White House Correspondents Insider

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

Chaka Kahn Officially Kicks Off Washington Summer Season

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Chaka Kahn Performs in D.C.

Chaka Kahn Performs in D.C.

On a Washington day that threatened rain, legendary soul diva Chaka Khan brought sunshine and heat to the opening of the ninth season of Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza — Washington’s longest-running, free outdoor concert series. In front of a crowd of 400 loyal fans, Chaka performed her greatest hits for a 90-minute set, including: “Ain’t Nobody,” “Feel For You,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and “Sweet Thing.”

Chaka, in a flowing purple dress and backed by a four-piece band and three back-up soul singers, came out to roaring applause from the crowd.  Dancing and grooving to her own songs, she kept the crowd on their feet, despite the heat. “It’s hot out there!” she shouted with her signature wide smile to the crowd. “I’m already brown, so I don’t need a tan!” The audience — including VIPs in a special tent set on risers with cold water — sang along to every song and die-hard fans brought out old records and images of the singer, including one fan with a purse made of laminated record covers.

The Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza series runs from June 3 through September 25, staged on the spacious Washington landmark, Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the entrance of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building. Performances take place from noon until 1:30 p.m. (One exception: D.C. go-go legend Chuck Brown will take to the stage from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.)

Check out more photos from Chaka Kahn’s performance:

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WHCD Private Obama Meeting with Governor Huntsman

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Who is happier: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich or former Governor Mitt Romney?

John McCain And Mitt Romney Meet In Salt Lake City

The White House Correspondents Dinner has dominated the headlines over the years with celebrity sightings, presidential roasts, and comedy routines.

This year President Obama used the cover of the dinner to have a private meeting with one of the top GOP contenders for the 2012 nomination, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. Obama asked Huntsman to be Ambassador to China and Huntsman said yes. That is another blow to the GOP and another notch on the President’s 2012 belt.

Click here for Marc Ambinder’s analysis.

BizBash: Behind the Scenes

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Correspondents’ Weekend Coverage: Bloomberg and Vanity Fair’s Exclusive Party, Atlantic Media’s Dinner, McLaughlin’s Brunch, and More

BizBash Goes Behind the Scenes Of White House Correspondents Weekend Events

BizBash Goes Behind the Scenes Of White House Correspondents Weekend Events

See all the Coverage

As in years past, parties of every kind and color—from movie screenings to exhibit openings to hangover brunches—surrounded this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Here’s a wrap-up of the weekend’s attractions:

Bloomberg and Vanity Fair’s After-Party
Capitol File may have hosted the weekend’s biggest party, but the most exclusive honors went to Bloomberg LP and Vanity Fair, who hosted an impossible-to-get-into shindig for 250 on Saturday night. Taking over French ambassador Pierre Vimont’s turn-of-the-century home in Kalorama, the party drew big names from politics and Hollywood, among them Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Glenn Close, Eva Longoria, David Axelrod, Desiree Rogers, and the ubiquitous Captains Chesley Sullenberger and Richard Phillips. The party took over the mansion’s interior rooms with bars and buffets, and spilled out into the backyard, where the many trees were uplit in blue, pink, and green.

David Bradley’s Private Dinner
On Friday night, Atlantic Media owner David Bradley and his wife, Katherine Brittain Bradley, hosted an indoor cocktail reception followed by an outdoor seated dinner at their Embassy Row home. Sponsored by Toyota and Robert Mondavi Winery, the annual event was twice as large as last year, thus requiring for the first time a 40- by 40-foot HDO Productions tent, which Frost Lighting technicians draped with white rope lights.
[Read more…]

Inside The 2009 Bloomberg | Vanity Fair After Party

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After the tour de force from President Obama, it didn’t seem like the night could be any more magical. But as guests walked up the circular drive for the Bloomberg | Vanity Fair after party at the French Ambassador’s residence, the magic continued. It was the ultimate insiders affair: no red carpet or paparazzi gauntlet, just Owen Wilson lounging near the front door talking quietly to a few Washington admirers.

With Donald Rumsfeld, who lives down the street, stopping by for a drink, it was a night, a location, and a crowd where anything could happen. Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter, joining party forces this year, welcomed the exclusive guests.

The brave captain of the Maresk Alabama, who offered his life in exchange for his mates, was Bloomberg’s special guest for the weekend. That followed getting the keys to New York City from Mayor Bloomberg the day before. Captain Richard Phillips shrugged off the compliments of celebrities (Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore) and politicos who lined up to shake his hand, but he did pose proudly with another real-life Captain America, Chesley Sullenberger, who safely piloted a US Airways jet onto the Hudson River.

