Pope John Paul II has joined the celebrity trend to voice mail. Unlike the how-di-doos from folks such as Jose Canseco and Buster Douglas, however, the pope`s daily telephone messages for fans are meant to be inspirational. Recorded in English, Spanish and Italian by Vatican Radio-”the Pope`s Radio”-the service is available around the clock and is cheap (Callers are billed only for the international call to Rome, about $2 for two minutes between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.). A touch-tone phone isn`t required. For Italian, dial 011-39-777-93010. For English, dial 011-39-777-93020. For Spanish, dial 011-39-777-93030.
WALLACE GETS AN EARFUL When George Wallace ran for president in `68, he was routinely accused of being behind the times. John Chancellor presumed Wallace even later than that. In his TV commentary Tuesday, Chancellor wistfully recalled ”the late governor” of Alabama`s opinions on ornamental pols. Wallace, 70, who is hard of hearing but very much alive, didn`t bother reminding NBC of Chancellor`s error. Said Wallace spokesman Elvin Stanton: ”Newsmen have been making mistakes about George Wallace all of his life.”
WHY IACOCCA LOST AT FORD Did Lee Iacocca try driving a Ford, lately? Indeed yes, alleges a former Ford Motor Co. exec, who says Iacocca tried driving Henry Ford II right out of the company in a coup attempt that boomeranged. In an upcoming Henry Ford biography that seemingly sheds more light on Iacocca`s abrupt departure as president in `78, retired vice chairman Walter Hayes writes: ”Lee Iacocca wanted to take the company away from him (Ford) and, more astonishingly, seemed to think he could do it.” Hayes says Iacocca met with at least two directors and ”argued that Henry, still not 60 years of age, was senile and . . . that there were others in the company who shared his opinion.” The alleged plot fizzled when Ford returned from China and promptly fired his ambitious president with the words, ”I just don`t like you.” Iacocca`s Chrysler Corp., which profited enormously from the parting, declined to comment.
SHEEN SENTENCED Actor Martin Sheen has been sentenced to 5 days of community service-possibly including road cleaning or working in homeless shelters-for blocking an entrance to a federal building while protesting military aid to El Salvador. Sheen, who pleaded guilty, asked Magistrate Venetta Tassopulos not to impose a fine because he already has paid millions of dollars in taxes and doesn`t want to unnecessarily aid the U.S. Treasury. ”The Treasury already funds so much horrible suffering on the poor of the Third World,” said Sheen, 49, who has been arrested 20 times during anti-nuclear demonstrations and other social protests.
COP SUES ZSA ZSA And in Beverly Hills, Calif., police Officer Paul Kramer has slapped back. He filed a $10 million suit against Zsa Zsa Gabor for emotional and physical distress.
