The 14th annual record of notably social individuals from politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
Enrico and Andrea Cecchi (Photo by Joseph Allen)
A
Mr. and Mrs. JAMES ABDO (Mai)
Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM ABEL-SMITH (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. TYLER ABELL (Bess)
The Honorable DAVID C. ACHESON
Mr. GLEN ACKERMAN and Mr. ERNESTO SANTALLA
Mr. THEO ADAMSTEIN and Ms. OLVIA DEMETRIOU
What We've Learned About Giving: "Be Wary if you hear of a program or idea that is too good to be true. There are no 'silver bullets' that can fix entrenched social problems with one, swift, inexpensive intervention. The real solutions generally come at a problem from multiple approaches, and they take time, money, copious talent, and long-term commitment." - David and Katherine Bradley
When Warren Buffett’s staggering donation of $36.1 billion was added to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s coffers (which already had $30 billion), many proclaimed this to be a new golden age of philanthropy, harkening back to the days of the Rockefeller, Mellon, and Carnegie endowments of countless worthy causes across a broad spectrum of American life. Yet, just a few years later, we are in an economic recession with the contributions of wealthy local residents now shrinking. Some generous donors were hard hit by the Madoff scandal, many others have had major losses in real estate or because of the stock market’s broad decline. As the local supply of capital has fallen for both individuals and private foundations, the need for philanthropy has correspondingly increased. Plus, much giving was directed towards political campaigns in 2008, with many charitable contributions taking a backseat to the historic election. But the tide will turn again.
Top Row: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Bob Woodward, Teresa Heinz Kerry, John Kerry, Don Graham, Adrian and Michelle Fenty, Vice President Joseph Biden and Jill Biden. Second row: Rep. Barney Frank, Desirée Rogers, Victoria and Sen. Ted Kennedy, Valerie Jarrett, Timothy Geithner, Eric Holder and Sharon Malone, Peter Orzsag, Jane Stanton Hitchcock. Third row: Sen. Mark Warner, Alexandra Wentworth and George Stephanopolous, Justice Antonin Scalia, Elizabeth and George Stevens, Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Queen Noor, Robert Duvall, Roger Sant. Fourth row: Katharine Weymouth, Justice Stephen Breyer, Sheila Johnson, Plácido Domingo, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Amb. Pierre Vimont, Ted and Annette Lerner, Sen. Harry Reid.
Big changes are always in store when a new president takes office. The “out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new” transition of power is even more historic when a change of party occurs (check) and especially when a two-term presidency ends (double check). Barack and Michelle Obama are also younger than their predecessors (they were born at the end of the Baby Boom era; the Bushes at its very beginning), and, most relevant of all, are the first African-Americans to occupy the White House.
Tom Nelson with Trish and George Vradenburg
Location: The Grand Hyatt
Photos by Kyle Samperton
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO FORGET: The Alzheimer’s Association’s fifth annual gala was particularly memorable because of the candor of guests such as Sharon Percy Rockefeller, Maria Shriver, and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, who shared stories of the tragic decline of close family members. HONORING THOSE WHO REMEMBER: Awards were bestowed on four individuals who have served the cause: Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Sen. Bob Kerrey, and Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, an Alzheimer’s Disease treatment pioneer. The event raised over $6 million for research and critical care services.
President and Mrs. Obama headline an ‘Enchanted Evening’ of festivities honoring Senator Ted Kennedy
By Kevin Chaffee
Michelle Obama leads the applause for Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Sen. Ted Kennedy didn’t need a cake blazing with 77 candles to illuminate his belated birthday celebration Sunday night. There was enough electricity in the house to make the Kennedy Center visible from Mars.
The ailing Massachusetts senator and Kennedy clan patriarch got a roaring welcome and numerous ovations from his congressional colleagues, friends and family members who turned out for the star-studded “Some Enchanted Evening” musical salute in his honor. Adding further oomph was the presence of First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden alongside Kennedy and his wife, Victoria, in the Concert Hall’s presidential box.
“I’ve never seen a birthday party like this,” host Bill Cosby told the crowd after the lights dimmed. “I’ve never had this kind of money.”
The aging comedian’s vintage dental office shtick (novocaine! numbness! drills!) might or not have been just what the doctor ordered to lift spirits, but there was plenty more in store for the 2,400-strong crowd who gathered to cheer the “Lion of the Senate” on as he battles brain cancer.
Boldfaced names from the entertainment world who lauded the senior solon for his commitment to children and education included Lauren Bacall, Phyllis Newman and Frederika von Stade. Playwright Hal Prince spoke of Kennedy’s devotion to the arts and James Taylor played “Belfast to Boston” to commemorate his “doing so much to solve the problems in Ireland.” John Williams and Joseph Thalken conducted the Kennedy Center Orchestra in Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture” from Candide; a tap-danced version of “I’ve Got Rhythm” from Girl Crazy; “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” sung by opera star Denyce Graves; and “America the Beautiful” by jazz singer Lizz Wright.
