European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Fall come on Over capital unimpressed Bush social scene by Robert m. Andrews associated press after the Hollywood Glitz of the Reagan years the Washington social scene under George Bush seems As Flat As last night s Champagne and As Boring As the last guest to leave the party. Black tie parties for Jet setting glitterati from Beverly Hills have Given Way to Folksy barbecues at Camp David and cozy evenings of Popcorn and movies at the White House for a few close friends. Jelly Beans Are out. Tex mex junk food is in. Leave the Bill Blass gown in the closet and grab a Ralph Lauren sweater for Kennebunkport. Scratch that candlelit Sorse in Georgetown the presidents heading for the Horseshoe pit. The social whirl in Short is gurgling Down the Drain. Quot what social scene a asks Robin Weir former Hairdresser to Nancy Reagan and her California friends. Bemoaning the decline in Star Quality of his Salon s clientele Weir sniffed a we be gone from Betsy Bloomingdale to Roseanne  Jayne Ikard wife of a former Texas congressman and a fixture on the local party circuit for 20 years says her Waistline tells the Story. Quot lets just say i gained 8 pounds during the first month of the Reagan administration and this year in a staying on an even keel. In a not gaining and in a not  no one is complaining about George and Barbara Bush who Are popular and energetic hosts. But times have changed. The reagans Are basking in the Golden West and the Grande Dames of society have gone the Way of dance cards and White gloves. The nights belong to the Nouveau Riche whose idea of fun is throwing a Charity Ball. When Bush took office everyone eagerly awaited the emergence of Georgette Mosbacher wife of Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher As Washington s hostess with the mos test. But Mosbacher perhaps wary of dipping her toe in the shark Pool stayed in new York to run her cosmetics business. The other prime candidate Penne Korth a Bush pal from Texas who co chaired his inaugural shipped out As ambassador to Mauritius. Quot its As though somebody unplugged the Jacuzzi and we were All sitting there wet and waiting for the action to Start Quot said society columnist Diana Mclellan. What a different is that the epicentre of the capitals social life Lias shifted to the White House where the gregarious fun Loving Bushes Are setting the Pace with their own parties receptions and a by a All come on Over Quot evenings with family and old friends. Quot the Bushes know everybody a said Mclellan. A they be been Here a Long time and they know All the players.1 Ikard compares capital society under the reagans and the Bushes by saying Quot its the difference Between a flirtation and courtship and a stable Happy  says Gretchen Poston former social Secretary under president Carter Quot this is a very serious White House and they re not going out to dinner parties like the reagans. The Bush focus is on the  it s a far cry from 1981, when the reagans came to town with a Galaxy of social luminaries a the Walter Annenberg William French Smiths Caspar Weinberger Charles z. Wicks a to excite the most jaded part goers. Bush an old Washington hand ushered in the 90s with a Cabinet full of old familiar faces. His idea of a Surprise was John Sununu the White House chief of staff and former new Hampshire governor who is something less than a party animal. John who not even the social sets pricey face lifts president Bush shares a laugh top photo with White House visitor Whitney Houston president and mrs. Bush watch As Jamas Kulsley of Bremen Ohio the 1988 menus world Champion off in american Horseshoe association pitches on the Horseshoe pit on the White House Lawn fast year. Could hide the frowns of dismay. Quot the Bush Are Well liked and they entertain in a warm gracious manner a says Barbara Gamarekian of the new York times. Quot but Washington feeds on new faces and personalities and after eight years of the reagans people got tired of guest lists with the same names Over and Over again. Everyone was looking for a change and they did t get  Washington has grown up. Urban sprawl is rampant. Traffic is getting impossible. Distant cow pastures have been bulldozed for million Dollar mansions. Tiffany the jewel of new York s fifth Avenue has branched into a suburban Virginia shopping mall. Long gone is the sleepy Southern town where the old Money doyenne of High society entertained a Small Circle of friends at lavish parties sprinkled with senators Cabinet members diplomats and newspaper pundits. Nobody has filled the vacuum left by the late Perle Mesta and Gwendolyn Cafritz the legendary Washington hostesses who made headlines by catering to the powerful. Today a career minded congressional and Cabinet wives show Little interest in playing the hostess game. Quot the reason things Are so Dull is that nobody has come to town with the ambition to Rise above the crowd and fill that role Quot said society watcher Charlotte Hays of the Washington times. The stars and stripes a a a Page 13