White House Correspondents Insider

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

Washington Sees Off Leslie Dach

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Leslie Dach Reception

When Tony Podesta sends an invitation, smart people always say yes. But an invite from Tony and Walmart’s Senior Director of Federal Government Ivan Zapien to fete the outgoing Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs Leslie Dach has all the smart people accepting.

Tosca’s front room was packed with Washington’s finest to take a moment away from big issues to celebrate a Big Man on the Washington Campus (Leslie, of course). After leading their Washington office for seven years, he’s leaving behind all the good works of the corporate affairs office to a new role as consultant to the company. Leslie with his wife Mary and their daughter hugged and chatted with friends as yummy hors d’oeuvres were passed around the early-evening crowd.

Guests included Sylvia Matthews, former director of OMB, who Leslie recruited to Walmart to run their philanthropy, Washington Super-Lawyer Bob Barnett, Martha’s Table CEO/President and Philanthropist Patty Stonesifer, Mary Tydings Smith and The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer. Other guests included Ron Brownstein and Eileen McMenamin, Amy Weiss and Peter Kadzik, Ann Walker Marchant, Melissa Moss and John Podesta.

Celebrating 20 Years: 2012 Garden Brunch

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Special Guests Tweet for a Cause

The 20th Annual Garden Brunch will kick off White House Correspondents Association’s weekend today. So we figured to honor our age–and wish the WHCA a happy 99th birthday–we’d look back at the last three years that lead up to where we are today.

Last year the gathering was once again held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, graciously provided by Mark Ein. The brunch provided a bright spot to an otherwise cloudy day made better with the glittering collection of celebrities from Hollywood and Washington.

Lindsay Lohan’s arrival garnered special attention, as well as Elle Macpherson and Kerry Washington of the newly premiered show “Scandal.” Other special guests included Rosario Dawson, Kris Jenner, Johnny Galecki (“The Big Bang Theory”),
Chace Crawford and Matthew Morrison.

There was also a special appearance from Woody Harrelson, fresh off the HBO political drama “Game Change.” See below for video highlights:

Gavin Newsom's Citizenville in D.C. [PHOTOS]

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2/15/13 - Book Party for Gavin Newsom's "Citizenvillie"

California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom felt right at home at Washington’s Jefferson Hotel on February 16th to discuss his new book, “Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government.” While WHCInsider provided live coverage of the program C-SPAN’s Book TV covered all the action from the Gallatin Room for an upcoming segment (scheduled for next weekend or so). Newsom mingled among the select crowd of reporters and government officials keen to hear how Farmville can become legitimate models for politicos. Among the crowd were Newsom’s old friend Hilda Solis, the former Secretary of Labor, and former California Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, who paid tribute to Newsom as a strong leader for California and in technology. The book party was co-hosted by Constance Milstein and JC de la Haye St. Hilarie, Tammy Haddad and Ellen Tauscher. Top Obamaites Evan Ryan and her husband Tony Blinken, Jeremy and Robyn Bash, Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley, Jane Oates, joined journalists Kate Boulduan Jim Fallows, who recently moved back to Washington, Jane Mayer, from the New Yorker,Michael Falcone from ABC News, David Chalian and Jonathan Martin from Politico, Betsy Fischer Martin of Meet the Press and Rob Saliterman from Google. Eve O’Toole, whom Newsom called his “best friend and trusted adviser” and her husband Peter O’Toole, joined Holly Page, Mandy Grunwald, Martha Slagle , Jonathan Capehart, Judy Kurtz, Heather Podesta, Melissa Moss, and “get excited” chairman Marc Adelman.

