Democratic Partying in New York

A luncheon staged on the tennis courts at the Tarrytown estate of the Rockefellers. A Robert F. Kennedy tribute--attended by New York Gov. Mario Cuomo--at Gracie Mansion, residence of New York Mayor David N. Dinkins. A fund-raiser hosted by actor Richard Dreyfuss for former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Barbara Boxer.

These are some of the political power parties being attended by the Orange County bigwigs who are in New York for the Democratic Convention.

But don’t ask Bill Clinton delegate Richard O’Neill what was on the menu when he dined with the likes of West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Virginia Sen. Charles Robb at the Tarrytown splash. “I remember asparagus . . . “ says the San Juan Capistrano resident who was once chairman of the California Democratic Party. That’s it.

Who cares about food when the talk is of who will become the next President of the United States? “A week ago I would have said I didn’t think Clinton would make it,” O’Neill said during a telephone interview from his room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. “But it’s beginning to feel real positive. Perot is fading; Clinton is tied with Bush. And Gore was a great pick for California. He has a lot of friends there.”

When Orange County Democratic Chairman Howard Adler attended the $1,000 per-person benefit for the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation at the Gatsbyesque Gracie Mansion, the highlight, he said, was hearing Caroline Kennedy-Schlossberg speak about her uncle. “It was so emotional,” Adler said from the Waldorf Astoria (headquarters for the Democratic Finance Council, of which he is a member).

“All of the Kennedys were there (yes, even newlywed Sen. Ted Kennedy and Victoria Reggie), and she talked about how close they were, how much it meant to them to have us there.”

Adler, who is in the Big Apple with his mother and two daughters, also plans to attend tonight’s party at the tony Supper Club staged by Dreyfuss, who is starring on Broadway with Gene Hackman and Glenn Close in “Death and the Maiden.” (Adler wasn’t able to make Texas Gov. Ann Richards’ coveted party at the Supper Club on Sunday night. “There is so much traffic here. You spend 30% of your time just trying to get places!”)

“On Wednesday, we’ll go to a party at Gallagher’s Steak House,” Adler said. “And then we’ll attend ‘Death and the Maiden’ before we go to the Dreyfuss party.” For Adler, a visit to the Big Apple isn’t complete without a banquet of theater. “We’ve seen ‘Jelly’s Last Jam,’ ‘Miss Saigon,’ and ‘Lost in Yonkers’--all fantastic,” he said.

But on Thursday the traipsing around will come to a dead halt. “That’s the night Clinton gets nominated,” Adler said. “And since Cuomo is doing the honors, we hear Madison Square Garden will be loaded. We’ve been warned to get there early to get a seat. We don’t want to be left out the way people were four years ago in Atlanta because a fire marshal had to close the hall down.”

After the nomination, Adler will attend what he calls the party of convention parties, the soiree at the Sheraton New York that will be Clinton’s official send-off. “It will begin about midnight,” Adler said. “On Friday, we sleep.”

Meanwhile, Clinton delegate John Hanna and his wife, Cynthia, attended Sunday’s party for the California delegation at Macy’s department store. “Bars were set up on the jewelry and the perfume counters,” said Cynthia. “And they gave away red tote bags.”

On Monday, the couple and their 6-month-old daughter, Janelle, went to the luncheon for Orange County delegates at Giambelli’s Italian restaurant, where the emphasis was on getting Clinton and Brown delegates to speak to each other. “They got along pretty well,” said Cynthia. “Except for one Brown delegate. He walked into the restaurant, started getting harassed by other Brown delegates, and left in a huff.”

On Monday night, the Hannas attended a late-night bash at Live Psychic hosted by Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey. On Tuesday, it was time to get down at the all-night blast staged at the Grand Hyatt by California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. Today, they will attend the “New York Is Fashion” fashion extravaganza under the big top in Central Park.

So far, the party highlight for attorney Hanna--former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party--occurred on Monday night, after convention hours, when O’Neill got him into a VIP party on the convention floor. “After a day of political haranguing, that was the only place in Madison Square Garden where you could find a cool beer. Boy, it tasted great.”

For Clinton delegate Linda Moulton-Patterson, the big moment came on Sunday night, when she was profiled in a telecast along with 19 other delegates from around the country. “It was very moving,” said Moulton-Patterson. “There were people from different walks of life, even a 94-year-old woman. I think I was among those chosen not just because of my diverse background (Huntington Beach city councilwoman, member of the California Coastal Commission, school board trustee) but because I am a breast cancer survivor.

“That said I wanted a President who cared about women’s health issues.”

Said Adler: “Linda was really something. We were all cheering for her. It was so exciting. Everybody from Orange County was so proud of her.”