Social List 2006

Ask any great hostess to name the essential ingredient of a successful party and the answer is always the same. It’s not the food or the décor, no matter how gourmet or sumptuous. It’s not the decorator or the florist, much as we love getting as many people involved in the production as possible. The sine qua non of High Society is the guest list.

For society to be High—and by that we mean fun, amusing, memorable and perhaps even the subject of morning-after gossip laced with just a dash of envy—the list has to be somewhat surprising.As in smart politics, there is no litmus test for inclusion. A person’s title, fame or fortune, while sometimes quite fetching, is not the rub. One Supreme Court justice or self-made billionaire is not as good company as the next. Nor is it a matter of clubs, breeding or brilliance, although all those accoutrements can impress. But then, so can an assist from a rigorous personal trainer and a soigné couturier, because, under candlelight or strobe, who can resist a great beauty?

As in all ambitious concoctions, success lies in the mix, fashioned to amuse, entertain, nurture and inform, always with an eye to the one dreaded enemy who, like Coleridge’s Wide Sargasso Sea, can maroon even the most dashing host’s grand affair. Unquestionably, the worst thing that can happen to any party is to be becalmed, stuck in the social doldrums with all that “same old, same old,” and nary a beguiling puff of new life, or zephyr of the unexpected.

“The bores I won’t suffer,” said Elsa Maxwell, the original “Hostess with the Mostest” who reigned as America’s top party giver through the 1950s and knew everyone from George Bernard Shaw and Carl Sandburg to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. “I surround my table with only the most amusing and charming people. I never see a bore! I never see one.”

A good social list has to be diverse, surprising, and even a bit controversial. A suave felon can sometimes add a bit of spice. Recall the late Richard Helms, the former head of the CIA. Even after he was found guilty of lying to Congress, he was still invited to all the “top houses.” Guests don’t always have to behave. Known for being terribly rude, the late syndicated columnist Joseph Alsop regularly picked fights with his table partners and, behind their backs, insulted aspiring hostesses who dared woo him.

Recognizing the importance of friends old and new, the joys of human discourse and the generous and gregarious heart of a city that thrives on politics, culture, commerce and diplomacy, no matter how divisive the times, Washington Life once again (with input from a secret committee) throws caution to the wind, and offers up its annual social list. Here’s to the players. Long may we all find occasions to make merry.

—Susan Watters

Ghislaine Boreel

Martha Bartlett

A

H.E. the Ambassador of Brazil Roberto P. Abdenur and Mrs. Abdenur (Maria)
Mr. and Mrs. William Abel-Smith (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. Tyler Abell (Bess)
The Honorable David C. Acheson
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Adams (Gina Ferguson)
Mr. Theo Adamstein and Ms. Olvia Demetriou
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Addison (Sylvia Ripley)
The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright
Mr. and Mrs. Braddock Alexander (Denise)
The Honorable and Mrs. Clifford Alexander (Adele)
Mr. and Mrs. Joe L. Allbritton (Barbara Jean)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Allen (Kara Kennedy)
The Honorable and Mrs. Lamar Alexander (Honey)
The Honorable and Mrs. George Allen (Susan)
H. E. the Ambassador of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah
Al-Sabah and Sheikha Al-Sabah (Rima)
Mrs. Stewart J.O. Alsop (Elizabeth)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Altman (Lynda Carter)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ansari (Karen)
H.E. the Ambassador of Bolivia Jaime Aparicio and Mrs. Aparicio (Pamela)
Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Apple, Jr. (Betsey)
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Arundel (Margaret)
Mr. and Mrs. John Arundel (Christine)
Mr. Charles H. Atherton
Mrs. Martin Atlas (Liane)
H.E. the Ambassador of Israel Daniel
Ayalon and Mrs. Ayalon (Anne)

