Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), up to his knees in a ghost-payroll probe, is tapping a heavyweight lawyer– William Roberts–with strong Republican ties for counsel. Roberts was U.S. attorney for central Illinois during two GOP administrations as well as special counsel to Gov. Jim Edgar before joining Chicago’s Hinshaw & Culbertson. With Hinshaw & Culbertson, Roberts spends several days a week in Springfield, and a source confirmed for us that there have been discussions between Madigan, recently installed as the Democrats’ state chair, and Roberts.
The visit 1: Staff members at Dennis Rodman’s Illusions nightclub were braced for a Tuesday night visit from Secret Service agents, here with President Clinton, after receiving a call earlier in the day. The supposed agents didn’t say Clinton, with Hillary at home in the White House, would be with them for a night on the town. In fact, it’s possible the callers were imposters looking for VIP treatment. If they weren’t, this could prove interesting: The club had special tickets printed for the night to celebrate the Bulls playing Washington. They picture Clinton with Dennis–who’s wearing a T-shirt that says “Interned Forever.”
The visit 2: Maybe the toughest job for anyone connected to the Prez’s visit belonged to comedian Tom Dreesen, in from L.A. to perform at the Democratic National Committee funder in Lou Weisbach’s North Shore home. Dreesen was given a thorough, advance briefing in which we’re pretty sure he was told what was off-limits. Said Tom: “He’s been getting bashed pretty good every night on the late shows.” Dreesen planned to stick with staples such as the Cubs and life in Harvey (where he was raised).
Taste of Chicago: Figure the Prez won’t have to wait long for more Chicago chow–Keith Luce, chef at the Spruce eatery here, heads to Chile this weekend to cook for Clinton and heads of state in Santiago for a Summit of the Americas. Should be no sweat for Luce–he cooked at the White House during Clinton’s first administration.
She’s No. 1: Lost in the shuffle of official Illinois primary results announced this week: The top vote-getter for either party was Democratic U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, whose 666,419 votes outdistanced all other unopposed statewide candidates.
Food for thought: How’s this for “ships passing in the night”? No sooner had Dan Rostenkowski finished lunch at Club Lago the other day, then Mike Flanagan, the Republican who succeeded him for a term, walked in.
Suiting up: Stuart Gordon, who directed “Bleacher Bums” and “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit” at the Organic Theatre years ago, will be here April 18 and 19–and not because the Cubs play the Dodgers. The Chicago Latino Festival is screening his film adaptation of “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit” that stars Edward James Olmos and Joe Mantegna.
Munch bunch: We hear Blue Man Group will pass on the marshmallow toss and Cap’n Crunch munch in favor of doing their wild drum stuff for Glenn Close, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Maggie Daley and Deloris Jordan at the Children’s Defense Fund gala later this month at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
Passages: Wednesday birthdays: Patricia Arquette, 30; Betty Ford, 80; John Gavin, 66; Shecky Greene, 72; Julian Lennon, 35; John Schneider, 44; Taran Noah Smith, 14; Robin Wright Penn, 32; Peggy Lennon, 57.
Gulp: Either someone organizing the Illinois Arts Alliance gala last weekend had a wicked sense of humor, or, more likely, they weren’t aware that putting Chicago lawyer Jack Guthman and Eleanore Petersen at the same table was interesting. Petersen was the lead plaintiff in the suit to block Museum of Science and Industry expansion while Guthman was the successful, lead MSI attorney in the case.
EAVESDROPPING
“A week-old head of lettuce.” New York Post theater review on Quentin Tarantino’s charisma and performance in Broadway’s “Wait Until Dark.”
