(JEFF GEISSLER/AP)
- Just like a famous painter in death, the value of autographs and other items from the late former President George H.W. Bush are expected to spike in price at historical auction houses. That’s likely due to the attention on him, and the prices will then likely settle back, according to Bill Panagopulos, president of internationally known Alexander Historical Auctions. “The value will jump 50 to 150 percent in the short term, say next four weeks, then fall back to current levels. President Bush was a very pleasant, obliging, and gracious signer,” he said.
- President Trump’s ceremonial pardoning of the Thanksgiving White House turkeys prompted first daughter Ivanka Trump’s children, Joseph and Arabella, to insist on a vegetarian dinner. Cheered, PETA went into action, sending the family a vegan care package including fun stickers and a coupon for a free Tofurky roast. “Children have natural empathy for animals,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA’s animal-friendly goodies will hopefully encourage them to stay sweet to turkeys, cows, pigs, and all other living, feeling beings.”
(Andrew Harnik/AP)
- Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, an expert on national defense and former 2016 GOP presidential candidate who eventually backed Trump, has been picked as ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Separately, a big move for Brian Ebert, the special agent in charge of the United States Secret Service’s Washington field office, is joining the board of New York’s CyberScout, a cybersecurity firm. He will stay with the Secret Service.
- Congress typically takes forever to pick an Architect of the Capitol, but it looks like Christine Merdon, the acting Architect of the Capitol, has the inside track. A key lawmaker, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, said she is “incredibly well prepared to step in.”
