Kelli – at long last

Rosie O’Donnell’s new wife, Kelli Carpenter O’Donnell, is breaking her long silence – and says the couple’s decision to get hitched in San Francisco was tied to President Bush’s stance against gay unions.

“I think it created more of a sense of immediacy to get it done . . . And I was going to do it . . . for [Rosie’s] birthday,” she tells Barbara Walters on tonight’s “20/20” (10 p.m./Ch. 7).

“And it was much later on in the month of March, and George Bush made his speech . . . and I felt angry, and I felt like we needed to take a stand. We jumped on a plane the second we could, and went off and got married,” she says.

“We’re public figures at least now in this whole gay marriage movement and public figures as a gay family.

“And I feel like in some ways it’s nice that we represent it because I think it brings a sense of normalcy to it . . . “

Last, but not least:

* The syndicated “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (Meredith Vieira) has been renewed for a third season.

* Ch. 2’s Warner Wolf among the recipients of the 2004 Ellis Island Medal ofHonor, May 15 on Ellis Island. * Dominick Dunne on Sunday’s “Topic A with Tina Brown” (8 p.m./CNBC).

* March 17: Martin Costello’s “Irish Road Show” celebrates its 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day broadcast over the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and TV Satellite Network and on http://www.soldiersradio.com.

* Chicago-based Bill Kurtis at Ithaka restaurant, signing an autograph – “The first time I’ve ever given an autograph in New York,” he said.

* Congrats to actor-comedian John Henton and girlfriend Michele Delaney on the arrival of Nicole Simone. * A fond “see ya around” to publicist Caryn Mautner (“Dateline”), who’s leaving NBC today to begin a new chapter in her life. She’ll be missed. And welcome to Jenny Tartikoff, late of “The Early Show,” who’s taking over the “Dateline” slot.