Bob Woodward and Ben Bradlee were feted last week at the Nixon Library to mark a new Watergate exhibit that is much harder on Nixon than the museum’s original one. The Washington Post covered the event, of course, as did Politico (and the OC Register, but not the L.A. Times.) The journalists reminisced about the Post’s famous reporting that eventually led to Nixon’s resignation; received a standing ovation from 1,000 attendees and enjoyed an afterhours tour of the Nixon home after joking about breaking into the locked attraction. The whole scene would have been unthinkable before the National Archives took over museum operations from the Nixon Foundation in 2007. Museum director Tim Naftali says the foundation declined his invitation to co-sponsor last week’s event, unsurprising given that the foundation also opposes the new exhibit. “I am hopeful of a better relationship with the foundation as we go forward,” Naftali says. Certainly the library no longer can be accused of whitewashing the Nixon record, a point acknowledged a bit backhandedly by Politico’s James Hohmann: “The newly renovated exhibition at the Nixon Library shows more of Nixon’s warts than any other presidential library does of its subject. Then again, perhaps Nixon has more warts” …
Contending that the federal debt poses the biggest threat to America’s national security, OC Congressman John Campbell said on “Inside OC” that he’ll be introducing a bill to cut the defense budget: “We can defend this country for less.” Campbell says the bill will have bipartisan sponsorship. But he acknowledges it’s a hard sell to fellow Republicans who reflexively support Pentagon spending or Democrats who fear being seen as weak on defense …
Keynoters for the annual Business Growth Conference sponsored by Harvard Business School Association and USC’s Marshall School, May 9 at the Anaheim Marriott: Leadership expert Warren Bennis, auto entrepreneur Henrik Fisker, Capital Group’s Jim Rothenberg and Golden State Foods’ Mark Wetterau. Info at www.bgc2011.org …
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom headlines a Democratic Foundation of OC fundraising dinner May 10 at Nieuport 17 restaurant, Tustin …
Former National Intelligence Director John Negroponte keynotes the World Affairs Council’s May 12 gala at the Westin South Coast Plaza …
Five months after Raj Bhathal got a hole-in-one at Big Canyon, wife Marta matched the feat …
Chapman U is throwing a campus party May 6 to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary. Originally called Hesperian College, it was founded near Sacramento by admirers of Abraham Lincoln on his inauguration day, March 4, 1861. And more reason to celebrate: It’s Jim Doti’s 20th anniversary as Chapman prez …
A shout-out to Irvine-based Wienerschnitzel for its 50th anniversary and also for donating the French fries to the Lenten season fish-fry fundraisers at St. Norbert parish in Orange (hot dogs prohibited).
