Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s middle son, Brian, 43, has made a name for himself in his own right. The Scottsdale, Ariz., real estate broker – who is also a pilot, skydiver and experienced climber (he participated in the Mt. Everest 2003 Expedition) – is attempting another thrill-seeking adventure. He’s planned a 12,400-foot dive into the North Atlantic ocean to visit the Titanic ship wreck site in a tiny two-seat submersible. His companion on this adventure, scheduled for July 6, is Fran Capo, the world’s fastest talking female (603.32 words per minute) according to the “Guinness Book of World Records.” Capo, a stand-up comedienne and motivational speaker, hopes to set another world record, this time with O’Connor, but in the meantime, she’ll use the dive to plug her book, “Adrenaline Adventures” by signing copies underwater. The fast-talker told her friend O’Connor, “It’s never been done; let’s do it together.” Not sure she’ll have that much to say to Brian underwater! But she did become an ordained minister and plans to do a non-denominational maritime prayer over the wreck for the fallen passengers. The duo has enlisted an unusual group of sponsors including GoldenPalace.com, the online casino which bought the supposed image of the Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich.
Japanese powerhouses
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao told five high level Japanese ministers at a dinner party at Roy Pfautch’s Kalorama home on Monday evening that we appreciate their country’s generosity in tsumai relief and thanked them for their support in the world of terror. The dinner was to introduce the Honourable Taro Aso, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Telecommunications in Japan, who has served in the Japanese Diet for eight terms and is a close ally of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In fact both his grandfathers were prime ministers. Other guests included former U.S. Trade Rep. Carla Hills, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta just back from Japan, former CIA Director William Webster, former Attorney General Ed Meese (now at Heritage Foundation), and House Majority Whip Roy Blount, R-Mo., Some joked about the powerful politicians who have served as U.S. ambassador to Japan including Howard Baker and Tom Foley, and now we’ve sent Texan Tom Schieffer, the guy who used to run George Bush’s baseball team, to Japan. Not a lightweight by any means, President Bush appointed Schieffer – CBS newsman Bob Schieffer’s younger brother – ambassador to Australia before his posting to Japan.
DukesFest for the rest of us
Former Rep. Ben Jones, D-Ga. – who is probably better known as Cooter, Hazzard County’s ace mechanic in the ’80s hit TV series, “The Dukes of Hazzard,” now on CMT (the country music network operated by MTV) – is having “a phenomenal resurgence of popularity.” Jones created the DukesFest in 2001 near his home in Sperryville, Va., and moved it last year to the Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. Y’all come on down to the reunion, June 4 and 5, of original cast members – Jones, Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke), John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Shooter Jennings and of course, scores of bright orange ’69 Dodge Chargers known as General Lees. “This show is to this generation what the B-Western was to my generation. The good guys won,” said Jones. “We were doing the B-Western with cars instead of horses. That’s why it was so popular. Hazzard County was an idyllic place.”
Gee, she doesn’t behave like a desperate housewife
First Lady Laura Bush – looking elegant in a gray suit – and several of her staffers had a delightful lunch on Wednesday afternoon at Black Salt in the Palisades area of D.C. She arrived at about 12:30 p.m. and they ate and chatted at a semi-private round table until 2 p.m. The heavy security on MacArthur Boulevard attracted a group of gawkers and well-wishers in this relatively quiet neighborhood. Among them: Ann Hand, whose jewelry shop is down the block. One of Mrs. Bush’s aides spotted Hand – the first lady showed off the designer’s Swarovski crystal necklace and earrings during her infamous comical stand-up at last Saturday’s White House Correspondents shindig – and brought her over to the car to wave hello.
Hizzoner just loves LaLa Land
D.C. Mayor Tony Williams wasn’t about to show favoritism at The White House Correspondents’ Dinner last Saturday evening. Instead of going as a guest of any of Washington’s three daily papers, he accepted an invitation from the Los Angeles Times this year. “Just mixing it up a bit,” said his spokesman.
Sununu back in view
Sighting: That was former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu, now working with Trinity International Partners, a private financial firm, enjoying a quiet dinner with a view at CityZen in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Tuesday evening.