A convention story I couldn’t tell until now.
Philadelphia hotels had been booked by donors, delegates and pols long back, like since Truman’s administration. Space was nonexistent. My friends — Maggie Williams, who’d been Hillary’s White House chief of staff, and Lisa Caputo, First Lady Hillary’s press secretary — were at the Logan Hotel.
In Philly’s Year 2000 convention, my bracelet was stolen at the Warwick so, although I didn’t know the Logan from a Motel 6, they wangled me a room.
I’ve reported on the hotel’s 5 a.m. drill. Sirens, alarms, phones blasting the announcement: “Emergency . . . evacuate . . . do not use the elevator . . . take the stairs.” In disarray — bathrobes, pj’s — everyone clustered in the rainy street 45 minutes. No hotel executive in evidence. No excuse given.
Next day, nobody knew anything. The manager did not manage to answer my questions.
Two days later, Obama checked in. This had been a security and fire-alarm test.
A full-on posse took over. Magnetometer. Blocked elevator. Cars checked. Barricade. Police dog. Conga line of uniformed cops. Holsters, guns, badges, dark glasses. Without the Hubble, you could see what was suddenly there.
OK. But the Secret Service is supposed to be secret. Movie moles are always hidden. Under cover. Civilian dress. Reading a pretend newspaper in the lobby. These guys did everything but put up a billboard.
Leftover from both conventions
CNN Grill’s hot food favorite was Starr Catering’s hot sauce. Stephen Colbert, David Schwimmer, Ashley Judd, H. Clinton favor the flavor, which went with the hot air . . . Rudy Giuliani’s son, Andrew, around everywhere with Papa, is transitioning from golf pro to real estate . . . The 411 on maybe VP Tim Kaine: At public advocating — “A.” At public speaking — “Oy.”
Midtown, Greater Cleveland, heart of the city, is inexpensive. A 2,500-square-foot modernized house with upgraded appointments is $250,000 to buy . . . Sept. 6, commentator Larry Kudlow’s new book, which he wrote with Brian Domitrovic, is Penguin’s “JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity.”
About Callista’s yen to be out front and in every photo, husband Newt Gingrich has said: “I had three wives. I can’t take another.” RNC chat on Jeb Bush: “He spent hours studying the Republican Party manual. You can see how that helped him” . . . Schumer: “April 17, my daughter got married. I need a grandchild. May she hurry up and move things along quickly” . . . Black lives chatter: With Dinkins, Carl McCall and Rangel huddled together, Dinkins, using a cane, said: “I’m 89. Getting into advanced years.”
Back in time
Pilgrims began all this December 1620, when they unpacked their bangers and mash, kidney pudding, fish and chips — saw burgers, fries, popcorn, peanut butter, mac and cheese — and by the shores of Gitchee Goomie or wherever, before Nancy Pelosi’s hair colorist was even born, they knew they’d found heaven.
So, 400ish years later, there are presidential conventions.
Current pick mouths off
Donald: “TV’s not all dishonest. Only 70 percent of it.” Also: “I will be working so hard. I will be so smart” . . . At the GOP thing, I bumped into a “Duck Dynasty” Robertson brother. Me: “Why specifically are you here?” Him: “I’m here to help the cause.” Me: “What cause?” Him: “The Almighty.” Another A-1 interview on my part, I thought.
Meanwhile, back in civilization, trainer Kenneth Ferrer’s thinking what music to download. In the locker room, Justin Bieber — who reportedly turned down $5 million to perform at an event near the GOP Convention — with two bodyguards. Assuming it’s a sign from above, he downloads a Bieber remix.
Only at Chelsea Piers Sports Center gym, kids, only at Chelsea Piers Sports Center gym.