Gore Vidal’s new photo album, Gore Vidal: Snapshots in History’s Glare offers a nostalgic look at bygone times.

Gore Vidal is the author of 25 novels, eight plays, two autobiographical works, more than 200 essays, and not-even-he-knows how many television and movie scripts. His latest effort, “Snapshots in History’s Glare” (Harry Abrams) is a visual memoir of his remarkable and famously well-lived life. A pictorial treasure trove, it includes photos ranging from his 1930s student days at St. Albans School to the early ’60s, when the Kennedys (to whom he was related, sort of) dominated the American scene.

Vidal calls this picture of himself with John and Jacqueline Kennedy (“the actual photo of the three of us and how we were seated”) the “mystery story” of his book. He writes, “Recently the writer Sally Bedell Smith, in an admiring book about Camelot, revealed a totally different photograph from that evening [at a Washington horse show]. Instead of the lineup … a new picture has replaced the old picture. I am totally cut out of the photo and replaced by Alice Roosevelt Longworth and her black hat (she had actually been seated about five rows behind us). … I discussed this matter with Ms. Bedell Smith, who could not believe that the Kennedy White House could rearrange a picture for political reasons. But Bobby was eager to prove that it was not possible that I could have ever posed with the Kennedys. This is how the Kennedy White House played ball.” (Collection Gore Vidal)

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Middleburg has been a haven for many prominent political figures over the years
By Vicky Moon

Once President Barack Obama and his family settle into their hectic and very transparent life in the White House, might they also consider a get-away weekend in Middleburg? After all, many other politicians and diplomats have visited or lived in this somewhat sleepy village. The awe-inspiring countryside has captivated the Kennedys, the Harrimans, Senator John Warner and Elizabeth Taylor, and Col. Oliver North, to name just a few.
Grande dame Millicent West entertained many distinguished Washingtonians at her “Journey’s End” estate, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, who came out for the Middleburg steeplechase races. She still recalls calling ahead to alert officials in case they needed to make security plans.
“I told them I was having the president over for a tailgate,” she says. “And they asked, ‘The president of what?’”
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Karin Tanabe explores Michelle Obama’s modern style and the fashionable women who came before her

Michelle Obama brings a refreshingly modern style to Washington. Loyal, as Pat Nixon was, to American designers, Mrs. Obama has helped lesser known names like Jason Wu, who designed her inauguration gown, and Chicago-based Maria Pinto, make headlines. When her daughters wore J. Crew coats, and she J.Crew gloves, during her husband’s swearing in ceremony, the company’s shares went up 10 percent the following day. At the inaugural balls, Mrs. Obama dressed with appropriate glamour, wearing 61-carat white gold and triple rose cut diamond earrings by Los Angeles-based jewelry designer Loree Rodkin. The jewelry was on loan to the first lady and will be donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

While conjuring images of first lady elegance in the White House, fond memories recall the timeless grace of Jacqueline Kennedy and the Hollywood glamour of Nancy Reagan. Mrs. Kennedy exuded chic by wearing the fashions of domestic designers, like Oleg Cassini, and classic French couturiers like Chanel and Dior. Mrs. Reagan was loyal to American designer James Galanos, but also looked across the pond to Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Arriving on the heels of one of the most frugal first ladies ever, Rosalynn Carter (who even brought a sewing machine with her to Pennsylvania Avenue), Nancy Reagan dressed with unapologetic glamour. Her wardrobe for her husband’s second inauguration was estimated at $46,000.
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Middleburg has proved to be a quiet retreat for John and Jacqueline Kennedy and many other prominent political figures over the years.

By Vicky Moon

Once President Barack Obama and his family settle into their hectic and very transparent life in the White House, might they also consider a get-away weekend in Middleburg? After all, many other politicians and diplomats have visited or lived in this somewhat sleepy village. The awe-inspiring countryside has captivated the Kennedys, the Harrimans, Senator John Warner and Elizabeth Taylor, and Col. Oliver North, to name just a few.

When grande dame Millicent West was married to Donald MacKenzie from 1978 to 1986, they entertained a number of distinguished Washingtonians, including Senators Paul Laxhalt and Chuck Robb at their “Journey’s End” estate. One weekend, Mrs. West invited President Lyndon B. Johnson for the Middleburg steeplechase races. She called ahead to alert officials in case they needed to make security plans.