Earlier in the day, Phillips and his wife, Andrea, met with President Obama in the Oval Office, after a private tour of the White House. The unflappable captain told Bloomberg it was an “honor to meet the President. He’s a very amazing man and he’s a very down-to-earth man.” His wife agreed, “It was very overwhelming, surreal to actually, be inside the Oval Office … I was so deeply excited to have met the President like that.”

After being introduced to the Commander-in-chief, Phillips admitted it was hard to get excited about meeting anyone else after being introduced to the Commander-in-Chief.
[Read more…]

McLaughlin Group Gathers For Traditional "Morning After" Brunch

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Patricia Duff, Mort Zuckerman and host John McLaughlin at his traditional "Morning After" Brunch

Patricia Duff, Mort Zuckerman and host John McLaughlin at his traditional "Morning After" Brunch

The Father of the Modern Political Panel Talk Show, John McLaughlin, came to national prominence as President Nixon’s priest who defended him so well on television after his fall. But for many in Washington, he’s almost as well known for his Sunday brunch on the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend.  One of the great traditions for A-listers (local and Hollywood based) is to wake up and head on over for more people watching. “The McLaughlin Group” is the first panel political show to put opinions and humor into Sunday morning political talk.  From the beginning McLaughlin captured and advanced the conversation with original panelists like Robert Novak, Jack Germond and Mort Kondracke to the omnipresent Patrick Buchanan.  The long suffering Eleanor Clift still holds her own, while Moynihan “hottie” Lawrence O’Donnell has brought in a new audience to this Washington staple.  McLaughlin owns his show which is both on NBC and syndicated on PBS stations around the country. Others have tried and failed to compete with his original delivery and thought provoking banter.  He is the ringmaster and makes politics more accessible to audiences that would not watch a cable show.

His unique place in the political conversation has made his brunch just as thought provoking.  When Robert DeNiro was prepping for “Wag The Dog” he was McLaughlin’s guest for the WHCD.  The double takes as DeNiro talked to Laura Ingraham and Janet Langhart was a classic McLaughlin brunch moment.  The occasional appearance of Tom Selleck, as well as VP Cheney and other cabinet officials of both parties, caused an incredible fight for an invitation.  The brunch, then in McLaughlin’s Woodland Drive home, has become another weekend tradition.

This year’s Brunch at Teatro Goldoni, the first to coincide with Mother’s Day, brought out a crowd that included, Tivo Chairman Tom Rogers, Nancy Bagley, Soroush Shehabi, Nicole Bagley, former Sec. of Defense Bill Cohen, Beth and Ron Dozoretz, Fred and Marlene Malik, Buzz Aldrin, Debbie and John Dingell, Amb. Ivonne A-Baki, Susan Hurley, Tandy and Wyatt Dickerson, Pat Buchanan and wife Shelley, Ali and Mark Russell, Spike and Tina Karalikis, Jim Kimsey, former Md. Cong. Tom McMillen, Judith Czelusniak, PR worldwide Bloomberg, and Dr. Christine Warnke among others.

More pictures of today’s brunch after the jump. [Read more…]

RNC Chair Gives Obama Speech a Thumbs Up

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Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, told WHCInsider that he thought Obama’s speech was great. Steele said he thought the ribbing was “fine and fair.”

And Wanda’s?
 
“Wanda is Wanda, she comes real and you got to be prepared. But there will be news made later this week, I guarantee you,” said Steele.

Watch Wanda’s routine below.

Stevie Wonder on the Red Carpet

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Red carpet pandemonium — packed on both sides of the velvet ropes — photographers and reporters on one side, faced fans and star gazers on the other. Glenn Close,”It’s completely crazy!” Screams and shouts for arriving VIPs: aplusk (Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher), Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Pre-WHCD Garden Party a Hit

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Early estimates for the turnout at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch exceed 500, probably more, as a capacity crowd mingled and mixed in anticipation of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight. The weather — always an issue in D.C. — cooperated, serving up a sunny, if slightly humid afternoon.

Guests included actors Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Matthew Modine and Dana Delaney; Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk and his wife Andrea; Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; former Clinton administration official Donna Shalala; David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Ann Curry of NBC News, and many others.

The party ran from Noon until 3:00 p.m., when guests started leaving to prepare for tonight’s big event.

Janet Napolitano and Donna Shalala

Janet Napolitano and Donna Shalala

Christian Slater

Christian Slater
Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

Ludacris Looking Forward to His 2nd WHCD, Hopes Wanda Doesn't "Hold Back"

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Ludacris at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch

Ludacris at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch

Rapper and actor Ludacris says he’s looking forward to the big correspondents’ dinner tonight, and, noting that he’s been a longtime fan of Wanda Sykes (tonight’s entertainer), adds that she shouldn’t “hold back… there’s too much seriousness in this town.”

Ludarcis attended the 2006 WHCD, when Stephen Colbert was the evening’s entertainment, and said he’s taking his mom tonight,”kind of an early Mother’s Day present.”