1981

It is late August and the Democrats are set to take over Chicago. I can safely predict two things about their convention. The delegates pictured on TV will be more attractive than those I saw in San Diego. (See Arianna Huffington, Newt Gingrich.) And I'm certain that Jeff Kemp will not be ascending their podium. I did not hear his speech but I'm sure he done us proud. As these notes hit your mailbox, we will have learned whether the class of 1981 has new-found access to the leader of the free world. I'm gonna guess no.

Speaking of Republicans, had dinner with Elliot Davis recently. All I know about Elliot's vocation is that he invests other people's money. He lives in San Francisco, travels around the world (often in pursuit of great fly-fishing), and looks like he stepped out of a Fitzgerald novel. So I'm going to assume that these "other people" have loads of dough and that they are well-served by Elliot's financial acumen. Nancy, Elliot's wife, oddly enough, looks like she may have met Elliot at the same East Egg party. I think she's from L.A., and I know she took some of her education in Charlottesville. If you've never been to UVA, you have missed some of this country's most interesting architecture. And I have a hunch that our very own Jim Rill could tell you all about it. (Tortured segues for 400, Alex?) Jim is an architect in Bethesda, and a house he designed in Round Hill, Va., recently won a Southern Home Award from Southern Living magazine. Those of you who still cling to certain regional prejudices, let me assure you that this is a prestigious award. I once had this magazine on my coffee table. Enough said. I know nothing of Jim's political leanings. I'm thinking, the artist in Jim says Clinton. The time spent in fierce combat with Jeff Kemp on the gridiron, I'm thinking, also says Clinton. I don't know.

Ran into Mark Hanson at work last week. Mark was working as the assistant director on both Dave's World and BostonCommon (television shows for you readers out there). I'm sure he's doing other shows and projects, but we did not have time to chit-chat. We're both very powerful Hollywood players. There's no time to chit-chat when you're as big as we are. By the length of his hair, I'm gonna say a fervent Clinton supporter.

And what to think of Tom McGonagle and Anne Hallagher. As everyone knows, ski couples never die, they just move to Greenwich. Tom's an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin, Jenrette in the City. Anne just had dieir third little girl. Morgan joins Erin and Caitlin. When we were all in the Bema a year or so ago, I ran smack into Erin. I immediately knew who her mother was. Erin's very pretty, no gift for foreign languages. (Annie was with me in the LSA in Blois. Pas bon.) Erin assured me that her parents, notwithstanding that whole Greenwich Country Club, labrador in the back of the Range Rover thing, were still Democrats. Well, that her mom was.

As for me, I plan to vote my pocket book. I'm thinking the big guy from Hope likes his television. That he's tuned into his fair share of sitcoms. And, unlike the statesman from Kansas, he probably doesn't mind if we here in Hollywood occasionally work "blue." Bottom line, I'm voting for Clinton because I like to tell dirty jokes.

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