Jane Weinberger’s `As Ever’ tells story of life in politics

AS EVER, by Jane Weinberger, Windswept House Publishers, 309 pages, $15.95.

This engaging collection of letters was written during the period 1970-1990 by the wife of one of Washington’s most colorful and controversial statesmen, former Secretary of Defense Caspar “Cap” Weinberger. It is a fascinating footnote to the national and international political scene of that era. It also discerns, in divining rod fashion, much about the pressures of life behind the smiling facade of power absolute.

Jane Weinberger, Maine native and graduate of the University of Maine, is modest about her quondam role of wife of a Cabinet member. In the prologue to “As Ever” (whose eponymous title was derived from one of the author’s frequently used letter closures), she writes, “This is a hodgepodge of letters … which present the views of one ordinary woman living a somewhat extraordinary life in our nation’s capital during the terms of President Nixon, President Ford and President Reagan.” Her term to describe Washington social life is “beyond belief.” It is exclamatory with fund-raisers, at least one event a day, sometimes more. Then there are the embassy dinners which are de rigueur (“Missing certain ones might cause a minor world crisis or two.”), and most exciting of all, the White House dinners, command performances … (and) always thrilling. “Naturally,” adds Weinberger, “they hold these dinners the day before your hair appointment … but go you do and enjoy it you will.”

Exclusive of a few formal missives, this correspondence was sent to family and friends (although none of it is specifically addressed), and it is specifically addressed), and it glints with the dry humor that sparkles throughout the book. “I … christened a submarine and nearly went down to sea with the ship, as I failed to let go of the bottle which was attached to the nose. This caused a lot of comment about my Scottish tendency to save the last drop.” In another letter she gives this droll definition of a Washington reception: It is a large cocktail party given for a cause or a visiting celebrity, where everyone stops by before going somewhere else. The rule is 5 minutes on the right foot, 5 on the left, and 5 to find the host and say what a good time you had.

She also wrote gravely about the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. Jane and her husband — who was then secretary of Health, Education and Welfare — were among those present in the East Room of the White House when Nixon made his historic announcement. Later that morning they returned again to the White House for the swearing-in of President Ford. “I was too stunned to take it all in.”

Her letters showed that she had always been baffled by President Nixon. After his re-election and triumphal drive down Pennsylvania Avenue, she wrote: “Great cheering crowds along the way. The president is very popular. He should be extremely happy after such a large victory at the polls. Yet he seems somehow angry and morose.” And a little while later: “The White House has turned surly and secretive. John Erlichmann is a pain in the neck. Cap’s desk shows signs of being forced. … Even my little house had been `bugged.’ This, because we were judged to be Reagan people. Weird.”

Blowy as a March wind, there is a refreshing candor throughout these letters. When Weinberger first set eyes on Henry Kissinger she though him “a funny little man,” an opinion she changed later on when she came to hold him in high esteem. And in writing about the Reagans’ first White House state dinner (whose guest of honor was Prime Minister Thatcher), she faithfully reports the embarrassing contretemps triggered by President Reagan when he made the announcement that Nancy had been invited to the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to the Prince of Wales. To which Jane adds bluntly, “Nancy has been pushing for that but it hasn’t happened. Now they will have to invite her, of course.”

As often as possible, the author accompanied her husband on official travel. While he conferred with heads of state, she was whisked away on breakneck tours. In one eight-day jaunt she and Cap sped from Hawaii, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta and Bali to Cranberra, Sydney and Wellington. She returned with glazed visions of “grass shacks, harbor tours, river boats, crowded streets, bazaars, exotic plants, bears and kangaroos.” At other times she contemplated the beauty of the Taj Mahal from a nearby bench, looked down on Afghanistan from the Khyber Pass, marveled over the beautiful mountainous setting of Pakistan’s city of Islamabad, and from the dining room at the top of a Hong Kong hotel likened the city to “a carnival seen from the top of a Ferris wheel.”

Vibrant with dozens of color photographs, “As Ever” is a rich retrospective in whose alpenglow we can all bask with pleasure. This is not, however, a book to be gulped in a hurry. Read it instead (to borrow a phrase from Abraham Lincoln) “by littles.” Jane Weinberger and her husband reside on Mount Desert Island. Mrs. Weinberger is the founder and president of Windswept House Publishers.

Bea Goodrich’s reviews are a regular feature in the monthly Books In Review section. She also writes a review column and is the author of the award-winning nature story series, “Happy Hollow Stories by Judge Tortoise.”