and i thought surely sonny bono would understand that, but he didn't. and he said a pretty, um, obtuse remark, actually, about the n.e.a. he said, "i never knew anybody who received an n.e.a. grant," ergo it wasn't important. that was just silly. he didn't get around much. well, in other cases, you had people who were champions that i think most americans wouldn't think of immediately when they're thinking about, sort of, heroes of free expression. possibly the least offensive musician in america, kenny g., steps up and takes a stand for the n.e.a. can you talk a little bit about that? oh, i loved it when some of the musicians came to the hill to advocate for the national endowment for the arts. and kenny g. went to a congressman who said, "well, you know, i do believe in the arts, but i'm just not going to vote for the n.e.a." and kenny looked right at him and said, "well, that's not very courageous, is it?" it's terrific. i have to believe that taking the job on at the national endowment for the arts required a couple of strong personality traits. one

sonny bono once said politics is show business for ugly people. you have to have a nire the belly. you have to want to do this. the second thing is a -- a winnable district. i don't care how much you want it, if you're running against charlie rangel and you're a republican, i don't think you're going to win. some districts are just unwinnable. you should establish the secondry reasons in your campaign plans. it has to be a winnable district. the third thing is a vulnerable incumbent. that's helpful. some guys you're not going beat. you're not beating barney frank! it is tough. might win an open seat but you know how -- the baggage that barney has so, it might be tougher. the fourth thing you need is a good name in the community. i go back to charlie in nashville. people knew who charlie was. he wasn't a politician. but they knew who he was. he had a good name in the community. if and when the opponents started to attack him, it couldn't credible. it just didn't work. believe me, they trade tried. 4 -- tried. he would have laughed it off. we know charlie. it is not believable. not t

your disappointment as you came in that-- people like fred thompson, who had a career as an actor, sonny bono, who was at one point a symbol of the counterculture long ago-- neither one expressed much support for n.e.a. did that surprise you?