By longstanding, bipartisan tradition, many years of White House push secretaries have handed down a cheeky symbol of their job fielding rat-a-tat inquiries from feisty reporters: a flak jacket. The ritual dates to the 1970s, when Gerald Ford’s push secretary, Ron Nessen, gained a blue men’s brocade vest from reporters that showcased a bulletproof lining. He left it for his successor with a take note: “You’ll require this at some of your briefings.” In real Washington vogue, a gag reward turned into a honored ritual. But the garment, which in afterwards many years was a dim-hued men’s blazer, would often go missing, normally concerning administrations. So it was that Jen…