First Lady Attends Book Signing, Avoids Talk of Senate Race

As TV camera crews clamored for footage of Cambridge elementary school students drinking Hi-C, newly declared New York Senate candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton showed her support for children's literacy at a Charles Hotel book signing yesterday evening.

The First Lady's brief address to the crowd of about 100 invited guests did not touch on political issues. She fielded no questions from members of the news media, focusing instead on her appreciation for noted author, playwright and screenwriter David Mamet's new children's book, Henrietta.

Clinton also proclaimed her support for Reach Out and Read, the Boston-based national literacy program that benefited from the $250 each guest paid to attend the event.

"Reading," said Clinton, "can open up doors and windows to a child that would otherwise be closed."

Led by Boston Medical Center pediatricians, Reach Out and Read advocates exposing children to books early and often. The group helps distribute books to children during their visits to doctors for routine check-ups across the country.

According to Clinton, the program provides "a prescription for reading."

"[Clinton] has done a lot for us," said Perri E. Klass '78-'79, Reach Out and Read's medical director. "She's a person of remarkable vision and intelligence."

The candidate seemed to find few detractors in the crowd, which cheered loudly as Richard Friedman, owner of the Charles Hotel and a friend of the Clintons, introduced her by saying that she "will be the best senator New York has ever had."

Friedman has entertained the Clintons at his Martha's Vineyard home, where the First Couple first met Friedman's pet pig, Henrietta. The pig provided the inspiration for Mamet's children's story as well as for the hotel restaurant--Henrietta's Table--where the book signing took place.

Mamet's book is the story of an enterprising pig who overcomes discrimination--with the help of a vagabond philosopher--to become the first of her species to attend Harvard Law School and sit on the United States Supreme Court.

Mamet said in his remarks that Henrietta succeeds because she is "persistent, compassionate and well-read," qualities the Pulitzer-Prize winner attributed to Clinton as well.

Clinton returned the praise, commenting that Mamet's character is "very true to [the real] Henrietta."

She drew a laugh from the crowd when she expressed her pleasure that a fitting tribute had been paid to the "pig that lived with Dick [Friedman]."

Most of the assembled crowd seemed to enjoy the First Lady's appearance, including Marcelo Santos, a fourth grader at the Harrington School in Cambridge, who called Clinton "very great."

"She means a lot to me," said Annbela Dos Ramos, another Harrington School fourth grader.

Clinton's speech came amidst recent polls showing declining popularity in New York, where she will likely face New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

The Illinois native, who spent much of her adult life in Arkansas, has been accused of "carpetbagging" by her opponents.

Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz, who attended the book signing, dismissed Clinton's recent campaign troubles, calling her a "terrific candidate" who "will do very well."

"New York's a tough place," he said, noting that each campaign is a learning process.

Mamet, on the other hand, professed ignorance of Clinton's alleged problems.

"I only know what I read in the papers," said the writer of the Wag the Dog screenplay. "[And] I don't read the papers."

After her appearance at the Charles, Clinton attended another fundraiser at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. Outside of the hotel, the First Lady was greeted by a less friendly crowd--nursing home workers accusing her fundraising sponsors of union busting.

SEIU Local 285 represents the workers of the Wingate at Wilbraham Nursing Home, which is owned by Gerald Schuster. The local charges the company with thwarting workers' attempts to negotiate a first contract at the facility.

Schuster's wife, Elaine, sponsored the fundraiser.

The protestors were joined by people holding signs supporting Clinton in a counter-demonstration.

Clinton didn't pass by either group on her way into the hotel.

--Wire services contributed to the reporting of this article.