Columnist Kate Maddox: Wayne says no danke schoen to political career

Kate Maddox

Friday, Oct. 8, 1999 | 9:23 a.m.

Kate Maddox's gossip column appears Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach her at kmaddox@ vegas.com or 259-2309

Wayne Newton was in my hometown of Washington, D.C. earlier this week to pick up an award from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The formal D.C. press corps, accustomed to dealing with evasive politicians and whiny press secretaries, was pleasantly surprised when Newton asked reporters to just call him "Wayne."

With the current trend of celebrities pondering presidential status, the press asked "Wayne" if he had any political ambitions. The Las Vegas crooner replied that he thought he was too thin-skinned to attempt the presidency and that it would be difficult for opponents to dig up any new dirt on him that wasn't already public knowledge.

I can speak from experience when I say that the D.C. press pack is probably still in shock from Newton's candor. It's not every day these guys get a good laugh AND honest answers.

Congratulations to Wayne on his award and his work on behalf of Indians. His 150th album, "King of the Nightlife," is due out in the spring.

And speaking of Las Vegans, Jerry Lewis has signed on to do his first run at the Orleans Showroom. Lewis and his one-man show will be appearing in January and tickets go on sale next month. Other showroom stars on tap for 2000 include the McGuire Sisters, Bo Diddley and Air Supply.

The Elvis Presley auction starts today and there are some goodies to be had. This guy kept everything from grocery lists and Christmas cards to sequined ensembles and cars, and it's all up for grabs this weekend at the MGM Grand.

Guernsey's Auction House and Elvis Presley Enterprises will host the auction, which will continue through Sunday.

Confused about which day to go? Well, simply pick your favorite Elvis period. Were you a fan of the trim Army man who was just starting to make the girls back home weak in the knees? Or did you prefer "Hollywood Elvis" of the '60s, when he was at every beach party with Ann-Margret and a ukulele. Or were you truly a fan of latter-day Elvis, when he put on a few pounds, and not just in the sequins and capes department.

Whichever was your favorite Elvis era, the kind folks conducting the auction have split it up according to decade.

Today Elvis items of the 1950s will be auctioned off, Saturday will be the '60s and Sunday will be the '70s. Auctioning begins each day promptly at 1:00 p.m. and if you can't get to the MGM, simply log on to www.icollector.com to place your bid via the Internet.

And if you feel a bit strange hoping to make that little piece of Elvis your own or you're worried that friends and family might make fun of you for shelling out $2,000 to $3,000 for a scrap of paper signed by the King, just remember that a substantial portion of the auction proceeds will go to help build Presley Place. It's a housing development for homeless families that will also provide day care and job training in Elvis' hometown of Memphis.

Sightings:

"Simply irresistible" singer Robert Palmer dined at the restaurant this week, as did former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth.

And last night some of the "Stars on Ice" got a personal tour of Mandalay Bay, all caught on tape for NBC, including a pit stop to make some pizza at Lupo with Executive Chef Mark Ferguson.

Olympic gold medal winner Kristi Yamaguchi and her pals bring their popular "Stars on Ice" tour to the Events Center Saturday night.

Maybe she's now taking privacy cues from her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Barbra Streisand, who recently married Josh's father, James Brolin.

Assuming Minnie, who recently relocated to a big house in Los Angeles, does take the plunge, the Brolin/Streisand/Drivers would be one powerful Hollywood clan.