Bud McFarlane leaves Georgetown for a Watergate condo; Karl Rove’s personal attorney, Robert Luskin, sells across the street.

By Stacey Grazier Pfarr

THE DISTRICT
Robert C. “Bud” McFarlane and his wife, Jonda, sold 3414 Prospect Street NW in Georgetown for $1,650,000 to Mitra Farahbaksh and Arne Peterson. Mr. McFarlane was President Ronald Reagan’s national security advisor from 1983-1985 and was a major figure in the Iran-Contra Affair. The listing agent was Nancy Taylor Bubes of Washington Fine Properties and the buyer’s agent was Kenneth Johnson of DCRealestate.com. The McFarlanes’ new digs are at Watergate West, where they bought 2700 Virginia Avenue NW Apt. #901 from Peter and Mary McCarthy for $1,450,000. Mr. McCarthy is a former assistant secretary of the treasury for management. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom unit has a wrap-around balcony with unobstructed panoramic views of the Potomac. Listing agents for the Watergate apartment were Washington Fine Properties’ William FX Moody and Robert Hryniewicki. The buyers agent was WFP’s Nancy Taylor Bubes.

Robert Luskin sold 3415 Prospect Street NW in Georgetown for $1,338,000 to Thomas and Gertraud Hechl. Luskin is the personal attorney for former White House senior advisor and chief political strategist Karl Rove, and also a partner at the Patton Boggs Law Firm. Mr. Hechl is a partner at the DLA Piper law firm. The 2,568-square-foot Federal style frame row home, built in 1900, is known as the Garrity-Kerman House. The three-bedroom property includes a third floor rooftop room, wine cellar, and garden with pond. Washington Fine Properties’ Mary White and Carrol Thornton-Chapin were listing agents while William FX Moody and Robert Hryniewicki were buyers’ agents.

Kevin J. Martin bought 3020 Cambridge Place NW for $1.5 million from Jonathan Blake and Elizabeth Shriver. Mr. Martin was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission during the George W. Bush administration and he also served as counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney. He is currently a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute in Washington. The five-bedroom, three-bath Georgetown townhouse was built in 1900.

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Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure comes to the Middle East.

Nancy Brinker’s last promise to her sister, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1980, was that she would continue to fight against the potentially life-threatening disease. Two years later, Brinker founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which has raised over $1 billion in 27 years and has become the largest source of nonprofit funds devoted to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

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Location: Ford’s Theatre

Photos by Reflections Photography

THE EVENT: On the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, Washington and Hollywood’s brightest stars joined the president and first lady to celebrate the reopening of the historic theater after its recent $25 million renovation. Joshua Bell began the festivities on a spiritual note using a violin that was last played the night Lincoln was assassinated. He was followed by former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush reading, in turn, excerpts from the “Gettysburg Address.” IN ATTENDANCE: James Earl Jones, Jessye Norman, Kelsey Grammer, Ben Vereen, Audra McDonald, and Katie Couric also offered tributes to the 16th president.

Barack Obama’s melody is new, but Washington’s orchestra of insiders remains the same – Roland Flamini reports on who is trying to
play sweet music to the President-Elect

By Roland Flamini

On January 20, President George W. Bush rides into the setting sun, a new sheriff takes over at the White House, and the four-year process that defines democracy in this country starts anew. The “commentariat” – as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls them – has told the world endlessly on television, throughout blogdom, and in the mainstream press why this time it’s different. And so it is: but it might be worth noting that in Washington, some things have remained the same.

The traditional power minuet to staff the presidency and the new administration involves, as usual, the Hill, think tanks, universities, and the big law firms. Besides military appointments, the president has legal appointing authority for thousands of jobs, and every chief executive invariably vows to choose the best and the brightest. In reality, filling the jobs gives the new president an opportunity to reward support, and ensure loyalty.

Shortly after the election, the New York Times (and other newspapers for that matter) started running profiles of possible administration appointees being considered by the Obama Transition Team, or hoping to be. Few, if any, lacked previous government, or government-related experience. “Recruiting a new administration causes a significant manpower shift in Washington,” says one Washington observer. “If the party in power remains the same it becomes a matter of musical chairs. The posts vacated by people going to the White House and other branches of the government have to be filled. But when the party in power changes there is no revolving door for those leaving the administration, and the departure can be quite painful.”

In another familiar ritual President-elect Obama has been bombarded with proposals, reports, and studies on policy issues from a whole artillery of specialists, interest groups, and academics. The aim is to try and capture his attention on everything from health to foreign policy before a decision making mechanism locks into place at the White House, and outside input becomes more difficult.

This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth, or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include “The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and The Blue Book of Washington, which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although its thin Washington edition was merged into a much larger 12-city national version in the 1980s.

A key difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” of addresses and contact information, schools attended, club and yacht listings, and the like. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasureably to Washington’s political, diplomatic and cultural scene. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the thousands of entries in other directories, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is a relatively small effort. As far as “official Washington” is concerned, we include only a select few of the more sociable (“dining out,” as they were once so charmingly called) members of the Congress, Cabinet, and Supreme Court.

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The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.

By Kevin Chaffee

This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and the Blue Book of Washington, D.C., which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although it merged its thin Washington volume into a much larger 12-city national version back in the 1980s.

A major difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” containing addresses and contact information, much less schools attended, club memberships and yacht listings. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasurably to their city, and by extension, their country and the world. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the many thousands of entries contained in other directories past and present, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is relatively small. We do not see the need to include every member of the Congress, Cabinet or Court (i.e., Supreme), much less all those with top jobs listed in the “Plum Book” of political appointments.

