Lautenberg gets stern reporter to crack a smile

SPOTTED: Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) advising a sad-looking reporter to turn her frown upside-down.

While heading down the hall to the weekly party policy lunch at the Capitol on Tuesday, the lawmaker, 88, noticed the journalist’s facial expression was simply too glum.

The formerly down-in-the-dumps member of the press immediately perked up and acknowledged, “I don’t smile enough.”

The grinning senator’s eyes grew bigger as he beamed, “Smile!”