No nudes is good nudes? The Republican governor of Vermont, James Douglas, evidently thinks so: He wants to banish from his statehouse desk a lamp that replicates "The Greek Slave," a famed statue depicting a chained, naked young woman. Art lovers are crying censorship -- among them, officials at Washington's Corcoran Gallery of Art, where one of the originals of the statue by Hiram Powers is displayed.
"Since 1873 the Corcoran Gallery of Art has proudly counted one of Powers' original Greek Slave sculptures in its own collection and joins the White House and the U.S. Capitol as exhibitors of his work," David C. Levy, the Corcoran's director, wrote last week in a letter to the governor. "The female human form has long been revered and celebrated as an important source of artistic inspiration. Attempts to censor, remove or destroy works of art reflecting this reverence have always, in the light of history, been regarded as misguided and unfortunate."
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Initially a spokesman said the governor was concerned that schoolchildren touring the statehouse would see the nude, but last week Douglas said that wasn't the issue. He told reporters he feared that kids might break the lamp while touring his office: "I wouldn't care if that statue were wearing a sweater and turtleneck. It's not an appropriate place for a lamp."
Sculpted by the Vermont-born Powers in 1843, the statue depicts a Greek girl enslaved by the Turks, and it became a symbol of the state's abolition movement. Vermont historians and preservationists -- including Liz Jeffords, wife of Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) and Polly Billings, wife of senior federal judge Franklin Billings -- are petitioning the governor to reverse course.
"We've always had this strong feeling against bondage and slavery, and Hiram Powers was a strong abolitionist," said Polly Billings, a founder of the Friends of the Statehouse preservation group, which recently donated the $2,500 lamp. "It would be such a splendid opportunity to teach schoolchildren, as they come through in their groups, the history of abolition. . . . It's not as if they come in and thrash around and are destructive. They are so careful and attentive to the history."
A spokesman for the gov insists the lamp will be given "public prominence" elsewhere in the statehouse. But, backed by the Corcoran, Billings told us she'll continue the fight to keep the lamp on Douglas's desk: "His idea is that it was nude and couldn't be explained to children -- when one thinks of what is on television every day, it's just not to be believed."
Tom Ridge, Pulling His Punch Lines
• Tom Ridge flew to Los Angeles to meet firefighters last week, and according to prepared remarks his staff released in advance, the lame duck Homeland Security chief was going to slay 'em with Hollywood jokes. Such as: "Good afternoon. I thought I was coming to Hollywood to audition to be the next James Bond." And: "Studio said I don't have the right accent. . . . Well, I can fix that. I just hired a new speech coach, Governor Schwarzenegger. . . . I told the studio, 'I'll be back.' "
But, as reported by Jeff Stein, editor of Congressional Quarterly's Homeland Security news site, the gags were dropped. Instead, Ridge opened with: "It is great to be here at Fire Station 27 with the people who are on the front lines protecting this city and our nation. The L.A. Fire Department Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial next door vividly remind us of the sacrifices our first responders make every day to keep our communities safe."
A department spokesman told us Friday: "Although the secretary appreciates the creativity of his speechwriters . . . this particular forum didn't seem appropriate for this kind of joke." That's showbiz.
The Quotable Fritz Hollings
• Before shutting down operations Friday, the press office of Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) couldn't resist sending reporters 38 "classic 'Hollings-isms' " to commemorate his 38 years of blunt-speaking service. Among them:
"Like the monkey making love to the skunk, I can't stand any more of this."
"It is almost like working in the CIA here. It is top secret when you talk the truth."
"I'll take a drug test if you'll take an IQ test" -- a challenge made to Henry McMaster during the 1986 Senate race.
"But what have you done in this world?" -- said to John Glenn during a 1984 presidential debate.
