White House Correspondents Insider

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

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Honors 7 at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

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José Andrés, Clive Davis, Ava DuVernay, Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams honored with portraits at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Baratunde Thurston, David Rubenstein, Anthony Fauci, Ava DuVernay, Isabel Wilkerson, Clive Davis, Alicia Keys, Hilary Rodham Clinton, Marian Wright Edelman, Kim Sajet, Sonya Haffey, Venus Williams, Isha Price, Lonnie G. Bunch, Mellody Hobson, Serena Williams, Laurene Powell Jobs and José Andrés attend the 2022 Portrait Of A Nation Gala on November 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Portrait Gallery)

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery held its 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala on Saturday, November 12 in Washington, D.C., where this year’s seven honorees were feted for their transformative contributions to the country.  The 2022 honorees are:

  • José Andrés, internationally recognized humanitarian, culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator and founder of World Central Kitchen
  • Clive Davis, Grammy Award-winning music industry executive and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  • Ava DuVernay, Academy Award nominee, Emmy, BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, and founder of ARRAY
  • Marian Wright Edelman, activist for children’s rights and founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund
  • Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health and chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, chief medical advisor to the President, and advisor on global AIDS issues and COVID-19 
  • Serena Williams, tennis champion, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles and entrepreneur
  • Venus Williams, tennis champion, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, entrepreneur and outspoken advocate on equal pay, mental health and physical wellness

The honorees, presenters, and over 750 VIP guests enjoyed cocktails during a private viewing of the Portrait Gallery’s “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition, followed by a seated dinner in the museum’s spectacular Kogod courtyard featuring the award presentations and a special surprise performance by Wynton Marsalis. The evening was hosted by writer, producer, and TV host Baratunde Thurston. The dinner program began with remarks from Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch.

Established in 2015 by the National Portrait Gallery, the Portrait of a Nation Award recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people across numerous fields of endeavor, ranging from the arts and sciences to sports and humanitarianism. 

Each honoree received the Portrait of a Nation Award based on their contributions to their respective fields, and whose portraits are either in the Portrait Gallery’s collection or are in the process of being acquired. The museum also looks to acknowledge individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

Each honoree nominated his or her own presenter, someone with whom they have a close relationship or has affected their careers.  The 2022 presenters were:

  • Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, presented to José Andrés
  • Alicia Keys, 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, musician, producer and entrepreneur, presented to Clive Davis
  • Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winner, National Humanities Medal awardee and New York Times bestselling author, presented to Ava DuVernay
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator (New York), First Lady of the United States, lawyer and activist, presented to Marian Wright Edelman
  • David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and philanthropist, presented to Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
  • Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, presented to Serena Williams
  • Sonya Haffey, interior designer and principal of V Starr, and Isha Price, entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist and CEO of Price Consulting Group LLC, presented to Venus Williams

The 2022 Gala was supported by host committee members Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, Robert and Arlene Kogod, David Rubenstein accompanied by Caryn Zucker, and Patty Stonesifer and Michael Kinsley; national co-chairs Eduardo J. Ardiles and Joseph P. Ujobai, Lyndon J. Barrois and Janine Sherman Barrois, and Catherine and Michael Podell; and Washington, D.C., co-chairs Kristin and John Cecchi and Susanna and Jack Quinn. The Gala’s founding chairs are Wayne and Catherine Reynolds.  

Notable guests in attendance included Speaker Nancy Pelosi, HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud (Saudi Arabia), Sec. of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch, III and Maria Marable-Bunch, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Chris Coons, opera singer Denyce Graves, singer-songwriter Jewel, Calvin Ripken, Jr., film director Ron Howard, Martin Luther King, III, Capitol Hill police officer Caroline Edwards, Secretary Elaine Chao, Rep. Maxine Waters, and Amb. Stuart and Gwen Holliday.

Media stars included Don Lemon and Tim Malone, Bret and Amy Baier, Dana Bash, Philip Rucker, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Symone Sanders.

Honoree portraits from the Portrait Gallery’s collection are on view in the “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition on the museum’s first floor from Nov. 10, 2022, through Oct. 22, 2023. All of the portraits this year will be on view for the first time, including six new commissions and one never-before-shown photograph. 

