I had a terrific conversation Friday with Amity Shlaes, author of that terrific book, The Forgotten Man, now in paperback — if you haven’t read it, do make it summer reading — about the New Deal on its 75th anniversary.

One bone to pick though, and it’s about clothes (though much more than that). Amity says:

FDR’s radio is relevant to today for the following reason: These days there really is a salon. The salon says — right wingers can come in, but only if they are loud and mockable. Think of the right-winger on The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck. When Michelle Obama came on the show, Elisabeth was wearing a top with only one shoulder. Hasselbeck is supposed to be representing conservatism, including social conservatism, but she’s dressed in a way that undermines her seriousness. That happens a lot. That salon was created by FDR through the radio.

I can’t believe how much the fashion from that show has been discussed, even here, but let me continue it. Hasselbeck looked terrific. And if she can articulate some values not often articulated on daytime TV while looking sassy, why not? The blouse was not immodest. I’ve heard stories through the years of conservative women advised to look frumpy, as if that’s the conservative look. I’m no fan of conservative staffers on the Hill wearing Ally McBeal length skirts, but they need not dress like nuns either.