Daniel Moriarty

Bubblegum and Bananas Daniel Moriarty

Setting: Washington, D. C. Tim Overstreet, an itinerant hobo down on his luck, is in his third year of riding the rails. But his travail is over when he finds his "lucky coin," and the discovery sends his fortunes in another direction. At the same time, in Washington, D. C., a new president, Virgil Hammerfeld, is taking office. He is elected in a surprise vote and therefore lacks a staff to carry out his policies. Thank goodness for the first lady, Lucia Hammerfeld. She sparks the brilliant concept of "going out into the street to seek the common man andwoman." Thus, the Kiddie Corps Cabinet made up of Tim Overstreet, Barbara Harrison (the feminist), and Bill Bacon (the former drunk), is formed. Things soon go astray with the Corp. There's the little matter of the sex ring at the Chinese embassy, the breach of security at the State Department, and the bomb threat at the Soviet embassy. Andto make matters worse, a chimp escapes from a circus which is performing at the White House. This lovable little guy manages to creep into the Oval Office and place a call to the Kremlin's new premierSherinov. Sherinov is not known for his command of English butnot to worry for he has an expert interpreter on his staff, Major Mirinev. Or so he thinks. Mirinev, out with an illness, is replaced by Major Koslov who is rushed into action. However, Koslov's "interpretation" of the chimp's "cheeping" over the hot line leaves much to be desired. An international incident ensues. The push to resolve the crisis, the disastrous summit at Camp David, leave both world leaders with much to ponder as they lick their wounds in their hospital beds. The chimp has made a chump of them all.