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By John Greenya

Adel al-Jubeir doesn’t get the easy jobs. But the apparent ease with which he handles them suggests that the still-new Saudi Arabian ambassador, having shown he can operate in the spotlight, is equally effective and relaxed away from the glare in his new role as his country’s point man in Washington.

When it was learned that 15 of the 19 terrorists responsible for 9/11 were Saudi Arabian nationals, al-Jubeir, then-foreign affairs advisor to the then-Crown Prince, now King Abdullah, had the unenviable job of convincing Americans that their best friends in the Middle East had not turned against them. Almost overnight, he seemed to be everywhere, being interviewed on television by Charlie Rose and then Wolf Blitzer, among others, and giving interviews to the leading print media.

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Very special national days, diplomatic moves, and a summer barbecue.

By Gail Scott

Oval Office Access
Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco, the former foreign minister of her country and the daughter of a former Colombian president, enjoys extremely good access at the highest levels of the Bush Administration. It seems that her father, Virgilio Barco, and the President’s father, President George H.W. Bush, held their nation’s presidency simultaneously and enjoyed each other’s company. So, each summer when Colombia’s July 22 national day rolls around, President George W. Bush has hosted a celebration in the White House for Colombia. The first year, 1996, it was Foreign Minister Barco who was there with then-Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno. This year, Mrs. Barco returned to the Oval Office the very next day as well, with Colombia’s much-in-the-news defense minister, Juan Manuel Santos, who came specifically to thank the U.S. for its assistance in helping with the July 27 release of four political hostages — which included Ingrid Betancourt, the celebrated French-born woman who was running for Colombia’s presidency when she was captured.

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Joe Alsop’s controversial design irritated the neighbors but ensured a comfortable retreat for President John F. Kennedy and other high-placed friends. Senior Editor Kevin Chaffee reports that recent owners John and Irene Danilovich both appreciate and share its beauty, spaciousness, and light.

By Kevin Chaffee
Photography Len Depas

The cinderblock and brick pile at 2720 Dumbarton Street, N.W., can hardly be considered an “historic home,” although many historical figures have gathered there throughout the years. President John F. Kennedy considered it a “safe house” where he could mingle freely with friends, confident that his words (and perhaps even a few deeds) would never be leaked. Prime ministers, presidents, Congressional leaders, diplomats, journalists, and the crème de la crème of international society knew it well — and many still do. “If only the walls could talk!” as they say.

Now its most recent occupants are leaving. John Danilovich, a former ambassador to Brazil and Costa Rica who currently dispenses billions in global aid as head of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, will take leave of his post when the Bush Administration ends. He and his wife, Irene, daughter of the late Baron Charles Forte, the British hotel magnate, have recently sold their residence and will re-locate to rented quarters before their January return to London. While packing, they graciously grant Washington Life a first-and-last tour of one of the city’s most fascinating houses.
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The 16th Annual Record of the Washington Social Scene.

“A beautiful summer week-end with a few dear friends at our farm in Middleburg.” – Roger and Vicki Sant

“I enjoyed listening to my friend Rima at her baby shower talk about how much fun it was being pregnant, she was enjoying all the attention her husband was giving her and would miss that after she gives birth.” – Irene Pollin

“My favorite social event of 2007 was Marvin Hamlish’s birthday party – lots of laughter and music provided by Marvin and good conversation – a very fun, totally wonderful dinner in Marvin’s honor. It was great to hear him play his own birthday song!” - Ann Hand

“One of our favorite memories of 2007 was the Harman Center for the Arts opening event. The evening was all about enlightenment and enchantment.” – Huda and Samia Farouki

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The French embassy residence has been a fixture of the Washington diplomatic and social scene for generation-upon-generation of ambassador. It’s newest occupant, Pierre Vimont, comes with a mandate to steer Franco-American relations through the new dawn of a burgeoning yet delicate liaison.

By Leah Pisar
Photography  Gary Landsman

Pierre Vimont had scarcely been named Ambassador to Washington when word came in that France’s newly elected President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was heading to the unlikely location of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire for an August holiday. Rekindling relations with the White House in the wake of the Iraq war was high on Sarkozy’s agenda when he met with President Bush at nearby Kennebunkport over hamburgers and blueberry pie. That informal visit and Mr. Vimont’s assignment to Washington are harbingers of a new era in transatlantic cooperation.

“I am arriving at a moment when Franco-American relations are particularly interesting,” says Vimont – the elegant, soft-spoken and seasoned Parisian diplomat, who moved into the lavish residence on Kalorama Road in early September. “President Sarkozy’s recent declarations call for relaxing the relationship; my role is to translate this will into action.”

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Heads turn when they enter the room.

By Ann Geracimos

Power is as power does. It’s a flexible force in this town. No wonder we denizens often take refuge in lists, a comfort zone of sorts in a world where the reality is constantly shifting.

Lists turn up everywhere. The form suits a place that thrives on hierarchy – on knowing just who owns a predetermined political status. The government’s plum list of political jobs is the apotheosis of this. Keeping everyone happy: giving them a title, an objective count of who’s in and who’s out. And why not? That is small comfort in the face of the conditions of daily life that threaten to overwhelm one’s sense of identity.

There is comfort in knowing about rank because it makes it easier to navigate the terrain. After all, who is responsible for the saying that rules (rank and reputation) are made to be broken? It gives a lift to the spirit to know the Calvinist ideal of predestination is not entirely dominant.

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