Council candidate tells of being Cheney’s gatekeeper

Other items in today’s column include:
*Jewish community coronavirus news
*Political bytes
*My say
*Recommended reading

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — Attorney Joe Leventhal, who is seeking election in the 5th San Diego City Council District, once served as a “gatekeeper” for U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, deciding what memos should go to him, which should first be vetted by others, and reading his proposed speeches for accuracy.  It was a pretty heady job for a young lawyer, just 26 years old.  Previously having served on the staff of U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (R-Illinois), he had observed then that “Washington at the highest levels of government is actually run by all of these folks under 40, even under 30 — the Administration, Capitol Hill, even at the Supreme Court.

“There were so many people who were young and inexperienced really making a lot of decisions every day,” he commented.  “I don’t mean that in a bad way; it was impressive to see how many young people, who were making peanuts, were dedicating themselves to our country.”

In 2003 and 2004, Leventhal’s position with the Vice President was as his “deputy staff secretary,” and “one of the big things was that the daily briefing book would go through me.  I would revise the memos that would go in there. I would decide what memos he needed for that day and his speeches would go through me.  Ultimately if people see a mistake in a speech that is given by a president or a vice president, they should be blaming the staff secretary (or the deputy) because it is their job to make sure it is accurate.”

Being only 26 at the time, “one of the most challenging things was to be dealing with people in their 40s and 50s who were smarter than me; knew their areas more than I did, and everyone thinks that their issues are the most important and that the vice president wants to hear from them now,” Leventhal recalled.  “That was my role, to say ‘Not now,’ or ‘Let’s have this reviewed by the Chief of staff first’ or ‘Let’s cut this memo down — he doesn’t want ten pages on this, let’s make this two pages.”

How did he make these decisions? I asked Leventhal during an interview.  “A lot of it is on-the-job training,” he responded.  “Getting a sense from those who worked with the vice president; what does he want to see, what doesn’t he want to see.  And you will get comments back — you are the outbox for the vice president, so a lot of times he would tell you what he needs or wants, or you would be in a meeting with him on a trip that he would take, and he would be very clear, what kind of advance he would want on that.”

Having observed Cheney closely, what was Leventhal’s opinion about George W. Bush’s vice president.  Was he as powerful a figure in the administration as people said he was?
“I actually agree that he was one of the most powerful vice presidents, but the narrative that the vice president controlled President Bush is untrue, because I actually saw how many times the vice president was on the losing end of issues in the administration,” Leventhal responded.  “But the reasons that he was so powerful are two fold — one, it was known from the beginning that he was not going to run for president and so his advice was given not in regards to his own political future but what he thought was best for the country and the administration.  Even now we see Joe Biden running for president, and we typically see vice presidents serving with the hope that they will run for president.  So, it was unique that Vice President Cheny wasn’t going to run and that gave a certain element of confidence in his advice.  Two, and this wasn’t anticipated, 9-11 happened.  Everyone thought Bush was gong to be a domestic president and then 9-11 happened and all of a sudden we are at war and he had as his vice president the former secretary of defense.  And that experience as the secretary of defense was obviously very relevant and helpful to a war-time president.”

The fact that Cheney was older than Bush didn’t play much of a role in Leventhal’s estimate.  Bush had been a governor of Texas, “and he had a lot of people who were part of his father’s (President George H. W. Bush) experience in government.  Cheney was one; [Donald] Rumsfeld [Secretary of Defense in George W. Bush’s Cabinet] was another.  And he had his father as a trusted adviser as well.”

I asked if Leventhal considered Cheney an important influence on his life.  “I wouldn’t go that far,” he answered.  He was a great boss and I think that what he taught me was that even in some of the most stressful roles in a person’s life, you still should treat people well.  That’s what he left with me in terms of that experience.”

But we all have chapters in our lives, and after nearly two years in the vice president’s office, Leventhal returned to San Diego to practice law with the firm of Cooley LLP.  Seven years ago, he decided to open his own firm “Leventhal Law,” whose clients typically are businesses.  The kinds of cases in which he was involved included serving as the defense lawyer for business in some cases, or helping a company bring trademark litigation against another company.  None of it, in Leventhal’s estimate, was headline stuff.

