Insider’s view of the end of a presidency

Richard Hauser wanted three days off – the weekend plus the following Monday. It seemed a reasonable request. The strains of being in the White House counsel’s office during the Watergate scandal were wearing on him, and the prospect of a few days away from the troubles of Richard Nixon and the crisis that was enveloping the capital seemed inviting. But Fred Buzhardt, his boss and the man attempting to steer the 37th president through the troubled waters of Washington, made it clear: Be here Monday.

New man’s ex-girlfriend sparks doubts

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently had a confusing encounter with a guy I met on Bumble. We hit it off during our conversations, and he seemed like a great match – respectful, attentive and genuinely interested. However, things took an unexpected turn when I coincidentally bumped into him at a coffee shop in a city neither of us lives in. To my surprise, he was with his exgirlfriend. I approached them, said hi and noticed that he seemed uncomfortable and stiff. He said they were having coffee and catching up.

Kamala Harris referred to as a DEI hire

Ahandful of Republicans have referred to Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, as a “DEI hire.” They were essentially saying that President Joe Biden picked Harris to be his running mate in 2020 because she was a person of color. Democrats have, of course, pushed back, calling the phrase “extremely offensive and dehumanizing,” in the words of former U.N. Ambassador and Obama and Biden White House insider Susan Rice. Some Republicans, like former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, pushed back, too, calling the accusation “totally stupid and dumb.”

Silence leaves friend feeling alienated

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m feeling really hurt and confused about a situation with a close friend of mine. We were close before we both moved to new cities. Since then, I’ve noticed that my friend never returns my calls or texts anymore. I’ve tried reaching out multiple times, leaving voicemails, sending texts and writing emails, but I rarely get a response. When I do hear back, it’s often brief and doesn’t lead to any meaningful conversation. This has left me feeling abandoned and wondering if I’ve done something wrong.

Chicago resident nervous about celebration

DEAR HARRIETTE: I moved to Chicago this summer, and while I’m enjoying the new environment and opportunities, I’m facing a bit of a dilemma. I’ve managed to make some friends so far, but I haven’t formed any super-close connections yet. It’s been great getting to know new people, but these relationships are still in the early stages.

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