After Newsom signed copies of his new book and gave a few brief interviews, the crowd retreated for a closed door dinner and more than a few verses from some popular songs. While that remains a secret, check out some photos from the event to see what you missed when gaming change comes to Washington:

Photos from Cafe Milano's Inaugural Bash

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In case you were with us during Inauguration Day, Cafe Milano was still in full swing on Monday after Sunday’s Bipartisan Brunch. Hosted by
Robert Johnson (The RJL Companies), Gina Adams (FedEx) and Milano’s own Franco Nuschese. The Hill mentioned the event in their wrap-up of Inaugural activity. Georgetown Dish was there to hear Franco give a few Inaugural words to the packed room:

“Earlier today, we heard President Obama’s soaring words of inspiration. We now look hopefully for the most strident of the election rhetoric to fade and for all of our leaders of both parties to join in maximizing the greatness and opportunities of our country.”

Check out the slideshow above to see who else was at the Georgetown soiree.

Beau Willimon and Kate Mara Discuss D.C. At House of Cards Premiere

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House of Cards Premiere at Newseum

The ghost of D.C. and Hollywood’s last intense fling filled the Newseum at the premiere for “House of Cards.” As the press gaggle waited for series executive producer/director David Fincher (who slipped away before the red carpet) and Kevin Spacey (“Rep. Frank Underwood”) a question remained: how would this compare to “K Street,” the last premium program that brought us all together. Coincidentally, “House of Cards,” which premieres Friday on Netflix, has a great chance to surpass previous feelings for George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh‘s lobbying series because of Beau Willimon. The former Howard Dean staffer turned playwright handled adaptation duties for “House” from the original novel and 1990 BBC mini-series. Willimon previously dealt with Beltway issues and drama with 2004’s Off-Off Broadway “Farragut North,” which he would later adapt for Clooney into the Oscar-nominated Best Adapted Screenplay”The Ides of March.”

Talking to Huffington Post, Willimon commented on the nature of D.C. and how ripe it is for drama:

Check out the other video interview with actress Kate Mara below along with our slideshow of who else attended a night filled with Bobby Darin songs.
[Read more…]

Photos: The Daily Beast Bipartisan Brunch

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Over the Inaugural, The Newsweek Daily Beast Company did the impossible in D.C.: they got both the left and the right to compromise. Not at the Capitol, however, but at Café Milano in Georgetown thanks to brunch. The “Bipartisan Brunch” went toe-to-toe against a luncheon hosted Google, Elle and Center for American Progress‘”Leading Women in Washington,” featuring leading women including the top elected representatives and ABC‘s own soiree at the Top-Of-The-Hay.

Hosted by Daily Beast Editor-in-Chief Tina Brown, Presidential Inaugural Committee Co-Chair Eva Longoria, The Weinstein Company’s own Harvey Weinstein, Mark McKinnon and Pamela Thomas-Graham. Why do it?

‘It was just absolutely time that the sharks and the jet had a party,” Brown told Yeas & Nays, making her way through the packed restaurant.’

Other notables include actress Rosario Dawson, Piers Morgan,Andrea Mitchell,Kerry Washington,Gayle King and more are just behind our slideshow.

Diane Sawyer Names Miss Montana as ABC's Person of the Week

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Miss Montana on stage, Thursday January 10th, at preliminaries at Planet Hollwood, Las Vegas.

Miss Montana Alexis Wineman will be Diane Sawyer’s Person of the Week tonight on ABC’s World News. The 18-year old Miss America hopeful appeared earlier today on Good Morning America discussing how she’s the youngest contestant in the 92-year history of the pageant and growing up with autism.

As the days lead up to the competition airing on the ABC network Saturday, January 12 at 9 p.m. there are already a few winners among the women. Miss North Dakota (Rosie Sauvageau) and Miss Washington (Mandy Schendel) received the awards for Talent and Lifestyle & Fitness, respectively, on Thursday night. Of course, its up to the judges to make the tough decision. This year, the Miss America All-Star judging panel includes “Dancing with the Stars'” Cheryl Burke, Mary Hart, Daymond John, GMA’s Sam Champion, designer Bradley Bayou and Olympian McKayla Maroney.

Here are all the Judges on Thursday being taught how to not betray their favorites with a little help from Maroney being “not impressed“:

The judges will get to show the rest of the world how impressed they are tomorrow night during the live broadcast from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.