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October 1, 2023

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

Spy Highlights

Spy Booknotes: A Chat with Author Harvey Sloane

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There are only a few in a generation that, by luck or circumstance, are witnesses or actual actors in the significant events of history. But even more rare are those who experience them, decade after decade, throughout their lives. Harvey Sloane fits well in the latter camp.

From roots formed in Virginia, at St. Paul’s and Yale, and later in med school, Sloane moved to Kentucky in the early 1960s as a health provider in rural Appalachia. That first assignment also opened the door for the doctor to debate public policy and, eventually, two terms as mayor of Louisville when the city began desegregation. Over time, Harvey would be credited for his leadership during court-ordered busing, city worker labor strikes, and the creation the city’s mass transit system. He would later lose to Mitch McConnell by only four points for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Perhaps others would have taken a bow after public office and an equally significant record as a Jefferson County judge, Sloane decided his next chapter would be, among other things, being the health commissioner for the District of Columbia and 12 years in Russia spearheading TB eradication efforts.

Given the richness of all these experiences, Harvey, who had never written a book before, set about to document those moments, which culminated in the publication of his memoir Riding the Rails this year.

With plans to have a book event this week in Easton, the Spy reached out to the author by Zoom to learn more about the book and this remarkable life.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. Riding the Rails is available here. To attend the book event please go here.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: GOP Debate Round Two and Democratic Bob Menendez Blues

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Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss possible winners and losers of the Republican Party’s second presidential debate on Wednesday evening at the Reagan Library. Al and Craig also discuss this week’s corruption charges against Democratic Senator Robert Menendez.

This video podcast is approximately 23 minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Design with Jenn Martella: The Smith-Ringgold House

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It takes a special person to undertake an extensive restoration/renovation of a historic home. Add the fact that this house and the prominent families who have called this very special house a home are interwoven into Kent County’s history since 1792, when this property was included in the first plat of Chestertown. This might have proven daunting to some owners but this house was lucky to have had many owners over many years who fell under its spell. 

The first owner of the property ran a ferry across the Chester River to Kingstown. In 1759, new owners acquired the property and built the front portion of the house at the corner of the property. The two and a half story house with a basement was three bays wide and one room deep. The exposed foundation walls were stone and the original basement windows are now infilled with brick. The brick facades were laid in the Flemish bond pattern with a molded water table and curved segmented arches over the large windows. Brick cruciform chimneys rose above each gable end wall. The front door was surrounded with pilasters and an entablature that is enhanced with decorative brackets to match the eave brackets. The white trim and black shutters complete the classic exterior palette. The floor plan layout was a center hall with parlors at each side, two rooms on the second floor and a separate frame kitchen wing. 

From the 18th through the 21st centuries, subsequent owners left their individual mark by building additions, renovating and/or restoring the architecture, interiors and landscape. One owner built the waterside addition that extended the center hall and added two additional rooms on both floors. The landscape was altered by filling in a cove and terracing the lawn down to the water. (This design foresight helped protect the property from flooding during Hurricane Isabel). 

After purchasing the property in 1860, another owner made substantial changes to the architecture and interiors. The frame kitchen wing was replaced with a brick structure, porches were built around most of the house, and the brick was covered with stucco and painted white. Steps led down from the porch to the street.

The interior wall of one of the front parlors and the original staircase were removed to make room for a more elaborate staircase to create a spacious reception room. Another focal point of the room is the fireplace with its curved wall that blends into the plaster ceiling. I admired how the white of the fireplace surround stands out against the deep aqua walls. Throughout the house, the woodwork dates from both 18th and 19th century designs and all mantels are original to its period.

The other original parlor is a delightful light filled corner room with large 9/6 windows on both exterior walls. 

Two other owners made changes; one added the detached one story brick garage and another owner removed the porches. In 1973, new owners bought the property and turned their attention to the interiors. They made extensive renovations that created three bedroom ensuites on the second floor. The waterside primary suite’s bedroom has three windows for views of the Chester River and a fireplace.