The 2022 portrait artists are: Ruven Afanador (Edelman), Hugo Crosthwaite (Fauci), Kenturah Davis (DuVernay), David Hockney (Davis), Kadir Nelson (Andrés), Toyin Ojih Odutola (S. Williams), and Robert Pruitt (V. Williams). 

The “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition was curated by Rhea L. Combs, NPG’s director of curatorial affairs, in collaboration with Taína Caragol, curator of painting, sculpture and Latinx art and history, and Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs.

Proceeds from the gala, which takes place every two years, support the National Portrait Gallery’s endowment for exhibitions and the museum’s commitment to commissioning artworks for its collection by working with contemporary artists. 

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery was established by an Act of Congress in 1962 to recognize the individuals who have had a significant impact on the nation’s history and culture. It opened its doors to the public in 1968.

The Financial Times Hosts First US FTWeekend Festival at The Reach 

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Henry Kissinger speaking at FTWeekend Festival: US Edition (Courtesy of The Financial Times) 

The Financial Times hosted its inaugural FTWeekend Festival: US Edition at The Reach at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C this past Saturday, May 7th. The Festival showcased the best of The Financial Times and FT Magazine journalism, exploring big ideas in politics, economics, climate and culture. The launch of the US edition follows the success of the annual FTWeekend Festival in London, which began six years ago.

Topics ranged from the new world order and fresh perspectives on communism and capitalism, to style in a post-Covid world, and writing in an age of intolerance and southern cuisine. The theme of the event was The Bigger Picture: A Global Take on the Ideas Stimulating, Diverting – and Unsettling – Our Age.

Alice Lascelles, FT Drinks Columnist, and Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, Distilling & Whisky Stocks, during their talk about the future of innovation in whisky (Courtesy of the Financial Times) 

The FT Festival featured renowned experts and commentators, including veteran statesman Henry Kissinger; author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; author of The Palace Papers Tina Brown; historian Simon Schama; and restaurateur Daniel Humm. 

Alongside these speakers, some of the FT’s most distinguished journalists took the stage, including editor Roula Khalaf; US managing editor Peter Spiegel; US editor-at-large Gillian Tett; and chief economics commentator Martin Wolf; FTWeekend editor Alec Russell; and How to Spend It editor Jo Ellison.

White House Correspondents’ Association to Honor First Two Black Women of the White House Press Corps

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The White House Correspondents’ Association has announced that African American Reporters Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne to be First Recipients of the newly created “Dunnigan-Payne Prize” named after the first two African American women to serve as members of the White House press corps.

Dunnigan-Payne Prize for Lifetime Career Achievement will be awarded on an occasional basis at the discretion of the WHCA board to recognize meritorious service throughout an individual’s career as a White House correspondent.

Alice Dunnigan in 1977, for the Black Women Oral History Project 

The namesakes of the award, the late reporters Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne, will be the first recipients of the prize. Their relatives will be on hand to accept the posthumous honor at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on April 30.

Gayle King, co-host of “CBS Mornings,” will present the award at the dinner.

“This association of White House reporters has never given its due to these two pioneering WHCA members who paved the way for so many,” said WHCA president Steven Portnoy.  “We are proud to see to it that Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne will be forever remembered for their service to the profession and to the American public.”

Ethel Payne, Courtesy of the Styberg Library 

Ms. Dunnigan was the first African American female reporter to be credentialed at the White House in 1947.  She was joined on the beat by Ms. Payne a few years later.  Both women distinguished themselves during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, regularly pressing him at his press conferences – when no other reporters would – about his administration’s support for civil rights for Black Americans.

“In the face of the racism and sexism of the era, these two women fearlessly brought the concerns of their readers directly to the most powerful man in the world,” Portnoy said. “It is our honor to lift up their legacies.”

The WHCA board voted to approve the creation of the Dunnigan-Payne Prize in January 2022. Portnoy credited board members Fin Gomez and Justin Sink, whom he said were key to the efforts to bring the honor to fruition.

