“In the Midst of Winter”
By
William O’Shaughnessy 

“In the midst of winter, I found within
myself an invincible summer.”
- - Camus(February, 2009)

I’ve always loved the quote. And in the midst of another drodsome, unforgiving winter, I thought I would try to assemble some of those scattered thoughts I’ve jotted at all hours in every season on the back of envelopes and those memo pads jammed in my jacket pockets only to be tossed on my dresser late at night.

Jimmy Cannon used to call this kind of piece “Nobody Asked Me, But …” I idolized the legendary sportswriter and although I am not worthy to loose the strap of his sandal, I thought I might again presume to compile these riffs and notes for you and our other friends who weigh my shortcomings and inadequacies less diligently than you assess any meager virtues I might possess.

Here are my recent jottings.

I wish I had written a song called “I Never Went Away From You.” Sir Richard Rodney Bennett did.

Every Little League and Youth Soccer coach prays for just one kid like Derek Jeter.

Whatever happened to Lamar Alexander? And Marc Racicot who surfaces only during presidential elections?

Keith Olberman is wound much too tight. But I stay with MSNBC for Chris Matthews.

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The grand marnier soufflés at La Grenouille are better than anything in France.

Be kind to any guy whose wife drives a Volvo.

David Hinckley, who writes for the Daily News, is the whole franchise. Mort Zuckerman should take out “key-man” insurance on the gifted scribe.

Why does MSNBC’s Mica Brezinsky have to “punctuate” (!) every conversation? Is it possible her dad Zbignev never let the kid get a word in edgewise? She’s getting even now. Bimbo Interruptus! Absolutely!

I’ve sworn off Dunkin’ Donuts. Even the toasted coconut ones the great criminal lawyer Murray Richman brings to the station. But I still fancy peppermint ice cream with Hershey’s chocolate sauce.

William “Billy” Bush of “Access Hollywood” will be the next Johnny Carson.

There is a certain nobility about Mariano Rivera. He is the most graceful ballplayer of our time.

The next guy who tells you he roots for the Mets will have gravy on his shirt and an odd-looking tie.

I miss John Cardinal O’Connor.

Robert Zimmerman should be a matinee idol instead of a would-be politician.

Is there any nicer guy walking around New York than Rick Friedberg?

I can’t wait to read “On His Own Terms,” Richard Norton Smith’s long-awaited bio of Nelson Rockefeller.

We endorsed Malcolm Wilson for governor over Hugh Carey back in the 70’s. But I’ve been thinking a lot about Carey these days. Peter Goldmark and Jerry Kremer are doing a book on the former gov.

State Senator Jeff Klein is the hardest-working guy in Albany. He’s now #2 in the State Senate.

The pizzas at Mario’s on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx are still as good as when Leo Iacocca used to dispatch his jet from Detroit for them.

“The Journals of Arthur Schlesinger” is a keeper. Also Jeffrey Toobin’s “The Nine.”

There is something very real and very natural about Joba Chamberlain. I hope the money doesn’t spoil the kid.

There is something very real and very natural about Sarah Palin. I hope the spotlight doesn’t spoil her.

Haters don’t poll well in pre-election surveys.

My favorite character in popular fiction is Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon, the fearless Israeli Secret Service operative, also known as Mario DelVecchio, Venetian art restorer.

If it were my country, I’d hire Joe Biden to run it.

If Cary Grant were around today, his name would be David Patrick Columbia.

Mario Cuomo is making some of the best speeches of his life right now. The Boston Globe got it right. The former governor is “the great philosopher-statesman of the American nation.”

You can see the wisdom and goodness of David McCullough in his face. And in his books.

Cindy Adams has made a career out of New York “shtick” which obscures the good, thoughtful stuff in the lady.

Radio legend Paul Harvey is 90. I hope he goes on forever.

Memo to all the pols demagogueing on Indian Point: nuclear energy is the best and cheapest source of power around.

Toots Shor once said if he were trapped in an alley and wise guys were coming in after him, he’d take Shipwreck Kelly (with his fists) or Sinatra (with a broken beer bottle) to help him fight his way out. I’d take the former FBI legend Joe Spinelli. Or maybe Ned Gerrity.

Le Cirque’s Sirio Maccioni is a treasure of New York. He just put “roast goose” on the menu “to help the airplanes.”

