By Christopher Buckley
Conservative humorist Buckley says the crazy-ambitious White House wife he invents for his latest D.C. satire isn't a parody of any recent presidential spouse, pointing out that his creation "was a far cry from Hillary Clinton, who contented herself with taking care of her husband and giving the occasional tea for congressional wives."
Buckley's first lady, Beth MacMann (dubbed Lady Bethmac by the press), is the defendant in the "trial of the millennium," accused of killing her philandering husband by flinging an antique spittoon at him. Buckley, who sent up the tobacco industry in the bestselling Thank You for Smoking, has a few spittoons of his own to hurl, at such targets as Hollywood activists, mercenary lawyers and O.J. Simpson's search for "the real killers." Best of all are the gibes at the media (Buckley, editor of Forbes FYI magazine, is himself a member). During the trial newscasters go "into TV golf tournament whisper" to analyze MacMann's attire. The more over the top the legal wranglings, the more they remind us of reality. (Random House, $24.95)
Bottom Line: Giggles guaranteed
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