In the next installment of this piece, part of a continuing series on Jewish candidates, we’ll discuss Leventhal’s entry into City of San Diego affairs as a member of the Ethics Commission, and his subsequent decision to try to succeed 5th District City Councilman Mark Kersey, who is termed out.

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Jewish community coronavirus news

*Pam Ferris, president and CEO of Seacrest Village Retirement Community, issued a memo to residents of the Jewish home outlining new precautions in the battle to prevent the spread of coronavirus.  As of today (Tuesday), she wrote,  “We will be serving all meals in our residents’ rooms in Independent Living, Assisted Living, and in many cases Skilled Nursing. Residents who live in The Katzin Residence [for Memory Care] will be served in their dining room for safety precautions. There will be no large group gatherings; groups of 5 or less are permitted in Independent Living. As stated in a previous letter, there will be no visitors in any building with the exception of pre-approved medical professionals or caregivers. We strongly request that Independent Living Residents not leave the building and put themselves and others at risk by being in places with large crowds. We are encouraging walks outside and around our campus. Residents have asked about going to their family members’ homes for Pesach, and although we prefer they not, this is ok as long as no one in the home is ill.”  Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, emeritus cantor of Congregation Beth Israel, snapped this photo when the food workers came to his door.

Michael Jeser, CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, reports: “Our immediate concern is for the most vulnerable – seniors who are most at risk and will be hit hardest by loneliness and isolation. We are also concerned about Jewish community professionals who will be furloughed or have their income diminished. School closures and the impact on childcare needs further complicates an already troubling circumstance for many in our community. We have opened a fund to address the most pressing issues at this moment: 1) Isolation and loneliness within the senior population, and  2) Financial hardship for Jewish communal professionals whose income will be diminished.  Given the dynamic nature of this crisis, dollars may also be made available from this fund to address other emerging needs that may arise within the Jewish community.”

Jewish Family Service reported that as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, local social service providers are quickly modifying efforts to ensure the safety of their clients and staff, while still meeting the needs of the community.  JFS said “Continued services include:  Foodmobile: Volunteer drivers deliver hot, ready-to-eat meals to homebound older and disabled adults. Older adults who also relied on meals at JFS’s social and wellness centers (which are closed until further notice to comply with safety guidelines) will now receive home-delivered meals. Food Assistance: Those in crisis will be able to pick up pre-bagged food via a drive-thru service at the JFS Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus.  JFS Migrant Family Shelter:The JFS Migrant Family Shelter continues to operate and provide critical medical screenings – including for COVID-19 – for arriving asylum-seeking families released from federal custody. Safe Parking Program: JFS operates four Safe Parking Program lots throughout San Diego County, providing a safe and legal place for families and individuals living in their vehicles to park and sleep overnight, while also providing critical resources to help clients transition into permanent housing. All four lots remain operational with updated medical and safety protocols.”

*San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry is rounding up news from the various levels of government about the coronavirus pandemic and publishing it at 5 p.m. each day via this website.

*Terra Lawson-Remer, a candidate for County Supervisor in the 3rd District, has urged her volunteers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by doing the following: “Join our virtual phone bank to call seniors in our community who live alone. Make calls from your couch to check in on your neighbors in District 3 who may need assistance. We will provide a script, call list, and training materials. All you need is a phone and computer. Sign up HERE;  Donate to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund. This fund will support our neighbors who have lost jobs or income — providing desperately needed emergency income/resources now. Grant funding will focus on three critical areas: food security, rental and utility assistance, and income replacement or gap funding. Click HERE to donate; [and] Help prepare packages or deliver food to homebound seniors and others under quarantine with the San Diego Food Bank or Mama’s Kitchen. If you are healthy and not a member of a vulnerable population, please help fill the gaps left by the regular volunteer base.”

