"Margaret wrote 14 mystery novels set in Washington and many of her novels include Martin's Tavern," the restaurant recalls, including the best-seller "Murder in Georgetown," where on page 58 it reads: "She seemed anxious to comply and they arranged to meet at seven at Martin's Tavern."

If those historic booths are all taken, diners of Martin's Tavern might settle for Booth No. 24, "The LBJ Booth," where Lyndon B. Johnson regularly huddled with longtime House Speaker Sam Rayburn.

'Redneck boy'

It's obviously OK for somebody to refer to themself as "redneck," but as NBC senior reporter Andrea Mitchell learned firsthand in recent days, don't stereotype an entire population in such derogatory fashion.

Perhaps you read where the highly respected TV journalist apologized to MSNBC viewers Monday after referring to southwestern Virginia - where Democratic Sen. Barack Obama was campaigning for president - as "real redneck." The Bristol Herald Courier newspaper responded in kind that the region "doesn't deserve to be the butt of jokes."

Now, on the heels of that apology, Inside the Beltway is asked to give mention to former actor-turned-Georgia Democratic Rep. Ben L. Jones' just-published book, "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land: The Confessions of Crazy Cooter."

Mr. Jones, perhaps best known for his role in popular TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard," writes in his tome: "Not many congressmen grew up in shacks without electricity or indoor plumbing, with rats scurrying about. I did. Not many were deeply involved in the Civil Rights movement. I was. Not many were jailed a dozen times for drunken, violent behavior ....

"And not many can claim to be the person who put the 'kibosh' on Newt Gingrich's career in Congress."