Interior Secretary William Clark is leaving the capital, but not for long. Clark, who is resigning because his task ”at Interior is essentially complete,” may return to his California barley and cattle ranch only briefly. Clark ”is going to do something else in the Reagan administration and he`s choosing his words carefully when the press asks,” a top federal source told INC. Reagan still wants Clark, a devout troubleshooter, to replace either Chief of Staff James Baker or White House deputy Michael Deaver–if and when the boys are called to duty elsewhere. So Clark may not be home on the range for long.
THE BIG SCOOP . . .
Gov. James Thompson is flying to Houston Thursday to try to save Illinois jobs. INC. hears that the Guv will meet with executives of Tenneco Inc., which recently purchased International Harvester`s farm-implement division and plans to shift most of the Rock Island plant`s operations to Wisconsin–thereby idling almost 1,000 workers. Big Jim has other ideas, such as using the 2 million-square-foot plant instead of moving. Meanwhile, Thompson has told the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs that its top priority for 1985 is to find occupants for the Rock Island plant and for the Playskool plant in Chicago.
CITY PATTER . . .
INC. hears that Mike Colletta, Chicago City Council sergeant-at-arms, is going to take up lock-picking now that City Hall`s only carpenter and plumber have been moved to shops outside the ”stealworks.” ”Every time the toilet breaks, it now takes forever and a ton of paperwork to get it fixed,” Coletta said. ”On Wednesday, one alderman lost his cabinet key and four others reported broken journal receptacles. This place is going to pot!”
— The Memo Department: INC. hears that the Mayor Washington Federal Fund, an account used to finance Hizzoner`s campaign for delegates to the Democratic National Convention, sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission apologizing for a boo-boo. The first report that the fund sent listed and was signed by an incorrect treasurer–and submission of erroneous information by the person signing the report is subject to penalties. The second report, accompanied by a letter, stated: ”The Mayor Washington Fund regrets the error.” Who is the treasurer who should have signed the letter in the first place? None other than the city`s own director of revenue, Lake County resident Ira Edelson.
LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS . . .
Sidney Biddle Barrows, primly dressed in a gray suit, was happily dining over the holidays with her lawyer, Risa Dickstein. And good sport that she is, Barrows autographed a copy of New York magazine with her picture on the cover for a ”fan.” . . . Back again is Judy Mazel. You remember Ms. Mazel, author of ”The Beverly Hills Diet,” which had millions of women eating millions of pineapples and running to millions of bathrooms. Now she has written ”The Beverly Hills Style: How to Be the Star in Your Own Life,” which promises to teach you how to overcome inhibitions, turn embarrassing situations to your advantage, initiate talk, sparkle in conversation–and one that throws so many of us: ”how to walk into a restaurant.” Coming soon to a book store near your home. . . . Everyone who attended a New Year`s Eve bash at a Near North eatery knew Clara Peller was there. She was the one sitting on the folded-up tablecloths with her chin just inches above the table.
IT`S 30 FOR KEN WATSON . . .
Employees of state government and Springfield residents are mourning the death this week of Ken Watson, political editor at the State Journal-Register, who watched government doings for 30 years.
A LITTLE PRESS NOTE . . .
Two Chicago reporters have set up shop in Seattle. Diane Abt, former WBBM radio commentator, can be heard on National Public Radio`s ”Morning Edition” and ”All Things Considered.” And her heart, former Sun-Times newsman Michael Zielenziger, works for the Knight-Ridder news chain.
INC.LINGS . . .
Mike Ditka has plenty of reasons to be happy with his Bears these days. Besides the obvious ones, the team also is helping him earn more from Channel 2. The more games the team wins, the more Bears specials appear on Channel 2. And because Ditka is featured on most of them, the more specials, the more money. And we`re not talking peanuts, folks. . . . Jogging is ”Outski” and team sports are ”Insville,” says Interview magazine. Also out are Roger Ebert, ”Dallas,” dressing in drag, Indiana Jones fedoras, Rolexes and Teddy Kennedy. In is Gene Siskel, ”Knots Landing,” dressing in kilts, baseball caps, Swatches and William (”Cotton Club”) Kennedy. . . . ”Appearing Always,” a one-woman show written and performed by Wandacristine, wife of Aaron Freeman, opens Jan. 19 at CrossCurrents. . . . What? You say you haven`t received your invitation to the inauguration yet? Not to worry. Ron Smith of the Celebrity Look-a-Likes is holding a mock inauguration and ball in Washington Jan. 14, a few days before the real ones, with the winner of the national Ronald Reagan clone contest. And you`re invited. . . . Thursday birthdays: Stephen Stills, 40; Victor Borge, 64; Betty Furness, 69; Victoria Principal, 35 (more or less). . . . Calling all teenagers. Tony Bill, producer of ”The Sting” and director of ”My Bodyguard,” will hold open auditions for his next film, ”Stoneybrook,” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Holiday Inn City Center. He`s looking for 15- to 18-year-olds. . . . If you saw ”Once Upon A Time in America” at the Biograph Theatre and walked out scratching your head, here are the answers to the three most puzzling plot points: Who`s shooting up the mattresses in the first scene? (The Detroit Gang.) Whose baby does Elizabeth McGovern have? (James Woods`.) And who`s in the garbage truck at the end? (James Woods.) There, is that clearer?
SUCH BEAR FANS . . .
When those in charge of the annual meeting at St. Gertrude`s Catholic Church realized that the 3 p.m. Sunday starting time for the Bears-49ers NFC championship game would bite into the expected attendance of 700 parishioners they prayed a lot. Then they rescheduled the meeting for 1 p.m. and promised to haul in TV sets and refreshments so that no one would miss a minute of the action.
