COX Newspapers Washington Bureau

Home > Window on Washington > Archives > 2006 > August > 21 > Entry

The president doesn’t like my suit

By Ken Herman | Monday, August 21, 2006, 12:16 PM

seer.jpgThere’s much going on around the world and President Bush addressed most of it during today’s news conference.

But he also found time - thrice - to critique my choice of attire for the day. I went with seersucker in recognition of the ongoing heat and humidity of DC in the summer. (And because my wife advised me that summer’s end is near and it’s time for a final wearing of the summer stuff.)

The leader of the free world/fashion critic was unimpressed.

“By the way, seersucker is coming back. I hope everybody gets it,” Bush told me when he first noticed my suit.

Seeking a reference he would understand, I dug out something that both of us - and maybe nobody else in the room - would get.

“It’s the summertime East Texas county commissioner look,” is what I told him.

And then the news conference continued. He talked about Iraq. And then he talked about Lebanon. And then he talked about Iran. And then he talked about Iraq some more. And then he talked about Katrina.

And then, after a few more topics, he talked about my suit again after, in a reference to the Connecticut Senate election that he is staying out of, I reminded him that Connecticut was his native state.

“I may be the only person — the only presidential candidate who never carried the state in which he was born,” Bush said. “Do you think that’s right, Herman? Of course, you would have researched that and dropped it out for everybody to see, particularly since I dissed that just ridiculous-looking outfit.”

A few minutes later, when Bush called on me for a question, I stood and awaited further sartorial abuse.

“Go ahead,” I said, inviting another jab or two.

“I don’t need to now that you’ve stood up, and everybody can clearly see for themselves,” he said.

For the record, as Bush noted during the news conference, I have been covering him for many years, back to his first gubernatorial campaign. We have traded a good-natured barb or two over the years.

No insult taken to your haberdashery remarks, sir.

And, if I may be so bold as to offer some advice: Give seersucker a chance. It can be a good choice when you’re taking heat.

Permalink | |