WASHINGTON INSIGHT

GLUED TO THE TUBE: Among the millions of Americans watching the House impeachment debate unfold on television late last week was Lucianne Goldberg, the New York literary agent who helped set it all in motion by persuading Linda Tripp to tape Monica S. Lewinsky. Goldberg, in fact, says she had six televisions tuned to the proceedings--one in every room of her New York apartment. “They’re all on in case I have to move around,” she said. “I’m watching and keeping a running e-mail conversation going with a lot of people,” she said, rattling off a list of pals who included Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff, the first reporter to learn of President Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky. Her reaction when House members finally finished their speeches and made Clinton the second president to be impeached: “I thought, well, splat. Then I went to sleep.”

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OTHERWISE OCCUPIED: Not all the players in the continuing drama were obsessed with the House action. Georgetown law professor Sam Dash, who very publicly quit his $400-an-hour post as ethics advisor to Kenneth W. Starr after the independent counsel testified before Congress, spent his time grading exams rather than watching the debate. “Should he be?” his wife asked.

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PARTY ON: Even impeachment can’t intrude on the holiday season’s social calendar, and so amid sparkling ice sculptures, gaily attired clowns and choruses of seasonal song, Clinton greeted some 5,000 journalists and their family members at the White House Monday evening--with nary a nod toward the enormous story many of the reporters had covered for months. The president spoke briefly in a big tent on the South Lawn, proclaiming this the favorite time of the year for himself and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton--who was notably absent (reportedly suffering from a bad back). Given Washington’s bitter political climate, it was comforting to find at least one soul at the gala who seemed not to care in the least about the current conflict. As St. Nick posed for photographs with party guests, he was asked to identify his political affiliation. The jolly man in the red suit handled the query deftly, replying: “Santa is nonpartisan.”

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PROCRASTINATOR-IN-CHIEF: As usual, Clinton has yet to do his Christmas shopping. OK, his mind probably has been elsewhere these days--even the most efficient chief executive might find it difficult to squeeze shopping into a month that has included fighting impeachment and bombing Iraq. Still, Clinton’s last-minute shopping sprees are fast becoming a tradition in the nation’s capital. He could, perhaps, take a page from his techno-whiz vice president and browse the Internet for the perfect gifts for friends and family. But more likely, today or Thursday will find him ducking out of the White House, multi-car motorcade in tow and sirens a-blare, as he makes a run into a trendy shop.

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‘TWAS THE FLIGHT . . . The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it has certified Santa’s sleigh for its annual flight. The craft, registered as NP-Hohoho, had to clear several regulatory hurdles to win approval. And after extensive analysis by FAA scientists, a fuel waiver was issued for the special corn and oatmeal mixture that enables reindeer to fly. The flight, dubbed Kringle One by air traffic controllers, will take off from the North Pole the evening of Dec. 24 and proceed westward to take advantage of time zones and maintain the cover of darkness. Under a special international agreement--the Santa Pact--the flight has automatic landing rights and fee waivers worldwide.