Usually reunions get smaller as time goes on, but this was not the case of the 94th Congress – perhaps better known as the class of ’74, the Watergate babies, who added leftist muscle to the Congress – for this class of 75 Democrats has faithfully reunited since it swept into office as a result of Richard Nixon’s downfall. The group gathered at the Cosmos Club on Friday evening, where the feeling was upbeat. One member of the class told me that many reminisced that “it would be ungrateful if we didn’t give some recognition to W. Mark Felt and Richard Nixon, who helped us get here.” The group – which included Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Steve Solarz (N.Y.), Tom Downey (N.Y.), Dick Ottinger (N.Y.), Jim Scheuer (N.Y.), Jim Florio (N.J.), Jim Blanchard (Mich.), Elliott Levitas (Ga.), Matt McHugh (N.Y.), Glenn English (Okla.), Marty Russo (Ill.), Bob Carr (Mich.), Steve Neal (N.C.), John Jenrette (S.C.), Carroll Hubbard (Kan.), Jim Oberstar (Minn.), Herb Harris (Va.) and Martha Keyes (Kan.), looking very handsome – recognized their shared bond, as well as the reforms, that came about as a result of the Watergate experience. This group of reform-minded idealists changed the practices of the Democratic Party on seniority and open meetings.
With apologies to Norm Mineta …
There were too many egos in that group for one designated speaker. But going around the room, many of the former members as they got up to talk began with, “Apologies to Norm Mineta” … and then continued to say something negative about the current administration. Nevertheless, Mineta, a Democrat serving in the Bush administration, was treated with respect.
Some members of the class moved on to higher political office; others are powerful lobbyists. Steve Solarz, who got the travel bug while in Congress, built a vacation getaway in Turkey, where he’ll spend the month of August. … Downey, at the time the youngest elected representative in U.S. history, quipped, “I’m still the youngest member of this class.” Some went from being bomb-throwers and calling for accountability, changing seniority rules, open meetings and shaking the place up to being some of the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. The feeling was one of camaraderie and mutual support.
A copyright bargain
The co-author of W. Mark Felt’s 1979 book, “The FBI Pyramid from the Inside,” Ralph De Toledano, was approached by Putnam to work on the manuscript for $15,000. But two years ago, De Toledano accepted a $5,000 offer from Felt’s son to relinquish his copyright to the book because the son wanted to add material. In the original book, Felt denied being “Deep Throat.”
Deep Nose spoof
Drawing on parallels between the Nixon and Bush administrations, local artist Jim Seimer’s new T-shirt design – Bushocchio – has taken the National Mall by storm. The shirt shows a caricature of President Bush with Pinocchio’s nose.
Pol turned ready wit
The quick-witted former Rep. Andy Jacobs Jr., D-Ind., sent me the following e-mail from Indianapolis about the Bush administration’s stalled nominee to become ambassador to the United Nations: “What’s all the fuss about John Bolton? People who know him will tell you he’s a very even-tempered guy – always mad.”
Gitmo cleaner than D.C. jail?
While Bill Clinton and others have voiced criticisms of the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, former Solicitor General Ted Olson told pals at a reception the other evening that when he visited the prison, there was a pleasant ocean breeze blowing through, and in fact, Olson continued, in terms of cleanliness, conditions weren’t nearly as bad as right here at home in the D.C. jail.
A night for the dogs
Doggie ice cream, treats on silver trays for pampered pooches and a silent auction which included doggie day care, getaways to pup portraits and tarot readings, drew 800 “black-tied” dog lovers and 400 canines to the 18th annual Bark Ball – Rex and the City – at the Renaissance Hotel on Saturday evening. The dogs were well-groomed, well-dressed and mostly well-behaved, with the exception of one aging Chihuahua who nipped a photographer’s arm. Another three-pound Chihuahua, Lilli, who wasn’t fond of a Great Dane, tried to take a piece out of his nose. However, the Dane was used to “little bitches” because she lives with a Chinese crested, Lilli’s owner, Arlington dentist Henry Wray, told me while Campari, Cappuccino and Biscotti watched the action from pup-eye level.
‘Vaccinated’ for Senate battles
The event, which benefited the Washington Humane Society, honored Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who was a practicing veterinarian before coming to Congress, and has taken his animal advocacy to the Senate on issues relating to the protection of animals and prevention of animal cruelty. As for the Senate: “I had my rabies vaccine before I came here to politics, so now I’m ready for the fights,” Ensign said.