Judge Rory Bellantoni has a lot of guts.

Michael Daly’s book about the Friar Mychal Judge is a reminder of how much good the Franciscans do.

Nobody walks into a room these days like Nancy Curry. I’m lucky she leaves with me.

Elie Tahari men’s jeans are the only ones that fit my expanding waistline.

Cardinal Egan didn’t even have to pull out his best stuff to get Paul Curran into Heaven at the Cathedral last month.

Steve Tenore should be back in politics.

Judge Jeanine Pirro’s television shows are better than all the others. Except Judge Judy. But she’s close.

Ralph Martinelli’s Westchester magazine gets better and better.

The Crabtrees at the Kittle House are the nicest people in the culinary biz in the suburbs. And don’t hold that power couple from Chappaqua against them.

The best radio news anchor is Cameron Swayze of WCBS, the classy, articulate son and heir of the legendary John Cameron Swayze. But why do New York stations save their best for the weekends? Mark Simone on WABC is another example.

Manny Ramirez doesn’t belong on the Yankees, even if they cut his hair.

James Brady is doing some of the best writing of his life on Forbes.com. He’s 80.

The beleaguered Catholic Church is still alive at the Church of Francis of Assisi on 31st Street where the Franciscan Friars forgive you gently and generously.

Phil Lombardo of Bronxville is a big television guy with a tough guy rep and persona. But he re-invigorated NAB in Washington. And now he’s doing some of the best work of his life raising millions for the Broadcasters Foundation of America.

Leshter Holt of NB-She talksh like a dishk, jockey from Cleveland. And he’s got kee-yum-pan-ee from John Robertsch of She-NN.

I hope Jack Kemp throws a Hail Mary pass to pick up some yards and a few more years.

Has there ever been a nicer man in public life than George H.W. Bush?

Bruno Dussin, the bantamweight major domo of Sirio Maccioni’s Circo on the West Side is a heavyweight among maitre’d’s. His middle name is “Immediately!”

By dumping Nat Hentoff, the Village Voice officially ceases to be a newspaper and henceforth shall be known as a bowling alley. The First Amendment has no greater champion than Hentoff, the 83-year-old penman who reminded us that abortion and capital punishment demean us as a people. He also writes of jazz masters like Duke Ellington. But his best work celebrates the music of the Founders.

The fast money guys and slicks hate Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. But he understands the New York Times is a public trust. He is his father’s son.

Speaking of which: Andrew Mark Cuomo grows in wisdom and age with each passing day. I heard a guy call him “maybe the best attorney general we’ve ever had.” He’s Mario’s son and he’s starting to act like it.

The television genius who put Nancy O’Dell on a red carpet at the Golden Globes without a script and made her ad lib interviews should change careers.

I never thought I’d live long enough to say something nice about Hillary. But I think she’ll make a hell of a secretary of state.

When Rose Bochino Migliucci left at the age of 93, she took the heart out of Little Italy in the Bronx. But her spirit is still at Mario’s, her beloved eatery on Arthur Avenue.

Young Rob Speyer, scion of the Tishman-Speyer empire is a rising star of the real estate world. He’s also making his mark as a civic leader like his old man Jerry Speyer.

Governor Pataki isn’t in the Governor’s Office anymore. But his mentor Bill Plunkett is still one of the most powerful guys in New York.

Paul Francis, Liz Smith, Bill Mulrow, Col Allan, Tonio Burgos, Jim Cunningham, Howard Stern, Kylie Cappelli, Frederic U. Dicker, Alan Rosenberg, John Spicer, Rich Pisano, Walter Nelson Thayer, Joe Cavoto, Richard Johnson, Phil Reisman, Nancy Palumbo, Kevin Plunkett, Patrick Carroll, Sam Fredman, Al D’Amato, Jeff Klein, Maria Cuomo Cole, Amy Paulin, Louis Cappelli, Arthur Hill Diedrick, Suzi Oppenheimer, Marc Eisenberg, Henry Kissinger, Tom Mullen, Jim Veneruso, Jeff Bernbach, Ken Raske, Jack Rudin, Wellington Mara, Nat Hentoff, Larry Schwartz, Ned Gerrity, Kevin Falvey, Paul Pellicci, Ogden Reid, Bernard Curry, Jonathan Bush and A.J. Parkinson have all done nice things for me and mine. I don’t forget.