The primary bath has wood floors, a period free-standing lavatory and a tub/shower. 

Additional interior renovations included the Owners’ commissioning local artist Jack Schroeder to create a mural that encircles the dining room and illustrates “Rose Hill”, a historic home north of Chestertown.

Thankfully, the Owners also removed the stucco and whitewash to expose the original brick facades.  

The current Owners assumed their stewardship in 2012 and undertook a two-year restoration of the house. They wisely began by verifying the structural integrity of the basement foundations and replacing the roof. They upgraded the systems with central AC and replaced the oil furnace with propane. Two of the houses I have called home had radiator heat so I was pleased to see that radiators remained in this house. The Owners also opened up the kitchen area and transformed this space with new cabinetry whose color matched the original tongue and groove paneling in the room, new black soapstone countertops, stainless steel appliances and sleek contemporary cabinet hardware. I especially liked the view from the kitchen’s farmhouse sink and how the stove is inset into the wall behind the fireplace in the adjacent dining room. A second set of stairs leads to the second floor that contains a full laundry and creates another entrance to a guest room and bath. During the renovation, the attic’s finished ceilings were removed to expose the original collar beams.  Surprisingly, portions of the original wood shake roofing also emerged and the Owners left the roofing exposed as an accent.

 

The Owners also retained architect Peter Newlin, FAIA, Ret., to design a breakfast room and an open porch that spans across the rear wall of the kitchen-dining room wing. 

 

Newlin designed another covered porch off the side wall of the breakfast room with steps down to the driveway and garage. The color palette of light yellow siding and green metal roof complements the original architecture.

The current rear elevation shows how the house evolved over four centuries of restorations and renovations to the architecture, interiors and landscape. 

The property also has a detached garage and a brick driveway for additional on-site parking. The garage could also become a studio, sports room, media room, etc. Bravo to the current Owners for their dedication to the preservation of this exquisite property! The Smith-Ringgold House is now move-in ready for the next steward of this treasure to save it for generations to come.

For more information about this property, Nancy McDonald McGuire, who helped sponsor this article, at Maryland Heritage Properties , 410-778-9319 (o) ,443-480-7342 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.marylandheritageproperties.com/home , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photographs by the author who was indebted to Ms. McGuire for sharing her extensive research about this historic property.

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Let Us Now Praise Footner’s Rivers of the Eastern Shore: A Chat with Author Tom Horton

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No doubt, the last thing Tom Horton wanted to add to his long list of projects was another writing assignment. The author, filmmaker, college professor, and environmental journalist certainly had enough on his plate to justify turning down an invitation last year to write the forward to the second edition of Hulbert Footner’s “Rivers of the Eastern Shore.”

But, as noted in his Spy Zoom interview last week, Tom made clear he had no option but to accept the offer. For the entire span of Horton’s career as an environmental writer, starting with his work for the Baltimore Sun, Hulbert Footner’s “Rivers” has been one of those indispensable bibles of knowledge of not only one of the world’s most unique collection of rivers but an authentic and candid guidebook in understanding the Eastern Shore’s land and people as well.

As the Spy and the Talbot Historical Society team up next Wednesday at the Talbot County Free Library to host Karen Footner (Hulbert’s granddaughter who helped with the 2nd edition release), and Eastern Shore Dennis Forney (publisher emeritus of the Cape Gazette) for a special reading of the work, we asked Tom to give us a bit of background on why this book was so important to him and why he urges so many of his fellow Eastern Shore neighbors to have it on their bookshelves.

This video is approximately five minutes in length.

Celebration of 2rd Edition of “Rivers of the Eastern Shore” by Hulbert Footner
Readings by Karen Footner and Writer Dennis Forney
Talbot County Free Library – Easton
September 27, 2023 1 pm
Free admission

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: Shutdown Blues, McCarthy’s Fate, and Trump Poll Numbers

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Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss the growing anticipation of a federal government shutdown at the end of the month and the major financial and political consequences for no debt ceiling compromise. Al and Craig also discuss Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s political fate in its aftermath and Donald Trump’s poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire.

