High honors, tireless diplomacy, and open houses all over town

By Gail Scott

Tom Pickering with Singaporean Amb. Chan Heng-Chee. Photo by Gail Scott.

DISTINGUISHED AWARDEES

Thomas Pickering, undersecretary of state for political affairs during the Clinton years and one of America’s premier diplomats, was honored as a “leading multi-lateralist who personifies the ethos of pragmatic idealism” during the Stimson Center’s tribute at the Embassy of Singapore on April 22. “He’s a diplomat’s diplomat,” Ambassador Chan Heng-Chee said, praising the former Fulbright Scholar and U.S. ambassador to Russia, the UN, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Jordan.

Former Ambassador to Mexico James Robert “Jim” Jones was honored for his service as chairman of Meridian International Center at its spring garden benefit. It was obvious from the start that the honoree’s wife, Olivia (once his law partner), is just as much a Washington insiders’ favorite. His first love, however, was politics, so it was no surprise to anyone who knew him that, at 28, President Lyndon B. Johnson picked Jones to be his appointments secretary – the position now called chief of staff – making him the youngest person in history to hold that important gate-keeping post. The Oklahoma Democrat later served in Congress for seven terms (and was chairman of the House Budget Committee for four years), then moved on to be chairman and CEO of the American Stock Exchange from 1989-1993. Today, Jones is co-chairman and CEO of Manatt Jones Global Strategies.

Read the full story

Prince Fahad Al-Saud and Bayanne Surdashi

Location: Residence of the Ambassador of Yemen

WL EXCLUSIVE – Photos by Betsy Spruill Clarke

THE EVENT: Yemeni Ambassador Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri hosted an intimate dinner for Prince Fahad Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Saud and Prince Bandar Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Saud, who were visiting from Saudi Arabia. Over a meal of traditional Yemeni specialties, the two royal brothers discussed U.S. relations with the Middle East with such well-informed guests as Tom Friedman (New York Times), Bayanne Surdashi (Al-Hurra), and Jay Newton-Small (Time), who all regularly report on the region.

Click here for the full gallery of images

Power, above all, is influence. New York Fashion week bloggers tell Americans with authority that this is the year of the [insert arbitrary skirt length], and America purchases accordingly. The Washington socialite-hostess gathers the ripe fruit of political, economic, and cultural orchards and serves it up as one fabulous cherry bombe at a charity fundraiser or a private soiree with Cabinet secretaries and other major political players. Two men shake hands in the U.S. Senate and a bill passes – or doesn’t. The influence to effect change, be it in the minds or actions of one’s fellow man, is simultaneously the most ephemeral quantity (how does one qualify or rate it?) and the biggest driving force on our planet.

Read the full story