In Washington? On Home Leave? A Passport Office Needs You.

The FDIC's public affairs director, Andrew Gray, in response to our inquiry, issued an official statement.

"The individuals that participated in this off-site event used their own resources and took official leave to attend," Gray's statement said. "However, since the event was publicized internally by staff within the Division of Technology, the FDIC has taken strong action to thoroughly investigate and determine the facts behind the allegations. This investigation may be completed as early as this week, and full disciplinary action will be taken against individuals who are found to have behaved unprofessionally and inappropriately. We expect all FDIC employees to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism."

And, at a minimum, to keep their clothes on.

Unmentionables

Speaking of stripping down, it appears that former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, locked in at about 2 percent in the GOP presidential nomination race, might be willing to do some of that for a few points in the polls.

In a recent interview with the fashion magazine Marie Claire, Huckabee was asked whether he was "against miniskirts."

"If a person dresses provocatively," he said, "they're calling attention -- maybe not the most desirable kind -- to private parts of their body."

"What about a burqa?" he was asked.

"No, that hides everything," he said. "I think a person's hair, arms, shoulders, legs are an appropriate display of who they are." So a little leg is okay. "I want people to be attracted to me because they find me interesting, not because I'm wearing something . . . well, I doubt I own anything provocative."

"How about a miniskirt?"

"A thong," he said.

He of the Brown Bag

And speaking of fun-loving, let's have a hearty Loop welcome -- if he gets confirmed -- for former House Budget Committee chairman Jim Nussle, nominated yesterday to be director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Nussle was an obscure 31-year-old freshman Iowa Republican congressman until that wonderful moment in October 1991 when he spoke on the House floor with a brown paper bag over his head to protest what he called the "shameful" behavior of members involved in the House banking scandal. Those were the great old days when members, most of them Democrats, had a tendency to bounce checks at the House bank.

New Pentagon Talker

A new flack at the Pentagon: ABC newsman Geoff Morrell, who covered the White House in the network's Washington bureau, started his new job yesterday at the Pentagon as spokesman. He's been doing the rounds, getting ready for his first briefing.