This video podcast is approximately 22 minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:


Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: McCarthy Begins Biden Impeachment and Romney Turns Down Second Term

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Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s announcement to start impeachment procedures against President Joe Biden for ties to Hunter Biden’s businesses.  Al and Craig also remark on Senator Mitt Romney’s decision not to seek a second term.

This video podcast is approximately sixteen minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Design with Jenn Martella: Contemporary Cottage

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The aerial of this eight acre wooded property with frontage along an inlet of the Wye East River is an appealing illustration of peace and quiet. The cottage and its pier are surrounded by approximately 460 acres of protected woods and the Pickering Creek Audubon Center is a neighbor. As I drove along the long gravel drive through the woods, the sights and sound of nature began to work its magic and I began to relax. I arrived at a clearing in the woods just as the sun was beginning its descent and the cottage and a large deck came into view.

The cottage with its rural vehicular form and its deck have panoramic views of the water from their position at the top of a deep lawn that gently slopes down to meet the steep bank along the shoreline. The earth tones of the exterior color palette blends into the landscape. The compact  pitched form of the story and a half cottage is enhanced by shed roofed one story extensions on three sides of the main floor of differing depths that give the cottage’s massing great charm. One extension creates a recessed area for the entry door and becomes longer to create space for a bath and guest bedroom. The side extension creates both space for the kitchen with a box bay for the greenhouse window above the sink area and also room for the dining area with its wrap-around full height windows. 

The third extension on the other side creates space for a spacious primary bedroom. The deck spans across the rear elevation and wraps around the corner of the dining room for diagonal views of the water. Glass doors from the living room and primary suite creates indoor-access to this wonderful outdoor room.  The lower portion of the deck contains an outdoor shower and a sink for cleaning the day’s catch after a day on the water.   

The entry door opens into a foyer that blends into the hall to the bedrooms and bath and to the kitchen on the other side. Stairs lead to the loft that overlooks the open plan living-dining-kitchen area. The wall cut outs of various sizes introduce the contemporary interior architecture. 

As I walked through the foyer, I admired the vista through the living room to the water and how the late afternoon sun from the glass doors with transoms above fills the room with light  and offers views of both the water and the blue sky. The living room’s furniture is arranged around the wood burning fireplace whose brick chimney rises to the underside of the ceiling to become a sculptural element. Built-in stained wood millwork on either side of the fireplace creates the cozy feeling of an inglenook. 

 

Before I toured the rest of the main floor, I could not resist going up the stairs to explore the loft bedroom above that overlooks the spatial geometry of the living-dining-kitchen area below. The pitched ceiling plane of the two-story living room transitions to the one-story shed roofed dining and kitchen areas below and stained wood collar beams accent the white ceiling. Wall planes define the open plan and vary from partial height walls to the full wall openings between the living room and the dining-kitchen area. Sunlight streams into the spaces from the glass doors, transoms, full height windows and the kitchen’s skylight. The pair of windows above the shed roof of the dining-kitchen area provide additional sunlight and views of the woods from the loft bedroom.  

I especially admired the dining area with the wrap-around picture windows,  operable units below and the triangular transom that combine to create diagonal views of the landscape. Glass doors lead to the deck for al-fresco dining.

The kitchen’s white cabinetry blend into the white walls and ceiling above the beautiful wood floors and reflects the sunlight from the windows, skylight and box bay greenhouse style window. The mix of gray-green quartz and wood countertops accent the white of the space. Although the desk area is inviting, I would prefer to relocate the washer and dryer from the basement to this area since it has direct access to the hall leading to the main floor bedrooms and bath.

