FRANKLY FRANGO

Mayor, Mayor on the wall,

Who is the fairest of them all:

John Spencer of Yonkers City Hall

by John Frango

4-24-00

John Spencer, Mayor of Yonkers, New York, is a man of exceptional arrogance, especially his hostile and implacable attitude about housing desegregation in the city. The man speaks with forked-tongue--and his unctuousness could be the biggest mistake since the introduction of the Edsel. This smarmy politician, I'm convinced, thinks that when God takes a vacation, he spends it in Yonkers with John Spencer.

The "president" I alluded to in a recent column was Harry S. Truman, beloved by the common man but whose enormous accomplishments were anything but common. It's all in David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Truman" (Simon & Schuster), a towering biographical triumph, beautifully written and magnificently researched. I thought I knew something about Truman--but McCullough makes me realize how uninformed--no, misinformed--I am about the Great Man. The author uses words so poetically that he makes me feel utterly word-puny and inadequate. At one time it was suggested Truman name a Secretary of Columnists, to read all the columnists and report to the president on how the country should really be run. If there's one book you read this year (sorry about the cliché), read McCullough's magnificent "Truman."

My wife is standing behind a frail, little old man at the supermarket checkout counter. The checkout girl tallies the man's items: he doesn't have enough money to pay for what he purchased. She helps him eliminate items--but he's still 15 cents short. The checkout girl seems annoyed. "Please take this," my wife says. And she gives him the change. "Thank you," the man says. He picks up his groceries and walks slowly out of the supermarket. A touching tableau that haunts the human heart--if you have a heart.

The mediocre mailing piece by the New York Presbyterian Hospital in support of its Millennium Preservation Master Plan for the 232-acre campus in White Plains, was laughable, especially the inane sentence that promises: "The retail stores will be of a nature that would not compete with the existing downtown retail area." That's the most ludicrous statement since the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, announced confidently on December 6, 1941, that "the U.S. Navy is not going to be caught napping."

We can certainly empathize with Vincenca Restino of Yonkers, New York for her sharp objections to the simpleton "Sopranos" on HBO-TV. But the president of the Yonkers City Council's indignation fell on deaf ears. I watched part of the show one night and it was not only extravagantly foul-mouthed but what I saw was atrociously written, ineptly acted, and appallingly directed. Forget about a "factual foundation." It had no irony, just idiocy. I never watched it again--and that's what relatively intelligent people should do. Nonetheless, as they so often say, this is America--and we do have choices. It's unfortunate that "The Sopranos" largest audience is reportedly comprised of Italians and Jews--two people I love deeply and expect more from. Actually, I'd like to see the show get so much heat you could fry eggs on the asses of the actors and writers. But that will never happen. So just don't watch it.

Tip-of-the-topper to Great-Guy John Livanos, peripatetic proprietor of some very classy bistros: City Limits on Central Avenue in White Plains. . . City Limits in the ultrafashionable The Westchester in White Plains. . . enchanting Cafe Meze in Hartsdale, MY .... Oceana on 55th and East 54th Street in New York City and Molyvos on 7th Avenue between

55th and 56th Streets in New York City. Molyvos just received a glittering four-and-a-half star review in Flair, the popular and prestigious new insert in Saturday's edition of the Journal News. Mr. Livanos is a class act--as a restauranteur and a gentleman.

Since I am strongly pro-Israeli, I resent Hillary Clinton's audacious approval of the controversial Palestinian attitude and outlook. Read Gail Sheehy's "Hillary's Choice" (Random House) and found it mildly interesting. However, Sheehy's mythological meanderings are as old as most of the stuff you read in this column. Hillary's "clever" wisecrack that she had no intention of running for vice president, because "I don't want to spend my time attending funerals" was first said by Harry Truman in early 1944--when he was asked if he would consider running for vice president. Her enormous despair and disapproval of Bill Clinton's wanton womanizing has been well documented by the uncharitable media. Nonetheless, President Clinton still had the respect of the public despite his lust for ladies and a possible congressional impeachment; a poll at that critical time still showed 83 percent of Americans loved him--the highest rating of a president since Harry Truman.

Great-guy Isadore Feldshon was the mastermind behind the success of the old Bros. Shop on Main Street in White Plains, New York. The store displayed the finest in men's threads for more than 38 years. Feldshon could sell anything. But he'd never sell out a friendship--no matter what the price. One of my all-time favorites.

Shy Sy Schulman was the most cerebral and literate mayor in the history of White Plains, New York. But he had a subterranean distrust of people who didn't measure up to his intellectual standards. Joe Delfino--the present mayor--is an intelligent man who has an appreciation for exploitation, publicity, and public relations. Joe doesn't find it difficult shaking a hand--however high or low the individual may be.

Bob Henry of Pleasantville, N.Y. is a decent, good-hearted, and amiable gentleman. And he's sincerely interested in people, especially the less fortunate among us. Mr. Henry gives much of his time enthusiastically to Meals-On-Wheels--a beautiful program that helps those who otherwise cannot help themselves to a good meal. Although not a vocalist, Mr. Henry often serenades the people--on birthdays and other special occasions. He's been in the "program with a heart" for 3 years--and he loves it as much as he loves and respects the people behind such a noble, mobile endeavor. My kind of human being. And he's my brother-in-law!

Exorbitant overtime submitted by Westchester County police now scrutinized very closely. Why? We'll never tell. . . Rekas, a delightful Thai restaurant in White Plains, New York is indeed an epicurean experience. On a recent evening at Rekas my son had Chilean bass, my wife, pork, and I, steak. Couldn't be more delicious. Place is run by a lovely, gregarious and classy lady, Reka Souwapawong. She's tops-n-taps. . . Congrats to peripatetic professionals on TV's Channel 12 News out of Yonkers, New York; Janine Rose, extremely competent and compassionate news editor; Alan Oren, literate and lyrical movie maven, and Mike Edleman (Point-Counter-Point) politically astute and articulate, even though he's Republican.

The late Hedy Lamarr had one of the most gorgeous faces in the history of Hollywood--absolutely stunning. The story goes--apocryphal or not--that after Jack Warner had seen Lamarr in "Sampson & Delilah' in 1949 opposite Victor Mature, he told friends:

"That's the first time the leading man had bigger boobs than the leading lady." . . . Jack O'Dwyer's "PR Service Report"--by far the best in the biz. Jack and I became friends when I was a senior publicist with Pepsi-Cola and he was a widely read ad columnist with the old Journal-American. That was back in 1964. And we still communicate. One of the great guys and a fine writer and true pro.

"Do you have a lawyer?" the judge asked. "No," replied the convict, "I decided to tell the truth.". . . . Winston Churchill said: "History is going to be kind to me because I intend to write it.". . . Grand-guy Arnold S. Bernstein of White Plains reminds me that the 8th Annual Holocaust Memorial Service will take place April 30, 2000, at the White Plains Garden of Remembrance on Martine and Grove Street. Festivities begin at 9:45 a.m. Shalom.