Socks Isn’t the Only Catty One

Among the many pleasures of Bob Woodward’s The Agenda — besides the detailed accounting of endless White House budget disputes — are the pungent, frequently catty descriptions of the principals (many presumably supplied to Woodward by colleagues). See if you can match these Administration figures with their Agenda characterizations:

1. Bill Clinton

2. Al Gore

3. George Stephanopoulos

4. Thomas (“Mack”) McLarty

5. David Gergen

6. Lloyd Bentsen

7. Robert Reich

8. Alan Greenspan

A. Tall … leathery … aristocratic … alternated between friendly and sour

B. Short … unassuming … attentive … a bit unctuous

C. Sturdy … plodding … exuded a sense of diligence … graphic, pained sincerity

D. Shy … ((wore)) unspectacular suits … a slight stoop … social climber

E. Large … spewing … heavily into denial … known for his tardiness … still fuming

F. Tall … strong ambition … not abrasive … “I see your point,” he often said

G. Small … almost fragile … self-consciously hip … pumped

H. Small … biblical-looking … having both his hips replaced

Answers: 1-E, 2-C, 3-G, 4-B, 5-F, 6-A, 7-H, 8-D