Washington, a city that is a shadow of its former self when it comes to larger-than-life characters, just got a little darker. Phil Merrill was exuberant, ill-mannered, hot-tempered, highly intelligent, extremely vulgar, surprisingly intellectual, and totally indifferent to the opinions of others. Invariably, in conversation, he would say something insulting clearly without meaning to, and then he would clap you on the back and say, almost shocked, “Hey, I like you!” A genuine oddball original.