THE EVENT With a little help from Bobby Vee and the Vees, Elayne
Benne “took good care” of her baby, the Best Friends Foundation, by raising
$530,000 at the organization’s annual gala featuring retro dress code. THE
SCENE Guests dug out their pink neck-ties, le er jackets and bobby socks,
while singers Jerry Butler (“Let It Be Me”), Fabian (“Hound Dog Man”), and
Barbara Lewis (“Baby, I’m Yours”) brought back their careers — and brought
cabinet secretaries and senators to the dance fl oor. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer
shared notes with Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly; Secretary of Homeland Security
Michael Chertoff and wife Meryl danced cheek to cheek; and Jim Kimsey
(wearing a studded “Sweet Talkin’ Guy” T-shirt) was up swinging for almost
every number. THE GUESTS Susan Hurley Benne , Fred and Marlene
Malek, Frank Carlucci, Fred and Jerri Thompson, HUD Secretary Alphonso
Jackson and wife Marcia, and Bill Benne.