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Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Archives for February 2012

Barbara and Laura Bush, Global Health Corps DC Reception

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The work of Global Health Corps was honored at a reception with GHC CEO and Co-Founder Barbara Bush, Thursday evening at the historic Jefferson Hotel.

GHC believes that a global movement of individuals and organizations fighting for improved health outcomes and access to healthcare for the poor is necessary in order to change the unacceptable status quo of extreme inequity. GHC works to strengthen this movement by recruiting, training, and supporting future leaders, providing opportunities for young professionals from diverse backgrounds to work on the frontlines of the fight for global health equity in year-long fellowships.

The exclusive reception in D.C. included remarks by former First Lady Laura Bush, as well as Barbara Bush, co-host Ambassador Mark Dybul, Ambassador Melanne Verveer and GHC fellow Lilly Bertz.
Guests included Dr. Anthony Fauci, Ambassador Eric Goosby, Jen Kaplan, Susan McCue, Jim Jones, Ana Morse, Bob Barnett, Betsy Fischer, Ed and Shirley Henry, and Robert Higdon and David Deckelbaum.

The Exxon Mobil Foundation announced today a $250,000 grant to GHC launch the ExxonMobil Fellowships in Global Health. Eight young professionals are to be chosen for skills-based, year-long fellowships grant to GHC to work on the frontlines of pressing global health issues.

HONORARY EVENT CHAIRS were The Honorable Joshua Bolten, The Honorable Stephen Hadley, Constance Milstein de La Haye St. Hilaire, and The Honorable Condoleezza Rice and a hist of Congressional biggies. The co-hosts were Dr. Mark Dybul, Anita McBride, David Vennett, Gordon Johnroe and Tammy Haddad.

Jackie Kennedy's White House Tour

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One of the most famous White House moments without a president was Jackie Kennedy’s tour of the White House 50 years ago. She saw the potential for connecting with the American people and television network news divisions have been trying to replicate the upclose personal feel for the people who inhabit the White House eve rsince. Merrill Knox of FISHBOWL tells the story an interviews the CBS producer, “This week marks the 50th anniversary of Jackie Kennedy’s famous televised tour of a newly-restored White House, which was broadcast on three networks and drew 50 million viewers. The broadcast was produced by CBS producer Perry Wolff, who is now 90 years old. Scott Pelley caught up with Wolff last night on “Evening News”:
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cbs-news-marks-50th-anniversary-of-jackie-kennedys-televised-white-house-tour_b112628

Alan Simpson Book Party Celebration; Justice Thomas and Cheneys

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Former Senator Alan Simpson and his wife Ann were greeted warmly by close friends Vice President and Lynne Cheney, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Ginni,  as they celebrated a story 80 years in the making with the publication of “Shooting from the Lip: The Life of Senator Al Simpson” at the Jefferson Hotel on Thursday. Members of the Washington elite also attended, including Simpson’s childhood friend, former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; former Senator Elizabeth Dole; and VP Biden Chief of Staff Bruce Reed.

The authorized biography of Senator Simpson was written by his former chief of staff, Donald Loren Hardy. After six years of combing through the Senator’s personal journals, Hardy has put together a no holds-barred account of Simpson’s life and more than 30 years of public service.

Senator Simpson greeted everyone with a smile, hug or handshake, with guests recounting how this is how Washington “used to be,” when people from both sides of the aisle could get together for an evening of fun. Other guests included Rep. John Dingell and wife Debbie; Ambassador of Gabon to the US, Michael Moussa-Adamo; Ken Levinson, Holly Page, Ann and Welles Orr, Mike and Leili Tongour, former Senator Chuck Robb and wife Lynda.  Carrying the media banner were Bob Woodward; NPR’s Nina Totenberg; ABC’s Polson Kanneth, Marc Adelman, Kelley McCormick, Mark Shields of PBS and Fox News’ Bret Baier.

Co-host Tammy Haddad welcomed the crowd and thanked Senator Simpson for his years of service to the nation and TV appearances. Co-host Peter Grossman followed, speaking on behalf of himself and Connie Milstein, thanking Senator Simpson for his long-standing record of bi-partisanship work.

Author Donald Hardy and wife Becky were also on hand to toast the release of a true labor of love. Hardy told the crowd Simpson convinced him to write the book when he said, “I will give you access to everything in my life….6000 pages of diaries…do the right thing by telling the truth.”

Senator Simpson had the whole crowd laughing as he reminded Mr. Hardy of how they met when the author “stole” a car as a teenager and their many subsequent exploits on Capitol Hill. Simpson reminisced about the great days in Wyoming and the greater days in Washington. One guest remarked that he is America’s favorite Senator.

Check out the video of the remarks and photos from the event below:

Dylan Ratigan Rallies DC Faithful

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Greedy Bastards met Crooks and Liars as MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan returned to Washington courtesy of The Week magazine. Politicos and media mavens watched the heated discussion Dylan Ratigan moderated between Senator Bernie Sanders and GOP Rep. David Schweikert. Bill Falk, editor-in-chief of The Week introduced Ratigan to the enthusiastic crowd. Ratigan’s book, Greedy Bastards, is already a New York Times bestseller and Ratigan is fearlessly flacking changes to the American system of elections and the way or economy works.

Check out photos from the event below:

Greta Van Susteren: Ten Years of Fearless Interviews

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Go to Gretawire.com and congratulate Greta Van Susteren on ten years of “On The Record” on Fox News Channel.  Greta is still the newest talent on the powerhouse Fox prime time schedule, winning her time slot, batting away competitor after competitor. Typical Greta, no big party celebrating the big day.  Instead she is blogging on Greta Wire…

“Today is the exact day we launched…..February 4, 2002.  Incidentally, right before Feb. 4, 2002, I had just had the bags under my eyes fixed and because I was still swollen, I did still look a bit like the Pillsbury Doughboy, didn’t I?     I got so much media attention for being open about plastic surgery that ON THE RECORD at 10pm got a huge media launch.  Everyone one was talking about it.  It was incredible – even the cover of People Magazine!  Although it was certainly not planned to be a marketing ploy, it ended up being a phenomenal to launch a show.  Even when the critics had something to say about me they mentioned our new show…and mentioning the new show – regardless of what was said – was big for our launch!  It is buzz!  It didn’t matter what they were saying – it mattered that they were saying it and paying attention and telling everyone else about the new show.  Buzz gets everyone paying attention.   No other cable news show has ever gotten a media launch like that and the funny thing?  It did not cost Fox a dime.  It was total luck.  At the time I thought – if only I were smart enough to have planned it to work out this way…but it was just plain luck.

Besides working with great people, and having great friends, I have had lots of luck.  I was extraordinarily lucky to have been chosen by Roger Ailes to anchor the new Fox cable show at 10p.   Frankly, he could have picked a lot of people – there are a lot of good people out there – but he picked me.

I also know and have told ALL OF YOU many times here on GretaWire, you are a GIANT part of the success of ON THE RECORD at 10pm for 10 years straight.  Without you, we would not be successful – and we sure would not be #1 for 10 straight years without you.

And, of course, with GretaWire, I feel like I know many of you and that you are my friends – even on those occasions when you are clobbering me for something I said or did  (and yes, many times I may deserve it.)  But, what is fun is that even when we get into the occasional dust up with each other we all get over it and move on.  I love good strong debate.”