I teach media and politics at Columbia and helped organize the Gravel taxicab event that Jebediah Reed recounted for Radar. Here is my recollection of what really happened. After the event, Gavel led a group including Reed, Jonathan Alter, and myself down Broadway to the West End Café. As Reed reported, along the way we bumped into Tom Edsall. My memory, however, conflicts with Reed's representation of the ensuing conversation.

After Gravel warmly introduced my girlfriend and me to Edsall, the candidate began a good-humored ribbing of Edsall about Broder. During the back and forth, Gravel said, "He doesn't believe in the power of the people." Edsall responded with a voice deepened in mock earnestness (not "matter of factly"), "David Broder is the voice of the people!" Edsall's voice and his proclamation were clearly over-the top and intended to be funny My girlfriend and I both gave a chuckle. I do not remember any "awkward silence" between Edsall and Gravel "over a great gulf of unshared beliefs." In fact I remember Gravel inviting Edsall along for lunch-- the reporter declined because of another engagement.

Also, Jonathan Alter did not rush out during lunch because he was upset by Gravel's reference to the Bush twins. He simply had to catch a plane. When we first sat down, we had trouble getting a waiter. Altar said he was anxious to order because he had a flight that afternoon. During the lunch everyone casually enjoyed their beers, while Alter scarffed down his salad and engaged Gravel in a congenial discussion about the campaign. When Alter finished his salad- clearly pressed for time, he called for the check- (he bought lunch for the entire party, including Gravel.) I followed Alter out of the restaurant to discuss an unrelated matter and waited with him before he hailed a cab to the airport. Nothing in his demeanor during our conversation indicated he was upset or uncomfortable with anything Gravel had said. Alter was just a man with a plane to catch.

Dr. David Eisenbach

I teach media and politics at Columbia and helped organize the Gravel taxicab event that Jebediah Reed recounted for Radar. Here is my recollection of what really happened.

After the event, Gravel led a group including Reed, Jonathan Alter, and myself down Broadway to the West End Café. As Reed reported, along the way we bumped into Tom Edsall. My memory, however, conflicts with Reed's representation of the ensuing conversation.

After Gravel warmly introduced my girlfriend and me to Edsall, the candidate began a good-humored ribbing of Edsall about Broder. During the back and forth, Gravel said, "He doesn't believe in the power of the people." Edsall responded with a voice deepened in mock earnestness (not "matter of factly"), "David Broder is the voice of the people!" Edsall's voice and his proclamation were clearly over-the top and intended to be funny My girlfriend and I both gave a chuckle. I do not remember any "awkward silence" between Edsall and Gravel "over a great gulf of unshared beliefs." In fact I remember Gravel inviting Edsall along for lunch-- the reporter declined because of another engagement.

Also, Jonathan Alter did not rush out during lunch because he was upset by Gravel's reference to the Bush twins. He simply had to catch a plane. When we first sat down, we had trouble getting a waiter. Alter said he was anxious to order because he had a flight that afternoon. During the lunch everyone casually enjoyed their beers, while Alter scarffed down his salad and engaged Gravel in a congenial discussion about the campaign. When Alter finished his salad- clearly pressed for time, he called for the check- (he bought lunch for the entire party, including Gravel.)

I followed Alter out of the restaurant to discuss an unrelated matter and waited with him before he hailed a cab to the airport. Nothing in his demeanor during our conversation indicated he was upset or uncomfortable with anything Gravel had said. Alter was just a man with a plane to catch.

Dr. David Eisenbach
Columbia University