THE PRESIDENCY by HUGH SIDEY: Notes from an Open White House

Some things were different in Washington last week.

New York's Congressman Barber Conable, who has been part of the Republican leadership for four years, got his first invitation to the Oval Office.

He came in the northwest gate without a pause, found himself ushered cheerfully into the visitors' lobby of the West Wing, then next thing he knew he was in the back rooms having a good discussion on health insurance and tax reform with two old friends, Mel Laird and Bryce Harlow. He was led down to the President's office and found himself...

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