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Margo Howard and Martin Peretz

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from: Margo Howard

A "Funeral" for Clinton

Posted Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at 2:38 PM ET

Dear Marty,

You mentioned someone I hadn't thought of in years: your peace candidate, H. Stuart Hughes. (Wasn't he a handsome devil?) I took a course with him when I was at Harvard summer school. Well, "took" may be stretching it a little. I was enrolled for three weeks, or maybe it was two, before withdrawing and going to spend the rest of the summer in Hyannis. (No, not with any of them.)

You talk about all the people who found a way to avoid the draft, Republicans and Democrats alike. Clinton and Bush both fit into this category, though extend the story a little and try to imagine Dubya as a Rhodes. Ashcroft as well. Which reminds me, the phrase du jour is that this very afternoon John Ashcroft will be "grilled" by the Senate. Reminds me of a salmon steak. Too bad all the news guys use the same words.

I don't mean to trump your ace, but I met Ms. Rodham Clinton (as she insisted on being called) once, like you, only she was actually very nice to me. The difference may have been that I didn't own a magazine where the entity known as The Clintons routinely got skewered. (No, I did not mean to write screwed.) As for Laura Bush, I instinctively like her from what I have read. People have really nice things to say about her, and I will find it refreshing not to have one of the Borgias as first lady. And you have that whole closet thing wrong, by the way, but maybe it's a guy thing. I am, in fact, going to try to find some shoeboxes myself and then arrange my own shoes that way. (The only problem may be that I have thrown them out. But you never know ... they may show up in the pantry.)

I did want to share one item with you--and as you would say--the onlookers. The Media Research Center is having a "funeral" for Clinton and his administration. (Very tasteful, don't you think?) The "master of condolences" is L. Brent Bozell, whoever that is, with Christopher Buckley and Jackie Mason giving eulogies. Lucianne Goldberg has said what they will be mourning is "the oncoming boredom" with no scandals. To that, I say, "Wanna bet?"

XX,
Margo

the breakfast table
entries
12345678910111213141516
from: Margo Howard

A "Funeral" for Clinton

Posted Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at 2:38 PM ET
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Margo Howard writes Slate's "Dear Prudence" column. Martin Peretz is a lecturer in social studies at Harvard and editor in chief and chairman of the New Republic.
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