Washington Post April 7, 2000 Carrying A Big Shtick By Frank Ahrens Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, April 7, 2000; Sen. John McCain, during his ill-fated presidential bid, carped about Washington's "iron triangle": "big money, lobbyists and legislation." The real iron triangle, of course, is sided by politicians, journalists and celebrities. Last night was an isosceles evening. The 56th annual dinner of the Radio & Television Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton came on the heels of Leogate, the embarrassing mess created when ABC News decided that President Clinton would be interviewed by Leonardo DiCaprio, host of the network's esteemed late-night news show, "Nightline." Oh, wait. That's Ted Koppel. ABC did what? No wonder it's hiding under a rock. ABC News quickly tried to extract itself from the journalistic tar pit this week, recasting the "interview" as a "White House walk-through." But the stage was set for last night's monologues, delivered by the dinner's First Guest, President Clinton, and Darrell Hammond, a "Saturday Night Live" comedian who does a fair Clinton impersonation. Clinton began his shtick to the strains of "My Heart Will Go On," the theme to "Titanic," which starred movie heartthrob Ted Koppel. Oh, wait. It starred ABC News correspondent Leonardo DiCaprio. "Usually I enter to 'Hail to the Chief,' but this week I can't seem to get that song out of my head," Clinton said. "ABC doesn't know whether Leo and I had an interview, a walk-through or a drive-by. But I don't know if all their damage control is worth the effort--it's a little like rearranging the deck chairs on the set of 'This Week With Sam and Cokie.' " Then Clinton advised the news operation: "You may not be America's News Leader"--which is what NBC lovingly calls itself--"but you are the KING OF THE WORLD!" The president then turned his guns on Republicans, taking them to task for not completing the nosy version of U.S. Census form. The one question Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott refused to answer, Clinton said, was "What's the deal with your hair?" As for young Elian Gonzalez, Clinton said he's "the one immigrant Pat Buchanan wants to keep in America." McCain sat at the head table, roaring with laughter. Clinton poked fun at his own reluctance to leave office and played video clips of three campaign ads he'd cooked up for his vice president and potential successor. All three featured Clinton more prominently than Gore, the last concluding: "Al Gore: Because there's a 22nd Amendment." About 1,500 of Washington's power elite filled the curvilinear ballroom. The guest list included new-tech lords like Ted Leonsis, head of America Online and part owner of the Washington Capitals and Wizards. And the list included the Old Guard, such as Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. It is rumored that these two Washingtons never mingle, but on this night there was interspecies air-kissing aplenty. The ostensible purpose of the evening is to honor the president and members of Congress. Typically, though, it has been a chance for the commander in chief to get a little revenge on the radio and TV entities that cover him: The First Yukster usually rips through a funny monologue skewering those who toss darts at him all the other nights of the year. The tables turned in an uncomfortable fashion at the 1996 dinner, when shock jock Don Imus, the evening's "entertainment" (note the ironic "air quotes"), eviscerated the Clintons as they sat mere feet away. The journo-politico establishment responded with shock! and horror! at Imus's impertinence and apologized to all offended parties on behalf of the I-man, who blithely went back to his syndicated radio show, where he went on hosting the same shocked! and horrified! politicians and journalists who realized they need him more than he needs them. Last night, Hammond offered, "I'm not a mean comic, am I?" ABC seemed to have the longest guest list, an endless scroll that included MicroStrategy chief Michael "Brother, Can You Spare $6 Billion?" Saylor, national security adviser Sandy Berger and ABC reporter Cokie Roberts, who after the Imus meltdown in '96 promised to never again appear on his show. (She did, however, cozy up to him at a recent talk radio convention, putting him through a humorous fake interview while he was given a lifetime achievement award. Thank goodness they got that spat patched up!) We gasped when we scanned the list of ABC News invitees and saw "Leonardo," but returned to Earth when it turned out to be Nick Leonardo, whoever that is. Fox's guest list included a handful of senators and other politicos--Tom Harkin, George Voinovich, Barbara Boxer and Geraldine Ferraro--but, frankly, most in attendance probably would have been more impressed with a surprise appearance by Homer Simpson. "CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather presented the group's annual award for Washington-based public affairs and political coverage to Bob Schieffer of CBS's "Face the Nation." Even though he hasn't had a good role since "Titanic."