The New York Times - June 22, 1983
Warren Weaver Jr. and James F. Clarity

Jeff Levi, Washington representative of the National Gay Task Force, said he and Virginia Apuzzo, the group's executive director, discussed the AIDS issue with Judi Buckalew, special assistant to the President in the White House Office of Public Liaison, together with health department officials and two leaders of committees organized to fight the disease.

Mr. Levi said it was the first time anyone from the Reagan Administration had participated in such a session. At the White House press office, C. Anson Franklin said he was "not aware of another meeting" in the past between a representative of Mr. Reagan and leaders of homosexual groups, "but I can't say categorically there haven't been any."

The homosexual groups said they urged higher Federal spending on AIDS research but acknowledged that the meeting had focused on "getting acquainted," with no commitments made. Mr. Levi said his group hoped to open discussion with the White House on other issues including drug abuse, alcoholism and immigration, as they affect homosexuals.

Pass the Ketchup

Nancy Reagan had barely got her carpets down in the White House before Lawrence Barrett, a Time magazine correspondent, applied for an interview, saying his expense account would not cover a fullfledged dinner for two, but he could swing a visit to the nearest Burger King. This offer became the running theme of banter and correspondence between the First Lady and the reporter, but somehow the rendezvous was never achieved.

Tonight at a cocktail party for Mr. Barrett at the Sheraton Carlton, the following message will be read: "Dear Larry: I could have sworn we had a dinner date tonight at Burger King, but I gave up waiting when I was told you were at a party. Just to show you there are no hard feelings, here's your dinner. Promises, promises. Nancy Reagan."

Accompanying the note, unless the White House opts for Colonel Sanders, will be a bagful of Double Whoppers from Burger King.

No Welcome Mat Here

Observers of the local journalistic scene have already begun scanning the best seller list published weekly by The Washington Post, in search of a new nonfiction entry with the intriguing title "The Imperial Post." The book is a history and critical analysis of the capital's dominant daily newspaper that is not expected to receive an exuberant welcome in the pages of its subject.

The author is Tom Kelly, who was a copyboy at The Post in 1939 and later observed the paper in an 11-year stint on The Washington Daily News, now defunct. He says he received reasonable aid and comfort on his project from The Post's high command -Katharine Graham, the board chairman, and Benjamin C. Bradlee, the executive editor - until an acerbic sample of the book appeared in The Washingtonian magazine a year or so ago, when previous cooperation "sort of disappeared."

Granddaddy of Popsicles

If you've never seen a twin-stick vanilla Popsicle 25 feet long, go to the courtyard of the Russell Senate Office Building tomorrow afternoon where the International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers is unveiling this unlikely sculpture, poised stick up at a 45-degree angle and dripping a little, as the centerpiece of a party for members of Congress.

Cones, sundaes, scoops and ice cream sandwiches will be available both as sculptural decoration and for consumption. Senators and representatives, we are assured, will compete in assembling the most elaborate sundae and the tallest cone. Results of a Congressional poll will be announced, disclosing the lawmakers' innermost flavor and topping preferences; to the query "How important is ice cream today for a strong America tomorrow?" the survey permitted a choice between "Essential" and "Very Important."

Sponsoring this wholesome orgy are some top Capitol Hill brass: Senator Bob Dole, the Kansas Republican who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Representative Thomas S. Foley of Washington, the House Democratic Whip, giving it a bipartisan flavor. Unlike the standard Senate courtyard summer evening affair, however, there will be no bar.

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