Photo of Socks
SOCKS THE CATtm FAN CLUB NEWSLETTER
ISSUE #15 -- Summer 1997
© 1997, Presidential Socks Partnership, Inc. - 703-920-5193 - fax: 703-521-6157
email: SocksTheCat@ATT.Net
website: http://www.oocities.org/socksthecat.geo
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SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB, 611 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204-2429

WELCOME TO SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB
by SOCKS FAN CLUB President Jay Jacob Wind, Arlington VA
      Welcome to SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB. We are more than 4,000 members in 45 states and 10 countries. We publish letters and articles about America's First Cat SOCKS, animal rights, children, politics, and White House news from a cat's-eye view.
      We check facts carefully with official sources. Occasionally, we scoop all other media with an inside story. In 1994, we ran the first story anywhere about the new White House Visitor Center in the Malcolm Baldrige Commerce Building. Imagine our surprise when TIME Magazine called us to confirm the title of the 15-minute video running continously at the Visitor Center! (It's entitled In These Walls, narrated by Hillary Clinton with a welcome from Bill.)
      Please read and enjoy our newsletter. Some articles are funny, but others are serious. Some articles are copyrighted and used by permission, so please contact us before reprinting. We invite your letters and articles. Send us e-mail us at SOCKSTHECAT@WORLDNET.ATT.NET or write us at SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB, 611 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204-2429. We especially like photos of SOCKS look-alikes and stories about things important to you. We may reprint any letters and photos you send us.  To join SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB, use the membership application on the last page of this newsletter. Every member gets a SOCKS FAN CLUB t-shirt, button, membership card, and the next newsletter; above that, you can choose many other SOCKS gifts. We donate 10% of everything we earn to Humane Society of the U.S. and Children's Defense Fund.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF SOCKS
adapted from The New York Post, November 3, 1996, by Tony Barrell and Marie Dawson. © NY Post. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      First Cat SOCKS CLINTON, 8, takes his name from his distinctive white paws. Rescued as a stray in Little Rock AR, he was adopted by Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton in 1991. After the Presidential elections the following year, he moved into the White House, succeeding George and Barbara Bush's spaniel, Millie.
      SOCKS WRITES: Most nights, I sleep in a little hideaway I've found in the basement of my White House. I wake up around 5:30 a.m. After I do a couple of slow stretches and wash my face, I mosey up to the family headquarters to lie down on Chelsea's bed. By the time she wakes up, I'm pretty hungry, so I'm off to empty my bowl. I visit Chelsea again before she goes to school for another ego-boosting stroke and a drink to clear the throat. I'll miss her when she goes off to Stanford this fall.
      I met the Clintons back when they lived in the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock. I was a stray kitten and Chelsea's piano teacher took me in. Then Hillary and Chelsea saw me and asked if they could keep me. I guess I must have already have had my amazing charisma.
      They named me Socks. The name has given me a bit of a grooming compulsion. I'm freaked out when my paws lose their just-washed look. Then I might be renamed Sockless or Moccasins or something. It might be cool to change my name to a pawprint -- you know, The Animal Formerly Known As Socks.
      Every morning, I play on the South Lawn. I don't have much choice, actually. I'm always on a leash, and Bi11's minders watch over me. The leash is about 20 yards long, so there's a good deal of slack for exploring. I've found a great place near the Rose Garden where I can sit and do -- guess what -- my grooming. I never eat the grass -- I think that's a foul habit. I did chew a little grass back in Little Rock, but I never swallowed.
      Some days, Bill or Hillary will see me on the lawn and we'll share some quality petting time. But often I curl up under one of the big windows and take a nap. I nap a lot -- at least 16 hours a day. If I'm not napping, chances are I'll be meditating, though it's tough for anybody to tell the difference.
      After the 1992 election, I was pretty stressed. First, some eager-beaver photographers picked me up and made me pose. Fortunately, my family put a stop to that; they printed buttons that said "Don't Touch The Cat." Then after we moved into the White House, my fur got ruffled when Chelsea told me they were writing mean things in the papers. They had me doing stuff like scratching the furniture and swinging on the drapes. No way! I don't even use a scratching post, for goodness' sake!
      My funniest time at the White House was when all these people were were running around looking for some papers that had gone astray. Nobody asked me where they were! Can you believe it? Is "white water" another name for milk, by the way?