Welcome Back to the Festivities: The Garden Brunch Makes it’s Long-Awaited Return in DC

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Yesterday, Axios covered the return of The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, warmly referring to it with the infamous DC nickname- Nerd Prom. 

They outlined the festivities in the Tuesday article, announcing that Washington’s biggest bash, the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, is back along with a weekend full of parties. 

Steve Clemons and Gerard Butler at the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The festivities are set to be one of the biggest events in D.C. since COVID hit, cranking up the city’s party planning machine and its legions of caterers and hospitality workers. And for the first time since 2016, a sitting president will attend. 

Comedian Trevor Noah will host (and roast). Page Six also reports that Kim Kardashian and beau Pete Davidson will stop by. They also touched on Tammy Haddad, co-founder of White House Correspondents Insider. 

The one party all of A-list Washington will hit: Tammy Haddad’s 27th-annual garden brunch, held at the Georgetown home of co-host Mark Ein, owner of the recently slashed Washington City Paper.

Among the out-of-town VIPs expected to attend are actresses Diane Lane and Lynda Carter, filmmaker Jay Roach, actor Danny Strong, and Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. 

Haddad wouldn’t share how many people would be attending — although she says there is a cap on the number of attendees for COVID-19 reasons. 

The Jonas Brothers at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 29 years ago, ahead of the 1993 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. She started the Brunch as a way to gather her friends from New York and Los Angeles when they were visiting DC for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Now, over 27 years later, the Garden Brunch is still celebrating great Washington journalism. 

We look forward to the festivities and encourage everyone in Washington to remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Wear comfortable shoes, black tie attire, and make sure you have your game-day attitude on, because you never know what or who to expect during White House Correspondents’ Weekend.

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson to Attend the 2022 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson will be back in Washington, DC, this weekend for the 2022 White House Correspondents’ dinner, Page Six reported today.

Kardashian, 41, and Davidson, 28, will be sitting at Disney/ABC’s table, as the Kardashians’ new reality show is on Hulu, now owned by Disney.

Kim Kardashian at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch

When discussing if Trevor Noah will make any jokes about the couple, one Page Six source said “I don’t think they should feel that they’re safe, Trevor could definitely turn his attention to Kim and Pete.”

Kim and Pete will be heading to the dinner shortly after they were spotted watching Jon Stewart accept the award for lifetime achievement in humor at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor show Sunday night, see below. 

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson attend the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Show on April 23rd, 2022. (Page Six)

Kardashian last attended the dinner back in 2012 where she was the butt of jokes from host Jimmy Kimmel and then-President Barack Obama.“If you’re looking for the greatest threat to America right now, she’s right there,” Kimmel joked. “She’s Kim Kardashian.” 

The Official Guide to White House Correspondents’ Week

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According to Politico’s Playbook today, The White House Correspondents Day Weekend is no longer a weekend. Get ready to say hello to the White House Correspondents’ Week. Here’s a complete list of the events to get you ready for the festivities. Just remember, these parties are invite-only, as reported by Playbook:

Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livington, Robin Dearden, Bryan Cranston at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch

THURSDAY: The weekend has become so crowded with high-profile parties that some organizations have moved their events to Thursday. These tend to be more civilized and casual affairs that allow you to practice your rusty social skills and get a preview of who’s in town before the historically fancier (and drunker) events that begin Friday.

6 p.m.: Washington Women in Journalism Awards. This year’s honorees include ABC’s Martha Raddatz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker and NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe.

6:30 p.m.: National Geographic reception, followed by screening of “We Feed People,” a documentary about José Andrés and directed by Ron Howard. Both will be on hand for a Q&A. 

6:30 p.m.: Bytes & Bylines, hosted by the Irish ambassador. We’ve never been to a bad party hosted by the Irish, so this is a good choice to start the festivities.

FRIDAY: This has become a big night for parties, and is now dominated by two talent agencies, CAA and UTA. There are tons of smaller events all over Washington scheduled for Friday, but you’re probably having a good night if you’re shutting down the dance floor at the UTA party at 2 a.m.

5 p.m.: Vanity Fair and Power to the Patients cocktail reception.

6 p.m.: NBCUniversal shows off its new digs on Capitol Hill with Chair Cesar Conde.

