Bill Clinton News

The 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) today announced the Next Link Project musical selections. The 10 musicals were announced as part of the 11th edition of the Festival, which will take place from July 7 to July 27 at locations around midtown Manhattan in New York City, including The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

The fiftieth anniversary of John Kennedy's assassination last November turned up an avalanche of books seeking to present new angles or re-hash old ones. Larry Sabato's The Kennedy Half-Century does a bit of both. Those who read Kennedy literature basically break down in three camps: obsessives (about the presidency, the assassination or both), neophytes (looking to get a handle on the basics) and tweeners (interested and reasonably astute about those basics but not on the verge of giving up their day jobs to learn more). I count myself a member of the third category. While I can't speak for how it would strike those who are a great deal more knowledgeable about the subject, for me, this was an easy and reasonably rewarding read. The book is broken down into three parts: Kennedy's life and presidency; his assassination; and his legacy. I'm not sure much new could be said on the first two matters and, for the most part–excepting a few tidbits on the assassination that amount to debunking-of-previous-debunkings-of-previous-debunkings and so on–Sabato makes no real attempt to give any substantially new perspectives or draw any rare conclusions. However, within the bounds of what he clearly did set out to do–i.e., give a summation of those aspects of Kennedy's life and death that would hold the attention of the general interest reader and provide an easy-access overview for at least some newcomers–he delivers very nicely. The really interesting and, I think, valuable part of the book is the last: a long and fairly detailed look at the effect Kennedy's legacy has had on his nine successors. This is still relatively fertile ground and, here, Sabato does come to some surprising conclusions and offers solid evidence to back his thesis. If you want to know why and how a conservative Republican like Ronald Reagan was able to channel Kennedy's aura and style more effectively than Lyndon Johnson (who was Kennedy's own vice-president), then this is a good primer on the subject. Same if you want to know how a good-old-boy policy wonk like Bill Clinton could effectively utilize the Kennedy brand–both as campaign style and governing substance–without having much of JFK's rhetorical wit (Kennedy was not exactly long-winded) or having overly warm relations with Senator Ted Kennedy, who was long-established as the family patriarch by the time Clinton reached the presidency. In addition, Sabato does a fine job of treading on some tricky ground regarding the “real” JFK who actually governed the country for two and half years, and the mythical JFK, whose shadow hung over subsequent issues from Viet Nam to Civil Rights to the Space Program to the basic arguments over the tax code. Turns out, virtually every president since 1963 has tried in some form or fashion to use the aura of the Kennedy mythology–and, in some cases, the assassination mythology as well–to advance his agenda. While some have been far better at it than others, Sabato makes it clear that none have turned down the opportunity to exploit the legacy when the opportunity arose. The books final third really turns on personalities then, but it avoids most of the common traps. I don't think there is anything here that strains credibility and that's a relief. The tendency to over-reach is all but endemic in the approach Sabato chooses, but–based on interviews I've seen with him and on the even more compelling evidence of the book itself–he seems to be inclined to stick to the facts. For instance, although Sabato seems to side with elite political and historical opinion which consistently tells us that the Bay of Pigs invasion was an unmitigated disaster, he also reminds us that the poll taken immediately after the event gave Kennedy's performance an eighty percent approval rating. It might seem a small thing, but plenty of historians would choose to leave out a little remembered fact that raises questions about their own conclusions. It's to the author's credit that he provides this kind of exemplary even-handedness throughout. The happy result is a book where Kennedy's real accomplishments are acknowledged, as are the (mostly successful and highly self-conscious) efforts at hagiography carried on by his surviving family (especially his widow) and many of the political allies who served under him. By the same token, Kennedy's almost incredibly reckless personal behavior is explained without being either rationalized away or reduced to the usual morality lessons. Sabato eschews peep-show licentiousness as deftly as he avoids preaching. I didn't come away thinking either Kennedy's sexual peccadilloes or his often seedy political tactics (this book does not shy away from reminding us that the main difference between Nixon's operatives and Kennedy's where dirty tricks were concerned in the 1960 campaign was that the Kennedy ops were better at it) were less than unsavory–frankly, the man was no saint. But I didn't feel like taking a bath either. Frankly, the man was a pretty effective president for all his faults and–even more frankly–we're all sinners. It's a rare Kennedy book that doesn't make me feel like I'm being snowed just a little so I especially appreciated this book's lack of agendas. In Sabato's hands a simple recitation of the facts makes for a good read. I think it's safe to say that most people will find it satisfying–just so long as they aren't after feeding an obsession!

Legendary comedic writer Bruce Vilanch is a last minute addition to this year's North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival. He is set to share 60 minutes of comedic stories on the Arts Center Mainstage at 9:30 p.m. tonight, February 12. Tickets cost $16 in advance and $20 at the door. The Arts Center is located at 300-G East Main St. Tickets and more information can be found at www.nccomedyarts.com.

