Quin,

Re Claude Allen: I am glad you wrote this. I have met Claude on a few occasions and have found him to be uncommonly kind — and utterly brilliant. Friends who have spoken with him since the news broke report that he remains in good spirits and looks forward to telling his side of the story.

Re Nicklaus: An outstanding idea to be sure — but do you have some sort of inside knowledge of how he feels about running for office? Recall the draft Ditka movement in Illinois last cycle. An incredibly exciting idea for sure — to everyone but him, as it turned out…