President Barack Obama leads the cast in singing "Happy Birthday" to Sen. Kennedy. From left: Bill Cosby, Lizz Wright, Denyce Graves, and James Taylor.
Big-time Show-Stoppers of the Night: Brian Stokes Mitchell’s goose-bump-inducing “Some Enchanted Evening” and “The Impossible Dream” – said to be among the guest of honor’s favorite hits, and a supremely slinky “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” by the pulchritudinous Bernadette Peters that reminded more than one gawker of Marilyn Monroe notorious rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in 1963.
Biggest Laugh of the Night: Caroline Kennedy telling the audience that “I never thought I’d be in a room with so many senators” before presenting her uncle with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s “Profiles in Courage” Award.
Biggest Birthday Surprise: President Barack Obama’s 90-second cameo appearance to greet the cast and wave to the man who did so much to help him win the highest office in the land. His equally brief appearance in the presidential box included the usual smiles and handshakes plus a truly special treat when he briefly boogied in place to the gospel sounds of the NEWorks Tribute Choir.
The several hundred guests who attended the reception on the box-tier level of the Concert Hall were mostly disappointed if they hoped to greet Sen. Kennedy after the show. He remained sequestered in the presidential box alongside family and close friends with a velvet rope drawn across the closed door. “You know it’s a Kennedy party if there’s a VIP event within the VIP event,” one guest noted.
Among those spotted in the crowd were about 30 members of the U.S. Senate, two of whom were event sponsors along with their spouses (Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Richard Blum and Sen. John Kerry and Teresa Heinz) plus Sens. John McCain, Harry Reid, Christopher Dodd, Thad Cochran, Daniel Inouye, Daniel Akaka, Pat Roberts, Orrin Hatch, Olympia Snowe, Herb Kohl, Max Baucus, Susan Collins, Carl Levin, Frank Lautenberg, Lindsay Graham, Benjamin Cardin, Barbara Mikulski, Mark Warner, Kent Conrad, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Patrick Leahy, Joe Lieberman, and Claire McCaskill. Former Senate colleagues included James Sasser, Tom Daschle, Tom Harkin, Pete Domenici, and John Culver.
The Obama Administration was represented by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Senior Advisors David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, Budget Director Peter Orczag, White House Communications Director Ellen Moran, Domestic Policy Council chief Melody Barnes, and White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers.
Media guests included Mark Shields, Al Hunt, Chris Matthews, Christopher Wallace, Cokie Roberts, Eleanor Clift, and Wolf Blitzer.
Among the Kennedy family members present were the senator’s sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, and sister-in-law, Ethel Kennedy (both in the presidential box); his children Kara Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., and Rep. Patrick Kennedy; nieces and nephews Christopher and Victoria Lawford; Timothy, Mark, and Maria Shriver; and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Douglas Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Joseph Kennedy, Matthew Kennedy, Courtney Kennedy, and Christopher Kennedy.
Other guests included Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Adm. Michael Mullen, Gen. Colin Powell, Rep. John D. Dingell and Deborah Dingell; Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Kennedy Center Chairman Steve Schwartzman, former Kennedy Center Chairmen James Wolfensohn and James Johnson, Richard Holbrooke, Nina Auchincloss Straight, George and Liz Stevens, and William vanden Heuvel.
Paul and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Kyle Samperton.
By Karin Tanabe
Now that the White House is inhabited by a very well-dressed first couple, is Capitol Hill following suit? Judging from our freshman congress, we have come a long way as far as chiseled features—Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA), Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) (both single!) and Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)—but what about debonair dressing? Have we have gone into decline, digging an Olympic size hole in the fashion well that reaches all the way to China? Or do we really have a legislative body full of Vogue, GQ and of course, Washington Life readers?
While Tom Ford is not yet camping out on the Capitol steps to scout his next muse, a handful of old guard politicians have been dressing well for decades and the new wave of freshmen is only upping the Hill style ante.
Congressman David Drier (R-CA), has been bringing style to the House since 1981. The sartorial chameleon has suits in grey, blue, black and even sand, so light in color they’re almost Gatsbyesque. Political power couple, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), win points for shirking helmet hair and rows of safe navy blue suits, choosing to look like they’re style world is not confined by the Beltway.
John Podesta and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Tony Powell
Location: The Fairfax at Embassy Row and Jockey Club Lounge
WL HOSTED EVENT – Photos by Tony Powell, Kyle Samperton, and Joseph Allen
A musical celebration with speaker Nancy Pelosi, John Podesta and Warren Haynes
TRANSITION TOASTS: The week of inauguration festivities kicked off with a Washington Life hosted high-octane gathering of power players who were at the heart of the presidential transition and inauguration planning teams.
