As the Democrats seized control of Congress this fall, the ranks of Harvard alums shrank.
As the Democrats seized control of Congress this fall, the ranks of Harvard alums shrank from 26 to 24 in the House (all but two of them Democrats), and from 17 to 14 in the Senate (all the result of retirement).
WINNERS’ CIRCLE
If power is an aphrodisiac, select Harvard-educated senators are about to become the sexiest men alive. Committee chairmanships are up for grabs, and six alumni have seniority—which is Congress-speak for “dibs.” Carl Levin (D–Mich.), who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq in 2002, will likely inherit leadership of the Armed Services Committee, and Ted Kennedy (D–Mass.) looks set to retake the top spot at Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Jay Rockefeller (D–W.Va.), the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, says he believes the White House has built a “wall” around national security; expect it to come down if he wins the chairmanship. Jeff Bingaman (D–N.M.), Herb Kohl (D–Wis.), and Jack Reed (D–R.I.) can also expect plum assignments.
In the House, Barney Frank (D–Mass.) vaults to the head of the powerful Financial Services Committee, and Jane Harman (D–Calif.) may chair the Intelligence Committee. Harvard in charge of money and intelligence: That sounds about right.
LOSERS’ CIRCLE
Some pols lost in 2006 without running for anything.
* Mitt Romney. The outgoing Massachusetts governor is on the GOP short list for 2008 but is facing fallout from negative campaigning by lieutenant governor Kerry Healey, who lost to Deval Patrick by 21 points.
* Mark Warner. The former Virginia governor will sit out the presidential race—but voters may lose interest by 2012.
* Ted Stevens. Alaska’s senior senator must vacate the Commerce,
Science, and Transportation chairmanship.
* Ken Mehlman. After just one term as chair of the Republican National Committee, the Karl Rove protégé is leaving.
GOING FOR BROOKE
She lost, but Brooke Ellison, Democratic candidate for the New York State Senate from Long Island, contributed an inspirational note in a largely acrimonious political soundscape. Ellison, the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard, used her campaign to promote stem-cell research.
PUT ON A HILLARY FACE
2006 was good for the Democrats, what’s good for the Democrats is good for Hillary Clinton, and “what’s good for Hillary is good for me,” says actress Heidi Dallin (pictured) of Gloucester, Mass. With a CNN camera crew in tow, Dallin, a professional Hillary look-alike, once fooled the guards at Bill Clinton’s office. Now, with the New York senator’s star rising, demand is up. But even when the GOP is in power, she has no trouble booking gigs. Explains Dallin, “Republicans think it’s a lark to get a picture taken with Hillary Clinton.”
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