6 p.m.: Motion Picture Association reception. This one has historically attracted a big Hollywood contingent. 

6:30 p.m.: CAA WHCD Cocktail Party. Always a classy affair.

6:30 p.m.: 14th annual Our Voices event hosted by Maria Teresa Kumar and Rosario Dawson. (No word on whether Sen. Cory Booker is invited.)

7 p.m.: Politics & Inclusion Dinner, which promises to “bring together 50 diverse leaders in politics and media, both established and rising stars.” This year’s hosts: CNN’s Abby Phillip and ColorComm’s Lauren Wesley Wilson. 

7 p.m.: Semafor party. Justin Smith, Ben Smith, Gina Chua, Steve Clemons and Rachel Oppenheim are hosting an informal get-together to talk about their new media venture. 

7:30 p.m.: The Creative Coalition is hosting the #RightToBearArts Gala Dinner. They promise celebrities from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Young Sheldon” and “Barry.” 

9 p.m.: Funny or Die/People Magazine party. How it’s being pitched: “In a town filled with famously unfunny parties, Funny Or Die and PEOPLE Magazine present the funniest party this town has ever seen.” Also: “celebrities galore.”

9 p.m.: UTA Celebration of America’s Journalists.

Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington share a laugh at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SATURDAY:

Brunches: There’s actually only one. Known simply as “Tammy’s brunch,” this party, now in its 27th year, has become as famous as the WHCD itself. Tammy Haddad, along with her 2022 co-hosts, Mark & Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson and Franco Nuschese, will be honoring ABC News’ Bob Woodruff and Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, inspector general of the Army, with special awards.

11 a.m.: The 27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch. A reminder from the hosts: “Aside from designated press areas, the event is off the record. We ask that you follow the same rules established by the WHCA for the dinner: No professional cameras or audio/video recorders are allowed inside the Party. Interviews are not permitted inside the event. Reporting on ‘overheards’ is strongly discouraged.” 

Pre-parties: One of the longest-running traditions of the dinner is the pre-party cocktail receptions throughout the Washington Hilton, hosted by news organizations. These often spill out into the hallways, and you can hop from one to the other. It’s typically easier to see and talk to people at these receptions than inside the ballroom itself, and you’ll get your first glimpse of interesting guests as you wander around. (One of us remembers chatting with Matt Drudge and Paula Jones at one of these back in 1998.) Here are a couple, but there are many more:

5:30 p.m.: ABC News reception, hosted by ABC News President Kim Godwin.

6 p.m.: POLITICO-CBS reception hosted by POLITICO CEO Goli Sheikoleslami and CBS News President Neeraj Khemlani.

7:30 p.m.: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. 

After-parties: There are more this year than ever. The Vanity Fair party used to be the hottest ticket, but Graydon Carter canceled it in 2017, and the magazine isn’t returning this year. NBC’s shindig became the go-to destination from 2017-2019. Now, party newcomer Paramount is hosting an afterparty that is being buzzed about as the new Vanity Fair. We’ll see!

9 p.m.: Vice News’ “Break the News” party to celebrate “our friends in the field.” This one goes until 1.

9:30 p.m.: Modern Luxury DC party. Don’t worry if you didn’t go to the dinner and aren’t wearing black tie — the dress code for this one is “Cocktail Chic.”

10:30 p.m.: theGrio’s “A Seat at the Table” party celebrating Black media and April Ryan’s 25th anniversary covering Washington. Mary J. Blige is performing, and comedian Chris Tucker is hosting.

10:30 p.m.: An Evening of Magical Realism, hosted by the ambassador of Colombia. This one, billed as “an exclusive soirée,” sounds interesting. Music: Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton.

11 p.m.: The Paramount After Party.

11:30 p.m.: The NBCUniversal After Party. There’s no end time on the invitation, so that bodes well. 

Emma Watson mingling at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SUNDAY: You’re hungover. You were dancing late into the night with MSNBC bookers. Or perhaps you couldn’t sneak into the Paramount party and ended up at Black Whiskey until closing time. However the night went, you need a bloody mary and some eggs. The city is scattered with some smaller gatherings Sunday, but the two main events are hosted by CNN and yours truly.

