Cuomo a Candidate for Reporter

--It was understandable that the cub reporter covering the presentation of a $4-million state aid check by New York Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine to Blackstone Corp. officials got most of the attention. New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo was fulfilling a 1986 promise to write for the Jamestown Post-Journal after a columnist at the afternoon newspaper called on the governor to get a first-hand taste of covering a story. The newspaper issued the challenge soon after the governor had severely criticized media coverage of his 1986 gubernatorial reelection campaign. When Cuomo went to the newspaper office and began writing his story, dozens of visiting reporters and newspaper employees watched. Cuomo, who says he does not know how to type, reviewed his notes and then summoned another reporter to type the story into the newspaper’s computer while he dictated. Cuomo’s story was to be published under his byline in today’s editions of the 29,000-circulation paper. Unlike most reporters, Cuomo was not required to file his story on deadline and was chauffeured from his state plane in a 10-car motorcade to cover the assignment.

--President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, plan a night on the town to celebrate the First Lady’s birthday today by attending “Les Miserables” at the Kennedy Center, the White House announced. Asked which birthday the first couple was celebrating, spokesman Marlin Fitzwater replied with a grin: “The one coming up, of course.” Mrs. Reagan’s official biography lists her birth date as July 6, 1923, but her high school and college records put the year at 1921, making today her 67th birthday. The Reagans will watch the musical--an elaborate rendition of Victor Hugo’s epic on the French Revolution--from the presidential box. They will be accompanied by Reagan’s daughter Maureen, her husband, Dennis Revell, and former Sen. Paul Laxalt and his wife, Carol, Fitzwater said. The First Lady’s White House staff also plans to carry out its tradition of taking Mrs. Reagan to lunch on her birthday.

--Ben Briscoe, the new lord mayor of Dublin, Ireland, is following in his late father’s footsteps. Robert Briscoe became the first Jew elected lord mayor in 1956. Ben Briscoe, 55, took over the gold chain of office after winning a 28-22 vote in the City Council. It was the first time a son has followed his father into the Mansion House, Dublin’s mayoral residence. The office is largely ceremonial.