My Favorite Kemp Convention Story Jude Wanniski August 16, 1996

Memo To: Bob Novak
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: My Favorite Kemp Convention Story

Your story Wednesday night about attending the 1940 GOP convention, at the age of 9, was the highlight of the dinner. I thought I'd share with you my favorite Kemp convention story. It was in 1976 in Kansas City, just a few months after I met Jack. He knew I'd be at the convention and asked me to help him write a speech. I knocked one out, but he asked me to come to his room after he arrived to polish it. So at 10 a.m., I arrived at his hotel suite and knocked at the door. When he opened it, he was in his pajama bottoms only and barefoot. I was astonished at his massive arms and recollect he did not seem to have a hair on his chest. I spotted Joanne in the background, wearing a white bathrobe, and she asked Jack who it was and he said it was me. I brought in a portable electric typewriter and started work. Jack, though, sat down at a room service table that had been wheeled in. It was spread with plates topped with those metal warmer covers. He sat down, pulled two of them toward him, and uncovered bacon and eggs, potatoes and toast. He poured coffee and wolfed down the breakfast with a few cups of coffee, while we talked about the speech. When he finished, he pushed the empty plates aside and pulled two more plates forward and took off the warmers. There was an enormous cheeseburger and french fries. He opened a bottle of diet Pepsi and began to eat again. I turned to Joanne and said, "What's going on here?" She said matter-of-factly: "Oh we got in so late last night that when we woke up it was too late for breakfast. And we have to be at the hall at noon to practice the speech and Jack wouldn't have time for lunch. So I ordered him breakfast and lunch together."

Take that, Bill Clinton, with your donuts and Big Macs!!