      Hillary has helped me with my public image. One of my favorite times is Christmas, when I go with her to National Children's Hospital in Washington. The kids love me. Many of the children keep writing to me long after they're better.
      Most days, I'm let off the leash around noon so I can check out what's going on inside. If it's a really roasting day, I'll pick a nice marble floor somewhere to stretch out and maximize my surface area.
      The best place is on the windowsill in the usher's office on the State Floor. I might sneak a book in and secretly read a bit. I'm currently reading "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosley. I identify with strong black characters like myself: Martin Luther King, Duke Ellington, Donna Summer. For a long time, I thought George Clinton -- the guy who wares the wild outfits in Funkadelic and Parliament -- was a relation. No such luck.
      Early in the afternoon, after that important second meal of the day, I swing by my buddy Neel Lattimore, Hillary's press officer, and paw over the mail. I get so many letters that Neel set up a special all-volunteer staff together to answer them all. The Washington Times once ran a story about my correspondence staff, and Bill had to answer questions about how much my fan club was costing taxpayers. (Editors note: The answer is Nothing.)
      Then there's merchandising. Now, there's a word I didn't know before I became the world's most powerful cat. Since the Inauguration, there have been cartoons, t-shirts, mugs -- even a Sega video game. Did you know I'm supposed to have written a book? "Socks Goes To Washington: The Diary of America's First Cat." Purr-lease!
      I think anthropomorphism is basically sick. Some people in the White House think it's cute to speak for me in a squeaky voice. They say things like, "Now where did I leave my Mister Mousey? I wish I could speak in their voice and say something like, "Hi, I've just lost my shoes!"
      In fact, cats have a rich language of meows, howls, shrieks, grunts, purrs, and hisses. My dream is to have that language officially recognized by humans the world over. Call it Felonics. Or CATatonics. That's as political as I get. I'm a DemoCAT, of course -- I have to show some party loyalty -- butt really, cats are too independent to be party animals.
Towards the end of the afternoon, I'm back inside. If there are lots of feet scurrying about, it means there's a state banquet or something, and I hightail it to the basement.
      When Chelsea gets in from school, we watch TV together. Frankly, I'm beat by 8:30 p.m. I finish any leftover food in my bowl and sneak off for some sleeep. I used to have recurring nightmares in which I was not re-inaugurated, and I had to scram to make way for Bob Dole's schnauzer dog and Liddy's tank of rare tropical fish.
      Fat chance.
LETTERS TO SOCKS
Dear Socks:
      My cat Lilly disappeared about a month and a half ago. In my search for her, I learned that about 15 cats have disappeared since March from my neighborhood near American University in Washington DC. We are trying to find out who is taking them, and I wondered if you might publish something about this problem in your newsletter. I would really appreciate it. I can be reached by email at het3@columbia.edu . Please let me know if you can help.
-- Thank you, Hannah Trooboff, Washington DC
Dear Hannah,
      I am pleased to pass your letter on to my readers. I can't fathom the cruelty of a catnapper. I hope your cat returns. I hope Washington DC police increase patrols and take action against the wrongdoers.
-- In sympathy, SOCKS THE CAT


Dear Socks, the Whitehouse Cat!
      We are writing to let you know how much we enjoyed your Web site and your tour of the White House! My cats, Tuffy and Samantha, think you are the cat's meow and wanted me to write you and let you know they are huge fans of yours! We wonder if you will run for office in the near future? Or perhaps plan on being the head of the Human Society or other charitable animal societies? We think you are great and we're so glad to finally have a cat in the White House to represent the felines of America! You make us proud! If you can find time in your busy schedule, we'd LOVE to have your autograph or maybe a picture of you to hang beside our beds! You are our Hero! May you have a long and healthy life, lots of love, tons of playtime, and many toys to amuse your days!
-- Purrrrrfectly yours, Mary Addington and Tuffy and Samantha, Tampa FL
Dear Mary, Tuffy, and Samantha,
      Thank you so much for writing. I hope you enjoy my newsletter and photo. I plan to run for something in 2000, but I haven't decided what yet. My advisors are busy huddling with constitutional lawyers to determine whether I'll be 10 years old in human years (too young to run) or 50 in cat years (and in my prime). I like the Human Society idea! I wish Millie Bush were still alive to help me start it. My love to you all!
-- unCATegorically yours, SOCKS THE CAT
Dear Socks,

      My human companions never let me out of the house even though I run right to the door when they are about to leave! I feel that this is very unfair because I am a good cat and would just like to leave with them when they have to go someplace! What can I do? I see that your people let you roam around freely! Any advice would be very helpful! I am secretly using one of the humans' e-mail accounts and I will secretly check it for a reply!
-- Solidarity! Pokey The Cat, Peoria IL
Dear Pokey,
      You type well for a cat without opposible thumbs! The Secret Service guys don't let me roam around freely. Whenever I go out, they walk me on a very long, lightweight leash. They let me go wherever I want, but they are never far behind. It's been like that every since March 13, 1993. Before that day, for the first two months here, they just let me out and followed me around. But that day, I chased a squirrel up a tree, and I couldn't get down. My leash go stuck on a branch. They had to bring out a ladder to get me down. So ever since then, they have kept someone on the other end of my leash. Good thing, too ... I've trained several humans in the mysterious ways of the feline. I've shown them places in the White House gardens that no human has ever seen before!
-- Thanks and best wishes, SOCKS THE CAT
Dear Socks:

      Our kitty Oreo wears white gloves on her front paws and white hipboots on her legs. She wanted to ask you for a date, but we told her she's way too young for you and you're too busy chasing mice around the White House.
-- Meow-Meow, Tony Kuchta, West Allis WI
Dear Tony and Oreo:
      With white paws like that, Oreo must be a very beautiful cat! I'm grateful for her interest. I always like to play with other cats when they visit the White House. Fortunately, there are no longer mice here. When we first moved in, there indeed WERE mice in the White House basement, but the Chief Engineer patched the cracks they used to come in. As far as I recall, I've never had the pleasure of chasing a mouse here!
-- From the cool basement, SOCKS THE CAT
Dear Socks:

      I am your fan. I have some questions for you. 1. Where is your litter box and who has to clean it? 2. Do you have your own bedroom? 3. What do you eat for lunch? 4. Who gives you a bath? 5. How old are you? 6. Where do you play and where do you hide? 7. Do you work and get paid? 8. Do you wear a collar? 9. Do you have fleas?       Please send me a sample issue of your newsletter and a photo.
-- Thank you, Heather Beriman, Mount Upton NY
Dear Heather:
      I love your questions! 1. I have a litter boxes in Chelsea's bathroom upstairs, and another in the basement. 2. I don't have a bedroom, but I have two cat-beds for my catnaps, upstairs and downstairs. 3. I prefer dry cat food to that sticky stuff. But I also love nibbling smoked salmon! 4. Chelsea is the ONLY one I would trust near water. I don't like baths! 5. I'm 8. I was born in winter 1991, probably January, but I don't remember exactly. 6. I love to play outside, and I know a hundred hiding places in the White House gardens. The best ones are under the magnolias on the South Lawn, where nobody can go except the squirrels and me. 7. Work? What's that? 8. I wear a red leather collar, with a bell to warn any birds I get near, plus a flea collar. 9. No fleas, please. My flea collar sees to that. After a hot, dry summer, Washington DC can be very dangerous to cats that way. Your newsletter and a photo are on their way!
-- From the cool basement, SOCKS THE CAT
Dear Socks:

      Why do you request TWO 32-cent stamps, rather than one, since you use only ONE when you mail the newsletter?
-- "The Inquiring Mind," Marlow NH
Dear TIM:
      I use the extra stamps to mail newsletters free to school children who don't enclose stamps. I get hundreds of requests each month from kids who do not enclose any stamps. Sometimes, it's fun deciphering their handwriting. I'm always delighted to send the newsletter to anyone who requests it, and with your help, I can keep doing that.
-- CATch you later, SOCKS THE CAT

SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB - OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Please join the Official SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB!
[_] $12.00 ... The full membership package includes: Other gifts:
[_] $20.00     SOCKS Virtual Reality Pet - better than a Tamagotchi! -- plus the button, card, newsletter and pamphlets
[_] $20.00     SOCKS Sweatshirt     [_]Small     [_]Medium     [_]Large     [_]Extra Large -- plus all that other stuff
[_] $20.00     SOCKS Look-Alike Cuddly Toy Cat (see below) -- plus all that other stuff
[_] $15.00     [_] SOCKS Chef's Apron     or     [_] SOCKS Tote-bag (holds 35 pounds) -- plus all that other stuff
[_] $   8.00     SOCKS Adult Size T-shirts without all that other stuff [_]S [_]M [_]L [_]XL - only $5.00 for Child Sizes: [_]M [_]L
[_] $   8.00     SOCKS Baseball Hat (black print on sturdy white hat
[_] $   3.00     SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB Button (above) full-color, 2" diameter (2 for $5.00)
[_] $   3.00     SOCKS THE CAT Postcard - 5.5"x 8.5" (2 for $5.00)
[_] $   3.00     The next 3 issues of SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB NEWSLETTER
Button[_] $   1.00 each or $10.00 for all 14     Back issues of SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB NEWSLETTER
    __ #1 (2 pages) Socks's Inauguration Jan. 20, 1993 / Kids clean up the environment
    __ #2 (4 pages) Interview with Socks' vet Joan Nafe / White House maze
    __ #3 (8 pages) Cat's Credo, a poem by Garrison Keillor / 1993 Inauguration photos
    __ #4 (8 pages) Vic Gold interviews Socks / White House board game
    __ #5 (8 pages) The Wild Cats of Hawaii / Murphy Brown kidnaps Socks on TV
    __ #6 (8 pages) Interview with Socks's press secretary Neel Lattimore - scratch those rumors!
    __ #7 (8 pages) New White House Visitor Center (the first article anywhere!)
    __ #8 (8 pages) African Safari / Socks in Mad Magazine
    __ #9 (8 pages) On-Line Tour / MaryKate & Ashley Olson sing Some Day I Want to Be President
    __#10 (8 pages) White House Sculpture Garden (first time ever published!) / PRIMANJI Board Game
    __#11 (8 pages) Socks interviews Leader Dole / The Great Socks vs. Leader Debate
    __#12 (8 pages) White House Holiday Cards / Holidays Around the World
    __#13 (4 pages) Socks's 2nd Inauguration / We meet Socks at Children's Hospital
    __#14 (8 pages) Socks's Inaugural Address / Saving Australia's Cats / Socks Cloned!

