|
|
|
| ||
| ||
|
 |
The Clintons Host A Historic Fete A Repast forThe Future atThe White House By Roxanne
Roberts Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, Will Smith, Sid Caesar, Neil Simon all chose to be in Washington for this unique moment in history. So did Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Julie Harris, Bono, Itzhak Perlman, Maya Lin, Arthur Mitchell, Robert Rauschenberg, Kathleen Battle, Edward Villella, Jessye Norman, Carl Lewis, Bill Russell and Sen. John Glenn. "I think it's a wonderful evening," said Loren, who was clearly moved to be invited to what President Clinton called an "unforgettable celebration." Americans liberated her village during World War II, she recalled, and it meant so much to be here on this night. "I come here this evening--which is a very important evening--with great, great emotion." "This is America here!" said Nicholson with his wicked grin. "Yeeahh!" This was a dusk-to-dawn affair: The guests began arriving just after 5:30 p.m. and were scheduled to dance and eat breakfast until sunrise. The festivities began with a black-tie dinner for 360 guests in the White House, who were then bused to the Lincoln Memorial for the nationally televised New Year's Eve extravaganza produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens Jr. After the midnight fireworks display, approximately 600 more people were invited back to the executive mansion for breakfast and dancing until dawn. The much-hyped "American Creators" celebration was a private, exclusive evening, however. Reporters were allowed to speak briefly to dinner guests as they arrived, but barred from covering the rest of the events at the White House. No explanation was given, although the decision was made in the first lady's office. "We're not opening the after-party," said Marsha Berry, press secretary for Hillary Clinton. "It's closed because it's closed." Perhaps it had something to do with money. What started as a millennium celebration headed by Hillary Rodham Clinton evolved into an off-the-record fund-raiser, with corporate sponsors shelling out millions to mingle with the Clintons' celebrity guests. "We raised over $16 million," said Democratic fund-raiser Terry McAuliffe, who lead the private sector drive to pay for the millennium production on the Mall and two days of public family activities at the Smithsonian Institution. But the primary perk was dinner and dancing with the president and first lady in what could arguably be considered the most historic venue in the country. Will Smith strode in looking dapper and adorable, all at the same time. Elizabeth Taylor arrived last--almost two hours after the other guests--wearing velvet and (what else?) diamonds. Loren was her usual spectacular vision. Mary Tyler Moore flacked her new TV movie. John Williams gave Jessye Norman an enormous bear hug. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee made the cutest couple. Even World Bank President James Wolfensohn, who originally planned to spend the night at his home in Jackson Hole, Wyo., couldn't stay away. "There was this feeling you were going to miss something," said his wife, Elaine. Everybody got into the act, with many guests bringing their children. In order to keep families together on this night, the White House invited 100 children of dinner guests to dine in a tent in the Rose Garden before joining their parents for the show at the Lincoln Memorial. But the real show was the East Room and State Dining Room, which were transformed into a fantasy of white and silver, with white orchids and roses set atop silver velvet tablecloths. The president went into each room to toast his guests: "I cannot help but think how different America is, how different history is, and how much better because of those of you in this room and those you represent were able to imagine, to invent, to aspire." Then an extravagant New Year's Eve dinner was served: Beluga caviar, lobster, foie gras, rack of lamb and polenta, and a special dessert of chocolate and champagne. After dinner, it was time to bundle up and head outside for the Lincoln Memorial show. Guests were advised to bring their warmest coats, hats, sweaters and other cold-weather outerwear, and the White House designated the party black tie instead of white tie, which allowed female guests to wear evening pants with long underwear. But girls will be girls: The women were adorned in the most elaborate gowns, many strapless and bare. There were many minks flung over jewel-clad wrists, although the unseasonably warm temperatures averted what could have been millennium freezing toes. The guests were transported by bus and trolley to the Mall, where they were seated in open-air chairs in front of the memorial. Every guest received a goody bag with mufflers, hand-warmers and seat cushions bearing the official Millennium logo. The real party--the dance fest after the gala--featured former Supreme Mary Wilson, who was expected to sing all the old songs to ring in the new century. "I'm very excited," she said, giggling. Given Clinton's love of music, it was undoubtedly a grand night of boogieing in presidential history. Speaking of history . . . who better to sum up the Millennium than historian Arthur