“More Riffs, Rants and Raves” Summer ’07 Edition
September 14, 2007
WVOX and WVIP
by William O’Shaughnessy

I once wrote a book called “More Riffs, Rants and Raves” which, like the two before it, was received quite beyond its due. I hated the title. But I’ll drag it out again as perhaps a fitting column head for our annual “End of Summer” piece. As the days dwindle down, here then are some notes and meanderings I’ve been carrying around in my notebook for months:

Just asking. Is it possible GEORGE W. BUSH may have been right all along? I mean could he actually be a hell of a lot better president than his critics would have us believe?

ANDREW M. CUOMO’s rave reviews as AG surprised everyone. But not his father or mother. Or us.

In the fight between UNITED WATER and LOUIS CAPPELLI over who pays for the French conglomerate’s infrastructure … we’re with Cappelli. His generosity and largesse are everywhere as apparent as his skyscrapers. The mega-developer is changing the face of our home heath. He has literally saved some of our cities and has shown in countless ways that he cares about the neighborhood. United Water has not been a good neighbor or corporate citizen over the years and they’ve run a low, under-the-radar profile ever since grabbing up the old New Rochelle Water Company some 40 years ago when it was headed by a wonderful man named J. Lester Albertson.

United Water has no outreach to the community. You never hear from them about conservation measures or consumer safety. They are nowhere to be seen on the charity circuit. They are truly the “stealth” utility good only for mailing out bills for the water God rains down on our upstate reservoirs. And they’re pretty good also at “coaxing” or “easing” their rates upward … just enough so their increases don’t get the attention of the public.

ERNIE DAVIS leads the land-locked, beleaguered City of MOUNT VERNON with grace and dignity. The multi-cultural city doesn’t have coastline on the Sound or the Hudson. But it’s got Mayor Davis who sings its song with sincerity and style.

Everybody is saying JOE BIDEN would make a great secretary of state. How about a great president? But we’re for RUDY against all comers.

I loved WELLINGTON MARA. And Nancy and I are crazy about his wife ANN and his daughter SUSAN. But I hate pre-season football games in August. They’re a reminder of the dying of summer. And by the time the season ends for this sport of choreographed violence it will be cold and bleak. And January.

We endorsed GEORGE W. BUSH – twice. I still admire the guy. But when he declared “war” on the terrorists, he asked for very little sacrifice from the rich. It’s either a “war” we’re in and a battle for survival or it’s not. And speaking of which: CHARLIE RANGEL is the only one to even mention the word: “Draft.” We’re either “at war.” Or we’re not.

DAVID PATRICK COLUMBIA, the magazine editor and social arbiter … and ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, the articulate Democratic National Committee big, are the two most stylish fellows about New York these days.

Octogenarian BILL MAZER, who I first heard on the radio when I was in high school in Buffalo some 50 years ago, ends every WVOX program with the playing of “God Bless America” by ROBERT MERRILL. Mazer calls him “the greatest baritone of all time.” He was. And they should finally name the WYKAGYL POST OFFICE in his old neighborhood for Bob Merrill who had a great voice and a generous heart to match. And we hope NITA LOWEY can get the approval of the entire New York congressional delegation to petition the U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. Lowey is now a ranking “cardinal” of the Congress and a powerful committee chair. Her House colleagues are just now discovering what we’ve known around here for years: she’s absolutely peerless.

One day when I encountered Mr. Merrill in the neighborhood I inquired, “Who is the greatest tenor … Pavarotti or Placido Domingo?” The Met star answered: “Sinatra!”

I’ll give you a dollar every time JOE SCARBOROUGH says: I “greatly appreciate …” something.

DICK PARSONS of Time Warner would make a teriffic mayor. So would RAY KELLY.

LIZ SMITH is only in the Post three times a week these days. I miss her on the other two.

His Honor needs to loosen up a bit. But New Rochelle died and went to Heaven when it installed NOAM BRAMSON as mayor. Many/most politicos couldn’t make it in the real world. But Bramson’s stunning brilliance would enable him to play in any league.

DR. TOM FOGARTY left us last month. The Pelham Manor “family systems counselor” (read: shrink) saved countless Westchester marriages and held thousands more together with his goodness and wisdom. His departure didn’t make the N.Y. Times … or even Gannett. But I’ll bet he makes it into Heaven.

When I was a youngster ANGEL CABRERRA would have been a jockey or a soccer player. Now he’s a golfer. And a good one.

The demagogic politicians – at every level – who use INDIAN POINT to stir up fears about nuclear power are the first to scream when there’s a power outage. The ENTERGY people deserve very high marks for their outreach to the community. They are statesmen of the nuclear power profession and damn good neighbors.

