Thomas DeFrank

Veteran White House correspondent (every prez since LBJ) and author. Contributing editor at National Journal. Proud Texas Aggie alum.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@chadgarland Spell his name right for crying out loud. It's not Stockwell. I knew Jim Stockdale personally and he is an authentic American hero.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@andrewdefrank Clever! If totally untrue

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

RIP Phil Jones, a fabulous, ferocious, fair reporter and an even better soul. He could spot a phony from either end of Pennsylvania Avenue and skewer them with uncommon skill. All this combined with an unparalleled generosity of spirit. Truly the greatest.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@andrewdefrank Good

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@andrewdefrank Milwaukee

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@polguru Like don regan: I don’t get ulcers, I give ulcers”

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@andrewdefrank Who

[National Journal @nationaljournal]

Don Rumsfeld was a certifiable American patriot and statesman. Whether he was also an American hero will be sorted out by history.
@TomDeFrank remembers the controversial former WH chief of staff and two-time Defense secretary.
https://t.co/AUesgIH6F9

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

As a late, great colleague loved to note after a White House non-denial denial in the 1970s:
“I didn’t hear a ‘no.’”

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@UofIPackWSFan Thank you for the nice words. Gerald Ford would weep at what's happened to his beloved GOP if he were alive today. When I saw one of the insurrectionists climb up on his statue in the Rotunda and put a MAGA cap on his head, I wanted to gag. Such an affront to a good man.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Kudos to Andrew - I began covering the WH as a Newsweek intern in June 1968. My first briefing was in George Christian’s office where Jen Psaki now sits. Today’s briefing room didn’t exist. Made my first WH trip that summer when LBJ dedicated a dam in Nashville. Still here

[Andrew Feinberg @AndrewFeinberg]

Actually, by Tom's count he's on his ELEVENTH (add LBJ to the list)

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Didn’t put in my pool report, but Call Your Mother and Bullfrog Bagel are in a fevered war here on Capitol Hill for bagel supremacy. Jury still out...

[Matt Viser @mviser]

En route back from church, Biden diverted motorcade so Hunter Biden could make a food run at Call Your Mother, arguably the best bagel shop in DC. Hunter stood at the window several minutes for the takeout order as his dad and daughters waited in the car, per pooler @TomDeFrank

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

“What we’re seeing is an outbreak of born-again vertebrates,” a veteran Republican operative with ties to the establishment wing of the party tells National Journal.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Re McConnell, hell hath no fury like a defrocked Senate Majority Leader. Reminds me of a humid August afternoon when another Senate Majority Leader visited the WH With two colleagues and told Nixon: resign or be impeached and convicted. I was there; quite a day.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@AmyBlack3560 @bikina29 @maggieNYT I

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Brent Scowcroft was truly one of a kind, a national security adviser to two presidents who had strong policy views but subordinated them to the role of honest broker for all the foreign policy fiefdoms of government. The very model of a noble public servant - and a good soul.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@RushLimbaugh__ Elitist? Just so you know:
1. I’m a registered independent.
2. I’ve voted for exactly the same number of Democrats and Republicans for President.
3. In my parallel life as a journalist, I spent 22 years (active and reserve) as a US Army officer. For the record.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

@RuthMarcus

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Kudos to the legendary Stu Spencer on his 90th birthday. Political consultant extraordinaire with a heart of gold.

[Thomas DeFrank @TomDeFrank]

Excited to reminisce about covering the last 10 POTUSES with @tvkatesnow at 3 today on MSNBC.