THE SCENE: Festivities were co-sponsored by The Atlantic, National Journal, Celebrity Service International, and the Washington Capitals. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Presidential Transition Team Co-Chair John Podesta made remarks before guitar virtuoso Warren Haynes wowed the crowd with two sets, including U2’s “One” in honor of Pelosi and Podesta.
ROLL CALL: Larry Summers, Don and Megan Beyer, Michael Strautmanis, Christine Varney, Michelle Jolin, Michael Warren, Chris Matthews, Marne Levine, Vince Panvini, Todd Thompson, and Sen. Mark Warner, amongst other members of Congress and ambassadors.
HARRY REID
The Senate majority leader developed a reputation for sparring with President Bush and Senate Republicans after he assumed the party’s leadership in 2005. As a member of the Obama’s own party, this former Nevada gaming commissioner and convert to Mormonism is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the president’s legislative agenda.
PATRICK KENNEDY
The youngest member of the Kennedy clan to currently hold elected office joined his father, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, in endorsing Obama during a rally at American University in early 2008. The Rhode Island congressman has championed health care legislation, particularly mental health.
ADRIAN FENTY
Washington’s popular young mayor supported Obama in the primary and was at his side campaigning in the District, even lunching with him at the venerable diner, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Like the president, Fenty is a “BlackBerry” aficionado, known for carrying three of the devices at all times, one of which connects him directly to D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier.
GEORGE MILLER
After more than 30 years in the House, Miller has earned a reputation as an expert in education issues and a champion of U.S. humanitarian efforts. In early 2007, he became one of the first members of Congress, as well as one of the first super-delegates, to endorse Obama over Hillary Clinton, despite his constituents’ majority support for Clinton.
NANCY PELOSI
Many believe the Speaker’s tacit support for Obama over Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary was a crucial vote of confidence for the young senator. Since assuming leadership of the 110th Congress, Pelosi has shown grit and political talent, but her legislative agenda appears be more progressive than the President’s.
BILL RICHARDSON
Despite withdrawing his candidacy for the top job at the commerce department after questions arose about an unrelated matter, the New Mexico governor remains a Democratic Party heavyweight, and his breadth of experience will still be useful to the Obama administration, albeit in an unofficial capacity.
BILL CLINTON
Although no official position has been handed to the 42nd president, he hopes to be a “helpful sounding board” for Hillary as she takes on the job of secretary of state. Since leaving the White House, Clinton continues to comment on contemporary politics throughout the world, and assisted the political campaigns of both his wife and the president.
AL GORE
The former VP and environmental champion kept a low profile during the campaign—though he enthusiastically endorsed Obama in June—focusing his attention on his Alliance for Climate Protection. The Nobel Peace Prize recipient is also co-founder and chair of Generation Investment Management and Current TV.
DICK DURBIN
This senior senator from Illinois has been called Obama’s political ‘godfather’, a reference to his unwavering support and encouragement. Currently majority whip, Durbin is credited with launching an online petition in ’06 to encourage Obama to run for president, the same year Time named him as one of “10 Best Senators.”
HAROLD FORD
The former Tennessee congressman and Blue Dog Democrat led the relatively conservative Democratic Leadership Council, and appeared as a frequent political commentator. Ford remained neutral through much of the primary campaign, before ultimately backing Obama. Expect another Senate run.
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS
One of the country’s most popular governors, this Kansan reduced debt without raising taxes, endorsed Obama early, and proved that conservative states can be successfuly led by Democratic governors. A rising star in the party, speculation abounds as to her political aspirations.
WILLIAM DALEY
Along with his brother, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, this former secretary of commerce and Democratic Party elder leads an influential Illinois-based political dynasty, which backed Obama from day one. Rumored to have gubernatorial ambitions for 2010, Daley can count on the support of his six elder siblings.
CAROLINE KENNEDY
JFK’s daughter endorsed a non-family member for the first time ever in her New York Times Op-Ed, “A President Like My Father,” and helped secure the endorsement of her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy, for Obama. Caroline Kennedy appears ready to make her own political waves in the new administration, while adjusting well to higher levels of media scrutiny.
JOHN KERRY
The newly re-elected senator and early Obama supporter is in line to head the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where global warming will reportedly be a top priority under his leadership. After false speculation that Kerry would join the Cabinet, the Mass. legislator will preside over Sen. Clinton’s confirmation hearings this spring.
PATRICK MURPHY
This moderate Pennsylvania Democrat is currently the only Iraq war vet in Congress, where his criticism of Bush’s policies helped break the taboo against questioning an administration at war. The Bronze Star recipient was also an early Obama supporter, and his endorsement challenged a perception that vets would gravitate towards fellow veteran John McCain.