We lost two magnificent women this summer. KITTY CARLISLE HART and BROOKE ASTOR could sport around and flirt with the best of them. But they were ladies. Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Astor are gone. But their contributions to New York State linger still. Meanwhile, we’re left only with LINDSAY LOHAN, PARIS HILTON, BRITNEY SPEARS and NICOLE RICHIE.

The two best books of the summer were: “THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT” by the brilliant WILFRED SHEED riffing on Gershwin, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer et al. And “IMPERIUM” by ROBERT HARRIS, a novel of ancient Rome populated by Cicero, Caesar and friends. Two such disparate types as JONATHAN BUSH and MARIO CUOMO loved it. So did I.

Some Democrats are saying Supreme Court Judge CHARLES DEVLIN is not a “true” Democrat. He’s only, we would opine, an enlightened and eminently qualified judge. By any name or party affiliation Charlie Devlin is one of the very best we’ve ever had. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to the wise counsel of the legendary retired Justice SAMUEL GEORGE FREDMAN who’s been there and done that – in the courtroom as a jurist of towering reputation – and as chairman of the Westchester Democratic Party. Fredman, now in his 80’s, is telling one and all who will listen of his enthusiasm and admiration for the work of Judge Devlin … no matter what line he runs on.

And speaking of politics: VALERIE MOORE O’KEEFE, the dynamic supervisor of Mamaroneck hearkens back to the days of the journalist NANCY Q. KEEFE, another no-nonsense, deeply committed woman from that town. Valerie Moore O’Keefe is a great public servant at the local level. I don’t even know if she’s a Democrat or a Republican. She’s just outstanding.

Why can’t LEshTER HOLT … JOHN ROBERTsch … and the young kid out of Salt Lake City for NBC - MICHAEL OKU – talk normal, instead of sounding like deejays from SHincinnati? Or Cleveland?

Speaking of which ... CHRIS MATTHEWS is the best on the tube today. But I still miss DAN RATHER’s passion and gravitas. And BROKAW’s quiet strength.

RICK LAZIO, with his central casting looks, is a big shot with the JP Morgan Chase Bank in the City. But he should be back in public life.

It’s autumn in New York and one good thing about fall is DARYL SHERMAN playing show tunes as she caresses Cole Porter’s own piano in the foyer of the Waldorf every evening from Wednesday through Sunday. She’s an endearing, enduring songstress.

Don’t be put off by the cast of characters on MAURIE POVICH’s TV show. He’s a lovely guy and the first to write a check to help down and almost out colleagues via the BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION of AMERICA, the national charity headed by PHIL LOMBARDO of Bronxville.

SIRIO MACCIONI is 75. But the latest incarnation of his beloved LE CIRQUE in the Bloomberg building is once more drawing all the “beautiful people” and “young somethings” … especially late at night and after dinner. I was the oldest guy in the joint, not exactly a great feeling. But at least it’s a feeling.

Heard MARIO CUOMO on MARK SIMONE’S radio show last week. I think he’s damn near 75. But nowhere does there exist greater brainpower in the republic. Cuomo, a class act in every season of his life, is making some of his best, most profound speeches these days. Forget the fact the Boston Globe calls him “the great philosopher-statesman of the American nation.” To realize how great the former governor is … just look at the current crop of presidential wannabees. And to think I once called the man “a failed baseball player with too many vowels in his name.”

Our colleagues in the public press had a field day beating up on Lord CONRAD BLACK … mostly for his over-the-top lifestyle. But before you condemn the fellow: read SETH LIPSKY’s remarks in the New York Sun which ran on July 17th. Lipsky is editor of the TISCH-backed daily which has achieved a position of great respectability in the competitive New York market. Lipsky asks that we not overlook Black’s journalistic contributions to the security of Israel, Britain and the United States. I hope the guy catches a break … no matter how “grand” he once was.

Someone once said: Life can often be unfair. And there’s a whole new variation on the theme being written by MARTHA COAKLEY, the attorney general of the “Commonwealth” of Massachusetts, who is trying to extort (there is no other word) from the wonderful folks who own POWERS FASTENERS of New Rochelle and Brewster. It all has to do with a mess up in Beantown called “The Big Dig.” The Mass. pols are using the much smaller and long-established New York State company to put leverage on Bay State construction giants … charging Powers with “manslaughter.” You heard right! It’s a travesty akin to highway robbery. We’ve known three generations of the Powers family, each more ethical and decent than the next. They don’t deserve to be in the crosshairs of a ruthless AG or PAUL WARE, her “special prosecutor.” General JOE SPINELLI, (the former Inspector General of New York) a great crimefighter with a sterling national reputation, is trying to help the Powers family defend against this money grab.