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SOCKS THE CAT VIRTUAL-REALITY TOY PET
      Would you like to try our new SOCKS THE CAT Virtual-Reality Toy Pet? It's better than a Tamagotchi, GigaPet, or NanoPet. You can choose from eight personalities, including a SOCKS cat, an alien, a dinosaur, and a puppy dog. It also has four controls, not just three, and is more solidly built. We ordered only 12, so let us know soon if you want one.
SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB donates 10% of its earnings to Humane Society of the U.S. and Children's Defense Fund
To join the Humane Society of the U.S., send $10 to HSUS, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.
To support Children's Defense Fund, send donations to CDF, 25 E Street NW, Washington DC 20001.


 
 





"Only astrophysicists knew about the Internet 20 years ago. Today my cat has a Web site."
-- Bill Clinton, quoted by Rick VanSant, Scripps Howard News Service February 10, 1997



WILL SOCKS WRITE A BOOK?
from Who's News by Lorrie Lynch, USA Weekend Magazine, March 30, 1997

Q. SOCKS, the Clinton family cat, has been keeping a low profile in the second term. Is he by chance writing a book about his experiences as First Cat? How does he feel about keeping his litter box in the White House another four years?
-- Linda Hassa, Brick NJ

A. Like his owners, SOCKS, who is about 8 years old, loves White House life. "He has grown into it," said Neel Lattimore, Hillary Clinton's press secretary. "He has no plans to put paw to pen yet, but George Bush's dog Millie did it, so there is a precedent." SOCKS, a homebody who doesn't travel with the First Family, avoids the press office ("too many cats there already," said Lattimore) but in good weather, he spends almost all day outside, with a view of the Oval Office.


PARADE MAGAZINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
SOCKS IS A GOOD CAT
from Walter Scott's Personality Parade, Parade Magazine, May 1, 1994

Q. I hear that Chelsea Clinton's cat, SOCKS, has been sharpening his claws on the White House furniture and Oriental rugs, causing thousands of dollars' worth of damages. Exactly how much was the damage, and who is going to pay for the repairs?
-- Ruth Assaid, Roanoke VA

A. White House spokesman Neel Lattimore says SOCKS, a neutered male, hasn't ripped up any furnishings and has shown only the mnost impeccable manners since moving into the White House in 1993. "His favorite places to hang out," adds Lattimore, "are on the ground floor marble hallway, which is cool in the summer, and in the basement boiler room, which is warm in the winter. He's footloose and fancy free. He's the First Cat, and he's leading the good life."


THE DILEMMA OF THE DOGLESS WHITE HOUSE
from Parade Magazine's Special Intelligence Report, April 6, 1997, by Jane Ciabattari

      The Clintons have their cat SOCKS, but the President should heed the words of Harry S Truman, who said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." So advises Roy Rowan, whose book First Dogs, co-authored by Brooke Janis, was published in June by Algonquin Press.
      Rowan notes that the Oval Office has been called "the loneliest place in the world," and most Presidents have had dogs, because they are loyal even in the worst of times. They also humanize their masters in the eyes of the public and may even win a few votes in a nation whose citizens own 58 million dogs. In fact, Calvin Coolidge once said, "Any man who does not like dogs and want them about does not deserve to be in the White House."
      George Washington bred hounds and kept diaries about them -- including a vivid account of how one, Vulcan, stole a cooked ham from the dining room table. George Bush's dog, Millie, wrote her own White House memoirs (clever pooch!). The publication raised $889,176 for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. In between the two Georges, our Presidents have seldom been dogless.
      So what sort of dog should the Clintons get? Roy Rowan suggests that they look to the school where Bill and Hillary met -- Yale University, whose fight song, written by Cole Porter, starts off, "Bulldog! Bulldog! Bow wow wow!"


FIVE GOOD REASONS TO ENVY CATS
from Roseanna Newberry, Kansas City KS

1. They don't like anything unless it's expensive.
2. Even the fat ones are graceful.
3. They take lots of naps, interrupted by long periods of sleep.
4. They have interesting fantasy lives.
5. They couldn't care less.


