White House Correspondents Insider
Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.
New CBS News Chiefs Jeff Fager, David Rhodes, and Bureau Chief Chris Isham are bringing some of the top actors from their highly rated CBS shows. Look for Daniel Dae Kim from Hawaii Five-O, Bob Schieffer’s date Morgan Fairchild, Hill Harper from CSI New York, and Kerry Washington.
Couric fans will be disappointed, she is still on the other side of the pond on Royals duty.
With less than two weeks until the White House Corespondents’ Dinner, the celebrity guest lists are growing. The National Journal‘s roundup provides an overview of who’s who and who’s sitting where:
The guest lists are not the only thing in motion, this year’s White House Corespondents’ Garden Brunch is changing. See Matt Dornic’s write up in FishbowlDC for the highlights.
The 18th Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch has grown into a DC tradition, becoming the unofficial kickoff to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner weekend. What began as a backyard gathering for friends is still just that – only with more friends, fun, and for the third year in a row, an important message.
The brunch is a rare opportunity to raise awareness for CURE Epilepsy and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Honorary Co-Chairs Susan Axelrod and Wendi Murdoch will be on hand to support these two amazing causes.
2011 WHC Garden Brunch Preview from whcinsider on Vimeo.
Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages and 50 million people worldwide.
CURE Epilepsy was founded in 1998 by parents of children with epilepsy who were frustrated with their inability to protect their children from the devastation of seizures and the side effects of medications. CURE’s mission is to find a cure for epilepsy by raising funds for research and by increasing awareness of the prevalence and devastation of this disease.
The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA) is an international coalition that pushes for change to make pregnancy and childbirth safe around the world. Since its launch in 1999, WRA – now a rapidly growing global movement with members in 152 countries – has been amplifying the voices of women and their communities, and is a leader among those holding governments and institutions accountable for the tragedy of maternal mortality. WRA is a global grassroots movement uniting people from all walks of life to advocate for changes and investments to ensure every woman’s access to quality health care before, during and after childbirth.
We are proud to support the work of CURE Epilepsy and the White Ribbon Alliance, and encourage you to do the same by clicking on the links below.
James Wolfensohn, former World Bank President, tells WHC Insider that he supports Gordon Brown to be the next International Monetary Fund Chief: “Brown is a strong financial leader and I think he would be an admirable candidate.”
Eyebrows were raised in Washington as current British Prime Minister David Cameron used aggressive political tactics in the selection process for the next IMF Chief. Cameron broke tradition and attacked his predecessor, Brown, who is a possible candidate for the position. The New Statesman weighed in, calling Cameron “petty.”
Wolfensohn has read Cameron’s comments and told WHC Insider, “Having worked with him [Brown] for a decade, he was the most effective International Finance Minister that I worked with. He has a great understanding of the developed countries and a strong sense of the developing countries.”
Brown recently spoke at Bretton Woods and here is Steve Clemons’ take.
As WHC Insider followers know, Tammy Haddad is a friend of Gordon and Sarah Brown, the Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.
The Big Brains of The Atlantic are mashing up with the Funny bones of the successful website Funny or Die to create their first White House Correspondents’ Weekend event. The New Yorker better watch out.
Eric Lesser with mom, Gordon Brown and Alison Silber
Eric Lesser, longtime assistant to David Axelrod, took the plunge this weekend and proposed to girlfriend, Alison Silber. Lesser is now a deputy to Austan Goolsbee, head of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers.
The newly engaged couple has been dating for two years. Silber is a Maryland Law School graduate and clerks for DC Superior Court Associate Judge Zinora Mitchell-Rankin.
Lesser is a media favorite for his can-do spirit with the press corps. He returns to Harvard (where his undergrad buddies included Mark Zuckerberg) to attend law school in the fall.
Good job, Patrick! Scout is your best work yet – take care of new momma Anne!
To see a picture of the beautiful Scout Margaret Gavin, check out Mediabistro.
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos and Alexandra Wentworth at CURE Epilepsy NYC 2010 Event
There will be plenty of laughs and camera flashes over at ABC News’ tables at the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner. “Modern Family” favorites Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will be joined by “Glee’s” Jane Lynch, actor Paul Rudd from “40 Year Old Virgin” and “Anchorman,” and actor/new mom Elizabeth Banks seen recently on “30 Rock.” ESPN’s Erin Andrews will also be at the main event.
Top management will be in town, including Disney President & CEO Bob Iger who will be joined by wife Willow Bay, Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney, ABC News President Ben Sherwood, and ABC Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief Robin Sproul.
Returning to DC for the weekend will be George Stephanopoulos and wife Alexandra Wentworth. They’ll get to catch up with senior correspondents Martha Raddatz, Jake Tapper, Terry Moran, and Jonathan Karl. Rounding out the team will be Political Director Amy Walter and Senior Washington Editor Rick Klein.
ABC will be bringing plenty of political star power as well. Guests include:
White House Chief of Staff William Daley & Bernie Daley
Tom Donilon (National Security Advisor to the President) & Cathy Russell (Chief of Staff to Jill Biden)
White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard
Senator Marco Rubio & Jeanette Rubio
Attorney General Eric Holder & Dr. Sharon Malone
Admiral Mike Mullen & Deborah Mullen
Senator Amy Klobuchar & John Bessler
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall (National Security Council) & Dr. Jeffrey Randall
Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah & Rima Al-Sabah
Former Secretary of Commerce and new US Ambassador to China Gary Locke & Mona Locke
Senator Mark Kirk
Amy Rule, wife of Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel
Lee Satterfield and Matthew Morrison at Gordon Brown Book Party, Dec. 2010
There’s a new Deputy in town! Lee Satterfield has been named Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Office of Education and Cultural Affairs at the State Department. Satterfield has served as the Deputy Chief of Protocol since 2009.
In her new position she will work closely with Assistant Secretary Ann Stock to implement cultural diplomacy through art, music, dance, and sports, as well as professional and youth exchanges. These exchange programs engage youth, artists, athletes and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries.
Satterfield also served in the Clinton Administration in several capacities, including Special Assistant to the President and Staff Director for The White House Office of Public Liaison, Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Scheduler for President Clinton and Scheduler for Vice President Gore. Satterfield also served as Director of Convention Planning for the Democratic National Convention Committee where she oversaw the site selection process for the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sam Stein reports in HuffPost that former White House Communications aide and Chicago native Ben LaBolt has been named as the national press secretary for the President’s re-election campaign.
Also joining the Obama 2012 staff as deputy press secretary is Katie Hogan, another White House veteran.
For those starting to keep track: 581 days until November 6, 2012.
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