10:30 a.m.: CNN Political Hangover Brunch.

11 a.m.: POLITICO Brunch.

We look forward to this week’s events and encourage everyone to stay safe!

27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch Honoring the Press and Our Military Veterans Returns on Saturday, April 30th, 2022

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Washington, DC – The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns for its 27th year on April 30, 2022. Traditionally held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. See preview video here. 

The 2022 Garden Brunch co-hosts are Tammy Haddad, Mark and Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson, and Franco Nuschese.

Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan.

The Brunch will also highlight the work of Blue Star Families, an organization committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors, and Dog Tag Bakery, which provides a bridge from military service to the civilian world by helping veterans, military spouses, and caregivers find renewed purpose.  Brunch guests will be invited to write notes thanking service members and their families, including those deployed in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, and pin them onto an 8-foot-tall “Honor Wall” erected by Blue Star Families.

This year’s event will be held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, once the home of former Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, now owned by Mark and Sally Ein.

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 29 years ago, ahead of the 1993 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. For background and interviews on the history of the White House Correspondents’ dinner and the events surrounding it, see Haddad’s podcast series, “Cone of Silence” on Audioboom or iTunes.

Photos and videos of previous White House Correspondents’ weekends and Garden Brunches can be found at WHC Insider.  

The 27th Annual Garden Brunch is made possible by the generous support of the Web3 Foundation, GM, and Flex.

Hashtag: #GardenBrunch

Photos of award recipients Bob and Lee Woodruff and LTG Donna W. Martin are attached below.

For more information, please contact: WHCgardenbrunch@haddadmedia.com 

The Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch and White House Correspondents Insider (WHC Insider) are not affiliated with, or approved by, the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

Bob Woodruff Foundation Co-Founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army, to Receive 2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” and “Courage” Awards

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The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns this year to honor Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army.  

The Garden Brunch is held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. Watch a preview video here. 

Bob and Lee Woodruff (Courtesy Bob Woodruff Foundation)

Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lee Woodruff has been a contributing reporter for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning.” As co-author of the New York Times best-selling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Since Bob’s injury, Lee has made it her life’s mission to help put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans.

Since Bob and Lee launched the Bob Woodruff Foundation, they have invested over $80 million to their Find, Fund and Shape™ program initiatives and began their “Got Your 6” Network that has empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members across the nation.

The Got Your 6 Network is the nation’s largest non-governmental cohort of organizations serving veterans. They work to address and solve veteran homelessness and re-integration of veterans after combat. The network includes best-in-class grantees and a national network of local partners providing support to millions of veterans, service members, and their families in the communities they call home. 

The network works in the continued support from our friend, Craig Newmark of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which has given over $18 million to the Got Your 6 Network since its inception. Together, Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Bob Woodruff Foundation reinforce a message of support for veterans and their families, noting they are here to help and have “got your six” during this period of increased uncertainty.

Bob Woodruff Presenting at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The network provides grants via application to get access to health resources, job training, and vital funds to help veterans get back on their feet. They produce military based networking events for veterans, free webinars on things like fundraising and advocating for yourself, and connect veterans with each other across the country. They also partner with a nation-wide network of organizations that provide funding, employment, and health resources specifically designed for veterans. 

Bob has been in The Hague, Netherlands this week, reporting on the Invictus Games, an international sports event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. He met with both American and Ukrainian servicemen. We are excited to celebrate both him and Lee at the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch next week to recognize the incredible service done for veterans in need.  

 LTG Donna W. Martin (Courtesy U.S. Army)

In addition, Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. As a woman who broke many glass ceilings and highlights the essence of courage, we are honored to give Lt. General Martin this award. 

An Exclusive Look Into The White House Correspondents’ Weekend: The Cone of Silence Podcast Documentary

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For those who aren’t familiar with the history of the White House Correspondents’ Weekend, listen to our podcast documentary with the inside stories, background, and comedy that has made the time so unique. 

We hope you will sign up here and listen as we take you into a deep dive outlining the ins and outs of this politically charged weekend.

