Reagan Closes Door on Cabinets

--His message could be construed as saying there is no need to come unglued over a little cabinet remodeling project. An enterprising cabinet salesman, Dan Frederick of Fort Wayne, Ind., wrote to his prospect in the White House: “Being a young and aggressive company, we offer our expertise and vast experience in cabinet remodeling, whenever and wherever possible.” After detailing the qualifications of the Middlebury cabinet remodeling firm, Frederick closed his pitch: “I feel we could successfully work together as our attitudes seem to run parallel: ‘Reface--don’t replace.’ ” The sales talk paid off in an unexpected way--Frederick got a reply on engraved White House stationery. “Thank you for brightening a drab, rainy day in Washington,” the letter from Ronald Reagan began. “I’m sorry I have just completed the Cabinet redo here. Otherwise I would have availed myself to your services.”

--Politics took a strange turn for Sheriff W. Douglas Call of Genesee County, N.Y., when he sought to thank his backers in last fall’s unsuccessful Democratic campaign for Congress. It took about 20 uncomfortable minutes for Call to find out why no one looked familiar in the Greece, N.Y., hall. One person bought drinks for him and his wife and someone else complimented him on the big telephone he used as a campaign symbol. Finally somebody tipped him that he had walked in on a meeting of the Greece Republican Party. The Democrats had changed their meeting place, and it’s easy to guess who was the last to know.

--Robert LaBorde’s 152-foot flagpole in Shreveport, La., with its flashing beacon, will be marked on future federal aviation maps. The $42,000 flagpole and the $3,200 40-by-80-foot flag that will fly from it are dedicated to the World War II U.S. servicemen who lost their lives during the attack on Anzio Beach. LaBorde said his uncle died during the battle. LaBorde’s flagpole is dwarfed by a 232-foot flagpole in Dallas, the tallest one in the nation that LaBorde knows of. His next project will measure 250 feet from base to tip top.

--Hungarian actor Laszlo Galffi cannot be accused of refusing to act Shakespeare to the hilt. Galffi was playing Richard II for the 35th time in Budapest’s Vigszinhaz theater. Laszlo Horvath, playing the role of Richard’s enemy, had the same blunted dagger he used every night and held it poised for the rehearsed attack. A falling candle distracted both actors and when Horvath lunged for the candle, he caught Galffi in the throat and shoulder, sending him reeling in pain--complete with real blood. Galffi was taken to the hospital for treatment.