Fashion Scoops

DEMOCRACY: Sometimes actions speak louder than words. On Wednesday, House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt, an aide and a security guard took the Acela train from Philadelphia to Washington. As they stepped onto the first-class car of the train, the Secret Service agent* realized there weren't three seats together. So, according to an eyewitness, the agent very pretentiously complained to the conductor, who handled the situation by telling three people seated together to disperse to single seats. But 10 minutes later, a supervisor walked onto the car and noticed that none of the ticket stubs sticking out of from Gephardt's seats were even for first class. Her reaction? She told the men to get out, at which point Gephardt very sheepishly stepped up from his seat and, with everyone looking at him in wide-eyed amazement (one person even began to clap), skulked out to the next car.

* Secret Service agent - this is quickly becoming a phrase to describe - incorrectly - any plain-clothed security person. The Secret Service is a unit of the US Department of Treasury - an Executive Branch agency. While the President can order Secret Service protection for anyone, they are typically used only for the protection of the President and Vice President as well as the Secretary of the Treasury who is nominally their boss.

The Secret Service also offers protection to any visiting Head of State.

Members of Congress do not typically get any protection. Those who do: The Speaker, the two party leaders, and the two party whips; receive it from the Protective Detail of the Capitol Hill Police.

Aren't you glad you asked?