'Justified' actor Michael Rapaport stopped by last night's THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW and revealed a fun fact about the late-night host that few people knew

Gabrielle Union stopped by last night's THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW and talked weddings and prenups with host Arsenio Hall.

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning musical legend Tony Bennett will bring his vocal artistry to Hartford at The Bushnell's Mortensen Hall for one performance only on May 30.

Michael Smerconish will join CNN as host of a new weekly program that will air live on Saturday mornings from New York,

ESPN, the Aspen Institute and the Clinton Foundation came together to facilitate a powerful conversation about the role of sports in the lives of children and the health of the nation through a town hall event on the topic, 'Kids and Sports.' The program, moderated by Mike Greenberg of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike, will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. President Bill Clinton and NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist Kobe Bryant will highlight the work of the Aspen Institute Project Play, which convenes leaders to explore potential solutions to the issue that in some U.S. communities just one in five kids play sports.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Andrea McArdle returns to 54 Below with an all new show that celebrates the power and magic of performing "that great role." Lovers and liars, heroes and villains, elegant ladies and outrageous broads, there is nothing that excites the imagination more than watching a classic character come to vivid life on stage. In DREAM ROLES, Andrea brings her soaring vocals to some of the theatre's greatest roles, the roles she's loved, the role's she's played and the roles she's always dreamed of performing. DREAM ROLES also showcases the dynamic melodies of Broadway musical masters, Sondheim, Herman, Strouse, and more. Join Andrea as she pulls back the curtain, and turns up the spotlight on her greatest theatrical inspirations…along with a few surprises, after all, it's all about DREAM ROLES this time!

On the eve of his final night as host of The Tonight Show, Arsenio dropped in to offer Leno a guide to enjoying his time off.

The multitalented, internationally renowned, Grammy Award winning Angelique Kidjo doesn't do anything half way. In January 2014, she released a new studio album, Eve, as well as an autobiography entitled, Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music, which features a forward by Alicia Keys and a preface by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Kidjo's new album includes varied collaborations with artists such as Dr. John, Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg. She will be in concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, February 20, at 8 p.m. demonstrating why she is one of Africa's most celebrated musicians and humanitarians. As Bill Clinton says, 'The only thing bigger than Angelique Kidjo's voice is her heart.' Boasting a 30-year musical career with countless awards and distinctions, Angelique has worked with Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban and many more to bring her uplifting music to the world. A free wine and cheese tasting and African Mask Art by African Heritage Collection will take place in the lobby at 7:15 p.m. This event is partially underwritten by African Heritage Collection and is part of the Doyle Coffin Architecture Singer/Songwriter and No. 109 Art, Wine and Jazz Series. Southwest Cafe (109 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield) will pour a free margarita with lunch or dinner the day of the show when tickets/stubs are presented.

FOX News Channel (FNC) has hired Democratic strategist James Carville as a contributor, announced Bill Shine, Executive Vice President of Programming for the network. Carville will appear across various programming offering political commentary on the news of the day.

This week, noted New York based photographer Javier Gomez is taking the art out of the frame. On Sunday, Feb. 9 at Mercedes New York Fashion Week, internationally renowned Brazilian designer Alessandra Meskita will be using Javier's work as a major inspiration for her collection as the major part of her show at Lincoln Center.

'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Holliday stopped by ABC's THE VIEW and performed a song from her new solo album, 'The Song is You.' Check out the appearance below!

Justin Bieber has had a rough couple of weeks. Stone Cold Steve Austin has a few words to set Justin Bieber straight and shares them on last night's The Arsenio Hall Show.

Arsenio Hall welcomed back Paula Abdul last night on THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW and the former Laker Girl spills a secret she's been hiding for 30 years!

In honor of Presidents Day - February 17, 2014

Steve Bodow, Jen Flanz and Adam Lowitt have been promoted to Executive Producers, Tim Greenberg and Hillary Kun to Co-Executive Producers, Justin Melkmann to Supervising Producer and Elliott Kalan as Head Writer

Legendary comedic writer Bruce Vilanch is a last minute addition to this year's North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival. He is set to share 60 minutes of comedic stories on the Arts Center Mainstage at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12. Tickets cost $16 in advance and $20 at the door. The Arts Center is located at 300-G East Main St. Tickets and more information can be found at www.nccomedyarts.com.

According to a post on Jennifer Holliday's Facebook page, the Broadway star and singer will appear at the Barnes & Noble Upper East Side (86th and Lexington in NYC) to sign copies and celebrate the release of her new album 'The Song Is You' today, January 24, 2014.