LAURA - and Oleg Cassini dissed by Kennedys at Met's Jacki O gala

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PageSix.com

MET GALA'S A NIGHT OF SLIGHTS

By RICHARD JOHNSON

with Paula Froelich and Chris Wilson

IT'S no wonder President George W. Bush has yet to pay a visit to New York, judging by the way his wife Laura was treated Monday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Caroline Kennedy spoke to the black-tie crowd about the Met's lavish new Costume Institute show, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years - Selections from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum."

While she pointedly praised Hillary Clinton, who "interpreted the role of First Lady for our times," the daughter of Jackie and JFK had nothing good to say about the current first lady, though she thanked Laura Bush "for coming tonight."

Many of the $3,500-a-seat guests didn't get a chance to even see Mrs. Bush, because she didn't stay for dinner. Knowing that Sen. Clinton was coming, the first lady announced beforehand she would only stay for the cocktail hour.

Laura Bush was gone long before Hillary arrived, surrounded by such supporters as Anna Wintour and Oscar de la Renta, who both co-chaired the benefit with Carolina Herrera. Wintour has put Hillary on the cover of Vogue, and de la Renta recently rented the Clintons his guest house in the Dominican Republic.

Some fashionistas were wondering what Sen. Clinton - wearing a floor-length, leopard print gown - was doing at the gala last night. "I think she was just trying to show up Laura Bush," sniffed one who added, "It's not like she's the arbiter of high style."

But whatever prattling was going on, it was done behind backs, as Hillary seems to have been "adopted" by Oscar and Annette de la Renta, who are introducing the Illinois native to Manhattan's social set. "He is protecting her," was one insider's take.

Too bad there is no one to protect Oleg Cassini from revisionists who won't give him credit as Jackie O's favorite designer and the one who invented her signature style.

Cassini, 88, ran afoul of the Kennedy clan decades ago when his brother Igor Cassini, then a gossip columnist, was busted for failing to register as a foreign agent. It seems Caroline, who was a child at the time, still hasn't forgiven the lapse. Caroline didn't even mention Cassini Monday night, though she saw fit to name all her relatives in the room.

The slight did not go unnoticed. When the white-haired designer arrived, he went up to the museum's spokesman, Harold Holzer, who had been interviewed earlier on CNN.

"I just saw you on TV," Cassini told Holzer. "You didn't mention me. I hope someday you will, and that I will be alive to hear it."

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

Answers

Caroline clearly only learned HALF of the lessons her mother could teach

C

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001


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