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Cokie Roberts' Bethesda

Local Luminaries Look at Bethesda with Longing, Loathing and Lethargy by Chris Shaffer, Bethesda.com Staff Writer.

In the second installment of Bethesda.com’s “Local Luminaries Look…” (LLLBLLL) series, long-time resident, political correspondent and author Cokie Roberts answers the hard-hitting questions we’ve all come to expect from LLLBLLL. Hmmm, I wonder if an abbreviation can be a palindrome? On second thought…

Ms. Roberts embodies the exact opposite of the old saw about Washington, DC as a bastion of “northern charm and southern efficiency.” Born in New Orleans, Louisiana (LA), Cokie Roberts exudes southern charm while her multifaceted career exemplifies northern efficiency, which is not to suggest that there is any truth to such time-worn stereotypes.

Background: Corinne “Cokie” Roberts was born in New Orleans, LA into a family that built a political dynasty over many years and one great tragedy. Her father, Hale was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1940. He served one term, lost his reelection bid and served in the Navy during WWII. In 1946, he was again elected to the U.S. House, the first in a string of 13 consecutive terms. By 1972, Mr. Boggs had climbed to the heights of House Majority Leader and was the presumptive next Speaker of the House. Then a plane in which he was riding disappeared without a trace over Alaska. His wife, Lindy, won a special election in 1973, and went on to serve until retiring in 1991. She was the first female U.S. Representative from Louisiana. Even Cokie’s late sister, Barbara Boggs Sigmund, went into politics, serving as Mayor of Princeton, NJ from 1983 until succumbing to melanoma in1990.

Ms. Roberts did not follow her parents into a political career but, as an accomplished radio and television journalist, she covers the U.S. political scene, among other things. Currently, Cokie Roberts serves as Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio (NPR) and is heard on “Morning Edition” each Monday.  She also covers politics for ABC news. In a lifetime of accomplishment, she has served as President of the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association and authored numerous books, including the Number 1 New York Times best-seller We Are Our Mother’s Daughters, as well the best-selling Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty. Our Haggadah—A Passover Service for Interfaith Couples--written with her husband journalist Steven Roberts was just published in March and is in stores now. Just listing her honorary degrees and awards would merit another article.

Two things are for certain: 1. Cokie Roberts exemplifies the qualities of a strong, successful woman, and 2. Cokie knows Bethesda.

The Interview: 

Bethesda.com: Thanks so much for your time, Ms. Roberts. Luckily for Bethesda.com, you live in Bethesda, while your brother Tommy resides in Chevy Chase. I think you’ll make a more interesting interviewee…

Cokie Roberts:

You got that wrong.  He would be far more interesting if he were willing to tell the truth.  A big if.  Remember he ran for Congress from this district and knows where the bodies are buried.

Bethesda.com: I know that I promised softball questions about Bethesda, but I have to ask: if you were axed by NPR like Juan Williams, would you work for Fox News?

Cokie Roberts:

I can’t imagine that NPR would ever fire me.  Enough said. 

Bethesda.com: As a Stone Ridge Alumna and political analyst, who’s to blame for the complete breakdown over funding off-base infrastructure improvements needed for the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Navy-Med, which opens in September? 

Cokie Roberts:

The idea of shutting down Walter Reed in the first place was absurd.  It’s a beautiful and historic complex that serves very particular needs.  And it has a fabulous and totally creepy medical museum that children love.  Bringing all those people into Bethesda without any provision for their cars is primarily a failure of the federal government but local entities haven’t covered themselves with glory either.

Bethesda.com: OK, now the softball portion…How long have you lived in Bethesda?

Cokie Roberts:

My family moved to the house I now live in in April 1952.  Long before you were born.

Bethesda.com: My body tells me otherwise. Obviously, tremendous change has occurred over that time span. What is most noticeable to you?

Cokie Roberts:

It’s easier to talk about what’s the same: the statue of the Madonna of the Trail—the pioneer woman and her baby--in front of the old post office and the Farm Woman’s Market.  Nothing else is really the same except some residential neighborhoods and even there both the trees  and the houses have grown bigger.

Bethesda.com: What do you like most about the “new” Bethesda?

Cokie Roberts:

The liveliness of Elm Street, Bethesda Ave and Woodmont around the Barnes and Noble is downright European in flavor.  The Bethesda Row theatres have good movies for old folks like me.  (We call it the geezer theatre and the Regal on Wisconsin the teeny bopper theatre.) Having the Roundhouse Theatre and Imagination Stage right is the neighborhood is also a big plus.

When I was growing up I had to get a ride to go anywhere but the library or the Arlington Rd. shopping center.  Now I can walk to all kinds of shops and restaurants—not to mention the metro.  By the time my kids were teenagers they could walk out the front door, hop a bus and go to Paris—at least in theory. 

Bethesda.com: What do you find to be the greatest negative created by Bethesda’s growth?

Cokie Roberts:

Honestly, the worst is the bikers.  They don’t live here.  They drive to our neighborhoods, unload their gear and speed down the paths acting like they own the place.  They are overbearing and rude and downright dangerous if you happen to be pushing a baby stroller. 

Bethesda.com: Wow, as someone whose commute used to involve Beach Dr., I couldn’t agree more. What is Bethesda’s best restaurant for a quick, tasty and affordable lunch?

Cokie Roberts:

Louisiana Kitchen, hands down.  We also often bring my mother to Sunday brunch there and she loves it.  

Bethesda.com: Best restaurant overall?

Cokie Roberts:

You can find us at Pines of Rome as many Saturday nights of the year as we can get there.  Marco Troiano, the owner and our neighbor, orders fresh fish and cheeses from his secret suppliers and prepares the specials wonderfully.

Bethesda.com: I know where he gets his cannoli. How does the Bethesda restaurant scene measure up to New Orleans?

Cokie Roberts:

That’s not a fair comparison.  There’s no better food in the world than in New Orleans.  You can’t get a bad meal there except in a hotel.

Bethesda.com: Best place to park?

Cokie Roberts:

There is no place to park.

Bethesda.com: Best kept secret?

Cokie Roberts:

The cherry blossoms that aren’t in Kenwood—on Durbin Road off Bradley.

Bethesda.com: Thanks so much for your time and frankness.