thing he wanted to be, except a mem- ber of the Christhaven Country Club." Franken, the author, goes on to describe the campaign trail and his brain trust of loyal advisers, who include his brother Otto, a recovering sex addict and alcoholic; manager Norm Ornstein, the think-tank policy wonk; media con- sultant Dick Morris; and former "Grizzly Adams" star Dan Haggerty. Franken finally stuns the nation by defeating Al Gore for the Democratic nomination, then sweeps into office with a landslide victory over Newt Gingrich. His all-Jewish Cabinet reflects "a Cabinet the president is comfortable with." The closing section of the book takes us into the Franken White House in a Bob Woodward-inspired account of the first hundred days. Unfortunately, the president begins to exhibit not only chronic fatigue syndrome but severe bipolar behavior and is forced to coop- erate with the Joint Congressional Committee on the President's Mood Swings. When the committee releases his personal diaries to the public, Franken faces his ultimate crisis. Although Al Franken may have mis- timed his book, what with the actual hi-jinks in Washington and our obses- sion with the Monica story, his imagi- natively funny satire proves clever and fresh in its format as well as its premise. Silly, yes, but not as absurd as the theater we call real-life politics. — Reviewed by Linda Bachrack With A Song In His Heart "Few men have given so much pleasure to so many people," said the essayist and social critic Lionel Trilling of Richard Rodgers. William G. Hyland documents the man and his music in the first complete biography of Rodgers since the composer's death in 1979, Richard Rodgers (Yale University Press; $30). Rodgers, born in 1902, composed more than 1,000 songs for the American stage, collaborating with the lyricist Lorenz Hart and later partner- ing with Oscar Hammerstein II to cre- ate the musical play. Beginning with Oklahoma! in 1943, the pair dominat- ed Broadway for almost 20 years with a string of hits that have become the- ater classics: Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. Born the second son of a Russian Jewish doctor who lived in the upper- middle-class neighborhood of Harlem, Rodgers began making melodies at an early age, a means, he said, of escape Please ask about our private room seating up to 30. Great for birthdays, showers, business meeting. Call ahead to book, ask fo Zach, Rod or Cary. • Great Salmon, Whitefish and Rainbow Trout Daily • Friday's our Fish Fry $9.95 • Children's Menu WE LOVE KIDS! 00 $300 OFF OFF I Two Dinner Entrees Two Lunch Entrees I. (Single Dinner Entree $230 Off S Single Lunch Entree $1.50 Off) L Limit 2 coupons per table. Piot valid with other offers or on holidays. Expires 3/11/99 i 811S Richardson (Between Haggerty & Union Lake) (248) 366-7979 from the constant tension and conflict in his family. Treasured moments, however, were found in Richard's par- ents' piano duets. The piano was a source of pleasure at a time when he desperately needed it. Life outside the household was pleasant. The neighborhood was home to the Harlem Opera House, owned by Oscar Hammerstein I, where the entertainment might be Fanny Brice or Sophie Tucker. Families congregat- ed on stoops and children played in the streets. By 1900, Harlem was the second largest Jewish settlement in New York. According to the book, the Rodgers family was divided over religion. With the death of Richard's great-grand- mother Rodgers, Orthodox Judaism ceased to be observed in the Rodgers household. From then on, the family was Jewish for socioeconomic reasons rather than out of conviction. Richard later became an atheist, and as a par- ent he resisted religious instruction for his children. Rodgers entered Columbia University (the college of choice for well-to-do young Jewish men) in the fall of 1919, and it was there he met Lorenz Hart and they became a team. Rodgers likened their relationship to ((two volatile chemicals in a retort," but the "explosion" resulted in a series of great songs. Rodgers' melodies were enhanced by Hart's brilliant lyrics — they were a perfect team. After a long run that included scores for shows like The Boys from Syracuse and Pal Joey, Rodgers and Hart parted ways in late June 1942. The first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration was Oklahomal. "Oscar and I hit it off o m p a n o VM A TASTE OF PARADISE" iPhdei Deft Seafood Grill & Banquet Center ENJOY ROSE GUTTMAN'S HOMEMADE TRADITIONAL JEWISH SPECIALTIES Open Daily for Lunch and Dinner GEFILTE FISH IS HERE! q FRIDAYS 1 lb. King Crab Legs includes redskins garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables and V Pompano's specialty salad $19.95 SATURDAYS q ROSE'S HOMEMADE NOW TAKE% ORDERS FOR PASSOVER p Surf & Turf 10 oz. prime rib and 6 oz. lobster tail includes redskins garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables and Pompano's specialty salad $19.95 $ OFF Live Ente rtainment every Friday and Saturday Introducing GEORGE COLOVIJS "the jazz man" is here thru March 20th We have 4 separate banquet rooms seating up to 300 We offer Hotel accommodations and complimentary room for the Bride and Groom All Catering by Pompano's 38123 W. 10 Mile Road At the Holiday Inn Farmington Hills (248) 478-7780 10 OUR GREAT DAIRY & DELI TRAYS INCLUDING ROSE'S HOMEMADE SOUR CREAM NUT CAKE • 10 Person Minimum • With Coupon Only • Expires 3-25-99 6088 W. Maple at Farmington Rd. West Bloomfield (248) 851-9666 Fax: (248) 851-5698 Detroit Jewish News 3/19 1999 95