Buffy and Bill Cafritz

B

Mr. Smith W. Bagley and The Honorable Elizabeth Bagley
The Honorable Howard H. Baker and The Honorable
Nancy Landon Kassebaum
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barnett (Rita Braver)
Mr. Michael Barone
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Bartlett (Martha)
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Belin (Susan)
Mr. and Mrs. Morton Bender (Grace)
Mrs. Karl R. Bendetsen (Gladys)
Mrs. W. Tapley Bennett, Jr. (Margaret)
The Honorable and Mrs. William J. Bennett (Elayne)
The Honorable and Mrs. Wayne Berman (Lea)
The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart A. Bernstein (Wilma)
Mr. and Mrs. Max Berry (Heidi)
Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge, III (Madzy)
H.E. the Ambassador of Chile Andres Bianchi and Mrs. Bianchi (Lily)
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Billington (Marjorie)
Mrs. Worth Bingham (Joan)
The Honorable and Mrs. Robert O. Blake (Sylvia)
Mr. and Mrs. Antony Blinken (Evan Ryan)
Mr. and Mrs. Huntington T. Block (Amie)
The Honorable and Mrs. Roy Blunt (Abigail)
Mrs. Francis Boardman (Ann)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hale Boggs (Barbara)
Mrs. Samuel Bogley (Rose Marie)
Count and Countess Peder Bonde (Clarissa)
Ms. Ghislaine Boreel
The Honorable Barbara Boxer and Mr. Stewart Boxer
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin C. Bradlee (Sally Quinn)
Mr. and Mrs. David G. Bradley (Katherine)
Mrs. B. Rionda Braga (Mary)
Justice and Mrs. Stephen G. Breyer (Joanna)
Mr. and Mrs. Arturo E. Brillembourg (Hilda Ochoa)
The Honorable Nancy Brinker
The Honorable and Mrs. William E. Brock, III (Sandra)
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Brophy (Jeanette)
Mr. and Mrs. Preston Brown (Eva)
Mrs. Ronald H. Brown (Alma)
Mr. and Mrs. E. Edward Bruce (Marnelle)
Ms. Maggie Ohrstrom Bryant
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Bryant (Aliki)
The Honorable and Mrs. Zbigniew Brzezinski (Emilie)
Mrs. Ruth Hale Buc hanan
Mr. and Mrs. Wiley T. Buchanan, III (Janice)
Mr. and Mrs. Childs F. Burden (Elaine)
Mr. and Mrs. I. Townsend Burden, III (Valerie)
Mrs. Edward B. Burling, Jr. (Frida)
Mrs. Gahl Hodges Burt
The Honorable Richard R. Burt
Miss Elizabeth A. Burton
The President of theUnited States George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bush (Margaret)
The Honorable Harry Flood Byrd, Jr.

C

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Cafritz (Jane)
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Cafritz (Ludmilla)
Mrs. Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Mr. and Mrs. William N. Cafritz (Buffy)
Mrs. Charles A. Camalier, Jr. (Anne)
Mr. and Mrs. F. Davis Camalier (Lynda)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cantacuzene (Elizabeth)
Mr. and Mrs. Rodion Cantacuzene (Melissa)
The Honorable and Mrs. Andrew H. Card, Jr. (Kathleene)
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard J. Carl (Joan)
Ms. Margaret Carlson
The Honorable and Mrs. Richard W. Carlson (Patricia)
The Honorable and Mrs. Frank C. Carlucci (Marcia)
Mr. and Mrs. James Carney (Claire Shipman)
Mr. and Mrs. Jorge E. Carnicero (Jacqueline)
Mr. and Mrs. Jorge J. Carnicero (Susan)
Mrs. Neil Carothers, III (Katryna)
Mrs. McGhee Carter (Marsha)
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Carver (Katy Kay)
Mrs. Eugene B. Casey (Betty)
Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Cashen, II (Diana)
H.E. the Ambassador of Italy Giovanni Castellaneta
and Mrs. Castellaneta (Lila)
H.E. the Ambassador of Portugal Pedro Catarino and Mrs. Catarino (Cheryl)
Mr. and Mrs. Giuseppe Cecchi (Mercedes)
Mr. Kevin St. C. Chaffee
Mr. and Mrs. David Challinor (Joan)
H.E. the Ambassador of Singapore Heng Chee Chan
Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, Episcopal Bishop
of Washington, and Mrs. Chane (Karen)
Mr. and Mrs. Aldus H. Chapin (Dolly)
The Honorable and Mrs. John E. Chapoton (Sally)
The Honorable and Mrs. O. Donaldson Chapoton (Mary Jo)
Ms. Ellen MacNeille Charles
Mrs. Robert H. Charles (Oatsie)
Prince and Princess David Chavchavadze (Eugenie)
The Vice President of the United States Richard B.
Cheney and Mrs. Cheney (Lynne)
The Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Mrs. Chertoff (Meryl)
Mr. and Mrs. Brice McAdoo Clagett (Diana)
Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. B. Clagett, Jr. (Jeanne Begg)
Mr. Page B. Clagett
The Honorable and Mrs. Raymond C. Clevenger, III (Leslie)
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton and
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. (Olive)
Mr. and Mrs. John Cochran (Barbara)
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cockburn (Leslie)
The Honorable and Mrs. William S. Cohen (Janet Langhart)
The Honorable and Mrs. William T. Coleman (Lovida)
Mrs. H. Dunscombe Colt (Armita)
Mrs. Catherine Conover
Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Conroy (Sarah Boothe)
The Honorable Esther Coopersmith
The Honorable Holland H. Coors
Dr. and Mrs. Milton Corn (Gilan Tocco)
Mr. and Mrs. Warren J. Cox (Claire)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Craft, Jr. (Margaret)
Mrs. Dillon-Smyth Crocker (Roma)
Dr. and Mrs. William H. Crocker (Jean)
Mrs. Kenneth McC. Crosby (Peggy)
Mrs. Brittain B. Cudlip
Mr. Charles T. Cudlip
Ms. Karon Cullen
Ms. Andrea Bruce Currier
Ms. Lavinia Currier
The Honorable and Mrs. Walter L. Cutler (Didi)
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Cutts (June)

