A Fundraiser With Bill and Hillary
And Election Time In Queens

It’s Election Day . . . or rather the last column that I’m writing before Election Day 2000.

Although, we share some thoughts on local elections below, the big boys and girls stole our attention this past week.

Fundraising goes hand-in-hand with elections.

I had the opportunity to sit in the catbird seat (whatever that means) during a major league fundraiser last week. The guest of honor was Bill Clinton, the fundraiser for Hillary. Let me explain.

You’ve all met Mike Nussbaum, the Tribune associate publisher who has shared a common office wall with me for more than a decade. Mike is not only my colleague and friend but the son of the famous dog lady, Edith Nussbaum, who faces eviction at the hands of an out-of-control Co-op Board of Directors of Clearview Gardens. You remember her, too.

The Nussbaums go back a long way with the Clintons. Mike’s first cousin Bernie, who served as counsel to the President during Clinton’s first term, first met Hillary in 1974 when she worked for him on the Watergate Investigation. Back then, she introduced Bernie to her boyfriend Bill who declared to Bernie a quarter of a century ago that one day he would be President. Bernie patted him on the back, gave some words of encouragement and said, "Keep in touch."

They did.

Each time Bill ran for office, Bernie was there helping — financially. Each time Bill won an election, he would call him and invite him to come down for the inaugural. Bernie always responded by saying "next time." He passed on Arkansas Attorney General and Governor, but next time finally came.

Bernie, Mike, his wife Dale and the Nussbaum clan were there in DC to watch Bill Clinton be sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. Bernie stayed.

It was now a couple of weeks before Hillary’s election and the Nussbaum family again offered to help. This time it was Mike and Dale. A rally — at $50 per head — was planned for 1,000 people at Local 3’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building in Electchester to be attended by the President.

Mike and Dale offered their home for an intimate more expensive cocktail fundraising reception. But as Mike puts it, "moving a 1,000 lb. gorilla causes the earth to shake," and the Secret Service nixed a second location for the first couple.

So the invitation stood and arrangements had to be made for the cocktail party in the same building as the rally. The fun had begun for an unknowing Michael Nussbaum. Mike and Dale are seasoned fundraisers, having played in the political arena for some two decades. However, they had no idea what it was like to have the White House and Senate campaign staff descend on their small Queens community.

Raising the money wasn’t the hard part. For a photo and a handshake people were willing to fork over the $1,000 per head and more. The money flow started as a trickle, then moved to a rapid stream that ended with calls demanding that more room be found to accommodate more than the intimate 50 person capacity room. Yup, he can draw them in, POTUS, that is. With him was to be FLOTUS, likely New York’s next US Senator.

At the office, Mike stood guard over the President’s soda and nuts (actually pictured here) until he met up with the White House official food watcher.

But before the big 45-minute event, there were arrangements to be made. Mike met the Secret Service and the good folks from the caterers, Anthony’s restaurant, at the room. Security checked, arrangements approved.

The weekend prior to the event it was a constant barrage of cell phone calls for the Nussbaums, from White House and campaign staff, White House travel and advance, and Secret Service. A new wrinkle, food service had to be provided for White House working press. The Government would pay for that — but arrangements had to be made. Social Security numbers were required to check out each guest.

The day of the event another call — in case he’s hungry, the President requires: "hot water, decaf coffee, a can of diet coke kept in a bowl of ice, mixed nuts — unsalted — and fruit."

The evening came and the forty-five minute event went in forty-five minutes. The Nussbaums, in spite of the pressure, had a ball and a couple of minutes alone with the First Couple. Scott, Mike and Dale’s oldest son, and the President compared notes on playing the Alto Sax, Mike and Dale told Hillary they can’t wait to join her in January when she is sworn in as US Senator.

The folks from Anthony’s restaurant were serving Macari wine from their family vineyard on Long Island’s North Fork. Leave it to the Clinton’s, they knew the wine and the vineyard from hobnobbing with Hampton Hoohahs. I think I saw a Secret Service guy carrying out a case.

