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A Smithsonian sellout? Smithsonian gets ready for ‘Museum’
 We reported last week that “Night at the Museum II: Escape from the Smithsonian,” the 20th Century Fox film starring Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Owen Wilson and Dick Van Dyke will soon film in Washingtonian. Now, the Smithsonian is prepping its employees for the festivities. In two internal notes to Smithsonian employees obtained by Yeas & Nays, acting Undersecretary for History, Art and Culture Richard Kurin says the museum signed a contract with 20th Century Fox on April 28 “and will receive compensation for its role in the film.” “This is the first time in its 162-year history that the Smithsonian has allowed its name to be used in the title of a movie produced for theatrical distribution,” writes Kurin. “Why now? The popularity of the first movie convinced us that this is an innovative way to capture the imagination and curiosity of a young audience. The film positively portrays museums and historical artifacts and will shine the bright lights of Filming crews will be at either the Kurin calls the Castle filming “some of the most complicated we have ever done at the Smithsonian.” “Night at the Museum II” is making the Smithsonian spruce up the place, too. “Kurin notes a request “by Fox to fill out the flowers surrounding the Joseph Henry statue so that no ground shows through.” And they’ve also requested “hanging baskets outside of the Castle (we can ask them to supply if needed).” |
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Feith: History will ‘revise’ views of war
 Douglas Feith, the former undersecretary of defense for policy under Donald Rumsfeld and a chief architect of the Iraq War, said he wouldn’t be at all surprised if history mitigates current criticisms of the war.“It’s almost inevitable given the course of time,” he said Thursday at the “Q&A Cafe” at Nathans of Georgetown. After 20 or 30 years, history always presents “a revision in some substantial way” to the way events are perceived by contemporaries. Feith has been busy promoting his new book, “War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.” So has the reaction been particularly venomous, asked host Carol Joynt. “It’s been all right,” he said. “When you’re talking to someone who’s actually read the book, it’s a lot easier. … The book was an opportunity to present some accurate information about the decision-making.” Later, he assured the crowd that he has “peace” about his role in the war, and does not consider himself a “scapegoat.” He did, however, have plenty to say about the current tone of American politics: ?There’s “all too much reviling going on.” ? “Errors get described as lies and people get their motives impugned.” ? “I value serious thought a lot more than I value underlying anger.” ? “I don’t think it’s appropriate for people to challenge other people’s humanity.” Not that he’ll have to worry about it much in the future. “I would not expect to go back to the White House” in a future administration, he said. |
Bygones are bygones: Journos honor LBJ in prep for his big week
 Washington will toast President Johnson next week in honor of his 100th birthday, but a few reporters who covered his administration got things off to an early start at the Metropolitan Club on Tuesday night.Hosted by LBJ aide Lloyd Hand and legendary Washington Post scribe David Broder, the cocktail party drew the likes of Hearst’s Helen Thomas, the Dallas Morning News’ Carl Leubsdorf, Politico’s Andy Glass and The Hill’s Al Eisele. Explaining LBJ’s unique relationship with the press, Hand told us, “Some of the press felt like they worked for him.” Next week, amid a breakfast in the LBJ room of the Capitol and a luncheon in Statuary Hall, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will proclaim “LBJ Day.” Other activities include a symposium on the 36th president at the National Archives, and a reunion of his staffers. |
Stewart v. Colbert: Norquist double dribbles Comedy Central
 Plenty of Washingtonians have done either Comedy Central’s popular “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report,” but very few have done both.Add Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist to that elite category. The “titan in Washington” (to quote Stephen Colbert’s introduction of Norquist) appeared on “The Colbert Report” Wednesday night and spoke with us afterward. “It was one of the most challenging interviews I’ve ever done because it’s so unpredictable and he’s so bright,” said Norquist. Still, he thinks he held his own. “I think Colbert was off his game, perhaps because I appeared on the same day that the Bush administration listed polar bears as an endangered species.” (Colbert famously jokes on his show about his fear of bears.) Norquist explained why “The Colbert Report” is a more challenging interview than “The Daily Show.” “Stewart will challenge you from a moderately liberal position, but I face that everyday talking to the New York Times,” said Norquist. “When Colbert asks me an oddball question, he starts by saying ‘You and I agree on something,’ than he says something odd. … He’s amazingly quick and you have to be prepared for the unexpected.” Norquist said he wasn’t nervous and called Colbert “a delightful guy.” He also conceded to preparing for both appearances by watching some clips of the shows on YouTube. “If any conservatives want to go on, I’d love to brief them,” said Norquist. “It’s less scary and more fun than you think it’s going to be.” |
