President George Bush Archives - White House Correspondents Insider

Barbara and Jenna Hager Bush WHCInsider Interview

October 29, 2017 By WHC Insider

Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

WHCInsider co-founder Tammy Haddad spoke with Barbara and Jenna Bush, #SistersFirst, at a book party hosted by Connie Milstein, Dr. Mark Dybul and Anita McBride at The Jefferson Hotel.

While they would not reveal the joke their father, President George W Bush whispered to President Obama at the Hurricane relief event, they twins explained why they have the best jobs in the world.

Barbara Bush is the founder of Global Health Corps, an NGO that places 216 fellows from 12 countries in positions with health organizations, such as Partners In Health and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, in Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia, and the United States. She told Haddad they look for “rational dreamers” to join the program.

Jenna Hager Bush is a teacher, author, mother of two and Today show correspondent. She said through her reporting she was surprised by the “unexpected beauty of life.”

Both claimed Dr. Mark Dybul, who started PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, on behalf of President George W. Bush, as their inspiration for their focus on helping others.

Dybul thanked Connie Milstein for raising awareness of good works and good people.

The full interview is on the Washington Insider podcast on iTunes.

Connie Milstein and Mark Dybul Welcome the Bush Twins Back to Washington

October 27, 2017 By WHC Insider

Tammy Haddad, Jenna Bush, Connie Milstein, Barbara Bush, Mark Dybul. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

It was only one week ago that the posh Jefferson Hotel restaurant Plume was celebrating winning another Michelin star. But Thursday night Connie Milstein, the hotel’s owner along with Dr. Mary Dybul, Anita McBride and Tammy Haddad welcomed Bush twins Jenna and Barbara back to DC to celebrate the publication of their new book, “Sisters First,” which already landed on the New York Times bestseller list.

Spotted: Josh Bolton, Ambassador Kim Darroch, Tim McBride, Bob Woodward, Elena Allbritton, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Bret and Amy Baier, Fred Ryan and daughter Genevieve, Jason Claire, Kasie Hunt, Howard Fineman, David Lane, Ambassador Pete Selfridge, Steve Clemons, Shailagh Murray, Evan Ryan, Stephanie Cutter, Jonathan Capehart, Juleanna Glover, Craig Gordon, Francesca Craig, Mark Ein, Tom Forrest, Ryan Williams, Laura Zelt, Samia Farouki, Sara Bonjean, Rachel Pearson, Matt Mowers, Matt Dornic, Dan Meyers, Robin Goldman, Heather Lauer, Kevin Cirilli, Lauren Pratapas and Susan Blumenthal.

Read more about this event in the Washington Post by clicking here.

Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, Tammy Haddad. Photo courtesy Haddad Media

Former Presidents Join Forces to Fundraise for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Disaster Relief

September 26, 2017 By WHC Insider

Photo by Eric Draper, courtesy the White House.

All five living former U.S. presidents joined together to expand fundraising efforts for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, following the massive devastation created by Hurricane Maria.

Expanding on the “One America Appeal” launched to raise funds for Texas and Florida created to help in the aftermath of last month’s destruction from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the campaign will allow donors to also contribute to help the efforts to assist fellow U.S. citizens of both island territories in the Caribbean.

“Now individuals, foundations and institutions making tax deductible donations at OneAmericaAppeal.org may choose to assist all three recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — or to direct their donation to a specific recovery effort — using the drop-down menu in the website’s donation section,” the presidents said via press release.

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama spearhead the One American Appeal efforts.

You can learn more and make a contribution to the relief efforts at OneAmericaAppeal.org.

Every Former Living U.S. President Launch Joint Campaign for Hurricane Relief Effort

September 8, 2017 By WHC Insider

Photo by Eric Draper, courtesy the White House.

All five living former presidents – Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama – have joined together to launch a campaign urging support for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

As stated on the website for the appeal, “Every storm is unique, but a look at Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented intensity helps explain why the One America Appeal came to life.”

