Gingrich and Dreyfuss Talk History at the Willard

D.C. conservatives and Los Angeles liberals have had a way of making friends in Washington lately.

First, as Yeas & Nays reported, Republican stalwart Tom DeLay signed a book for noted Hollywood liberal Ben Affleck last week.

Then on Tuesday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich found himself in an impromptu conversation with Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss, who has been part of Hollywood’s political vanguard since Affleckwas in

diapers (Dreyfuss has donated thousands to Democratic political candidates over the years).

The two ran into each other in a second-floor hallway of the Willard Hotel. Gingrich was attending a members meeting of the Center for Health Transformation, while Dreyfuss was at a meeting promoting his civics education program.

It should be said, however, that the two have plenty in common. Gingrich has authored several volumes of history, political philosophy and historical fiction. Dreyfuss, besides his passion for improving the teaching of civics, has studied democracy as a senior associate member at St. Antony’s College at the University of Oxford.

We hear that over their 15-minute chat, the two talked about civics (of course), as well as their mutual love of alternative histories (e.g., what if Lincoln hadn’t been shot?).