Moving and Shaking in the Reagan Audience

Margaret Martin Brock had her letter from her President written from “back here where the lynch mob is howling.” Norman Lear said, “He’s my President too,” assembled Republicans tried to estimate how many times they’d heard Ronald Reagan speak, and former Gov. Pat Brown quipped, “I’ve heard him speak too many times.”

As usual, there was action in the audience at the Wednesday address of President Reagan to Town Hall.

Brock, known as Mrs. Republican, had written a letter to her longtime friend in late July, saying she was “only one of many loyal, steadfast friends who are supporting you all the way” through the Iran- contra hearings. At the lunch, she had a copy of her letter back, on White House stationery, signed “Ron.”

“As you can understand, living back here where the lynch mob is howling day and night makes it wonderful to get messages such as yours,” the short note read. “. . . I think we’re nearing the end of the blood-letting, and the mob has failed in it’s (sic) effort.”

More surprises, since People for the American Way founder Lear was indeed at a front table. The affable Lear shook hands between tables with Reagan buddies Erlenne and Norman Sprague--”Didn’t you used to live on Bristol?” the unflappable Erlenne asked. Other Reagan Regulars around the room were Marion and Earle Jorgensen and USIA Director Charlie Wick at a table with Frances Hammer and Diane and Gil Glazer. The Glazers had hosted White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker on Tuesday evening, the night following his fund-raising appearance--very familial, since Glazer had grown up next-door neighbors with Baker in Tennessee.

As usual, the Reagan Regulars would tell nothing, but the word was out that Tuesday night and Wednesday night were big partying times for the First Couple and their in-group.

Definitely telling something was insurance executive Bill Hooper, sitting at Brock’s table with State Sen. Bill Campbell, whom he was boosting to fund-raiser Joyce Valdez as the best candidate to take over the state treasurer’s job.

And you thought all that happened was the foreign policy speech.

GOOD NEWS--It’s been an incredible month for Vincent Pelliccia, who escaped a Virginia chain-gang 41 years ago, then was recently arrested and threatened with being sent back to finish his sentence. Pardoned by Virginia Gov. Gerald Baliles, Pelliccia, a retired studio electrician, could find himself on the other side of the cameras soon--or at least could see an actor playing his story. William Morris co-chairman Norman Brokaw has signed him up, looking into book and film possibilities for what he termed “this inspirational story.”

GOOD TIMES--If onlookers wondered why Variety’s Army Archerd stopped by publicist Claire Segal’s table at the Hollywood Roosevelt to warble a little aria--hey, it’s the beginning of the opera season. “La Boheme” opens the season in style Sept. 8, with a gala party following across the street from the Music Center at the poolside of the Department of Water and Power Building. The $600-an-opera-buff’s ticket price includes hearing the glorious Placido Domingo, the party--and a $400 contribution to the fledgling Music Center Opera Company.

The invitations carry a very prestigious list of women--too bad they have to be noted by their husbands’ names. Translating from the married, the honorary chairwoman is Hannah Carter, while Georgianna Erskine has done a reportedly fabulous job of chairing a committee that includes Marta Domingo (we know what her husband’s name is), Lennie Greenberg, Carol Henry, Joan Hotchkis, Margaret Pexton Murray, Emily Severinsen, Terry Stanfill, Joan Thompson, Nancy Vreeland, Peggy Parker, Mia Frost and Sandy Ausman. The list of guests is very hot, and the first night should be first class.

MORE LEAVINGS--Ali Webb, Mayor Bradley’s press secretary, is off to a yearlong stint at Harvard at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Also at Harvard is Shari Davis, formerly with Cerrell Associates, in Cambridge for two years, picking up a prestigious Master’s in Public Policy.

PAPAL ACCOUTERMENTS--We’re not sure that Pope John Paul II will stop by on his trip, but the Children’s Papal Art Expo will be open Sept. 14-17 at the Los Angeles Hilton. For those of you who want to have a souvenir of the papal visit, but don’t want to spend any money, watch this column next week. For loyal readers, we will have full instructions on how to make a miter, the papal hat, out of a single piece of newspaper. Hopefully, this newspaper.

UPCOMING--The third annual benefit for the Leila Lewis Memorial Scholarship--this time a Monte Carlo night at the Bel-Air home of Dr. Eric Lewis--is set for Sept. 12. It is hoped the scholarship fund will provide a permanent fund of $100,000 per school district in Los Angeles County, according to those involved in the fund raising--who liken it to a “Heisman Trophy” for college-bound high school seniors. . . .

The Freeman Hospitals Foundation’s Board of Directors hosts its annual Donor Recognition Dinner on Sept. 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel. . . .

Animal Lovers Alert: The Amanda Foundation, which rescues adoptable cats and dogs from shelters and finds them new homes, holds its annual Celebrity Fashion Show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Oct. 13.