The White House gate often acts as a psychological barrier between the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the people in the establishment whose support he most needs to succeed. The role of friendship is always tricky in these scandals. The Nixon scandals destroyed many friendships among Republicans. The Lewinsky scandal has the potential to do the same among Democrats. Everyone in the establishment is aware of that.
People try to be particularly nice to one another.
They send flowers and presents and make phone calls to solidify their friendships and to reassure themselves that this is only another scandal and that this, too, shall pass. You never know. And I just adore Tipper. Sally Quinn is a Washington author and journalist.