White House Correspondents Insider

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

Connie Milstein, Kristi Rogers, and Rachel Pearson’s Inaugural Salute to the Senate on the Eve of Inauguration

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Connie Milstein toasts the Senators, Haddad Media

The spirit of bipartisanship was in the air at The Jefferson hotel on the eve of the inauguration. Many of the city’s top media stars, politicos, and diplomats, came together Thursday, January 19 to toast the Senate. Hosted by Connie Milstein, Rachel Pearson, and Kristi Rogers, this event was a rare evening as multiple Senators including Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Bob Corker, Deb Fischer, James Lankford, Gary Peters, Mark Warner, and Hawaii’s newest Senator Brian Schatz. House members included Maryland’s Dutch Ruppersberger and Michigan’s Debbie Dingell.

Rachel Pearson and Kristi Rogers lead the toast which celebrated the efforts of everyone in the room to end gridlock in Congress.

The diplomatic corps were well represented at the event. British Ambassador Kim Darroch and Claire Darroch, UAE Ambassador Yousef al Otaiba, German Ambassador Peter Wetting and Huberta von Voss-Wittig, and Australian Ambassador Joe Hockey.

Former House Intelligence Chair Mike Rogers, now CNN contributor and radio host, Time Warner’s Carol Melton, Uber’s Niki Christoff, and Lafayette 148’s King Chong joined Steve Clemons, Jeremy and Robyn Bash, Raoul Fernandez, and Heather Podesta.

Washington favorites Kelley McCormick, Polson Kanneth, Melissa Moss, Holly Page, Daniel Lippman and his sister Nadia Szold, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale mixed with out-of-towners MD Anderson’s Dr. Ron DePinho, his wife Dr. Lynda Chin, and media writer Michael Wolff.

Connie Milstein is the proprietor of the Jefferson Hotel and the founder of Dog Tag Bakery.

Insider Round-Up for the Day After The Inauguration

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The Inaugural is over and now Capitol Hill can (supposedly) get back to business. Here’s what you need to read so you too can say, “What about the Al Roker snub?”

  • Al Roker got snubbed by ‘interviewed’ President Obama and Vice President Biden while walking to the parade box.
  • Photobombs were dropped left and right during the ceremonial swearing-in. From Bill Clinton to Joe Biden and even “Grumpy” Gohmert made an appearence.
  • At our event with Huffington Post and Third Way, we had Old Ebbitt Grill staples like mini-lobster rolls, chicken empanadas, tuna tartare, oysters, chorizo and manchengo…oh, the list goes on. Even the Inaugural Luncheon sounded good. While our event was fantastic according to Variety, the Inaugural Ball itself got the short end of the culinary stick with Presidential Cheez It.
  • The stars came out to the district according to Politico:

    “Guests who had less trouble getting to the event, held at the Harman Center for the Arts, included the Goo Goo Dolls, Richard Kind, Tim Daly, Melissa Leo (wearing a maroon velvet pantsuit), Evan Handler and Wayne Knight. Knight of ‘Seinfeld’ fame applauded President Barack Obama for speaking ‘from his heart’ during his inaugural address. Handler, known for his role on ‘Sex and the City,’ agreed. ‘He did a great job with his speech,’ the actor said.”

  • People were definitely not shouting “Boo-urns” at Rep. Paul Ryan according to the Huffington Post. (It was “Boo!”)
  • Beyoncé lip-synched at the Inaugural. Let the Internet go crazy!

    • Obama’s Remarks: "My main purpose is to say thank you."

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    It seems like the “Change” campaign is coming back in 2013. President Barack Obama gave a preview of today’s Inaugural speech during a reception at the Building Museum. After introductions from Vice President Joe Biden and the newly Tweeting FLOTUS Michelle Obama, the president took the stage.

    “Now, first of all, I love Michelle Obama. And to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs,” he said. The sentiment that followed was one of thanks but a preview of his Inaugural speech breaking ground with gay rights, environment and capped off with Beyoncé’s voice overpowering the Capitol sound system.

    “I’m delivering another speech tomorrow so tonight I’m going to be pretty brief, because there are a limited amount of good lines and you don’t want to use them all up tonight. My main purpose tonight is just to say thank you.

    As I look out on the room, we’ve got people from every walk of life, every corner and nook and cranny of this country, every state, every city, every suburb — people who have invested so much heart, soul, time, money, energy. One of the things that made this campaign unique was the degree of investment and ownership people had in this common project of ours, because you understood this was not just about a candidate; it was not just about Joe Biden or Barack Obama. This was about us, who we are as a nation, what values we cherish, how hard we’re willing to fight to make sure that those values live not just for today but for future generations.

    Among today’s other surprising lines?

    “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

    And of course, this:

    ” Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time.”

    So far, this Inaugural has been way more interesting than the last one. And–knock on wood–there’s still cell reception in downtown D.C.! It’s an Inaugura-miracle!

    Welcome to the Inauguration with Huffington Post and Third Way!

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    Welcome to the 57th Presidential Inauguration! We’re here live at the Old Ebbett Grill directly on the parade route and comfortably heated. We’re having a bit of a viewing party with our friends from Third Way and Huffington Post’s HuffPost Live along with their D.C. bureau.