SCOTT SHANNON is the best on the Radio today. But I still miss WILLIAM B. WILLIAMS.

PHIL MUSHNICK doesn’t hear his melodious music: But JOHN STERLING is the best sports announcer since MEL ALLEN.

ABRAMO DESPIRITO, who runs the little tailor shop on Eastchester Road says MARIANO RIVERA is one of the nicest of humans. And that his wife is even nicer.

And bartenders, captains and waiters tell me JOHNNY DAMON is a nice man … even when he couldn’t buy a hit.

It’s time for the NEW YORK POST to dig into its archives again and mine the gold in JIMMY CANNON’s columns. He died alone in a room above Times Square. But there would have been no BRESLIN or HAMILL without Cannon. No one comes close today.

I hope Monsignor CHARLIE KAVANAUGH can catch a break from his tormentors in the hierarchy of the Roman Church. He’s a great priest. And the Church in New York should address the injustice and restore him. Bravo to former Assemblyman JOHN DEARIE for helping right a wrong.

DAVID BROOKS of the TIMES is my favorite columnist these days. Except for DAVID HINCKLEY in the NEWS. But I still read CINDY ADAMS and RICHARD JOHNSON first. (In case you came from another planet …they’re in the POST!)

While on the subject of our colleagues in the public press … THE JOURNAL NEWS big shots should run PHIL REISMAN’s brilliant columns in the same spot every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday … much like the TRIB of sainted memory ran Breslin. It should be “anchored” and “held to the page.” They should run it “double column width” on the “left side of the paper.” That’s newspaper jargon for highlighting a great asset.

I am such an expert on all these matters because I was editor of my Army newspaper when I served “overseas” in Staten Island. (I once set a record by running the post commander’s picture 93 times in one issue!)

And let me also presume to give the elders at Gannett some more free advice re: their brilliant scribe REISMAN. Somebody should immediately publish a collection of his columns … omitting, of course, any in which he attacks my veracity or pokes fun at my dazzling wardrobe and sartorial splendor. You can deep six those. But they’ve got to get Reisman between the covers of a book while he remains a “Sam Shepard” look-alike with cowboy boots and tight jeans. I mean Reisman can’t keep up this “sex symbol” stuff for too much longer.

Alumni Report: A big Hollywood and New York talent agent tells us WILLIAM “BILLY” BUSH will be “the next JOHNNY CARSON!” Billy is the son of JONATHAN BUSH … a cousin of the Prez and a nephew of PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH. He started his showbiz career as one of our brightest interns. And “even then we knew” this talented youngster would go far. Another in whom we are well pleased is ROB SPEYER, scion of the TISHMAN-SPEYER realty empire (Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building et al.) Rob’s old man is the highly respected New York civic leader JERRY SPEYER. His son and heir, who also sat before the WVOX and WVIP microphones, recently opened the “Top of the Rock” Observation Deck which offers the best view in Manhattan. I’d like to take 10% of their action. But I guess I can only take enormous pride in the accomplishments of these two talented youngsters.

GEORGE PATAKI’s mentor BILL PLUNKETT hated it when we called him “The most powerful man in New York State.” But we’ll be there to cheer when the Rockefellers and landed gentry of Sleepy Hollow honor the Squire of Tarrytown and his spectacular wife CARYL on Saturday, October 20th. PHELPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL benefits.
And the week before – on October 12th – the FRANCISCAN FRIARS of GRAYMOOR will pay tribute to EGIDIANA and the great SIRIO MACCIONI at the Pierre for a lifetime of generosity in New York.

You still think GEORGE BUSH is a zero? You won’t after you read “DEAD CERTAIN” by ROBERT DRAPER. That’s if you still have an open mind on a guy who’s willing to sacrifice his legacy and personal reputation in order to do the right thing by the country.

Marvelous line from the great JIMMY BRESLIN: “This is becoming a ‘Between You and I’ society.”

When a restaurant serves other than HEINZ Ketchup or HELLMANN’s mayonnaise, I wonder where else they’re trying to save money. Ditto when they don’t take AMERICAN EXPRESS.

She may be third in line for the presidency, but Madam Speaker NANCY PELOSI loses me with that PARIS HILTON – MARCIA CROSS hair flip whenever she sees a television camera. JOHN EDWARDS is pretty “flippant” too.