More wedding bells at Fox
 First Jim Angle, now Molly Henneberg: The single folks at Fox are falling fast.Henneberg, a D.C.-based correspondent, is marrying Marine Capt. Christian Nagel on July 12 at The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va., where she grew up. Nagel is a lawyer in the Marines, currently assigned to U.S. District Court in Alexandria. She tells us they met at a Christmas party in early December through a mutual friend, not knowing that they went to the same church and that their fathers have known one another for 30 years. |
High-flying VIPs
 Washington Capitals' Team Captain Chris Clark talks to Dr. Deborah Gist, State Superintendent of Education for DC, upon his return Wednesday from a 45 minute VIP flight in Blue Angels 7, an FA-18 Hornet, as part of this weekend's Air Show at Andrews Air Force Base. Gist got to fly immediately after Clark's return. (Photo by Greg Whitesell/Examiner) “They told me they don’t eject on Wednesdays, so we’re all set,” joked Washington Capitals right winger Chris Clark, before being strapped into a Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet for a flight at Andrews Air Force Base Wednesday. Clark and D.C. State Superintendent of Education Deborah Gist were the lucky VIPs who each got to ride along in the plane’s rear seat on Wednesday as part of the base’s publicity push for its annual air show this weekend. During the 45-minute flights, Lt. Frank Weisser piloted the aircraft through some of its high-performance moves, including a simulated aircraft carrier launch at takeoff (32,000 pounds of thrust, thank you), a 500-foot-per-second climb for seven seconds just after takeoff, speeds just shy of supersonic, and a tight turn to simulate the final approach to a carrier, which would have them pulling 7.5 Gs. But first, some debriefing. During the 7.5G-maneuver, crew chief Austin Armstrong warned Clark, “take a deep breath, flex your legs, hold these handles up here and keep your upper body loose. If you do that correctly, it won’t allow you to black out and go into G lock.” Oh. “I hope he looks good” when he gets back, “and not green,” said Gist, who insisted she wasn’t nervous to go up next. So how’d Clark do? “He did awesome,” Weisser said. “We did test him. We did everything the airplane could do.” “It was the coolest thing I’ve done,” said a sweaty Clark. “I was definitely claustrophobic at the beginning, but we just kept talking.” For Clark, the process started months ago. “We invite these people to ‘nominate themselves’ and get a physical,” said Lt. Col. Catherine Reardon, the chief of public affairs for the 316th Wing at Andrews. A big supporter of the military, Clark jumped at the chance. Reardon said they had initially asked D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee as well, but she had scheduling issues (or maybe she’s chicken?). So how did our people compare to other VIPs, Lt. Weisser? “You guys have some solid athletes here in D.C.,” he said, adding that everyone reacts differently. “I’ve had professional football players say they just want to cruise around, and I’ve had 65-year-old mothers of five say, ‘I wanna pull some Gs!’” |
Save the 'sweetie'
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At a campaign stop Wednesday at a Chrysler plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., local TV reporter Peggy Agar asked Barack Obama what he’d do for struggling autoworkers. “Hold on one second, sweetie,” he replied, explaining that he would later answer at a press availability. But there was none forthcoming, and as Agar said on the air, “This sweetie never did get an answer.” Obama later apologized to her in a message on her cell phone. |
A blessing from Barbara
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At Tuesday night’s “Celebration of Reading” event held at Strathmore, we found proof of what we’ve all suspected: That former first lady Barbara Bush is tougher than her husband, former President George H.W. Bush. The event was put on by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and, throughout the evening, the Naval Academy’s Mens Glee Club performed soaring renditions of myriad patriotic songs. At the beginning of the program, Mr. Bush turned to the singers on stage and began to thank them. “Thank you for everything you do for your country,” Bush began, but that’s about as far as he got. He instantly got choked up, placed his hands over his face and was unable to continue with his prepared remarks. Ever the matriarch, Barbara Bush stepped in to finish what her husband couldn’t, telling the group, “Thank you for everything you do. God bless you and God bless the U.S.A.” The two then took their seats. |