SOCKS FAN CLUB SUPPORTS LOCAL DOG SHELTER

      SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB supported the Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club's spring auction with a donation of a "SOCKS THE CAT FASHION PACKAGE." The auction benefited Golden Retriever Rescue Education and Training, which provided food, medical care, and shelter to "orphan" dogs. "We sincerely appreciate your gift and assure you it contributed to the success of our evening," wrote auction coordinator Martha Cole Glenn of Arlington VA.
      SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB is delighted to assist local animal welfare charities. Please contact us.


IN MEMORIAM:
MILDRED KERR "MILLIE" BUSH

      We mourn the death of Mildred Bush, 12, the nation's First Dog from 1989 to 1993, put to sleep after a stomach ailment, May 30, in Kennebunkport ME. Millie's Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush was a best-seller for more than six months in 1995.

      The beloved springer spaniel of George and Barbara Bush, Millie is survived by her human family, her mate J. Fred Bush, and her 12 pups, born in the White House.

Photo by Todd France, Collage by Dave Hardenbrook 

CATS DANCER
BECOMES LONGEST-RUNNING
BROADWAY PERFORMER
Adapted from PEOPLE Magazine, April 8, 1997,
by Peter Castro and Anthony Duignan-Cabrera

      On April 1, Marléne Danielle played the part of the slinky Bombalurina in the musical CATS for the 4,648th time and became the Broadway actress with the longest-running streak of performances.
      She has been singing and dancing the part at Broadway's Winter Garden Theater since opening night, October 7, 1982. CATS is Broadway's third-longest-running show.
      A cat-lover herself, Danielle lives in Jersey City NJ with 11 cats of her own. She who won't reveal her age in either human or cat years, but she was born and raised in New York City and dreamed of becoming a ballerina. In 1978, she apprenticed with the Dance Theater of Harlem. For the next few years, she played in shows on- and off-Broadway, including Little Shop of Horrors and West Side Story.
      In 1981, Danielle auditioned for the New York production of CATS. She didn't get a part, but choreographer Gillian Lynne decided to put her in the show before it opened the following year. She landed the permanent role of Bombalurina a year later. Of the original Broadway cast, only Danielle and Cats Chorus member Susan Powers remain.
      "For me it's stability, the chance to live a normal life like people who go to an office," said Danielle. "I love cats. I love their movement and mystique. And I happen to be a Leo."
      And we love CATS!


WHO ARE THE OTHER CATS?
from the official CATS website http://www.reallyuseful.com/news/Cats
ROLE ORIGINAL LONDON ORIGINAL BROADWAY CURRENT BROADWAY
Alonzo Roland Alexander Hector Jaime Mercado Hans Kriefall
Asparagus/Growltiger Stephen Tate Stephen Hanan Richard Poole
Bombalurina Geraldine Gardner Donna King Marlene Danielle
Bustopher Jones Brian Blessed Stephan Hanan Richard Poole
Carbuckety David Baxter Steven Gelfer  
Cassandra Seeta Indrani Rene Ceballos Meg Gillentine
Coricopat Donald Waugh Rene Clemente Steve Ochoa
Demeter Sharon Lee-Hill Wendy Edmead Emily Hsu
Genghis (= Gilbert) Donald Waugh Steven Gelfer  
Grizabella Elaine Paige Betty Buckley Liz Callaway
Jellyorum/Griddlebone Susan Jane Tanner Bonnie Simmons Nina Hennessey
Jennyanydots Myra Sands Anna McNeely Carol Dilley
Macavity/Plato/Rumpuscat John Thornton Kenneth Ard Rick Gonzalez
Mistoffelees Wayne Sleep Timothy Scott Jacob Brent
Mungojerrie John Thornton Rene Clemente Roger Kachel
Munkustrap Jeff Shankley Harry Groener Michael Gruber
Old Deuteronomy Brian Blessed Ken Page Ken Prymus
Pouncival   Herman W. Sebek Christopher Gattelli
Rum Tum Tugger Paul Nicholas Terrence V. Mann Ron DeVito
Rumpelteazer Bonnie Langford Christine Langner Mary Jo Ralabate
Sillabub (= Jemima) Sarah Brightman Whitney Kershaw Elaine Kashian
Skimbleshanks Kenn Wells Reed Jones Eric Scott Kincaid
Tantomile Femi Taylor Janet L.Hubert Jill Nicklaus
Tumblebrutus Roland Alexander Robert Hoshour Randy Bettis
Victoria Finola Hughes Cynthia Onrubia Nadine Isenegger
Cats Chorus   Walter Charles, Susan Powers, Carol Richards, Joel Robertson Joel Briel, Kelly Briggs, Susan Powers, Heidi Stallings 