Americans always answer the call. https://t.co/SV1jixOExu pic.twitter.com/ktEvL6s89d

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 7, 2017

A special account was established to collect donations through the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, with the goal “to ensure that 100 cents out of every dollar goes to assist hurricane victims.” The funds collected will go to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, focusing on the greater Houston region, along with the Rebuild Texas Fund.

With the onset of Hurricane Irma to reach the Florida coast this weekend, the appeal likely will expand to these victims as well.

You can learn more about the One America Appeal by clicking here.

Press Invited, Disinvited From First Trump Re-Election Fundraiser

June 29, 2017 By WHC Insider

Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C. in 2012, the site of the Trump Hotel. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Only hours of announcing the media would be permitted to cover President Donald Trump’s first fundraiser for his re-election campaign in 2020, the White House reversed itself and closed the event to the media.

Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders emailed reporters stating that “unfortunately there was some confusion with the [Republican National Committee] and due to the logistical challenges bringing in the press at this late moment is not going to be possible.”
The event was originally listed as closed press, but Sanders announced after inquiries from reporters that a small press pool would be allowed to cover the President’s remarks.

Within two hours, the event was again closed to press. There was no explanation from the White House on the reversal, nor an explanation of what logistical challenges were present in hosting the media.

Former President Barack Obama had allowed members of the media to cover his remarks during fundraisers for himself or other candidates, although cameras were generally banned. In some cases, Obama would hold fundraising events entirely off limits to the press. In those situations, he was not delivering formal remarks, but instead taking questions from donors. These discussions with donors were always closed to reporters.

Former President George W. Bush also allowed the media to cover portions of his first re-election fundraiser.

Washington Insider Podcast Featuring Jon Meacham

November 27, 2015 By WHC Insider

Jon Meacham is the author of the New York Times best-selling biography of President George Herbert Walker Bush, “Destiny and Power.”

Mr. Meacham was interviewed at a Washington Women Technology Network event by WWTN co-founder Tammy Haddad and Megan Murphy, Bloomberg DC Bureau Chief.

Questions were also taken from the audience in the Gallatin Room of The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC on November 20, 2015.

Download the podcast on AudioBoom or iTunes.

Jon Meacham SRO at The Jefferson Hotel

November 22, 2015 By WHC Insider

The Jefferson Hotel, Washington Women Technology Network, an interview with Jon Meacham

Pulitzer prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham packed in admirers at a Washington Women Technology Network “Cocktails and Conversation” gathering on Friday, November 20th at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, DC.

Meacham’s new biography, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, is already a New York Times Bestseller. Meachan spent 17 years writing the book with access to President Bush’s personal diaries. He interviewed the president many times over the years, his family, colleagues and political enemies. Meacham’s previous biography of President Andrew Jackson, American Lion, won him the Pulitzer Prize.

Meacham, a Washington favorite, began his writing career at The Washington Monthly and became the youngest Newsweek editor where he created legendary covers and controverises with politicians and people of all stripes. He is currently and editor at Random House.

Co-hosted by Connie Milstein, co-founder of Dog Tag Bakery, Democratic commentator Hilary Rosen,and Julie Goon from Anthem, the crowd watched Megan Murphy, Bloomberg Bureau Chief and Tammy Haddad, WHCInsider editor, interview Meacham as he discussed the decades of public service and political moments that made President Bush’s career. It was an insider’s inside conversation detailing their triumph’s and disappointments. The interview will be uploaded to WHCInsider.com next week.

The Friday afternoon crowd included politicos and media. Stephanie Cutter, Neera Tanden, Holly Page, Kelley McCormick, Jill Zuckman, Jennifer Maguire, Ceci Connelly, Emily Lenzer and David Chavern. Long time Obama White House aides Ferial Govashiri and Ellie Schafer and the State department’s Nick Schmit.