We proudly present our 2009-2010 Washington Life Diplomatic List. Here you will find spouses’ names, many diplomatic residences, and correct addresses for thank you notes, deans by seniority, and more photos of ambassadors than ever before during this big year of change.

Amb. Roy Ferguson and Don Ferguson (New Zealand), Amb. Michael Louis (St. Lucia), Amb. Vaino Reinhart (Estonia), Amb. Claudia Fritsche (Luxembourg), Amb. Maria de Fatima da Veiga (Cape Verde), Amb. Heng Chan Chee (Singapore), Amb. Latchezar Petkov and Doryana Petkova (Bulgaria).

Our Diplomatic Family

Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Dance columnist Gail Scott on the tightly-knit Embassy Row community.

This fall is different and we all seem more like “family.” Washington’s new political atmosphere has spread to Embassy Row: fresh, young diplomatic families bringing their high energy and hopes to their residences and chanceries, just the way the Obamas have filled the White House, the Oval Office, and the South Lawn with their new ideas and lifestyle choices. Veteran envoys of all races, religions, and cultures seem happier to be here. Never have so many non-Muslims celebrated breaking the Ramadan fast at sundown with their diplomatic Arab colleagues. British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald and Lady Sheinwald, among many other ambassadorial couples representing Muslim-minority countries, welcomed their diplomatic colleagues from Muslim-majority countries into their official homes. “This was a first for us,” said Sir Nigel. “An experiment, you might say, but we would like to continue this new tradition each year to show goodwill to our Muslim friends.”

Our new Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her new Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall continue the very recent tradition of women at the top of our foreign ministry. Capricia, in particular, represents the increasing pride of top appointees with mixed heritage. During her festive Seventh Floor swearing in, Capricia celebrated her Croatian and Mexican heritage (38 family members were there) and her long friendship with the Clintons (Chelsea included).

Amid all this camaraderie, we face tough choices in a world that is not as safe or as carefree as it used to be. Many of our countries are struggling financially and the worldwide economic questions get priority over everything else but security. We need our diplomatic family to help us navigate these global issues and we welcome our newest diplomatic family members to Washington – still the number one diplomatic posting on the globe.

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Iman Jawad, Lynn Blitzer,

Location: Embassy of Afghanistan

WL EXCLUSIVE: Photos by Kyle Samperton

TOP-NOTCH DIPLOMACY: Afghan Ambassador Said Jawad paid special tribute to Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, for his quick success in coordinating efforts by myriad governmental agencies (defense, health, etc.) in his country. INTIMATE AFFAIR: Guests from interconnected political, diplomatic, and media circles toasted the guest of honor, who noted that the August elections in Afghanistan would be an important test for the continued development of democratic political processes there. ON THE LIST: Rep. Roy Blunt, Esther Coopersmith, Carlos Gutierrez, Gen. Michael Hayden, and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter.

Click here for the full gallery of photos

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.

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Sen. Ted Kennedy, Mia Farrow, and Ronan Farrow

Location: The Embassy of Italy
WL SPONSORED – Photos by Russell Hirshon and Tony Powell

THE EVENT: At this cocktail affair, style was eclipsed only by substance, as actor and humanitarian Mia Farrow – and son Ronan Farrow – were honored with the 2008 McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award. Michael and Mariella Trager chaired the event. THE GUESTS: Sam Waterston, Matt Dillon, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Gordon Smith, Omar and Nadia Kathwari, Luca and Mariachiara Ferrari, Moroccan Amb. Aziz Mekouar, Afghani Amb. Shamim Jawad and Said Jawad, Robert and Elena Allbritton, Reuben and Robin Jeffery, Chris and Kathleen Matthews, Sarah Nixon, Sissy Yates, Linda and John Donovan, Cristina Burelli, and Betty King.

The Red Cross Ball, a Barbadian reunion, and a compliment from Kissinger.

By Donna Shor
 

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, William Rollnick, Suzette Morris, Nancy Rollnick, and David Morris

FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL RED CROSS BALL

Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach…the Red Cross Ball is one of the world’s most glittery galas with diamonds galore ($5 million dollars worth bedecked Suzette, wife of international jeweler David Morris), and tiaras, emeralds and rubies All this, plus Melania Trump, Susan Lucci, Archduke Georg von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduchess Eilika. Ambassadors who flew down with The Donald on his private plane were Shamin and Said Jawad (Afghanistan), Dr. Rajmah Hussain (Malaysia), Benedicte and Joseph Weyland (Luxembourg), Birgitte and Arne Petersen (Denmark), and dynamic Nat’l Red Cross Chair Bonnie McElveen-Hunter. Special thrill: the patron’s dinner at the 45,000 square-foot, $37 million home of super-hosts Michele (the ball’s vice-chair) and Howard Kessler. A special award was given to Marion “Joe” Smoak, retiring as the ball’s chief of protocol (“Never missed once in 35 years”), who will be replaced by former Ambassador to Denmark Stuart Bernstein. Washingtonians: Brad and Denise Alexander, Bill and Norma Tiefel, Bill and Mary Walde, Wilma Bernstein, Mike and Julia Connors, Susan Eisenhower, Patti Delano (as in FDR), and Bill and Julie Thurmond Whitmer, daughter of the late Sen. Strom.

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