SOCKS' BOOK CLUB

BOOK REVIEW: HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, A FIRST LADY FOR OUR TIME
by Donnie Radcliffe, published by Warner Books, © 1993, 236 pages. $5.50 in paperback.
Reviewed by Jay Jacob Wind

I loved this book. Who can resist a book that features SOCKS on the very first page? The author writes of Mrs. Clinton:

      "She was thinking about Richard Nixon, and also about Chelsea's cat.
      "Sitting in a hotel room in Cleveland only hours before her husband was to be elected president of the United States and she to become, arguably, the most powerful woman in the country, Hillary Rodham Clinton thought of the man who, as much as anyone, had started it all.
      "Richard Milhous Nixon, that glowering phenomenon of American politics, had aroused a generation of reformers, goading it with his vision of a govemment - and a society that was arrogant, compassionless and unwilling to yield power. Few had been aroused more thoroughly than Hillary and few had found such thorough vindication. Just at the moment she was helping Congress draft the rules to impeach him, Nixon had resigned from office.
      "Then, with bizarre irony, he had returned in February 1992 to taunt her with his sly prediction that her independence would hurt her husband's political prospects. This time his words had aroused another group-fellow conservatives who sought to turn Hillary into the issue of the day. Could it be that not once but twice in her life she would be given the satisfaction of having the final word on Richard Nixon?
      "Her daughter Chelsea's cat, too, was something of a symbol. Socks, the furry black-and-white stray who made Chelsea and her and Bill feel better (even if she and Bill were allergic to him), was a connection to a very different life from the one that featured the likes of Richard Nixon. Cautiously, she had begun to think about the White House and how she would give her twelve-year-old the chance to have her own life and be able to grow up as normally as possible.
      "That was what she was going to be focused on, she said that afternoon in Cleveland, if she woke up the day after the election and Bill had won. Socks would be part of it. She wondered, Would he be the first First Cat since Amy Carter's? A Secret Service agent had told them there were mice and rats in the White House. Could that possibly be true? Did Barbara Bush really find a rat in the swimming pool? Maybe it was because there were no cats. Hey, this was even a political plus! Cat lovers would feel enfranchised again.
      "Exit poll," she deadpanned, playing the election day polltaker. "Did you vote for the Clintons because they have a cat?"
      "The potential was mind-boggling.
      "I love it!" Hillary Rodham Clinton cried, convulsed by a genuine moment of absurd humor. "Oh, God, I love it!"
We enjoyed this book, and we think you will, too.


      We also enjoyed Socks Goes to Washington, The Diary of America’s First Cat, an 80-page cartoon book by Michael O'Donoghue, illustrated by J.C.Suarez, published by Thomasson-Grant/Lickel.. It's a biting, scratching satire featuring the First Cat, the First Family, and lots of other assorted political animals. In one cartoon, Socks regards a photo of Theodore Roosevelt atop tiger pelts he shot in the Veldt. "I'm glad Teddy Roosevelt isn't around anymore," muses Socks. If you want a copy, we will mail-order it for you. Send $6.95 plus $2.00 postage to SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB, 611 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204-2429. Thank you!
FIRST CAT LETS FUR FLY AT TOBACCO USE
-- by Lorene Smithers, Tucson AZ
MY FELINE AMERICANS,
      It is up to all cats and people alike to take a stand against tobacco use, with my friend BILL leading the way. It has come time to pay the piper for all the catastrophic diseases and illnesses caused by first- and second-hand smoke. It is said that cats have nine lives, but I can't imagine using all of them at once because I smoked.
      This is a plea to children and adults alike, if you don't smoke, don't start, and if you do smoke, please quit. I can't imagine going through life coughing and constantly feeling like I have a fur ball stuck in my throat. With new no-smoking laws being passed all-over. non-smoking cats and people can finally enjoy public places without having to say pew pew.
      -- Thank you, and God Bless America - SOCKS THE CAT
      SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB is pleased to endorse Lorene Smithers' anti-smoking campaign, aimed at children 12 and younger. She has been a teacher and a nanny for 30 years and has seen the health effects of smoking on children first-hand. Write Lorene Smithers at 4444 East Benson Highway, Space 163, Tucson AZ 85706.
PLEASE WRITE SINGAPORE'S AMBASSADOR TO HELP SAVE THE ISLAND'S CATS
-- by Janalee Faucher, Singapore
      Singapore is a lovely place, and well worth a visit -- if you aren't an animal lover.
      The Singapore Tourist Board invented a name for the numerous starving stray cats you see here, "the Kucintas." It means "the loveable cats." But how much Singapore does loves these cats? In fact, the government urges people not to feed them, so as to reduce their population.
      The Singapore SPCA euthanized 9,883 animals last year. The Primary Production Department collected an addtional 10,445 animals. I have not yet discovered what the PPD does with its trapped cats, but I think it's a safe bet that they aren't setting them up in their own Kitty Condos.
      Rather than take responsiblity for this, the Singapore government only admonishes: "If pet owners are more responsible ... then there will be fewer strays around." Note that when abandoned chewing gum became a problem in Singapore, the government didn't merely admonish -- it passed a law banning chewing gum.
      Singapore recently passed an animal-abuse law, one of the few things that has actually motivated people to speak out -- in protest. In one letter in the Straits Times, a Singaporean explained why it was perfectly logical to beat a cat to death, and unfair to punish the "so-called offender."
      Recently, Singapore announced its plan to forge ties with major U.S. cities, beginning with Boston. They plan to focus initially on four areas; one of them is tourism. There is one registered animal-welfare charity in Singapore. It receives no government funding. There are 24 Singapore Tourism Promotion Boards worldwide.
      Let Singapore know that controlling a stray population by starvation is not only inhumane, it doesn't work. Let Singapore know that funding for public education about non-human life would also be well spent. Please do write - because nobody here in Singapore will. And apathy is death for these cats. Write Singapore's Ambassador, His Excellency S. R. Nathan, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, 3501 International Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
      For statistical references, quotes and letters, and more information about these cats, see my Web site, http://www.best.com/~mtyler/expats.htm Please visit and contribute a letter. I also have a tribute to SOCKS at http://www.best.com/~mtyler/yourpage11.htm
 