    We’re offering the usual Insider information related to the Inaugural along with live video from Huffington Post.

    We’ll be updating throughout the day with video and photos.

    Inaugural Insider Round-Up

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    Good morning and happy Inauguration Day/Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Here’s all you’ll need to know while waiting in the parade line and fidgeting for AT&T service.

    Know how there’s supposed to be less attendees at the Inaugural? It’s still in six figures, but a more manageable six figures. The gridlock around downtown D.C. will be like a Monday multiplied by Wednesday’s Metro Fail.

    Huffington Post profiles the episcopal priest that replaces Gigligo:
    “[The Reverend Louis] Leon’s own parish is known for welcoming openly gay members. The church, which has openly gay, non-celibate priests and has had a gay bishop, announced this summer that it would bless same-sex partnerships and ordain transgender priests. This month, the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal church, announced that it would also begin same-sex marriage ceremonies.”

    The AARP profiles Charlie Brotman, the man who will be announcing his 16th Inaugural Parade today:
    “Brotman, now 85, has been the official announcer for every inaugural parade but one since then. He didn’t man the microphone for President Dwight Eisenhower’s first parade in 1953, but ironically, it was Eisenhower who probably made him the go-to voice from then on.

    Here’s how it happened. In 1956, Brotman, who as a child lived with his parents and sister behind the family’s corner grocery store in the nation’s capital, landed a dream job as the stadium announcer for Washington’s baseball team, the Senators. When President Eisenhower came to throw the first pitch on opening day, it was Brotman who squired him around and introduced him to the team. Eisenhower liked him so much that the White House asked Brotman to announce the president’s second inaugural parade, in 1957.”

    WaPo historically breaks down weather patterns over the Inaugurals:
    “The 1985 swearing-in ceremony remains the coldest of all presidential inaugurations since D.C. weather records began. Ironically, it was preceded by the warmest January inauguration just four years earlier. When President Reagan took the oath of office in 1981, the temperature was 55ºF at 12 p.m., and peaked at 56 degrees later that afternoon.”

    Metro’s operating schedule is like all the worst parts (Peak fares) with the worst of the weekend (Yellow Line ends at Gallery Place-Chinatown.)

    The Christian Science Monitor has an Inaugural quiz to test your knowledge. Cabs are a $1 more from 4 a.m.until midnight, which even effects UberTaxi.

    Foursquare Checks Into National Day of Service With 2013 Badge

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    Of course there’s an unique Foursquare badge for the Inauguration, but there’s also one for the Day of Service. The partnership between Foursquare and the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the new badge today for those attending the January 19 event on the Mall. If you’re not in the District, PIC has information on nationwide service events.

    “At Foursquare, we were so inspired by the idea of a lifelong commitment that we created the first Foursquare badge to reward volunteerism,” said Foursquare CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Crowley. “Along with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, we encourage all Americans to get out and serve in their own communities to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama and the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

    Besides, there’s a better chance to unlock this badge than the “I Tried to Check-In At the Inaugural Parade 2013 But AT&T Failed Us.”

    What’s The Best Feature for the Inauguration App?

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    Among the other announcements today about Chelsea Clinton and who’ll be speaking at the Inaugural Day of Service, AT&T has released the official app of the 2013 Inauguration.

    Available for free on iOS and Android, the Inaugural app seems like an essential tool this weekend. While the social scheduler is lax, focusing primarily on the Day of Service, the Inaugural ceremonies and parade. There’re options to view volunteer opportunities around the District, along with the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s blog and pre-loaded map of the parade route with First Aid, food and screen locations marked out.

    The app may be the least of your inaugural woes if AT&T’s extra cell towers are nothing more than an eyesore. Reception’s still spotty downtown, frequently bringing our snail-like 3G all the way back to the dreaded E. If the app could promise us clear calls and full bars, we’d forego even the Google Maps app in place of the official Inaugural one. So what is the best feature for the Inauguration app?

    Letting us know when we’ve lost the signal this weekend. And the map.

    Speakers and Performers Announced for National Day of Service

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    Prepare for the full list of speakers and performers during the 2013 Day of Service on the Inaugural Weekend. Ranging from Hollywood starlets like Eva Longoria, Fraggle friendly rockers like Ben Folds or politicans like Represetative Tammy Duckworth among a large list of who’s who. Featuring nearly a hundred non-profit organizations behind the Service Summit, the Day of Service will be one of the Inaugurals major events.

    The full release is below.
    [Read more…]

    Chelsea Clinton Named Honorary Chair for Day of Service

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    The Presidential inaugural Committee announced that Chelsea Clinton will act as an Honorary Chair for the 2013 Day of Service.

    “We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” said PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As Honorary Chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the President’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”

    Politico rounds up Clinton’s quotes from earlier today on CNN:

    “I’m proud to be the honorary chair of the National Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. It’s the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will achieve more than one person could on his or her own.

    President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service projects in our nation’s capital. But you don’t have to be in Washington to get involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans, every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.”

    “There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the Inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nation-wide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”