Wow. The part about the Hack is awfully jarring in relation to the rest of the article. What the hell's going on here?
She really paints a picture of a malevolent presence in the personage of "The Hack", IMO. He must be a real piece of work for Noonan to put this in writing as she did.
If you don't think Peggy has the steel in the backbone to do it, then you better read this again:
The Hack was in the audience. He approached me in his greasy political style and said, "I'm so glad you honored Ben." He put his hand on my waist. This was a mistake.
"It's more than you ever did," I pointed out. Hack had been on TV with pictures of him and Reagan, recalling with modesty his small contribution to the president. He was right. It was small.
He said that he'd always tried to honor Ben. I pointed out that this was a lie. Nor had haircut boy in his book. Didn't they know Ben had saved their jobs? They were only there because of him.
At this Hack smiled slyly. "Well, I never wrote a book," he said.
"No, you'd have to be literate to do that," I pointed out.
Afterward I told old Reagan hands about our exchange. They would laugh and say, "Yes!" Because, as I say, they knew the Ben Elliott story. And now someone has put it in print.
I suspect if the Hack ever flip-flops, Peggy will call him on that, too. She has served notice that he should just stay quiet.