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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 07/14/2003 2:20:47 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
CHAPPAQUA — In a locked closet of the Discovery Shop, behind rows of garment racks and vintage shoes, is a crumpled paper bag filled with the used clothes of Chappaqua's most famous resident.
Two years ago, former President Bill Clinton donated his golfing apparel to the King Street thrift store. But his goodwill has been kept hidden from view while store officials figure out how best to market his presumably valuable wares. Perhaps sealed bidding or an auction, said head volunteer Joanne Mortel.
"We want to get the most we can out of it. If we were to just put it on the racks, how is anyone going to know it was once worn by Clinton?" she said. "I don't have the authority to put a price on it. This is a first for us."
The 13-year-old Discovery Shop accepts only donations, and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for such things as research, public education and advocacy efforts. Last year, the volunteer-supported shop raised $180,000 for the national organization, Mortel said.
"There are a lot of celebrities in town, but no one has ever brought in stuff, which is unfortunate, because this is such a worthy cause," Mortel said. "We have someone in California interested in buying Clinton's clothes, but we're still trying to think of creative ways to sell these items."
While it has been a while since Clinton dropped by the Discovery Shop, volunteers remember the one-time visit fondly.
"It was an early morning Saturday in July. The town was as quiet as a church, and then I saw these three black vans pull up in the parking lot," shop volunteer Joan Ventimiglia said. "I thought this is either the Mafia or a funeral."
Instead, in walked the ex-president with an entourage of Secret Service to browse the store that contains "gently used" clothes, bric-a-brac, costume jewelry, china and furniture. The donated merchandise sells for as little as $15 for a dress to as much as $1,400 for a Limoges fish platter.
Clinton eyed an antique plate and a shaving mug, but didn't buy anything, Ventimiglia said. His lingering by the circa-1820 mug made a major impression on one regular customer that day.
"I had looked at the mug long before he touched it, and he said, 'Oh this is nice,' and that prompted me to buy it," said Joan, who shied away from giving her last name, preferring that her neighbors not know where she shops. "At first, I thought he was going to buy it, and I almost had a coronary. He said, 'My grandfather used to have one like it.' "
Joan snatched up the mug with the English-Japanese design for $75. It is in her curio cabinet now.
"He was as charming as could be. He filled up the room," Ventimiglia said of the famously charismatic Clinton. "He just came by to inquire about the shop and to ask if he could donate items." A few days later, a member of Clinton's Secret Service team arrived and dropped off the bag of clothes, opting not to take a tax deduction receipt, volunteers said. The worn duds include a tan XXL Cross Creek windbreaker, a blue-striped XL Gear golf shirt, a light-blue checked button-down XL Barneys shirt, an XXL Burlington's plaid short-sleeved top and two straw hats, one with a blue band labeled "Biltmore Coral Gables."
The bag also contains two gold-and-black leopard-print Alison Tod hats with a matching scarf, suspected to be Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's, Discovery Shop volunteers said.
"I told him we would be delighted to have Sen. Clinton's clothes. He just smiled," Ventimiglia said. "We were hoping for a steady stream of items so we could have a Clinton corner at the shop, but that didn't happen."
Clinton, D-N.Y., who was traveling in Europe, could not be reached for comment, said Tammy Sun, his deputy press secretary. Karen Dunn, the senator's spokeswoman, didn't know anything about the donation and said Sen. Clinton could not be reached.
Historically, certain presidential clothes have been exhibited in museums and galleries, with first ladies' gowns often generating the most interest. The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2001 drew more than 650,000 people.
"We sell a lot of presidential memorabilia, but typically not clothing. Presidential objects have fetched fantastic prices at auctions," said Matthew Weigman, a spokesman for Sotheby's auction house. He cited John F. Kennedy's golf clubs selling for $775,000 in a 1996 auction and said that 25 years ago, a top hat belonging to Abraham Lincoln sold for $10,000.
Karen Becker, a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society, whose 85 Discovery Shops nationwide netted $10.8 million last year, said the Chappaqua branch should take its cue from Clinton.
"We want to hear from him directly on how best to sell these clothes," Becker said. "We don't want to exploit his generosity."
Amazing. Even in the realm of thrift shops, there is "no controlling authority."
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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I'd really, really rather not contemplate the ways...
Hahaha!
Instead, in walked the ex-president with an entourage of Secret Service to browse the store that contains "gently used" clothes, bric-a-brac, costume jewelry, china and furniture. The donated merchandise sells for as little as $15 for a dress to as much as $1,400 for a Limoges fish platter.
He is now shopping the thrift shops.....LOL!
Joan is an idiot. Th reason why Klinton didnt buy it was because hes used to others buying stuff for him. And when no USSS agent was coming clean with the cash, Joan the idiot bought it.
I fear for the Republic.
Also, we could check for signs of substance abuse, pollen tests for where he had been, traces of food and alcohol, and generally comment on them because they are no doubt tacky.
You can tell she doesn't know a damn thing about Bill Clinton; when he "eyed" it, she expected him to GIVE IT TO HER.
Clintons do *not* pay.
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