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Rosty: Also on LBJ’s hit list
.jpg) Don’t be surprised if former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., is among those eager to read the transcripts of the latest tape-recorded conversations of President Johnson, which were released by the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum earlier this month.The 13 hours of conversations, which took place in early 1968 when LBJ was grappling with the anti-war opposition that later caused him to decide against running for re-election, include some acid comments about Rostenkowski, who came to Congress in 1959. LBJ bitterly complained to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley in a phone conversation on Jan. 20, 1968, about Rostenkowski, who was a Daley protege. He said he’d like to further Rostenkowski’s career, but accused him of “whoring around with every damned bad mouther and dissident” in the anti-war movement. Daley was sympathetic, according to Robert Garrett of the Dallas Morning News. “He told Mr. Johnson that he often warned Mr. Rostenkowski not to answer every reporter’s question or take stands on every issue,” Garrett said. “Don’t talk too much because you’ll have to retract too much,” Daley said. Rostenkowski, of course, went on to become of the most powerful members of Congress. He became chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in 1981, but was defeated in 1994 after being indicted on corruption charges involving mail fraud in the House post office scandal. He later served 17 months in a Wisconsin minimum-security prison. |
Jerry Falwell: Woman stealer
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“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife,” commands the Bible. Your roommate’s fiancee? That’s another story. In her new biography of her husband, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Macel Falwell explains their unique courtship. “In the fall of 1952,” she writes, “Jerry moved to Springfield to attend Baptist Bible College. His roommate in the dorm was … none other than my fiance, Julius. Jerry might have been born again, but he wasn’t sanctified enough not to do everything in his power to come between Julius and me.”
To that end, Falwell “conveniently forgot” to give Julius messages from her, and even destroyed letters that poor Julius had written to her and entrusted to Falwell, sending his own instead. Of course, that wouldn’t be the only trouble Falwell would get into during his 72 years. Macel also attempts to explain Falwell’s comments in the wake of 9/11, when he appeared to place the blame for the attacks on America’s permissive attitude toward abortion and homosexuality. “To understand how things went awry that day, you must grasp the biblical perspective of sin and judgment as Jerry did,” she writes. Furthermore, “Jerry was exhausted when he agreed to the interview with Pat Robertson, and never anticipated that Pat would ask him who bore responsibility for God’s removing His protection from America. … Later, Jerry wished he had given a different answer.” Also in the book, their son Jonathan recalls a meeting they had at Larry Flynt’s offices in California, long after their battle in the Supreme Court. “Across Larry’s desk were all the latest issues of his pornographic magazines. Dad hated pornography, but he liked Larry Flynt, the king of porn. … At one point, Larry suggested that Dad try a diet that had helped him, and he had his secretary download it for him.” In that sense, Flynt fares much better in the book than Bill Maher. The comic/talk-show host “was rude and disrespectful and did everything in his power to try to fit Dad into the caricature that the media had painted of him,” says Jonathan. But despite the “demeaning” nature of the appearance, Falwell said it was worth it. “I just preached the gospel to millions of people tonight and Bill Maher paid for it.” Adds Macel: “Jerry was willing to be made a fool for the sake of the gospel.” |
Jeff Dufour & Patrick Gavin
People, power and politics in the beltway, by the Washington Examiner's Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin. Got a juicy tip? Send an e-mail to yan@dcexaminer.com.
People, power and politics in the beltway, by the Washington Examiner's Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin. Got a juicy tip? Send an e-mail to yan@dcexaminer.com.
- A Smithsonian sellout? Smithsonian gets ready for ‘Museum’
- Feith: History will ‘revise’ views of war
- Bygones are bygones: Journos honor LBJ in prep for his big week
- Stewart v. Colbert: Norquist double dribbles Comedy Central
- More wedding bells at Fox
- High-flying VIPs
- Save the 'sweetie'
- A blessing from Barbara
- Rosty: Also on LBJ’s hit list
- Jerry Falwell: Woman stealer
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Interesting Donald Trump interview on CNBC
Listen to The Donald's thoughts on the real estate industry on CNBC. As usual, entertaining and interesting, and always bombastic. ...
