FORREST GUMP WAS RIGH
Life is like a box of chocolates – you never
know what you’re gonna get. “Hardball”
host Chris Matthews found this out the
hard way the night before his 10th MSNBC
Anniversary party at Decatur House in October.
Matthew appeared on The Daily Show withJon Stewart to promote his new book,
“Life’s a Campaign.” The testy exchange
resulted in Matthews proclaiming, “This is a
book review from hell. This is the worst.
You are the worst. You are the worst.” The
incident showed up as event cocktail buzz, where
a quick thinking Matthews was overheard
claiming the incident was fun: “It created a
moment … a moment.” The star-studded
media crowd included Andrea Mitchell, AlanGreenspan, NBC honcho Phil Griffin, and
Rep. Ed Markey (on crutches).
Congressional members were keeping
their presidential preferences close to their
vests: Sen. John Kerry demonstrated restraint
when commenting on fellow Bostonian Mitt
Romney; and Rep. Steny Hoyer said nothing
worth reporting: “It’s a Democratic year.”
Few braved the predictions fever. “Giuliani
and Edwards in a surprise move,” offered
Rep. Charlie Gonzalez. “Hillary is not locked
in; Obama has a chance if he wins Iowa.
Romney for the Republicans,” suggested PatBuchanan. Matthews was wired – no surprises
here. Introduced as “Chris is always going
to tell me something I don’t know. Tonight
we’re waiting for him to tell us something
we don’t know.” Whether Spiro Agnew “was
not an American hero” is something new,
Matthews said it anyway along with some
Cheney comments. What’s not new is that he
has been successful and continues to be the
darling of MSNBC. Applauding his success:
Sen. Ted Kennedy, Rep. Patrick Kennedy,
Frank Mankiewicz, Margaret Carlson, GloriaBorger and Tim Russert.
FASHION ALERT
The quickest way to part with your
money on September 28th was by attending
the FLOC (For the Love of Children) benefit
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show at The Hay Adams. Headlined by
radio talk show host Diane Rehm and designer Nina McLemore (whose fashions are worn by
Sen. Hillary Clinton), guests were watching
their waistlines; some even switched the more
carb-laden main course for a double dose of
the lobster appetizer. Newsweek’s EleanorClift modeled several outfits, making her one
of the more fashionable panelists to have graced The McLaughlin Group. Other “models” included
Sarah Bennet, Sheila Harvey, Michelle Lee (no,
not that one), Suzane Malveaux and Faith Shah. Helen Thomas and Sue Merry enjoyed the view.
“We are also most fortunate to have such an
exemplary group of Washington women come
together and rally for such a wonderful cause,” said Kay Enokido, executive vice president/owners
representative for the Hay Adams. Here’s looking a
you, kids.
HEAVY LIFTING
New York Times bestselling
author Michael Korda arrived
at Bonnie McElveen-Hunter’s Georgetown
manse in September with a former president
in tow – in the form of his rather ambitious
and weighty 800-page biography Ike: AnAmerican Hero. It’s not only a story of military
prowess, but one of family origins and life,
“It is as well the portrait of a tumultuous
and often difficult marriage, for Mamie was
every bit as stubborn and forceful as her
husband, and it was by no means the sunny,
happy marriage that Republican publicists
presented to the public when Ike made his
first moves towards the presidency.” The
prolific author has written more biographies
than a cat has lives (he even wrote Cat People – perhaps to keep the “lives” thing going.)
It was a spirited event, and guests included: Susan Eisenhower, Bob Merry, Sheila and EdWeidenfeld, Ann Stock and Nini Ferguson. Look for more fabulous entertaining at this
residence; Bonnie Hunter heads up The
American Red Cross.  |
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