A little politics, a little culture at the Capitol

By MARY EVERTZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 5, 2001

Though the presidential baton will be passed from one party to the other on Jan. 20 when Gov. George W. Bush takes the helm of government from President Bill Clinton, the Democrats are very much in evidence.

On Wednesday, after the swearing-in ceremonies for new senators at the nation's Capitol, Sen. Bob Graham and wife Adele gave a party for Florida's newest senator, Bill Nelson, and his wife, Grace.

The reception was held in the Hart Senate Office Building. Coupled with the welcome for the Nelsons was the introduction of Florida landscape artist Jackie Brice.

The Jupiter artist studied for more than a decade with the late A.E. "Bean" Backus, who was one of the leading Florida landscape artists. Today, Brice is recognized as part of that select group.

In 1997, the Grahams sponsored a one-woman exhibition for Brice in the Russell Rotunda in Washington.

The current exhibit came to Graham from Gov. Jeb Bush's office in Tallahassee. It will remain in Graham's office through much of 2001.

Graham, a longtime fan of Backus, has one of his landscapes in his Washington Senate office.

The Grahams were in Tallahassee for Christmas with son-in-law and daughter Mark and Gwen Logan and their children. The Grahams take turns spending holidays with their four daughters and their families in different parts of the country.

The Nelsons are already in the Washington groove. After his swearing in as Florida's junior U.S. senator, the couple hosted a luncheon at the Capitol.

Inaugural fashion

Michael Faircloth of Dallas has the honor of designing the outfits that Laura Bush will wear when she becomes America's first lady on Jan. 20. Faircloth, who designed the periwinkle blue and charcoal gray suit that Mrs. Bush wore to her husband's acceptance speech, has designed six different outfits for Inauguration Day.

Faircloth, who has been designing clothes for Mrs. Bush since 1994, sells his fashions exclusively to the Lilly Dodson boutique in Dallas.

The Bush daughters also are sticking with a Texas designer. Barbara and Jenna's outfits have been designed by Lela Rose. You've seen her clothes on Ashley Judd, Sharon Stone and Jenna Elfman. Rose and the Bush family go way back. Her father, Edward "Rusty" Rose, once owned the Texas Rangers baseball team with George W.

The suit Laura Bush wore when her husband gave his victory speech didn't get the approval that the president-elect's speech did.

The jacket of the suit was dotted with swirling vines, leaves and blossoms. "Political women, whether they are elected to office or live and work in the glow of a spouse or employer, are loath to wear patterns because they can be distracting," observes Washington Post reporter Robin Givhan. (See story, Page 1D).

Storch on Broadway

Larry Storch, who toured the country in Annie Get Your Gun, which played in the Tampa Bay area in October, will re-create his "Sitting Bull'' character on Broadway. Storch, a veteran of such Broadway hits as Arsenic and Old Lace who is best known as Corporal Agarn in TV's F Troop series, will be performing with Cheryl Ladd and Patrick Cassidy.

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