John Dickerson

SamDonaldson

D

Mr. and Mrs. Leo A. Daly (Grega)
Mrs. Albert de Ponton d’Amecourt (Gertrude)
Mr. John M. Damgard, II
Mrs. Stuart C. Davidson (Sally)
Mr. Jack Davies
Mr. and Mrs. Wade Davis (Gail Percy)
Mr. and Mrs. Arnaud de Borchgrave (Alexandra)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael K. Deaver (Carolyn)
Mrs. Howard de Franceaux (Barbara)
Dr. and Mrs. John “Jack” DeGioia (Theresa)
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Deutch (Marne Levine)
Mrs. Francis Colt de Wolf, Jr. (Doda)
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Colt de Wolf, III (Natalie)
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Di Bona (Evelyn)
Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews Dick, Jr. (Maizie)
Mr. and Mrs. John Dickerson (Ann)
Mr. and Mrs. C. Wyatt Dickerson (Tandy)
The Honorable and Mrs. John Dingell (Debbie)
Mrs. Lowell Russell Ditzen (Eleanor)
The Honorable and Mrs. Christopher Dodd (Jacki)
The Honorable Robert Dole and The Honorable Elizabeth Dole
Mr. and Mrs. Placido Domingo (Marta)
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Donaldson (Jan Smith)
Mr. and Mrs. John Donovan (Linda)
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dubin (Elizabeth)
Mr. and Mrs. Spottiswood P. Dudley (Blair)
The Honorable and Mrs. Robert W. Duemling (Louisa)
The Honorable and Mrs. Joseph D. Duffey (Ann Wexler)
The Honorable Clive L. Duval, III
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duvall (Luciana)

E

Mr. Mark Ein
Mr. James P. Elder, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard England (Lois)
The Honorable and Mrs. Donald B. Ensenat (Taylor)
Dr. and Mrs. Ahmad R. Esfandiary (Judy)
Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn J. Estrin (Suellen)
Mrs. Benjamin C. Evans, Jr. (Jan)
The Honorable Jack Evans
Mrs. Rowland Evans, Jr. (Catherine)

F

H.E. the Ambassador of Egypt and Mrs. M. Nabil M. Fahmy (Nermin)
The Honorable and Mrs. Richard M. Fairbanks, III (Shannon)
Mr. and Mrs. A. Houda Farouki (Samia)
Mrs. Norman Farquhar (Elinor)
Mr. and Mrs. David Felton (Elizabeth Drew)
Mrs. Sydney McNiff Ferguson
Mr. and Mrs. Raul Fernandez (Jean Marie)
Mr. and Mrs. George M. Ferris, Jr. (Nancy)
The Honorable Julie Finley
Mr. John D. Firestone
Mrs. Hamilton Fish (Mary Ann)
The Honorable and Mrs. William H. G. FitzGerald (Annelise)
Mr. and Mrs. Roland Flamini (Diane)
Mr. and Mrs. Maximo Flugelman (Sedi)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Foley (Carol)
Mr. and Mrs. Lee M. Folger (Juliet)
Mrs. Nancy McElroy Folger (Bitsey)
Mr. and Mrs. Neil C. Folger (Izette)
The Honorable Harold E. Ford, Jr.
Mrs. Paul Fout (Eve)
Mrs. Yolande Fox
The Honorable and Mrs. Rodney Frelinghuysen (Virginia)
The Honorable and Mrs. William E. Frenzel (Ruth)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Friedman (Ann)
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Friendly, Jr. (Pie)
The Honorable and Mrs. William Frist (Karyn)
The Honorable and Mrs. Craig L. Fuller (Karen)