I wish Westchester D.A. JANET DeFIORE had talked to me before she dumped the GOP and switched to the Dems. But she’ll be an ornament of any party.

NICK SPRAYREGEN and DAN MURPHY have really improved the Martinelli Newspapers. But I still miss fiery, feisty RALPH MARTINELLI, their founder.

All of us in New York Radio welcome back BOB GRANT, the Dean of talk show hosts. He’s anything but dull and we’re all his students.

I’m glad DON IMUS took down a score from the timid corporate masters who caved to intimidation and coercion. And I hope he’ll be back soon.

RICHARD BERMAN, with his shirtsleeves rolled up, is better than any college president in America with all their degrees, academic gowns, tassels and medals.

How does a staid, old operation like the AP come up with such graceful CEO’s? First LOUIS BOCCARDI. And now TOM CURLEY. And before them was WES GALLAGHER.

It’s a treat whenever the JOURNAL NEWS finds some space for MILTON HOFFMAN who brings a keen eye and an invaluable historical perspective every time he sits down at a typewriter.

Flash of déjà vu: When ELIOT SPITZER sat down for an interview … we gave the then AG several chances to pile on JEANINE PIRRO during her worst time. He wouldn’t do it. I hope somebody cuts this well-intentioned (if sometimes a little too “dynamic”) governor a little slack. And DARREN DOPP, who served Mario Cuomo with distinction, ain’t a bad guy either. As for Spitzer … anyone who pals with WILLIAM MULROW of Bronxville has got to be first class. The Albany Establishment threw a shot across his bow. Now let’s let him get back to governing. He has the potential and heart to be a great one.

Treasures of New York: DAMON RUNYON would have loved Yonkers power broker “Colonel” MARTY ROCHELLE and MURRAY RICHMAN, the famed Bronx criminal lawyer.

It is 2007. And DOUG COLETY is now the new chairman of the entire Republican Party of Westchester … which once was led by such towering figures as FREDERIC POWERS, Sr. … EDWIN GILBERT MICHAELIAN … MALCOLM WILSON … and ANTHONY J. COLAVITA. But it’s 2007.

I once asked NELSON ROCKEFELLER, the Great Squire of Pocantico Hills: “You sustain the Republican Party in this state, don’t you?” NAR answered: “No … I contain it.”

I’ll give you 10 other guys and take KEN RASKE on my side in any proposition. Ditto a lawyer named JEFFREY BERNBACH, now in White Plains. Raske tries to keep 146 hospitals healthy and up and running. And Bernbach is the former Cuomo Administration official who has few equals in a courtroom. He’s at his best when he’s up against the Establishment.

Anybody remember the TED HEATH big band, the swinging English import that blew the roof off Carnegie Hall with several memorable concerts back in the 60’s?

“You Are Too Beautiful,” an obscure Rodgers and Hart tune known only to musicians, may be their most beautiful work. JOHNNY HARTMAN and JOHN COLTRANE have the best rendition.

What ever happened to the AL BELLETO Sextet? STAN KENTON discovered them in New Orleans. They sang like the HI-LO’s and played with a Kentonesque dissonance.

Somebody once asked LOUIS ARMSTRONG who was the best girl singer of all time. Satchmo replied: “You mean … besides ELLA?” My favorite distaff warblers are ROSEMARY CLOONEY … DORIS DAY … and JUNE CHRISTY. And POLLY BERGEN could sing too. But the greatest of all during my time was … MABEL MERCER.

The best crooners: FRANK, of course … FRED ASTAIRE … NAT COLE … MATT DENNIS … TONY BENNETT … and LOUIS ARMSTRONG. MEL TORME goes on the list too. And, you won’t believe this: but who the hell knew JACK SHELDON, the fun-loving trumpet player … and TONY PERKINS … could sing!

If I could have written just one song, I’d pick: “Nancy” (with the laughing face) But PHIL SILVERS and Sinatra got there first.

The same people who will tell you BILL CLINTON is a great speaker also believe BARBRA STREISAND can sing. And they never heard MARIO CUOMO or JACK KENNEDY on a flatbed truck screaming into the night in the Garment District with elderly Jewish women hanging out the windows.

I get antsy sitting through most Broadway shows. But I could see “JERSEY BOYS” again. And again.

The beautifully tailored guy with his dog and a cigar strolling Park Avenue is GAY TALESE. Nobody ever wrote better pieces on SINATRA or the great DIMAGGIO.

Watch the society dames perk up for the skinny fellow with the camera at 57th and Fifth. He’s BILLY CUNNINGHAM, legendary lensman of the Times who is himself a Living Landmark of the great city.