TIM KAINE
Virginia’s governor was instrumental in shifting his state from red to purple on the political map, and was one of Obama’s key southern allies from day one. Initially considered for vice president, some say the president initially preferred Kaine, until advisors warned him against running with a relative newcomer.
DEVAL PATRICK
The first African-American governor of Massachusetts shares deep ideological bonds with the president, so much so that they’ve acknowledged sharing speech lines. Adding to the synergy is the fact that they’ve also run successful campaigns under the guidance of campaign manager David Axelrod.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL
Floated as a potential running mate during the campaign, the freshman senator from Missouri endorsed Obama while most of her female colleagues were backing Hillary Clinton. As an informal advisor, she helped him pull in the women’s vote, and advised him to campaign in rural, conservative areas.
JENNIFER GRANHOLM
Michigan’s governor helped to ultimately deliver the state for Obama by supporting him early on, when the majority of her constituents backed Hillary Clinton. Proving that “being Sarah Palin” wasn’t just the work of Tina Fey, Governor Granholm played the role of the Alaskan VP candidate during Joe Biden’s practice debates.
RICHARD LUGAR
One of Obama’s biggest and earliest foreign policy supporters (when the then-candidate didn’t have very many), Lugar is the seniormost Republican senator in the 111th Congress, following the retirement of Pete Domenici and the defeat of Ted Stevens.
MARK WARNER
The former Virginia governor endorsed Obama early while running for office himself in Virginia, and was, for a time, considered a veep contender. Going forward, Senator Warner will be an important southern ally from the newly minted purple state.
JON CORZINE
This former Goldman Sachs chairman and current New Jersey governor worked to pass legislation against corporate malfeasance during his years in the Senate by agressively pursuing executives of Enron, Tyco, and WorldCom after their companies failed.
PENNY PRITZKER
A member of one of America’s wealthiest families, the founder and current chair of Classic Residence by Hyatt served as national finance chair of Obama’s presidential campaign. Pritzker has donated nearly half a million dollars to political campaigns and PACs since 2000, and wields broad power in Democratic political circles.
JACK REED
The former paratrooper and senior senator from Rhode Island’s name was floated as a possible running mate for Obama. In 2002, he was one of 22 Senate Democrats who voted against the use of force in Iraq and he traveled to the Middle East with Obama in 2008.
Next up: Washington Supporters
The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
By Kevin Chaffee
John Pyles and Barbara Harrison
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.
WL’s list of head-turners.
Top from left to right: Steven and Jean Case, Vernon and Ann Jordan, James Kimsey, Jacqueline Mars. Bottom from left to right: Paul and Nancy Pelosi, Roger and Victoria Sant, and Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn.
It’s hard to elicit a physical response from a Washington crowd; that is, to “turn” a head. Although we’ve produced this list for several years, 2008’s A-list has seemingly evolved into a roster of national names rather than one merely dedicated to the stars in our local firmament; after all, 2008’s elections have brought some bonafide rock stars to town. All eyes have been on Ben Bernanke to solve our financial woes, and we’ve all been waiting with baited breath to find out whether Christopher Hitchens will finally quit smoking (maybe it would help if he had God on his side). We said goodbye to longtime favorites Joe Gibbs, as well as beloved British Ambassador Sir Manning and his wife, Lady Catherine. While farewells are always sad, they make way for new faces such as financial heavyweight David Rubenstein and Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson. Over the years, we’ve found that A-list status is less about the job and rank than one might think; it’s about having a personality that electrifies the room. We’re happy they’re here.
Who has it… and who gives it away.
By Beth Farnstrom
Robert and Marion Rosenthal
“I go to Washington – if only to be near my money,” comedian Bob Hope once quipped. But forget about taxes pouring into federal coffers: With cash to flash, members of Washington’s growing mega-millionaire’s club (50 Million Plus) like to show their green in perhaps, sometimes ritzy, but mainly philanthropic ways.
Buy a baseball team? No problem. Accessorize with megawatt Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes? Ditto. Underwrite productions at the Kennedy Center? Done.
Washington’s wealth – sparked by the dotcom boom of the ’90s and fueled by the ever-rising real estate and stock markets – has “put a lot of money in people’s pockets and created a new level of wealth in Washington,” says developer Ed Asher of the Chevy Chase Land Company. While ten Washingtonians made the latest Forbes 400 list with fortunes in the billions, wealth is spread far and wide these days. Fortunes have been built on the backs of new technology, media, sports, real estate, government contracts and, of course, Washington’s original industry: politics. In just three years, the number of Washington area families with liquid assets (that is, not counting residential property and 401Ks) grew a whopping 60 percent, from 88,000 in 2003 to 140,000 in 2006. Similarly, in a slightly higher stratosphere, those with $5 million plus in liquid assets grew 53 percent, from 15,000 to 23,000 families, according to Phoenix Marketing International.
Where the money goes, the charity flows and, yes, luxury follows, and how!
WL Photos WLTV
