A Weekend
In The Mall
in to see the likes of Elie
states, a lot of the work is
Wiesel, Elmo, Harvard
throw-it- at-the-wall-and-
University Professor Cor-
see-if-it-sticks. But when
nel West, actor-comedian
you're working the inau-
Whoopi Goldberg, feminist
gural, everything sticks to
author Betty Friedan, al-
the wall. It's satisfying be-
ternative rock group Better
cause you know when you
Than Ezra, Mikhail
communicate your con-
Baryshnikov and jazz sax-
cept, its message gets out.
ophonist Maceo Parker.
That's not to say it gets
"It was wonderful. The
out unfiltered, but it gets
weather on Saturday was
out," Mr. Gordon said.
JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER
a little colder than the
"It really says some-
weather higher powers had
thing about the president,
ichael Gordon talks like the dawn of the 21st century and promised us, but the pavil-
that he wanted to have
a guy who's been around we need to take a look back at our ions on the Mall were all
these open public activi-
Washington a while — heritage as we move forward," he heated, and there was plen-
ties
as part of the inau-
and he's only 31.
said last week before the throngs ty of activity to warm every-
gural," he added. "He was
Five years can be a long time descended on Washington.
one's heart. The weather
the first president to do it.
when you're on the inside.
Mr. Gordon did not have a didn't deter the crowds at
It shows how inclusive he
Mr. Gordon, a Detroit Country hand in choosing the weekend's all," Mr. Gordon said.
wants
to be and how re-
Michael
Gordon
at
last
summer's
Democratic
Cony
ention.
Day grad, just finished out his talent, which was considerable,
The Smithsonian's Arts
ceptive the public is."
short but significant tenure as but offered an opinion or comment and Industries Building and the turned to New York to practice
But Mr. Gordon can see the
press secretary for Inaugural Mall at brainstorming sessions. His job Holocaust Memorial Museum also law for a year and a half before
Events — his fourth appointed was fielding phone calls, and to participated in the inaugural, pre- Washington beckoned him again. writing on the wall. The next pres-
position since he landed in Wash- that end he was armed with three senting their own lectures and He assumed a job in the admin- ident won't be Clinton and might
even be a Republican. When all
ington in 1991. He plans to stay different telephone numbers. Last tours to the public.
istration working on education this is over, Mr. Gordon hopes to
with the Clinton administration week, Mr. Gordon said, it wasn't
Mr. Gordon hopped on the Clin- policy until he was picked to be
in some capacity as soon as the unusual to leave his desk for an ton train after he graduated with the press secretary for the presi- move into the area of political con-
sulting.
hoopla dies down.
hour and return to 30 new mes- a joint law/master's of business dential campaign in Michigan.
"I find [working in the White
Part of Mr. Gordon's job as sages on his voice mail.
administration degree from Co- Then he was tapped by the com- House] challenging, exciting and
press secretary for the 53rd Pres-
"I'm talking to folks all over the lumbia University. After devoting munications director of inaugur-
idential Inaugural was develop- country, and it's been a lot of fun," himself full time to the first pres- al events to serve as top media engaging. A friend of mine once
told me to do the rare thing first.
ing and communicating the he said.
idential campaign, he worked in liaison for Inaugural Mall Events. I know we're not going to have a
themes that set the tone for the
The weekend featured two days the White House's "vetting oper-
The job was huge and much dif- Democratic president forever, and
president's second term.
of events on the Mall, many of ation," which reviewed Cabinet ferent than his last.
so this opportunity is here now
"The last inaugural focused which took place in seven pavil- and sub-Cabinet candidates. Mr.
'Working on the campaign in and I want to take advantage of
more on the celebration, and right- ions. Hundreds of thousands of Gordon, whose parents, Merrill one of the states, albeit one of the
ly so. This time, we're sitting at visitors piled in or lined up to get and Dolores, live in Florida, re- two or three most important it," he said. ❑
A West Bloomfield native made sure a good time
was had by all at the inaugural events in D.C.
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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