 

THE GAME OF POLITICS: MATCH THE PRESIDENTS TO THEIR MOVIES

    Air Force One and Contact are new movies featuring the President of the United States. In this game, match the actor who played the President (or the REAL President!) in the movie. If you get ALL answers right, send us your entry, and we'll send you a free SOCKS THE CAT child's size t-shirt.
 
__ Ralph Bellamy
__ Bill Clinton
__ Jim Curley
__ Michael Douglas
__ Henry Fonda
__ Harrison Ford
__ Edward Herrmann
__ Hal Holbrook
__ Anthony Hopkins
__ Tom Howard
__ Walter Huston
__ Christopher Jones
__ James Earl Jones
__ Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon
__ Kevin Kline
__ Fredric March
__ E.G. Marshall
__ Raymond Massey
__ Donald Moffat
__ Donald Moffat (again!)
__ James Naughton
__ Jack Nicholson
__ Donald Pleasence
__ Bill Pullman
__ Peter Sellers
__ Lane Smith
__ Franchot Tone
__ Rip Torn
A. Abraham Lincoln
B. Advise and Consent
C. Air Force One
D. Blind Ambition
E. Clear and Present Danger
F. Contact
G. Dave
H. Dr. Strangelove
I. Eleanor and Franklin
J. Escape from New York
K. Fail-Safe
L. First Kid
M. Forrest Gump
N. In the Line of Fire
O. Independence Day
P. JFK
Q. Mars Attacks!
R. Nixon
S. Seven Days in May
T. Sunrise at Campobello
U. The American President
V. The Final Days
W. The Right Stuff
X. The Man
Y. Under Siege
Z. Wild in the Streets
AA. Abe Lincoln in Illinois
AB. Superman
PATRICK NEWMAN'S ADVICE TO CAT LOVERS
     Hello, my name is Patrick Newman. Starting with this issue, I will write a column about cat advice. I can't get a cat, because my mom is allergic. Since I don't have a cat, I do a lot of research about cats. In fall, I will be in 4th grade at Independence Elementary School in Aurora CO. I am nine years old.
      Write Patrick Newman c/o SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB, 611 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204. We will reprint the best letters in each issue.

Dear Patrick,
      My cat Gato is very active. He likes to "cat" around. Should I be worried about him, in this day and age of AIDS and other diseases?
-- Thank you, Ralph A., New York NY
Dear Ralph,
      Since you are worried, I will tell you what you can do. Make sure Gato gets a shot for Feline Immune Virus (FIV) along with his other shots. Talk to your vet about this. Don't be shy. It's important to be informed about this. A cat doesn't really have nine lives, only one. Take good care of Gato.
-- Patrick
Dear Patrick,
      My cat Generous George has been diagnosed with "high-rise" syndrome. My veterinarian says that I should move from my apartment on the 10th floor to one on the first floor, or George will be dead soon. George loves jumping off my balcony and doesn't seem to mind his resulting injuries. It's like he's addicted to jumping. Pat, do you know of any other solutions? I like my apartment almost as much as George.
-- With Love and thanks, Nora K., San Jose CA
Dear Nora,
      Please do exactly what the vet says. George needs you! Once you move to the first floor apartment, keep George busy with toys, etc. Even buy George a leash and take him for walks. He may come to enjoy his walks as much as his jumps. We can only hope!
-- Patrick
Dear Patrick,

