Lincoln Bedroom? It’s the Italian Alps fror Bush’s Friends

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The President’s pals gets perks, like front-row seats at the Olympics.


U.S. Ambassador to Italy Ron Spogli, a founder of private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co. of Los Angeles, has been hanging out in Turin, Italy, with First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter, Barbara Bush, who are leading the U.S. delegation at the 2006 Winter Games. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who will be a participant in the closing ceremonies, will join them this week. The delegation includes presidential pals Roland Betts, of Chelsea Piers L.P. in New York, and Brad Freeman, Spogli’s partner. Of course, there are a host of former Olympic medalists along as well: figure skaters Dorothy Hamill and Debi Thomas, speed skater Eric Heiden, gymnast Kerri Strug and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, who competed in the bobsled in the 1992 Olympic Games.


The U.S. delegation will spend much of the festivities lounging with kings, queens and heads of state including Spain’s King Juan Carlos, Norway’s King Harald V, Prince Albert of Monaco and Cherie Blair, the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.




Buried in the indictment of Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano is a list of individuals who were spied on and wiretapped, many by the PI’s Hollywood clients.


Among the names was Tom Gores, chairman and chief executive of private equity firm Platinum Equity, whose name was listed next to his former sister-in-law, Lisa Gores.


The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles won’t discuss individuals in the case, but the indictment indicates that the wiretapping of both Tom Gores and Lisa Gores occurred on January 3, 2001. Lisa Gores was divorced the following year from Alec Gores, chairman of Gores Technology Group LLC, who often competes against his brother on merger and acquisition deals.


Meanwhile, prominent Hollywood lawyer Terry Christensen, who was indicted last week for having the ex-wife of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian wiretapped, resigned last week from the board of mortgage processor Fidelity National Information Services Inc.




Bert Boeckmann, who runs the 60-year old Galpin Ford dealership in the San Fernando Valley, will chair the seventh Cars and Stars gala at the Petersen Automotive Museum, with his sons, Beau and Brad Boeckmann. The event, to be held in May, will feature an exhibit of “Cars & Guitars of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which will showcase the rides of Elvis Presley, Elton John and ZZ Top.



*Staff reporter Kate Berry can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 228, or at

[email protected]

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