Cabinet Secretaries Luncheon

January 4, 2006

It was Art Linkletter that said, "Kids say the darndest things." Well, they aren't kids, however sometimes they can be a little childish. Forty presidential cabinet members gathered for lunch at the Blair House and made their annual predictions

For 25 years we have had a Holiday Cabinet Secretaries Lunch. The first luncheon, 25 years ago, only had six of us in attendance, all members of the Reagan Cabinet including Vice President George Bush.

After 3 or 4 years, the job of hosting the lunch fell on my shoulders and a friend named Marshall Coin, who has since passed away. Now it is my responsibility. We've expanded the list to include not just the Reagan team, but to include all former and current members of the Presidents' Cabinets. The beautiful Blair House, adjoining the White House, serves as the President's guest house and that is where we have been holding our luncheons in recent years.

We had 7 members of President George W. Bush's cabinet joining in the Holiday Party, including Andy Card, Chief of Staff. The mood was light hearted, fun and friendly.

We had a delicious lunch and then prediction time which I MC'd.

Dan Glickman -- "The Democrats will take over leadership of one House of Congress in next year's election."
Barbara Franklin -- "No, Republican will hold control of both Houses."
Jim Burnley -- "President Bush's approval ratings will be above 50% by next faiL"
Ed Meece -- "California Gov., Arnold Schwarzenegger will still be surprising us a year from now."
Togo West -- "Osama Bin Laden is dead."
Former Atty. General Dick Thornberg -- "Alito will be confirmed for Supreme Court after a big fight. Washington Redskins will have to change their name -- they'll become Washington Pandas."
I said -- "Hog prices will be drifting lower (as if any in the room cared).

Next year we'll be back at the Blair House and