Robert Barnett: Literary agent to Obamas, Bushes, Clintons was a "doorman to Washington"
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Robert Barnett (left) with James Carville and Al Hunt in Washington in 2003. Photo: Stephen J. Boitano/Getty Images
I called him "Counselor!" He called me: "Mister Allen!"
- Robert B. Barnett — the iconic Williams & Connolly lawyer for 50 years referred to in news stories for decades as "powerhouse attorney" — has died in Washington at 79.
- Friends called him "the doorman to Washington's revolving door," as noted 25 years ago in a New York Times profile headlined, "The Kingpin of Washington Book Deals."
He was "Bob" in conversation, but he always wanted to be "Robert" in our stories. When he was serving up a scoop about one of his famous authors — Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Barack and Michelle Obama — he'd always ask gently, but firmly, to be mentioned.
- And by gum, we always mentioned him!
Between the lines: During my lunch at the Bombay Club today, I got lots of texts about Barnett's passing — it will please him that his departure is a big deal. He and his wife, Rita Braver of CBS News, were ubiquitous on the Washington scene.
- Barnett was at it till the end: On Aug. 22, I sent him a fall book preview, and he shot back another list that "may be better" — probably mentioned more of his people. I emailed him a summer's-end tidbit about TV news on Aug. 31, and he wrote back 18 minutes later: "Where are you, Mr. Allen?"
- Noah Bressner, orchestrator of Axios AM, texted me when he saw the news: "I don't think we ever ran a book item where I didn't get an email after with just 'thank you, Noah' in the subject line."
Barnett was close to longtime AP publishing-industry reporter Hillel Italie, who writes in the obit that hit the wire this afternoon:
A stocky, raspy-voiced man with tortoiseshell glasses, antique cuff links and a knack for being both forthright and discreet, Bob Barnett embodied an era when it was possible to work freely with both Democrats and Republicans, when politics could stop at the edge of a good book deal. He was a longtime Democrat, working on Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign and helping Bill Clinton and other candidates in debate preparation. But he would broker contracts for such a wide range of political figures that he liked to joke that should his clients all gather in one room, the result would be "World War III."
Bill Clinton statement ... Joe Biden statement ... Williams & Connolly statement.
