Even Spokesmen Get in the Spirit: a ‘Stereo Spin’

As their bosses were presenting the very picture of amity before the cameras Sunday, behind the scenes their chief handlers joined in the spirit of the proceedings by quietly colluding on the postgame spin.

President Clinton’s press secretary, Mike McCurry, and House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s chief spokesman, Tony Blankley, agreed to jointly portray the unprecedented joint appearance at a senior citizens home here as a model of political comity and a potential model for future dialogue.

Accordingly, as soon as Clinton and Gingrich finished their hourlong “town meeting,” McCurry and Blankley launched into what McCurry called “stereo spin.”

“It was a wonderful occasion,” the President’s man said. “It was the quintessential New Hampshire experience, and there should be more of it.”

“They laid out their honest disagreements, but they did it in a friendly way,” said the Speaker’s man. “It doesn’t have to be competitive or ritualized.”

Blankley nodded in agreement--as scripted--when McCurry said that neither man had “won” the discussion.

“This was not an event where there were winners and losers, nor should there be,” McCurry said. “They dealt with issues in an amicable way.”

Also, McCurry was noncommittal about the President’s willingness to engage in further joint appearances with the Speaker. “We’ll think about it,” he said.

The encounter was staged in the grassy courtyard of the Earl M. Bourdon senior citizens residential complex, a three-story shingled structure on the edge of a deeply wooded ravine.

Clinton and Gingrich were perched on bow-backed oak stools before about 200 people seated at white-paper-covered picnic tables. The smell of barbecued chicken wafted through the courtyard.

Many of the complex’s residents wore painter’s caps from the National Council of Senior Citizens. Beyond them was a dense throng of cameras, microphones and scribbling journalists.

Gingrich arrived promptly for the event, but Clinton and his entourage arrived about 40 minutes late. The President had been delayed in Hanover, N.H., where he delivered the commencement address at Dartmouth College earlier in the day.

The senior citizens received the two politicians politely but with modest enthusiasm. Like many New Hampshire residents, they have witnessed the quadrennial running of the politicians many times.

The good feeling that surrounded the event was marred only briefly by a heckler who sought to interrupt Gingrich during his introductory remarks. The crowd sought to hush the heckler, and he quickly departed. Audience members gave the joint appearance rave reviews.

Veronica Joslyn, 74, a resident of the Bourdon center, said the event gave her a new and more hopeful view of American politics. “It shows that people can get along if they really try.”

Frank McConnell, of Newport, N.H., said he was delighted to be able to see Clinton and Gingrich together. Indeed, he took the opportunity to ask the first question, challenging them to put aside their differences long enough to consider a solution to reforming the political system.

His question, though initially misunderstood by Clinton, prompted the President and Gingrich to reach apparent agreement on forming a bipartisan commission to consider lobbying and political finance reform.

“I was very impressed with what they said, and I’m going to try to hold them to it,” said McConnell, 60, who owns a ski shop and a restaurant in the area.

Overall, he added, the discussion was “wonderful.”

“I’m a Democrat, but I think Newt is bringing up things that have got to be talked about,” he said.

Moments later, Gingrich walked up to McConnell and said: “You really changed history with your question.”

Not to be upstaged, Clinton then sidled over to McConnell. “Great question,” he said.

McConnell told the President that he’d like to be on the political reform panel, if and when one is created. Clinton didn’t respond.

After the event, Blankley said that he intended to follow up with the White House on the two leaders’ commitment to forming the committee.

McCurry said that he had heard no prior discussion of such a panel within the Clinton Administration but that the White House would eagerly join with Gingrich in exploring the idea.