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By Mary K. Newborn

THE DISTRICT
The Dougal House, the former Georgetown home of grande dame Marion ‘Oatsie’ Leiter Charles located at 3259 R STREET NW, has sold for the second time in little more than a year. Last October, Mrs. Charles sold it for $7 million, but buyer Christian Hunt soon put it back on the market at $7.4 million with listing agent Jeff Mauer with Coldwell Banker. The second buyer, who paid $6.5 million and wishes to remain anonymous, was represented by Ellen Morrell and Matt McCormick of Washington Fine Properties. With the witty Mrs. Charles as its consummate châtelaine and hostess, the magnificent 1857 Italianate-style residence welcomed such illustrious guests as Ian Fleming, Noël Coward, and Princess Michael of Kent to its embassy-size rooms. The meticulously maintained private grounds feature ponds, a guesthouse, meditation garden, and a large garage.
Just as Mrs. Charles’ famous Georgetown landmark was about to change hands, her grandson, Associated Press reporter Desmond Oates Butler, and Miriam Mahlow, bought a three-bedroom, circa 1900 Georgetown house at 2707 DUMBARTON STREET NW from Benjamin B. and Georgia K. King for $1.23 million. Butler’s father, George Butler, was co-director of the all-time classic bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron, the movie that made Arnold Schwarzenegger famous. His mother, Victoria Leiter Mele, is the grandniece of Victoria Mary Leiter, the Chicago department store heiress who married Lord Curzon, a 19th-century British viceroy of India. Both Desmond Butler’s mother and grandmother now live in Newport, R.I., on the former estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton, amid gardens originally designed by Beatrix Ferrand, the landscape architect who designed the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks.
David and Kirsten Pollin are the new owners of Beechwoods. Readers may recall that the house located at 3006 ALBEMARLE STREET NW in Forest Hills had been home to Franklin and Wendy Raines and was listed by Washington Fine Properties’ agents Matthew McCormick, Ellen Morrell, Patrick Chauvin, and Bonnie Wimsatt for $7,595,000. Dave Pollin is the nephew of Washington Wizard’s owner Abe Pollin, and, like his uncle, made money in real estate. His acquisition, development and management company, Buccini/Pollin Group, has offices in Washington, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and Beijing. The couple’s 98-year-old stucco Colonial boasts seven bedrooms, a library, office, movie theater, recreation and exercise rooms, a terrace, swimming pool and cabana, tennis court and four-car garage. Washington Fine Properties’ agent Jim Bell represented the Pollins.
The former Washington residence of the late billionaire philanthropist, art collector, and horse breeder Paul Mellon and his widow, Listerine heiress Rachel (“Bunny”) Mellon, has been sold to the Republic of Poland. Located at 3041 WHITEHAVEN STREET NW, the red brick Georgian had most recently belonged to former Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady and his wife Kitty. The Polish government paid $9,550,000 for the four-story brick manse where Ambassador Robert Kupiecki will now reside. One of two adjacent dwellings the Mellons once owned (3055 Whitehaven Street NW, used as an art repository, was purchased by Wayne and Lea Berman for $5 million a few years back), the house is a few doors away from Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Washington residence. It boasts elegant public rooms and a formal garden designed by Mrs. Mellon, now 98, who also helped design the White House Rose Garden for her close friend, Jacqueline Kennedy. Ellen M. Morrell of Washington Fine Properties represented the Republic of Poland. Virginia Chew of Arnold, Bradley, Sargent, Davy and Chew listed the property for the sellers for $10,000,000.

Michelle Haney Maddux is now the proud owner of 5200 PARTRIDGE LANE NW, a $3,310,000 Colonial in Kent. Highlights of the home include a gourmet kitchen, library, playroom, game room, an exercise room, and a wine cellar with a 1,400-bottle capacity. There is also a two-car garage plus room to park six additional vehicles in the stone driveway. Maddux has a Law degree from George Washington University and works for FLH Company, a real estate and property development firm founded by her father, Franklin Haney, in 1967. Both she and her sister Mae Haney have appeared on Washington Life’s “Most Invited” list. Previously, 5200 PARTRIDGE LANE was the residence of David Johnson, and Michelle Maddux lived at 5143 MACOMB STREET, NW with her husband, Victor Maddux, co-owner of MadLax, the metropolitan area’s first and largest Lacrosse Specialty Store.

MARYLAND
Attorney Adam J. Eisner and his wife Amy have a newly constructed residence built by Rasevic Construction Corp. The classic 7,000 square-foot Colonial is located on a quiet cul-de-sac at 6715 LORING COURT in Bethesda’s Loring Park. It cost the couple $1,820,000 and has five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths including a guest suite and master bedroom suite with a double vanity, multiple showerheads and a Jacuzzi. Outdoor living space takes the form of an expansive front porch, heated mahogany rear deck, and a stone patio.

VIRGINIA
Exxon Mobil executive Gary Pruessing and his wife Lisa have sold their home at 1112 INGLESIDE AVENUE in McLean to Daniel and Linda Kao. Weichert realtors Sue Huckaby and Karen Briscoe listed the five-bedroom Colonial built in 2001. The home has a professionally landscaped fenced yard with a patio, fountains, and a swimming pool with a bathhouse and outdoor shower. The Pruessings received $2.38 million for their Reids Grove residence. They paid slightly more – $2.5 million – when they bought it in July, 2005.

Please send real estate news items to columns@washingtonlife.com

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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