Clinton Conundrum

Gee... thanks.

The staff of the American Jazz Museum may have had mixed emotions about Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's announcement last week. They were surely ecstatic about the $312,000 in pork funding Cleaver secured for the museum.

But what are they supposed to do with the tenor saxophone Bill Clinton played at his presidential inauguration? Should it be placed next to Charlie Parker's plastic sax? Will part of Ella Fitzgerald's exhibit be removed to make room for it?

Like Plastic Sax, they may have also speculated about Cleaver's next "gift." Will the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum receive a baseball glove used by George W. Bush when he an owner of the Texas Rangers?

Given a few days to reflect, however, Plastic Sax has spotted the potential benefits of this mellow saxophone.

It's certainly a public relations coup. Even the New York Times took notice. How can this sort of invaluable publicity be extended?

Here's Plastic Sax's plan. First, ask Clinton to provide a list of his favorite jazz-related saxophonists. I suspect they'd include Grover Washington, Jr. and Stanley Turrentine. He might toss in a few melodic instrumental hits like the immortal "Honky Tonk". As it does at several other exhibits, the museum would provide visitors with the opportunity to listen to representative selections. People would love it.

The museum could even license tracks to create a unique compilation disc that would be sold in the gift shop. It's already been done, but this title would be far more compelling. Heck, I'd buy it.

Secondly, it's crucial to get the President to stop by the museum at least once during the 2008 presidential campaign. He'll be in Kansas City anyway. Break out his sax and have him play for a bit. The media will eat it up, providing even greater international exposure for the museum.

That's the ticket...

(Image of the sax in question liberated from the internet.)