I had the pleasure of being there. And even though my photographer Dee Richard was there, the Secret Service took over and only the White House and Campaign lensmen were allowed to shoot. You’ll have to wait to see my pic with Bill and Hill.

It was the second time I met the President. Seven years earlier he wasn’t nearly as gray but he was just as captivating, charismatic and magical. There are none like him. It was the third time this year I met Hillary. She’s pretty darn good herself. The two are bright, committed to service and enchanting. No matter how many people they meet in a day, they seem to talk to each one. They listen to your words and respond.

I voted for Bill, twice. Would do so again if it weren’t for those damn term limits. As far as Senator, I’ve met them both (Hillary and Rick) and for me the choice is clear.

Maybe Hillary will invite me to join her at her inaugural, too.

The next evening Mike’s cell phone rang again. It was Hillary, calling to say thanx.

LITTLE CHOICE IN QUEENS

Politics is local. But local elections leave a lot to be desired.

Back when this year’s process began — as candidates scrambled to prepare for petitioning to get on the ballot — I penned the little ditty that follows to explain why this political junkie spends so little time and space commenting on races for local elective office.

In Queens this Election Day, we are choosing seven members of Congress, seven State Senators and 16 members of the Assembly. Of these 30 local elected offices, 29 incumbents are seeking reelection. Only Denis Butler, Assemblyman 36th District is not running again. The race to replace him between Dem Mike Gianaris and Republican Vince Tabone has been more spirited than expected. Although Gianaris is expected to have an easy time of it, Tabone has made an admirable presentation in a district that is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Of the 29 others, local pundits say that perhaps one seat could change hands. In a changing State Senate District (11th) with increasing Democratic registration, 28-year-veteran Republican Frank Padavan is facing an aggressive challenge from local activist Rory Lancman. The State Senate Dems are pouring major bucks into this race with the distant hope of gaining enough seats to recapture the majority.

This writer believes neither will happen. Although Lancman will come closer to Padavan than any candidate before, his power of incumbency translates into name recognition and major money and thus, in our judgment, puts this the only real contest in the borough, slightly out of reach.

The rest of the races are just incumbents against a list of names who will appear on the ballot. Sadly, the two party system doesn’t work in Queens.

EMAIL ABUSE

Things are bad online for the Tribune.

We have been bombarded by unwanted email from one source. My email box, our editor’s, and our news departments, both of Queens Tribune and Press, have been receiving endless emails from the campaign of Senate candidate Rick Lazio.

The overwhelming portion of those emails is Hillary bashing to the point of disgust. Tamara Hartman, our editor, appropriately wrote back to the Lazio campaign giving them one email address for all their correspondence to the Tribune and PRESS. She requested that the rest of the emails to queenstribune.com or queenspress.com be discontinued.

Well, the Lazio folks got the email. They started sending dozens a day to the new address . . .and the old addresses too. So now we have some eight emailboxes receiving several dozen press releases entitled things like "Truth #6" from the GOP senator wannabe.

Tamara called and emailed again: "I have been in touch with you by phone and email (this is my third email) informing you that you are sending your releases to the wrong addresses.

When I informed you that they were being blanketly erased at the old addresses, you did add the proper address to your list, however you left the old addresses on the list and our paper is now receiving more copies of your mail than ever . . . to a point where some of my staff members feel they are being harassed by your campaign and your candidate.

Again, I respectfully request . . . in this my third correspondence of a type I have not had to make to any other political candidate, ever . . . please remove the following addresses
from your send sheet today. If they are not removed, I will be calling again to make a formal complaint by phone."

Tamara naturally gave the address that the offending emails were being sent to and sent to and sent to.

The abuse began long before we endorsed Hillary Clinton for Senate. I’m also somewhat certain that the candidate would not approve
of the behavior of his campaign staff. The abuse continues. Next Tuesday when it’s all over we hope they go away.

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors."
— Plato

Footnote: POTUS stands for President of the U.S. You figure out FLOTUS.

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Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@queenspress.com