Schlesinger? "I'm glad it's over," he said, stepping once again on the marble floors of the White House. No word on how he greeted the new year, but one suspects he was not dancing on the East Room tables. But then, we may never know. The guest list for last night's dinner: President Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton Daniel Abraham, SlimFast Foods Co., and Ewa Abraham David Al-Ameel, Atlan Group, and Martha Al-Ameel, Jefferson Dental Clinic Edward Albee, playwright, and Jonathan Thomas, sculptor Madeleine Albright, secretary of state, and Ricardo Dell'Orto, Barter Technologies Corp. Muhammad Ali, boxer, and Yolanda Ali Robert Altman, Zenimax Media Inc., and Lynda Carter, actress Bruce Babbitt, secretary of the interior, and Harriet Babbitt, United States Agency for International Development Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, senior adviser to the secretary of state, and Smith Bagley, Arca Foundation Robert Barnett, Williams and Connolly, and Rita Braver, CBS News Leonard and Lynne Barrack Kathleen Battle, opera singer, and Dean Mitchell Samuel Berger, assistant to the president for national security affairs, and Susan Berger Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) and Lois Breaux John Brophy, Lockheed Martin IMS, and Louise Brophy Dave Brubeck, musician and composer, and Iola Brubeck Sid Caesar, entertainer, and Florence Caesar Benny Carter, composer and musician, and Hilma Carter, retired language educator Vinton Cerf, MCI WorldCom, and Sigrid Cerf Rashid Chaudary, Raani Corp., and Samia Chaudary Vance Coffman, Lockheed Martin, and Arlene Coffman Lodwrick Cook, Global Crossing, and Carole Cook Andrew Cuomo, secretary of housing and urban development, and Kerry Kennedy Cuomo William Daley, secretary of commerce Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Linda Daschle, Baker, Donelson, Bearman and Caldwell Robert De Niro, actor Ruby Dee, actor and author, and Ossie Davis, actor and author Thomas Demetrio, Corboy & Demetrio, and Eve Marie Reilly, Cook County state's attorney Murli S. Deora, president, Bombay Congress, and Hema Deora, artist Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Deborah Dingell, General Motors Foundation E. J. Dionne, The Washington Post, and Mary Boyle Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Jackie Clegg, Export-Import Bank Rita Dove, University of Virginia, and Fred Viebahn Ronald Dozoretz, ValueOptions, and Beth Dozoretz Todd Eberle, Todd Eberle Photography, and Richard Pandiscio Maria Echaveste, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, and Christopher Edley, Harvard Law School Mark Ein, Venturehouse Group, and Marion Ein-Lewin, Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Science Sahir Erozan, Overseas Partners A. Huda Farouki, Financial Instrument and Investment Corp., and Samia Farouki Renee Fleming, opera singer, and Rachelle Fleming John Fogerty, musician, and Julie Fogerty John Hope Franklin, Duke University Mary Mel French, chief of protocol Rep. Martin Frost (D-Tex.) and Kathryn Frost John Gardner, AT&T, and Nancy J. Rawlings, International Monetary Fund Murray Gell-Mann, physicist, and Talia Shire Neil Gershenfeld, MIT Media Lab, and Laura Brewer John Glenn, former senator (D-Ohio), and Annie Glenn Daniel Glickman, secretary of agriculture, and Rhoda Glickman, deputy chief of staff of housing and urban development Michael Graves, architect, and Lynn Min, Shibao International Alan Greenspan, chairman, Federal Reserve Board, and Andrea Mitchell, NBC Brian Greenspun, theGreenspun Co., and Myra Greenspun, travel consultant Janice Griffin, Griffin and Associates . Vinod Gupta, infoUSA Inc., and Laurel Gottesman, infoUSA Inc. Carl T.C. Gutierrez, governor of Guam, and Geraldine Gutierrez Julie Harris, actress, and Jennifer Crier Johnston, actress Laurence Harris, Teligent Inc., and Susan B. Harris John S. Hendricks, Discovery Communications, and Maureen Hendricks Alexis Herman, secretary of labor, and Charles Franklin Bono, singer, and Ali Hewson Robert Isabell, Robert Isabell Inc., and James Reginato, W magazine Jesse Jackson Sr., Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and Jacqueline Lavinia Quincy Jones, Quincy Jones Media Group, and Lisette Derouaux Vernon Jordan, Lazard Freres, and Ann Jordan Robert Kahn, Corporation for National Research Initiatives, and Patrice Lyons Said Karmi, George Washington University, and Mary Jane Karmi, actress Walter Kaye, former civilian aide to the secretary of the army, and Selma Kaye Ellsworth Kelly, artist, and Jack Shear, artist Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Victoria Reggie Kennedy Kamran Khan, Raani Corp., and Hamida Khan, physician Peter Kovler, Marjorie Kovler Fund, and Judy Kovler, psychotherapist Raymond Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies, and Sonya Kurzweil, Playspace for Young Children and Parents Robert Langlois, Motorola, and Julia Langlois, librarian Patricia Lazak, financial assistant to Agnes Gund, and James Lazak, Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Alicia Leahy Jonathan Ledecky, Washington Capitals, and Marina McClelland, Marriott International James Levin, JHL Enterprises, and Kristy Swanson Carl Lewis, Olympian and