Kerry Washington with Tim Daly at the 2007 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

Christi Parsons of the Los Angeles Times and the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association leads us off.  National Journal’s George Condon and American Urban Radio’s April Ryan, author of The Presidency in Black and White, also share some terrific insights on the historic relationship between the White House and the press.

Three of the best writers in the business join us beginning with Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, who take us inside how President Obama’s team put together his comedy routine for the WHCD – and you may be surprised who helps!  

Dame Helen Mirren signs a note of support on the Microsoft Magic Board at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

Chris Addison, the executive producer of HBO’s VEEP who helped write, produce and direct the Vice President Joe Biden/Julia Louis-Dreyfus romp through Washington that brought down the room at last year’s WHCD, tells us how that production came together. 

Madam Secretary star Tim Daly and Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition, talk about Hollywood’s participation in the weekend; and Captain Richard Phillips, the hero of the Maersk Alabama hijacking, shares thoughts about his weekend at the WHCD right after he was rescued.

Actors Tony Goldwyn, Bryan Cranston, Kerry Washington, and Keegan-Michael Key at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

Simon Marks, CEO of Feature Story News, Julianne Donofrio and I produced this series to take people inside how the weekend actually works and how the top participants make it a must attend event. 

So download Cone of Silence with Tammy Haddad and learn more about your colleagues – and have a few laughs as you get ready for all the activities.

Here are the episode descriptions of CONE OF SILENCE White House Correspondents Weekend podcasts:

  • A Candid History of the White House and the Press
    George Condon, White House correspondent for National Journal and unofficial historian of the White House Correspondents’ Association, shares a candid and humorous history of the White House and the press and tells us there used to be more celebrities in the old days.
     
  • The Quest for “Vigorous, Adversarial” Coverage of the President
    Tribune and L.A Times White House Correspondent Christi Parsons, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, offers a no-holds-barred plea for the urgent need for greater media access to the President and the White House. Parsons also shares how she convinced SNL‘s Cecily Strong to perform at the 2015 WHCA Dinner.
  • Using Celebrity to Drive Policy Change in Washington, DC.
    Tim Daly, star of the CBS drama Madam Secretary, and Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition, discuss the important role Hollywood celebrities play in shining a light on policy issues important to them and millions of other Americans while mesmerizing Washingtonians when they join the White House Correspondents weekend activities.
  • Mixing Hollywood and Washington for Hilarious Results
    Actor, director, writer and producer Chris Addison talks about the peril and benefit of creating the hilarious video that teamed U.S. Vice President Joe Biden with Selina Meyer, fictional vice president of HBO’s VEEP, played by comic genius Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The result was a masterpiece that brought down the house at last year’s dinner.
  • The Role of Race in Covering the White House
    April Ryan, a White House correspondent since 1997, Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks, and author of The Presidency in Black and White, shares her thoughts about covering three presidents and representing those who for too long have been removed from America’s power centers.
  • Mixing Politics with Comedy to Create the Comedian-in-Chief
    Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, former speechwriters for President Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton – who also helped create the comedic presentations for President Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner – discuss what it takes to make the President the funniest person in the room.
     
  • Captain Richard Phillips and the Impact of Accidental Celebrity
    Captain Richard Phillips, the hero of the Maersk Alabama hijacking, shares his thoughts on what happened when he attended the White House Correspondents Weekend and was thrust into the media spotlight.

President Biden and First Lady to Attend The White House Correspondents’ Dinner 

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President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will both attend this month’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday, April 30th. 

Biden entering the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Bloomberg Vanity Fair after party.
Photo credit: JUSTIN BISHOP

“The @WHCA is pleased to host President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden as we honor the First Amendment at our dinner on April 30,” the association tweeted on Wednesday, announcing the president and first lady’s plans to attend the dinner. 

The dinner, which raises money for White House Correspondents’ Association scholarships and honors winners of the association’s annual journalism awards, will be the first to take place during Biden’s presidency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Past presidents have typically attended the annual dinner, though former President Trump repeatedly declined to attend. Barack Obama was the last president to attend the annual event. The WHCA is requiring guests to show proof of a same-day negative COVID-19 test and vaccination in order to attend this year’s event.