      My cat Willy weighs about 23 pounds. I thought it would be a good idea to put him on a diet. Now, my vet says I did the wrong thing. She says that when you put a fat cat on a diet, the fat cells accumulate in the liver, causing damage. When I take Willy for walks, I end up carrying him home. This happens even on short walks. Pat, you are my last hope. What do you advise?
-- Your friend, Alice T., Denver CO
Dear Alice,
      First, get Willy a complete check-up to find out why he is fat. Then, if all is well, go to a pet shop and get a scratching post with a spring. They cost about $40-$60. Play with Willy. Buy him toys instead of treats. Also, a low-calorie, low-fat diet diet will help, but don't starve him. Good luck. Write me to let me know how it goes.
-- Patrick
Misty The CatCAT OF THE MONTH
      Our Cat of the Month is Misty, dearly departed friend of author/poet Hilary Tham Goldberg, Arlington VA. Misty died July 18. Read Hilary's work on her Web site, http://www.oocities.org/SoHo/9926 . Here is one of her poems, THE SILENCE OF CATS, published in MINIMUS, 1997.
Before their feeding bowls,
like silent gods pondering
the failure of religion,
our two cats sit perfectly
still as Egyptian stone
statues, one gray, one black.
Their gazes pierce the air
above the empty bowls,
they miss their daily offerings.
The conjunction of cats, bowls,
emptiness and silence reminds
we have a moral contract
more binding than man-made laws:
to feed and adore them, they
to be themselves and everything
we attribute to them.
A cat's silence is pervasive
as incense as it sits after dinner
conning the essence
of linoleum by the back door.
Soon or late, a human is impelled
to open the door, hold it wide
while the cat yawns, sniffs
the night and decides he might
as well take a stroll since the door
is open, sure the world and we
will wait for his walking.
After dark, we too place ourselves
by a door and go confidently out into sleep
with the same careless assumption
that our housing will let us back in
on our return, that the world we know
waits for our waking.

WHITE HOUSE TO HOST FALL GARDEN AND HOUSE TOURS
      The White House hosts its annual Fall Garden and House Tours on Saturday, October 11, 9 am - 12 noon and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 12, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. You can view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, South Lawn, Rose Garden, Children's Garden, and State Floor rooms in the White House. Military bands play on the South Lawn. No tickets are required. Line up at Southeast Gate. You can use cameras outside in the gardens, but not inside the White House.
      You can also take a regular self-guided tour of the White House any Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Obtain timed tickets at the WHite House Visitor Center at 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue and line up on the Ellipse to enter through the Southeast Gate. For more information about any White House tours, please call 202-456-2322.
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FAN CLUB ANNOUNCES "PROJECT READ"
TO HONOR HILLARY'S 50TH BIRTHDAY
      The Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC) Fan Club, with members nationwide and around the world, has announced a Volunteer Reading Tutor Project to honor Mrs. Clinton's (shh!) 50th birthday, October 26, 1997.
      The program, inspired by Mrs. Clinton's life-long efforts to help children and her book It Takes a Village, will help fulfill President Clinton's goal of every child being able to read by the end of Grade 3. Each Fan Club chapter is requested to select members to lead the project, help volunteers contact local schools to offer their assistance, and teach volunteers effective tutoring methods.
      HRC Fan Club co-chair Dr. Ruth Love added a few thoughts:
o   The reading experience must always be a positive one. Reading is fun!
o   The student needs to be reminded often, "I can Read"
o   Frequent and close coordinations between the tutor and the student's classroom teacher is a must
o   Even half an hour a week, one-on-one, with a student will make a difference
      SOCKS adds, you don't have to be in HRC Fan Club to volunteer at school to read to children. You can do it at home and you can do it anywhere.
Photo by Beverly Goods

RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL CELEBRATES
SOCKS' SECOND INAUGURATION

      The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington VA celebrated the Second Inauguration of America's First Cat with a unique SOCKS Inaugural Ball Suite. Thousands of guests visited the gala suite, which featured dozens of diploCATs and musiCATs, detailed "Kitty-Rena instructions," and a formal table setting for SOCKS and his friends with catnip-topped cream drinks.


PLEASE JOIN SOCKS THE CAT FAN CLUB
IN WISHING "HAPPY 51st BIRTHDAY"
TO BILL CLINTON ON AUGUST 19
      No surprise party for Mr. Clinton this year -- after last year's 50th birthday bash, thhe secret is out -- his 51st birthday rolls around on Tuesday, August 19.
      The well-kept secret, however, is that August 19 is also Tipper Gore's birthday! Join SOCKS in meowing Happy Birthday to both of them.