Watergate to Whitewater
     What a long strange trip it's been for Bob Weiner.
     In 1971 and 1972, he was national youth-voter director at Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate. And we all know what happened on June 17, 1972.
     In 1998, Mr. Weiner was called to testify before the Whitewater grand jury concerning Monica Lewinsky, to answer questions about private phone calls he and his wife made from their home expressing their opinions to friends. He made headlines when expressing outrage against the "violation" of his family's right to free speech.
     In between, Mr. Weiner held top posts under Democratic Reps. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, Charles B. Rangel of New York, Claude Pepper of Florida, then-Rep. Ed Koch of New York, and helped run the presidential and Senate campaigns of Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.
     For the past six years, he's been spokesman to the White House drug czar, departing this week to open a public affairs and issue strategies firm Robert Weiner Associates -- less than a block from his White House digs on Pennsylvania Avenue.
     "If I can impart one message," Mr. Weiner told well-wishers like ABC's Sam Donaldson at his going-away party, "it is to keep the American people informed and involved. That way, they are invested as partner in the efforts of their government."
     Not surprisingly, Mr. Weiner is working on a book: "Watergate to Whitewater, Near the Center of the Storm -- the Joy of Politics."

John McCaslin, a nationally syndicated columnist, can be reached at 202/636-3284 or by e-mail: jmccaslin@washingtontimes.com.