 

The single story shed roofed area creates corner windows for diagonal views of the woods and water and creates a spacious primary bedroom with both sitting and sleeping areas. The adjacent bath has dual vanities with separate framed mirrors and a large shower.  The exterior door leads to the deck for a quick clean up after an afternoon on the water. 

There is another bedroom and hall bath on the main floor. The loft bedroom spans the depth of the main floor and has two large closets along the interior wall.  The interior architecture is defined by the exposed stained wood rafters under the pitched ceiling, the overlook to the open plan area below and the shed dormer above the pair of glass doors to a balcony for  bird’s eye views of the water. 

Charming cottage blending a rural vernacular exterior with contemporary interiors, sited on eight acres high above the shoreline of Pickering Creek in a clearing surrounded by over 460 acres of protected woods. Savor the peace and quiet from the large deck overlooking the water, sandy beach and a 120 foot pier for enjoying the outdoors. Great living-dining-kitchen open plan with interior wall cut outs to flood the spaces with sunlight, flexible loft space for a third bedroom or a TV room with a waterside balcony-the perfect move-in ready private retreat close to Town!

For more information about this property, contact Keith Hensley, who helped sponsor this article, at Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-739-2526 (c), or  [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit https://m.prspcts.co/kk49rEfBrAaKx1Wu7 , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photography by Janelle Stroop, 410-310-6838, [email protected] 

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy Exit Interview: Londonderry’s Irma Toce is Leaving the Building

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Having a title like chief executive officer is an appropriate one for the individual tasked with running a multi-million dollar budget as well as overseeing a vast physical campus but Irma Toce never sees her job through the lens of a traditional business leader. Her decades of experience in leading residential retirement communities had told her well before she took on the CEO role at Londonderry at Tred Avon in 2014 that her job was building a unique sense of place there.

For Irma, that rebuilding started with the staff. With morale suffering from the impact of the 2008 recession and high occupancy rates, that sense of place (and purpose) was the missing ingredient. In fact, she still recalls visiting Londonderry during the interview process and was bewildered that such a beautiful place with such wonder residents was having any problems at all.

And that personal mission has been very much in evidence at Londonderry for almost ten years. With full occupancy, healthy financials, and a culture of authentic community, Irma not only helped steady the ship but clearly had a great time doing it.

The Spy continues with our ongoing series of exit interviews with some of the Mid-Shore’s most talented individuals as they come to the close of long-term impactful leaders of our leading community organizations and businesses, of which Irma is at the top of the list.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about Londonderry on the Tred Avon please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Arc’s Vision for Helping its Core Constituency: A Chat with Greg Snyder

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It was perhaps a question of timing that when The Arc of Central Chesapeake Region decided to double down on their mission on the Mid-Shore a few years ago, they instantaneously became known for their innovative work in affordable housing. With projects being rolled out in Easton and Chestertown, the 62-year-old organization was seen by many as a real blessing as the region faces unprecedented demand for low-and-middle-income housing.

This unexpected role comes with mixed feelings for Greg Snyder, The Arc’s Vice President of Engagement. While The Arc does indeed take pride in the work they have done on the Western Shore in this critically important field, for Greg and many of his colleagues, the fundamental mission of The Arc, which is helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities live self-determined lives, somehow got lost as a result.

In his interview with the Spy last week, Greg wanted to reinforce that his organization remains committed to that core mission and walks us through how their building project on Port Street in Easton is a case in point.

While the three-story building will have nine apartments designated as affordable housing, the entire first floor will be exclusively devoted to The Arc’s core constituencies. Those include essential health services, including mental health, career training, family guidance programs, and other much-needed support programs for The Arc’s clients.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about The Arc please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: Biden’s Low Poll Numbers and Democratic Strategies to Win in 2024

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Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss the worrisome polling numbers that increasingly show President Joe Biden’s low popularity among likely voters in 2024. Al and Craig also trade thoughts on a last-minute Biden withdrawal from the race and what the Democratic Party needs to do to win against a Trump ticket next year.

This video podcast is approximately 19 minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.