Guests at Inauguration Will Have Their Hands Full

--With a friend in high places, it was only natural that jellybeans should be among the sanctioned snacks for the 50th presidential inauguration on Jan. 21 in the nation’s capital. But the menu is a bit more varied, according to the inaugural committee, which introduced the official inaugural line of edibles: mints, trail mix and Champagne, and, of course, jellybeans. Snack food that’s not only tasty, but patriotic, is the message. Take the mints, for example. Made by Guy M. Robitaille’s company, Switzer’s of Santa Barbara, the mints are served in the White House. They received raves from Queen Elizabeth and even prompted a call from President Reagan. When asked if he hoped that his mints would be able to compete with jellybeans for the President’s favor, Robitaille replied: “I think the President likes jellybeans, and he likes my mints. They’re two different candies, really. My mints--it’s a gourmet item. You have them after a meal. Jellybeans--you can watch a TV Western and eat them.” The trail mix, in case you’re wondering, has been called Shuttlemix by NASA astronauts, who cart it with them in space. It’s a mixture of macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, dried bananas, papaya, apricots and more. Around 6,000 pounds of Shuttlemix were donated to the Republican National Convention.

--The White House has no comment about a dirty little secret that involves the First Family. But, if you’re eager for the inside scoop, here it is: Lucky, the 3-month-old purebred Bouvier sheep dog that Nancy Reagan gave the President before Christmas isn’t White House-broken. Although Lucky reportedly has the run of the White House grounds, word is that she can’t be trusted indoors. One source said that Lucky is not a chronic violator; she simply is not reliable yet. It was a problem at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, over the weekend, the source said, adding: “The dog messed up the rug in Aspen Lodge.”

--Shamokin, Pa., is by no means a hotbed of Gloria Steinem-style feminism. Nevertheless, a plaque from a wall at a vocational school in Shamokin reading: “He who hath a trade, hath an estate” is no longer visible. The plaque, with the epigram by Benjamin Franklin, was removed after an inspection by the state’s civil rights coordinator, Glen Dean Davis, who contended that the use of the word “he” discriminated against women. Joseph Warner, Mount Carmel Area School District superintendent, said he suggested enclosing the words in quotation marks and attributing the remark to Franklin. The school board, meanwhile, said it has agreed to study the issue further.