Former FBI chief Judge Louis B. Freeh is a great American.

At least the Bush people are not stealing the White House furniture or fouling their computers.

Kevin O’Connor, who served as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut and then moved up to number 3 in the Justice Department, will one day be governor of Connecticut. His spectacular missus Kathleen Plunkett would make a good one too.

The Gannett newspaper empire is trimming its sails like everyone else. But they still have Phil Reisman at the Journal News in Westchester. He’s the best feature columnist in all their 200 dailies.

The most agreeable bar in New York is Kennedy’s on West 57th Street. The loony lefty talk genius Lionel holds court and the great Breslin himself stops in to grunt and pontificate about the great issues of the day. Langan’s, the Postie’s watering hole on West 47th Street is a pretty good hangout too. And, when it comes to saloons, I give the entire East Side to Jimmy Neary, where everyone at the bar looks like Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

It wasn’t Sinatra’s voice that made him the Chairman of the Board. It was his phrasing and the way he landed on a sibilant “S.” “Your eye-s-s-s …”

I miss Neal Travis. But I’m glad Steve Dunleavy is still around.

Did Fred Astaire ever have an awkward moment?

Was Mabel Mercer ever less than regal?

Jimmy Cannon once described Sugar Ray Robinson getting beat up by a third rate pug in the twilight of his career: “Nijinsky is dancing in the hallways of Times Square to the sound of a kazoo.”

Breslin once called Churchill “a man of beef and brandy and cigars … and the last great statue of the English language.”

New York was fun at night when Hugh Shannon sat at a piano in a tuxedo jacket with velvet slippers crooning “I’m Too Old To Die Young.”

Every time I walk up Madison Avenue I hear Bobby Short’s voice coming out of the Carlyle. “I Can’t Get Started With You …” I’m a glum one … unexplainable … I met someone unattainable … and then I see Kitty Hart coming down the avenue toward me. And it’s spring in New York.

When I’m a glum one I head for the Four Seasons to meet up with Alex Von Bidder and Julian Niccolini. Gerardo Bruno at San Pietro cheers me up too. And so does the great Sirio Maccioni at Le Cirque. And just walking into “21” improves my mood.

I still … like George W. Bush. Is it possible he was exactly the kind of prez we needed in a tough, dangerous, unforgiving world after 9/11?

The designer Kenneth Cole, a statesman of his profession, is a guy who does well by doing good.

Johnny Mercer was a great songwriter. But he could sing too. With the very best of them.

George, Being George brings back all of George Plimpton’s charm and grace.

They tried to put Larchmont mayor Liz Feld in the State Senate. But I can’t figure her out.

I don’t think Assemblyman Richard Brodsky is afraid of anyone. Or anything.

I’d rather give a pint of blood than a college lecture. At Columbia recently a kid with friendly eyes yelled out from the back row during the Q & A: “Who are your heroes?” I said: “You mean besides Mario Cuomo?” Then I mentioned Floyd Abrams, Erwin Krasnow, Nat Hentoff and a guy from Washington – Patrick Maines – all of them First Amendment champions.

Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase is the smartest banker in the republic today.

The best airline exec is Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta.

M. Paul Redd died last week. He and Napoleon Holmes, Paul Dennis, Ossie Davis, Whitney Moore Young, Joe Jackson, Joe Evans, Pauline Flippen and Lloyd Jones were lonely voices screaming about “equality” and civil rights when it wasn’t fashionable back in the 60’s in refined, pristine Westchester. I hope they are all looking down to see Barack Obama sworn as president of the entire country.

Bob Grant should be sitting before a microphone in a radio studio instead of sitting on his ass in front of a television set at his place down in New Jersey.

We’ll be hearing soon about the College of Saint Mary up on the Hudson. The new president is Father Kevin Mackin who moved Siena into the big time.

The best girl singers, besides Ella Fitzgerald and Mabel Mercer, were June Christy, Doris Day and Rosemary Clooney. Sylvia Syms could sing too.

Richard Gere’s new restaurant in Bedford is on the same site where once stood Nino’s, the first great suburban eatery, a favorite of Donald Trump, Benny Goodman, Red Smith, Jack Paar, Jerry Vale, Jerry Berns of “21,” Bunny Lasker, the Wall Street lion, and assorted country squires from backcountry Greenwich.