G

The Honorable L. Ebersole Gaines
Mr. Arthur W. Gardner
Mr. and Mrs. William B. Garrison, Jr. (Mary)
Mrs. Melvin Gelman (Estelle)
Ms. Ann Geracimos
The Honorable and Mrs. David Gergen (Anne)
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard S. Gewirz (Sarah)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gewirz (Cleo)
The Honorable and Mrs. Joseph Gildenhorn (Alma)
Mrs. Christina Ginsburg (Ina)
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Mr. Martin Ginsburg
Miss Susan Ginsburg
The Honorable and Mrs. Daniel Glickman (Rhoda)
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Glickman (Mia Martin)
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Goldberg (Diana)
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Gore (Antonia)
Mr. and Mrs. George K. Graeber (Betty Beale)
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Graham (Mary)
Mrs. Burton Gray (Deecy)
The Honorable C. Boyden Gray
Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg (Monica)
Mrs. David Greenewalt (Charlotte)
The Honorable and Mrs. Alan Greenspan (Andrea Mitchell)
Mr. and Mrs. G. Lauder Greenway, II (Abigail Adams)
Ms. Nelse L. Greenway
Mrs. Richard B. Griffin, Jr. (Sheila)
Mrs. Ruth Noble Groom
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Grosvenor (Deborah)
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert M. Grosvenor (Mary Helen)
Mrs. Melville Bell Grosvenor (Anne)
Miss Sarah K. Grosvenor
The Honorable and Mrs. Brandon H. Grove, Jr. (Mariana)
The Secretary of Commerce Carlos Guiterrez and Mrs. Gutierrez (Edi)
Mr. and Mrs. Achille Guest (Judith)

H

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Haft (Mary)
Mrs. Randall H. Hagner, Jr. (Adlumia)
The Honorable and Mrs. Gilbert Hahn, Jr. (Margot)
The Honorable and Mrs. Alexander M. Haig, Jr. (Patricia)
Mrs. Najeeb E. Halaby (Libby)
The Honorable and Mrs. Lloyd N. Hand (Ann)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hardhart (Virginia Shore)
Mrs. B. Lauriston Hardin, Jr. (Dorcas)
Mr. Sidney Harman and Representative Jane Harman
Dr. William Haseltine
Miss Holidae Hayes
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Hayes (Theo)
Mrs. John W. Hechinger, Sr. (June)
Mrs. Richard M. Helms (Cynthia)
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage (June)
Mr. and Mrs. John Henry (Ann Crittenden)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Herrald (Susan)
Ms. Anita G. Herrick
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Herrick (Lindsay)
The Honorable and Mrs. Christian
A. Herter, Jr. (Catherine)
Mr. Gary F. Heurich
Mr. Robert M. Higdon, Jr.
Mr. Robin Hill
Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Hinton (ViCurtis)
Mrs. Joseph Hirshhorn (Olga)
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hitchens (Carol Blue)
Mr. and Mrs. James Hoagland (Jane Stanton Hitchcock)
Mrs. Walter J. Hodges (Margaret)
Mr. and Mrs. Christian C. Hohenlohe (Nora)
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace F. Holladay (Wilhelmina)
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace F. Holladay, Jr. (Winton)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hollensteiner (Letitia Baldrige)
The Honorable and Mrs. Linwood Holton (Virginia)
Mr. and Mrs. Outerbridge Horsey (Georgina)
Mr. and Mrs. Edmond N. Howar (Margaret)
Mrs. Patricia E. Howar
Miss Janet Howard
Mr. and Mrs. Hadlai A. Hull (Ann)
Mr. and Mrs. Al Hunt (Judy Woodruff)

Thrice as Good (from left to right) Deborah Gore, Dean, Madeleine Albright and President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush Second Acts “THERE ARE NO SECOND ACTS IN AMERICAN LIVES” F. Scott Fitzgerald observed shortly before he died. That was 20 years before Richard Nixon lost the California governor’s race and held what he promis ed would be his last press conference. Since then, everyone’s learned never to count anyone out in politics. This year’s social list stars a number of high flying second acts starting with the two-term President George W. Bush who, more than a decade ago, was helping his family move out of the White House, the humiliated eldest son of a defeated president. Washington loves a winner, especially when a down ed political insider returns to claim success. Public relations whiz with plenty of Hollywood connections Michael Deaver is going strong advising clients like Wayne and Catherine Reynolds how to navigate in Washington. And former GOP darling Deborah Gore Dean, now a decorating sensation with her own line of elegant home furnishings, is presiding over two glorious floors at her own M Street store. Changing roles also helps. Jimmy Carter’s former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinksi and wife Emilie are back in the limelight as parents of their media savvy daughter Mika, a CBS nightly news correspondent. Then there’s Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State, who this year popped back onto center stage with a cameo part in “Gilmore Girls.” So next time you bump into Joe and Barbie Allbritton, Franklin Raines, Sandy Berger or “Scooter” Libby, maybe that’s the moment to remember the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator super hero. However bad the situation, they’re all probably whispering under their breath, “I’ll be Bach!” —Susan Watters

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