*The Israeli American Council (IAC) has put on line educational programs for various age groups and interests.  These include: IAC Keshet for kids (ages 4-9), IAC Eitanim for teens (ages 13-18), IAC Gvanim Limmud (adult learning), IAC Mishelanu for college students, and IAC EDGE for young professionals.

*Beth Jacob Congregation is putting its daily minyan prayer services on line.  In a notice that went out today (March 17), the Orthodox congregation said “our daily minyanim will be gathering virtually on Zoom. You can join us via smart phone, tablet or computer. … Additionally, we have set up ZOOM for several of our classes (with more on the way).”  It provided these links:  Shachris Monday-Friday 7:15 am and Sunday at 8 am;  Mincha 6:40 pm; Maariv 8 pm;  Daf Yomi Monday-Friday 6:15 am and Sunday 8 am; Daf Hashavua Tuesday 8:15 pm;  Halacha B’Iyun Wednesday 8:15 pm:  You can find a simple video tutorial explaining how to join a ZOOM meeting HERE.

*B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) has launched a website,  BBYO On Demand, “filled with live-streamed activities, programs and content that any Jewish teen or young adult, regardless of BBYO membership or affiliation, can tune into and enjoy from anywhere in the world.”

*Temple Beth Shalom of Chula Vista has suspended Friday night services but is continuing Saturday morning services, Shabba morning Torah study, and kiddush.  Adult classes also are continuing.  The congregation’s president, Arlene LaGary, says “Communication will be maintained with members, especially if they need medications or are low on food.”

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Local Jewish business responses
*Jeremy I. Factor, DDS, announced on Tuesday that he is  following the recommendation of the California Dental Association to close his pracice in San Diego for the next 14 days for all but emergency dental care.  “Your well being is always important to us and we feel this is in everyone’s best interest,” he messaged patients.

*Hillel Katzeff, the principal of HK Financial, is scheduling “virtual meetings” with his clients rather than in-person consultations.

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Political bytes
*Former Vice President Joe Biden continued his winning streak on Tuesday night winning overwhelmingly over Senator Bernie Sanders in the Arizona, Florida and Illinois primary elections for the Democratic presidential nomination.  That brought to 19 the number of states that Biden has won: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,  Virginia, and Washington.  Sanders has won 4 states: California, Colorado, Utah, and Vermont.

*Former U.S. Congressman  Duncan Hunter was sentenced on Tuesday to 11 months in federal prison beginning on May 29 for his misappropriation of campaign funds. Additionally, he will serve three years of supervised release, and will be required to enroll in a drug and alcohol treatment program. Hunter’s wife, Margaret, faces sentencing April 7 for her role in the family’s spending sprees.

*After counting Tuesday by the Registrar of Voters, with another 30,000 votes to be counted throughout the county, Barbara Bry has climbed over Scott Sherman, her fellow member of the City Council, by 169 votes in the race for the second run-off position for San Diego Mayor.  The totals stood as follows: Assemblyman Todd Gloria 142,774; Bry 78,311; Sherman 78,142.

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My say

I admired U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney’s willingness to vote his conscience during the recent U.S. trial of President Trump on House impeachment charges.  As the only Republican to vote in favor of impeachment, he risked the ongoing enmity not only of Trump but also of his GOP Senate colleagues.  It was what the late President John F. Kennedy would have called in his Pulitzer-prize winning book, a “profile in courage.”   Nevertheless, I believe Romney’s current proposal to award $1,000 to every adult in the United States to be rather ill-thought.  There are many, many adults for whom $1,000 would simply be extra spending money, not at all critical to their financial situation, even during this coronavirus pandemic.  I would much prefer that federal handouts be targeted to those people who need it — hourly workers, moms who can’t afford day care, and all the others who are living below the poverty line.  Romney should recompute his proposal to exclude those people who easily can do without the $1,000 and thereby have more to send to those in true need.  Meanwhile, let’s hope as President Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin work out the details of their proposed relief package with Congressional leaders, they’ll send money to those who need it — not to those individuals or corporations that don’t.

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Recommended reading
*Steve Lipman of The New York Jewish Week writes about numerous online programs that have been created to address Jewish spiritual health during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com