Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is just days away from becoming the first female Speaker of the House, but already she’s dictating marching orders in the Capitol.

On Tuesday, none other than Barbara Walters, the doyenne of the celebrity interview, was in the building to interview the future Madame Speaker. And in a scene prescient of the coming Democratic reign, several GOP aides had to cool their heels and look on while Babs and the soon-to-be Speaker did their walk-and-talk shots in Statuary Hall.

One GOP leadership aide halted on a walk through the Capitol by a Pelosi handler so as not to interrupt the shot was good-natured about it. “I only had to wait a few seconds,” the staffer said, noting that Ms. Pelosi was sporting a ready-for-primetime “glow-in-the-dark” blue suit.

A Pelosi spokesman confirmed that Walters and Pelosi did a sit-down interview in the lavish Rayburn Room of the Capitol and that the pair “walked through” Statuary Hall.

And in another sign of how it’s suddenly glam to be a Dem, Ms. Pelosi this week did a photo shoot on the east front of the Capitol for glossy mag Vanity Fair.

 Santorum, exiting graciously

Sen. Rick Santorum is going out gracefully. Visitors to the website of the ousted Pennsylvania Republican who click on the “contact me” button will find a message directing them to Bob Casey, the Democrat who defeated Santorum in a bitter-to-the-end race.

The message reads: “As you may know, the United States Senate is currently in a period of transition. Accordingly, your concerns with legislative matters or constituent services may be better met by contacting your new Senator, Bob Casey, Jr. You may call the Capitol Switchboard for Senator Casey’s contact information at 202-224-3121. I also recommend that you contact Senator Arlen Specter (http://specter.senate.gov/) or your Representative in the House (http://www.house.gov/writerep/).”

A Santorum spokesman said that the senator realized that his constituents had spoken in November — even though Santorum didn’t agree with them. “His first priority is ensuring that his constituents are taken care of and that there’s a smooth transition for Sen. Casey,” the spokesman said.

So we suppose that means no removing buttons on computer keyboards or trashing important files? “That’s not really our style,” the spokesman said.

As for Santorum’s post-Congress plans, his spokesman says he hasn’t settled on his next move. “Right now, the senator and his wife are focused on getting six children through Christmas,” he says.

 
The hush-hush press release

Who says folks in Washington can’t keep a secret?  The Norwegian ambassador was planning a retirement dinner Tuesday night in honor of Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.), whose parents were born in Norway. The congressman knew about the dinner, but wasn’t in on one little detail: He was to be appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (kinda like knighthood for Brits) during the dinner.

Even a press release sent out by the ambassador and circulated by the congressman’s staff announced the award, although it contained a warning. “The Congressman and his family do not know that he will receive the Order, he is expecting only a dinner,” it read.

On hand to watch the surprise were North Dakota Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, along with Reps. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) and Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.).

A Sabo spokesman said before the dinner that no one had let the cat, er, the Order, out of the bag.

 
Rejected by Senate, Bolton gets offer from ’stache team

Whatever the job prospects are for John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, he’s already got one offer.

Phil Olsen, the captain for Team USA in the World Beard and Moustache Championships, says Bolton is welcome to a spot on the team — a position, he noted, that doesn’t require Senate confirmation. That’s perfect for Bolton, who couldn’t get the upper chamber’s nod after President Bush gave him a recess appointment.

As thick as the hair on his upper lip may be, Bolton still needs some preparation before the event, which will take place in Brighton, England, this September. “He’s got a pretty good mustache, but it’s not world championship-quality yet,” Olsen says. “That’s a good thing, since he’s got some time on his hands now.”

Olsen suggests that Bolton would be a natural to compete for honors with the Wild West style of ’stache. He might have “a good chance of winning” that category, Olsen says. His advice: let the lip hair grow from now until the contest, and get to work on styling the unruly tresses.

Wilson, staff remember Marine

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and members of his staff are mourning the loss of Trane McCloud, a Marine major killed in Iraq on Sunday who had served as a 2003 congressional fellow in Wilson’s office.

McCloud, who advised the congressman on military and education matters, was well-liked among the staff, and Wilson and others kept in touch with him via e-mail after he was assigned to duty in Iraq. McCloud’s wife, Maggie, had worked for former Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and the couple were well-known in Hill social circles.

In a floor speech, Wilson called McCloud “a Marine’s Marine.” “He epitomized the Marine motto ‘Semper Fidelis’ — always faithful,” the congressman said.

McCloud is survived by three children and will be buried in Arlington Cemetery.