“Art never comes alone,” says Egidiana Maccioni. An example is Tony Bennett, the last great crooner a/k/a the brilliant artist “Benedetto.” His stuff is wonderful … on the stage and on canvas.

Another example, I expect, is Charles Masson, the graceful proprietor of La Grenouille, who is also a gifted floral artist and sculptor.

After Sinatra, Dick Haymes has lots of admirers even to this day and some people still cling fiercely to the belief that Vic Damone had the pipes. But when I call up central casting for a crooner, I want them to send Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Nat Cole or Matt Dennis.

Memo to David Westin and Steve Capus: One of you should grab Geoff Morrell, the brilliant, unflappable and stunningly articulate “Pentagon spokesman” who does some of his best work on C-SPAN.

Sidney Weinberg, the legendary Wall Street genius who reigned back in the 50’s and 60’s, was the most sought after corporate director in America. He served on the boards of some 30-plus major corporations. When asked what makes for a good director, Mr. Weinberg said: “You sit there and keep your mouth shut for at least two years … they’ll think you’re a god damn genius.”

The two guys I wanted in the White House never made it. Nelson Rockefeller and Mario Cuomo would have made great presidents. One of them tried too hard. The other didn’t try at all.

Being in the care and keeping of James O’Shea and Charlie Kafferman of the West Street Grill up in the Litchfield hills is a lovely way to spend an evening.

Sometimes my mind drifts to Murray Grand sitting in a pencil spotlight over a piano at a smoky cabaret in the Village whispering “Guess Who I Saw Today?” He looked like Ed Koch.

Marvin Dames, the Superintendent of Police in the Bahamas, will one day be the Prime Minister of that island nation. I met him when he was an altar boy. Even then we knew. And so do the Bahamians.

Tell me who is better in front of a crowd at a charity dinner than Liz Smith.

Nancy Pelosi and the Dems should just damn well forget about going after the Bush people. It will ultimately hurt President Obama. And the country.

I’d like to see him back in public service … but Richard Berman, the departing prez of Manhattanville, will be good at whatever he does.

You don’t hear much about him, but Assemblyman Gary Pretlow is solid.

This lovely passage which I’ve carried in my wallet for years was from the first Inaugural Speech by George Walker Bush. Can you get any more eloquent than this …?

“After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: ‘We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?’

Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration. The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation’s grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity.

We are not this story’s Author, who fills time and eternity with His purpose. Yet His purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

This world continues. This story goes on. And an angel … still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.”

You heard me right. George W. Bush uttered these lovely words.

I never liked the “Citigroup” moniker. The original name “First National City Bank” had more heft. But don’t bet against them now that Dick Parsons is chairman. The former Time Warner chief and Rockefeller advisor has been a class act in every season.

Nelson Rockefeller would have been 102 this year. So why does it seem like he just left the room?

Edward Noonan Ney, the chairman emeritus of Young and Rubicam, is the Fred Astaire of Madison Avenue. He was also our Ambassador to Canada.

Remind Mario Biaggi that he was almost mayor of New York and is still, at 91, one of the best looking guys in the great city where he is loved.

Did you ever hear Matt Dennis, the West Coast crooner-songwriter, do “Violets For Your Furs?” His best album was “She Dances Overhead” for RCA.

Pitchers and catchers report in just a few weeks …

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William O’Shaughnessy is a former President of the New York State Broadcasters Association and was Chairman of Public Affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington. He operates two of the last independent stations in the New York area: WVOX and WVIP. He is the author of “AirWAVES” (1999) and “It All Comes Back to Me Now” (2001), collections of his radio commentaries, essays and interviews, published by Fordham University Press. “More Riffs, Rants and Raves” was released in April, 2004. He has just started his fourth volume “AGAIN! Run That By Me One More Time” and is also presently at work on a study of Broadcasting and the First Amendment.

Contact: 

Cindy Hall Gallagher

914-235-3279

cindy@wvox.com

WVOX
1 Broadcast Forum
New Rochelle, NY 10801
Phone: 914-636-1460
Fax: 914-636-2900
e-mail: don@wvox.com