Mark for future stardom in Albany: JEFF KLEIN in the Senate … GEORGE LATIMER in the Assembly … and BASIL PATTERSON’s son and heir DAVID PATTERSON. He already has #2 on his license plate. But ANDREW CUOMO is the one who can go as far as he wants in this country. It’s in the genes.

This summer we also lost MURRAY GRAND. He was a marvelous songwriter and cabaret performer with a cult-like following who looked like ED KOCH. He left us “Guess Who I Saw Today” and “I’m Too Told to Die Young.”

JONATHAN SCHWARTZ still plays the good songs from the Great American Songbook. He calls it “High Standards.” By any name it must be preserved.

One way would be to get JIM LOWE back on the radio. He hails from “Springfield Missouri … the Paris of the Ozarks” … and calls his friends “You old spotted dog …” Right now he’s regaling only rich, old widows in East Hampton. He deserves a slot.

How did I get through this without once mentioning HILLARY CLINTON.

I once shared an office with WILLIAM KYLE ROTE at WNEW of sainted memory. Was there ever a nicer guy in pro football? The last time I saw him was through the haze of an afternoon sitting alone at Costello’s bar. And once again when he was walking up First Avenue in a snowstorm eating a slice of pizza. He was alone that time too.

Maybe all the local politicians and our colleagues in the public press ought to just get off the back of the WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER and give the dedicated new ceo MICHAEL ISRAEL a chance to set things right.

NICK SPANO may have lost his Senate seat in a close one. But he remains a politician the way the men of our father’s time imagined them to be. And I hope he comes back.

We’d be for ROBERT MORGENTHAU … even if he were 100. The highly effective and nationally-known Manhattan District Attorney is a beloved icon of New York. He’s the last lion from the Rockefeller years still in the arena.

Tell Professor RICHARD NORTON SMITH to hurry up with his long-awaited biography of NELSON ROCKEFELLER. Smith, who wrote a highly acclaimed biography of Colonel McCormick, the Chicago press baron, has been at work on the Rocky book for almost 10 years. He got side-tracked when they put him in charge of the new Abe Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

The Pope gave Baltimore a great gift when he named Archbishop EDWIN O’BRIEN to replace Cardinal Keeler in the nation’s first archdiocese. O’Brien is beloved in these parts and many Catholics had hoped that he would one day be installed in St. Patrick’s. Baltimore is getting a brilliant and very spiritual prelate in Eddie O’Brien. A great priest.

Did I miss something about LARRY DAVID, the bald guy with glasses on TV? But then I never got JERRY SEINFELD either.

ARRIGO CIPRIANI, patriarch of the CIPRIANI empire, and his courtly, graceful son and heir GIUSEPPE CIPRIANI, got a bad break from the taxman. But if the State Liquor Authority moves against the Venetian restaurateurs, at least 1,000 employee families will suffer. We hope the able STANLEY ARKIN can cut a deal to keep them in the business of charging their outrageous prices. The Ciprianis are not bad people and they brought a little style and a lot of fun to New York along with their Bellinis.

Remind MARIO BIAGGI who served in congress before he ran afoul of RUDY GIULIANI that he was also the most decorated police officer in the history of the NYPD. The Bronx icon will be 90 next month.

TOOTS SHOR would have been damn proud of his granddaughter KRISTI JACOBSON who worked for 10 years on the new film named for the famous saloonkeeper. TOM BROKAW and FRANK GIFFORD subsidized the cinematic love letter which opens in Manhattan this week.

And tell “MAMA ROSE” MIGLIUCCI, the First Lady of Arthur Avenue, that she is one of the most beloved women in New York at 93. She’s scrambling in Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville.

The great JIMMY CANNON started this whole form of free-thought jottings. He called his marvelous pieces “Nobody Asked Me … But.” I am not worthy to loose the strap of his sandals … but now that the summer is spent this is the only way I know to get it down for you and those who have indulged my enthusiasms on the Radio and in print all these years.

On to fall. Go Yankees!

William O’Shaughnessy

is president of Whitney Radio and editorial director of stations WVOX and WVIP, Westchester, N.Y. He is a former chairman of Public Affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters and served as president of the New York State Broadcasters Association. During his 18-year service at NAB, he specialized in free speech and First Amendment issues.

He is a director and chairman of the Endowment Committee of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

A self-styled “Rockefeller Republican,” he was active in the presidential campaign of President George H.W. Bush and served as chairman of Republicans for Mario Cuomo during each of the Governor’s three successful campaigns for governor of New York.

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 work on his fourth volume “AGAIN! Run That By Me One More Time.”

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