actor, and Carol Lewis, television broadcaster Ann Lewis, counselor to the president Mike Sponder, special assistant to the director, Office ofNaval Research Maya Lin, artist and architect, and Daniel Wolf, Warm Spirit Inc. Mark Lindsay, director of WhiteHouse Management and Administration, and Carla Lindsay Bruce Lindsey, deputy counsel to thepresident, and Cheryl Mills Joseph Lockhart, White House presssecretary, and Mary Lockhart Sophia Loren, actress, and Carlo Ponti, film producer William Maloni, Fannie Mae,and Heidi Maloni Robert and Barbara Maurer Terence McAuliffe, American Heritage Homes, and Dorothy McAuliffe Paul McCarthy, "America's Millennium," and Marsha Berry, deputy assistant to the president and director of communications for the first lady Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, deputy assistant to the president and adviser to the first lady, and Christopher Lovell Bobby and Debra McFerrin Judith A. McHale, Discovery Communications, andMichael P. O'Halloran Don and Patricia McLean Arthur Mitchell, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Virginia Johnson, Dance Theatre of Harlem Leslie Moonves, CBS Television, and Nancy Moonves Mary Tyler Moore, international chairman, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation,and S. Robert Levine, ProgressivePolicy Institute Jack Nicholson, actor, and Lara Flynn Boyle, actress Beth Nolan, counselor to the president, and Dimitri Nionakis Jessye Norman, soprano, and George Norman, Bell South Dennis O'Connor, Smithsonian Institution, and Anne O'Connor Edward James Olmos, actor, and Bodie James Olmos, filmmaker Michael Oreskes, New York Times, and Jill Abramson, New York Times Dean Ornish, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and Molly Ornish Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), and Denise Banks, deputy director for civil rights, Department of Agriculture Itzhak Perlman, violinist, Toby Perlman, Perlman Music Program,and Ariella Perlman Robert Pinsky, United States poet laureate, and Ellen Pinsky John Podesta, chief of staff to the president, and Mary Podesta Sunil Puri, First Rockford Group, and Jenine Cannell-Puri Robert M. Rauschenberg, artist, Darryl Pottorf, artist Bruce Reed, assistant to the president for domestic policy, and Bonnie Lepard Janet Reno, attorney general of the United States Steven Ricchetti, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, andAmy Blanchard William Richardson, secretary of energy, and Barbara Richardson Richard Riley, secretary of education, and Anne Riley Dennis Rivera, 1199/SEIU Health and Human Service Employees Union, andMaria Alvarez, consultant Maxwell Roach, percussionist and composer, and Connie Crothers, pianist Sen. Charles Robb (D-Va.), and Lynda Robb, Reading Is Fundamental Liz Robbins, Liz Robbins Associates Wayne Rogers, Synergics Energy Development, and Valerie Rogers Allen and Nicole Salmasi, NextWave TelecomMichael Saylor, MicroStrategy, and Phyllis Saylor Arthur Schlesinger, historian, and Alexandra Schlesinger Bernard Schwartz, Loral Space and Communications, and Irene Schwartz Martin Scorsese, film director, and Helen Scorsese Niranjan and Pratima Shah, Globetrotters Engineering Walter Shorenstein, Shorenstein Cos., and Clotilde Alvarez Robert Shrum, Shrum, Devine, Donilon, and Marylouise Oates, writer Arnold Simon, Aris Industries, and Debra Simon Neil Simon, playwright, and Elaine Simon Rodney Slater, secretary of transportation, and Cassandra Slater Will Smith, actor, and Jada Smith, actress Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and Sharon Smith Jean Kennedy Smith, former ambassador to Ireland Harold Snyder and Tamar Hirschl Gene Sperling, assistant to the president for economic policy, and Susanne Weinrauch Robert Stanton, National Park Service director, and Janet Stanton David Steiner, Steiner Equities Group, and Sylvia Steiner George Stevens Jr., "America's Millennium" producer, and Elizabeth Stevens Michael Stevens, "America's Millennium" producer Maria Tallchief, dancer Elizabeth Taylor, actress, and Firooz Zahedi, photographer Julie Taymor, theater and film director, and Elliot Goldenthal, composer Howard Tullman, Tunes.com, and Judith Tullman Melanne Verveer, assistant to the president and chief of staff to thefirst lady, and Philip Verveer, Willkie Farr & Gallagher Edward and Linda Villella, Miami City Ballet James Watson, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Elizabeth Watson Mark Weiner, Financial Innovations, and Susan Weiner Togo D. West Jr., secretary of veterans affairs, and Gail West, Armstrong Worldwide John Williams, composer and conductor, and Michael Gorfaine Mayor Anthony Williams and Diane Simmons Williams August Wilson, playwright, and Constanza Romero Mary Wilson, author and singer, and Linda Green, event planner Joseph T. Wilson, National Council for theTraditional Arts, and Kathryn James, Oasis Program James Wolfensohn, World Bank, and Elaine Wolfensohn Avis Young, TommyHilfiger USA, and Leroy Young Jr., Garden State Lumber Products Pinchas Zukerman, violinist and conductor, and Amanda Forsyth, cellist
© Copyright 2000 The Washington Post Company | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||
| ||
 .gif){kind=spacer} |
 |
 |
