in March is starting a family in the picturesque Virginia town of Little Washington. And look for the weekend angler casting one of famed tier Harry Murray's "Mr. Rapidan" flies for trout and smallmouth bass.
An Act of Godor Good Connections?
It's about the time when colleges and universities send out feelers to potential graduation ceremony speakers, and it's no different at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Well, almost. Its new president, Jim Towey, has connections-the kind that could get President Bush to come. He's the former Bush faith-based initiative director. Naturally, the invitation for the White House has caused a little stink in Latrobe. But Towey's not fretting since he can call on an even higher authority for help: the spirit of Mother Teresa. The former lawyer to the "Saint of the Gutters" plans a volunteer trip with 12 students to Calcutta right before the graduation.
The Colbert Gift Bag Challenge
Papa Bear, there's a problem with your Factor: Your faux rival gives better guest goodie bags. And we hear this from one of the regulars on Fox's O'Reilly Factor hosted by Bill O'Reilly. Jed Babbin, the new editor of Human Events, did a bit on Stephen Colbert's farcical Colbert Report last week and tells us he was rewarded with a huge cache of freebies. Inside a canvas bag were a bottle of Irish whiskey, a collection of Altoids, gift certificates for a pair of Rockports and a tattoo, and even snacks from Muhammad Ali's new G.O.A.T. ("Greatest of All Time") venture. "O'Reilly," Babbin kids, "has some catching up to do." That sounds like a challenge to us. But Fox wasn't biting. "This is O'Reilly!" says a cable exec. "Just coming on is the goodie bag."
With Anna Mulrine
This story appears in the February 12, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.