The plea was on behalf of Jack Ford, the President's middle son. Since he moved into messy, masculine digs on the third floor of the White House after graduation from Utah State in June, a little work and a lot of play have made Jack anything but a dull boy.
The Ford family reputation for hair-raising candor was enhanced when Jack admitted—without even being asked—"I've smoked pot, nothing else. I don't think that's so exceptional for people growing up in the '60s."
In Portland for a western Republican convention, he shivered a few timbers by adding, "I want to go on record as favoring Oregon's approach to the problem [no criminal penalty for private possession]. Spending a lot of energy pursuing pot smokers seems very unproductive to me."
Indeed, Washington is vibrating with gossip that Jack has maybe even lit up a joint or two inside the White House. Whenever he leaves it, of course, the Secret Service tags along, and a couple of agents with .38s can sure put a crimp in a fellow's social life.
Jack nonetheless has managed. He's kept company twice with rock star Mick Jagger's slithery wife, Bianca. Once was in the White House when she and Andy Warhol came down to interview and photograph the rugged six-footer. Another time was in Le Jardin, a Manhattan disco frequented by customers of uncertain sex. "I was dancing with Bianca," Jack recalled, "and a fellow tapped me on the shoulder and asked, 'May I dance?' and I thought he wanted to dance with Bianca. He wanted to dance with me!"
Jack is popular with the ladies too. On his travels to the Helsinki summit this summer, he teamed up with his pal David Hume Kennerly, the swinging White House photographer, for some long evenings in the land of the midnight sun. "We don't think he's a virgin," a White House source revealed. "In fact, we rather hope he's not."
Rumors had Kennerly in dutch with the Oval Office for demonstrating to young Jack that the primrose path was a lot more fun than the yellow brick road. But Jack has discovered for himself the social advantages of being the President's handsome, unmarried and willing son.
"It can't help but turn your head," he admits. "You really begin to believe it. After a while, you begin to think 'Hail to the Chief is playing for you."
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
