Chris Matthews

  

     This week MM2 and I took advantage of the wonderful lecture series that Westminster Presbyterian offers and listened to Chris Matthews, host of msnbc's Hardball, talk about politics and his new book, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero.  Sure, it was a book hocking tour, but Matthews is a celebrity and the price was good:  free.  The old church was gorgeous with its balconies, red carpet and stained glass windows.

    As a bonus, one of Westminster's choirs serenaded us for 20 minutes with Christmas songs and they were terrific.
     Sometimes when I watch Chris on his show I'm frustrated because he often gets so excited he doesn't let his interviewees finish their points. So a forum where he gets to speak all by himself is a perfect venue for him.  He was fascinating.  He talked about influential political figures he had known and worked for from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan.  He shared some family "secrets" like how his grandma still liked her highballs even though his grandpa didn't drink.  So to keep peace the family would call the highballs they were serving grandma her "tea."  Some other highlights:

• Jackie Kennedy was 12 years younger than Jack.
• Matthews' opinion was that Jack was a womanizer because he was looking for the love he never got from Rose.  I think it's because his father was a philanderer and because all of the Kennedy children yearned for their father's recognition. Jack simply followed in his role model's footsteps.
• They used to call Strom Thurmond "Sperm" Thurmond.  (Thurmond fathered his first legitimate child when he was 68 and had three more after that.)
• Congress had to figure out how to pass Kennedy's Civil Rights bill when the Dixiecrats didn't want anything to do with it.  Matthews compared today's Tea Party with that group and said the Tea Party politicians somehow wrongly think it's weak or bad to compromise.  The problem with both groups is that they are like headless nails:  once they get into Congress, you can't get them out:)
• Jack Kennedy was a true hero.  During the PT109 episode, he actually put a wounded man on his back and swam 4 miles, despite having had back trouble his whole life.
• A true leader is one you don't watch and evaluate like a teacher does with a student.  A leader is someone you automatically want to follow without question.
• Obama's strength is oration, but he needs to do a better job of leading.
• He needs to ask the American people to do something, like we were asked during World War II to grow victory gardens, conserve on products, donate rubber to the cause, etc.

     All in all it was a very inspiring, informative and entertaining speech.  And not once did I hear a pause or an "ahhhh."  He was very fluent and frankly fired out so many good ideas that I felt dizzy.
     The experience was capped with an excellent late lunch at Cravings, a little Woodbury restaurant where we used a Groupon and saved a heap of money.  Oh, and I got to have a holiday Rasberritini at 2:00 in the afternoon.
     This retirement gig is a keeper.