White House Correspondents Insider

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

"Dean of DC Press Corps" David Broder Dies

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David S. Broder, Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist and pundit whose political analysis and influence earned him the respect of the Washington press corps, has died at the age of 81.

The Washington Post announced Broder passed away Wednesday at Capital Hospice in Arlington of complications from diabetes.

Broder covered every presidential convention since 1956 and was a fixture on NBC’s “Meet the Press” since the 1960’s. He was lured away from The New York Times in August 1966 by The Washington Post’s managing editor, Benjamin C. Bradlee, who sought Broder’s help in transforming The Washington Post for a new era. Broder and The Post won the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for coverage of the Watergate scandal. Broder worked on The Post’s national staff and wrote two columns a week for most of the past 40 years. His final column appeared on February 6.

For more on Broder’s notable career, read Robert Kaiser’s remembrance on WashingtonPost.com.

As TIME’s James Poniewozik points out, Broder “helped create an emerging, and hugely influential, profession: the modern electronic-media pundit.” In 2008, Broder marked a milestone with his 400th appearance on “Meet the Press.”

Obama Originals and Regulars Reunite at HBO Party

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“By the People,” the HBO documentary by Amy Rice and Alicia Sims, brought together top Obama campaign veterans and the press corps that followed them through the historic 2008 election for a backslapping, bear-hugging reunion at the newly renovated Motion Picture Association of America. HBO President Richard Plepler greeted top White House advisers Anita Dunn, Austan Goolsbee, Dan Pfeiffer, Sarah Feinberg, Bill Burton, Mike Blake, Dag Vega, and Washington’s newest Chicago import Susan Sher, the First Lady’s longtime friend and chief of staff.

The filmmakers’ Obama bus mates were well represented in the 80-plus crowd beginning with bestselling author Richard Wolffe, Obama “original” Juliana Goldman, Lynne Sweet, plus several campaign heavy hitters: Mike Allen, Mark Leibovitch, Jeff Zeleny, and David Jackson.

Representing the 2008 TV and pundit corps: Hilary Rosen, Jonathan Capehart, Betsy Fischer, and David Chalian.

The party went into overdrive when Reggie Love huddled with Richard Plepler; one line formed to take photos with Love and another to shake hands and schmooze with Plepler.

Washington’s elite came out to watch the HBO screening: Ben Bradlee, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, George and Liz Stevens, and Bob Barnett. And all eyes were on Barnett and the HBO chief, as they huddled over their upcoming projects.

Obama media man Jim Margolis and White House Communications Director Anita Dunn spoke after the screening, reminding the crowd that Rice and Sims joined the campaign in 2006.  And after an inspiring speech about the campaign, Margolis told how he meticulously prepared for commercial shoots at the critical campaign moment Rice and Sims were always present, whether it was around the campaign office or stepping in a the right moment to get the shot of the candidate who made history. Dunn said the film captured the special feeling of what it was like to work on the campaign and that “there will not be another campaign that was like the Obama 2008 campaign…people felt that they were a part of something much bigger than one individual.”

Reggie Love, who was always one step in front of or behind Obama in the film, attended the screening with two BlackBerry’s in hand, greeting many of those who spent hours covering the candidate or working on the campaign.  MSNBC’s Richard Wolffe, who made several appearances in the film, cheered and laughed along with his colleagues as the audience could see through the camera lens the sometimes quiet and sometimes frantic moments of the campaign.

For many it was a chance to relive the excitement of the campaign, for others it was to catch up with Obama people who are now running the country.

“By The People” premieres November 3rd at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.

WHCInsider Exclusive: Quinn Bradlee Engaged!

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“Pary Williamson and Quinn Bradlee

Pary Williamson and Quinn Bradlee 5/4/09

Quinn Bradlee, son of Washington Post legends Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn popped the question (over the phone!) to Pary Williamson and the engagement news was the talk of George Stephanopoulos’ party for Lee Woodruff’s new book.

Sally Quinn tells the WHCInsider that the ring is a Bradlee family heirloom. It belonged to Ben Bradlee’s great-great-grandmother Suzette Crowninshield.  Quinn has been on tour for his new book and web site, Friends of Quinn.  For photos of the book party Barry Diller threw for Quinn go to WHCInsider.com/scrapbook.   Stay tuned for video of the party…

"Grey Gardens" DC Premiere Draws Washington Stars

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Sally Quinn told me that she remembers reading the original newspaper stories about Big Edie, Jackie Kennedy’s aunt, and Little Edie, Jackie Kennedy’s first cousin, living in the dilapidated estate, Grey Gardens, the home Sally now owns in East Hampton. Here is Sally’s story from today’s Washington Post.

When Washington favorite, HBO Co-President Richard Plepler (who began his career as an aide to Senator Chris Dodd) comes to town, the stars some out … and the dinner and screening at The Motion Picture Association Wednesday night was no exception. George and Elizabeth Stevens, Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff, Elsa Walsh, Margaret Carlson, and the Washington Post dream team Marcus Brauchli with his wife Maggie Farley, and  Raju Narisetti were all on hand.

And Obama friend and White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers joined the party, which included of course, Ben Bradlee, Sally Quinn, and their first-time author son, Quinn Bradlee … who didn’t seem to suffer any wear-and-tear from his grueling book tour schedule.

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