By Jack Limpert
The Washingtonian is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary—here’s a look back at the small picture and few words that got the magazine more world-wide coverage than any story we published.
One spring morning in 1989, before going to work, I was walking Lindy, our Golden Retriever. I stopped to talk with a neighbor who was walking her Springer Spaniel. When I said something nice about her dog, she began to talk about the virtues of Springer Spaniels and she mentioned that her dog was a lot better looking than Millie, President George H.W. Bush’s dog. I’m not sure she called Millie ugly but she didn’t think the White House dog was a good representative of the breed.
When I got to the office, our art director showed me her idea for that July’s Best & Worst cover—it was mostly type with the cover art a picture of a gold crown. The editor’s brain began working: Best and worst, a generic gold crown, dull, boring.
How about putting Millie on the cover as Washington’s worst dog? No, the art director said, the gold crown would be much classier. No, the editor said, we’re putting Millie on the cover and we’re calling her Washington’s ugliest dog.
About ten days later, the July issue hit the newsstands and the coverage began:
President Doggedly Defends Millie
June 29, 1989
By David Lauter
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — You can criticize his arms control plans, oppose his flag burning amendment or even argue in favor of higher taxes, but don’t mess with the President’s dog.
“I know you guys don’t write the editorials, but our dog was named ugliest dog in Washington by the Washingtonian magazine,” President Bush told three reporters from the Times at the end of an Oval Office interview Wednesday, referring to Millie, the family’s Springer Spaniel. “I’d like some defense on the West Coast. Imagine picking on a guy’s dog.”
Later that day, the telephone rang at the offices of Washingtonian, the capital’s slick city magazine.
“I’d like to know who did the ‘Best and Worst’ ” article, the caller asked, referring to the piece in which Millie was labeled as ugly. “I’d like to know how you picked the ugliest dog,” the caller continued. Receptionist Felicia Stovall said that the editor who had prepared the piece was tied up and asked the caller’s name. “President George Bush,” the caller responded.
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President Bush then was asked at a televised news conference about Millie’s being picked as Washington’s ugliest dog. He came to Millie’s defense and the dog and the magazine got big play all over the world. How many words inside the magazine? About 100.
The lesson is that you never know where a really good story will come from. Keep your eyes open. Listen to what people are talking about.
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