White House Correspondents' Dinner: Glamour Is Back!
This is my first ever blog, so forgive me if I make any 'blogosphere faux pas'. Arianna instructed me to write as if I were addressing an old friend, so here goes.
On Saturday night I attended the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for the second year running. The evening started with drinks at Christopher Hitchens' house. He is one of the writers I most admire and finally had the chance to meet. Then onto the Newsweek pre-dinner cocktail and then the actual dinner. I was accompanied by actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers, in Versace of course, and we were sitting with editor Graydon Carter on the Vanity Fair tables. (He is so entertaining!)
The dinner was a glamorous affair, as it was last year, but this time round there was a very different atmosphere, in ways that seemed to me to symbolize the huge changes that are taking place in this country as a result of the new administration.
The first thing that hit me was that nobody was using their BlackBerrys. This is a pet hate of mine, and last year lots of the guests were glued to their devices. While George Bush did a little comedy — conducting the orchestra and entertaining people with a speech — the audience was just not that attentive. Many people were talking away and those dreaded BlackBerrys were out in full force.
This year, the minute Barack Obama stood up to speak, there was silence. Its obvious to me that this is a President people want to listen to because what he says is interesting. There was a huge amount of expectation as he spoke and it made me think of the level of expectation people have of this man — maybe its too much? They hope he will fulfill his promise in a short time, but that of course is not realistic. People need to remember that he inherited the economic situation, for a start. But I think he's up to the job. He has already changed people's attitudes in a very short period. Sometimes a new person comes in to a job and nothing changes. But that's not the case here.
Speaking from a European point of view, it is no exaggeration to say that it had got to the point where many in Europe regarded America as the enemy — and Americans were people we didn't even want to look at. It was almost as if the Europeans were simply against America and Americans. This was wrong, of course, and a result of the fact that there was confusion in our minds between the American people and the American administration.
This is something that President Obama has managed to change, and this change was evident at the dinner on Saturday. There was a friendly atmosphere, it was cool, younger, relaxed and glamorous. Glamour was something that seemed to be completely lost before. Of course there were Hollywood people there last year, but there's a difference between cool Hollywood and stiff Hollywood. On Saturday I saw lots of cool Hollywood people that I know and some who are friends of mine — Ashton and Demi, Sting and Trudi — it was the right mix.
The key to this administration's appeal is, I think, that it's so energetic and positive, and (yes, one of my favourite words) glamorous! The first lady looked beautiful. It was so great to see a President's wife in a hot pink dress, a jewelled necklace with a pink flower and purple eye shadow. Great hair, great make-up — this is what we want to see: confidence.
As for her husband, he was wearing a normal tie, while everyone else was wearing a bow tie with their dinner suits. This is what I like about him — he seems so relaxed. He was clearly enjoying himself, and in fact the actors who were there were given a lesson in performing by the President. He did a fabulous comic speech and made us laugh — he was really, really funny. He made fun of himself and some of the press. He has a great a sense of humour. He really knows how to work an audience. He literally had the room in tears.
It was a long night but the time flew — it went so go quickly. People genuinely had fun. I've been to so many of this kinds of events where you have people looking at their assistants as if to say, "Can I leave now?" There was none of that. Everyone was having a good time, and I was amazed by how members of the Obama administration, high-powered people like the Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Geithner, and the Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, were just walking round the room in a really cool and relaxed way. Rahm was carrying his jacket slung over his shoulder.These people look like they know what they are doing. They don't need to put on an attitude to impress people.
Highlights for me were getting a big hug from Forest Whitaker, who I have never met before, and meeting my hero, General Powell. I went up to him and introduced myself and shook his hand. He was very friendly, very warm, and it made my evening.
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Keep writing Donatella. I enjoyed your story.
I really liked this article. Getting the inside scoop of the evening from one of the glamorous guests. The fact that people didn't play with their phones while Obama was speaking is telling. Very energetic and energizing evening.
Congratulations on your first blog, Donatella. It took me 2 days to click on your post and I was so glad I did. It was as smooth and free flowing as one of your designs.
Your perspective as a European was an eye opener for me... The extremes of the anti American sentiment was something I always suspected but couldn't really confirm. But... Right now I couldn't be happier with the way things are going and the job that our new prez is doing. And even though the economy is still in disarray, It just feels good to have a steady hand at the till. Its like knowing that your baby is with your mother, so now you can confidently sleep as deeply as you want to, without a care, knowing that everything is gonna be just fine in the morning.
Anyway like I said... Great blog. Hope to be hearing from you again very soon as the Huffington Post Washington glam correspondent. :-) This time I'll check it out right away.
I would love to give Ms. Versace a 'high five'. She hit the nail on the head with her comments in her very first blog, which by the way, was terrific. She is very gracious and a good judge of character. (I am jealous that she went with Mr. Rhys Meyers, though.)
I hope to read more of your posts on Huffington Post.....my favorite!!!!
Thank you, Ms. Versace
I am from Ireland and I totally agree with Dontalla's comments about European opinions. It is so true that the Bush years were detrimental to America's image in the world. I stayed up until 7 in the morning here in Dublin, watching as Obama became president. As I had the years before, watching Bush get re-elected. When Bush got re-elected I completely lost my faith in the American people,I could not understand how taht could have happened. However I could not have been happier when you guys elected Obama. He really seems not only like a great American leader, but a great WORLD leader, which is something we all need at the moment.
I know a lot of you may think I have no right to be butting into American politics, but I'm sure as you all know, what happens in the US greatly affects the rest of us here in Europe and the rest of the world, so I really do believe that my opinion counts.
It is really great that America now has a President that truly reflects the goodness of Americans and that can also make me laugh til I cry!!
You've got it completely wrong, Donatella. The Obama administration is not about glamour. Obama is about accessibility. Obama appeals to the average American because they feel he listens and understands. I don't want to see my president hanging out with Hollywood elite, I want to see him in town halls with everyday people.
When I saw commentary by Donatella Versace I was like huh? But as I read it I was like ok it's all good girlfriend. I got the same vibe seeing the video that the atmosphere was cool and casual with glam still reigning supreme (at least for those in the tank for the Pres-LOL).
No, her dress was not nearly as tight as you describe. Fitted? Yes. Tight as a sausage? Not in the least.
She walked gracefully and comfortably, indications that her dress was not too tight for her. And even if it looked as though it were too tight (as it apparently looked to you), YOU were not the one wearing it. Nor did you select it, buy it, design it, or anything else. If you don't like what the First Lady has to wear, its quite a simple matter to fix. Don't look at her. But if you are going to critique and criticize, at least be honest.
And, no, your comment wasn't directed to me either, but mine was most certainly directed at you.
Directed at Jozinha further along in the thread.
Thanks for blogging, Donatella. I enjoyed reading it. ; }
Great overview -- I enjoyed reading that! :o)
I am British (hoping to naturalize American one day but that is a different story), living in the USA and I travel the world widely on business. Being "from America" but "not American" I found that the people of the countries I visited opened up to me in ways they did not do to the Americans who were with me.
Donatella's "People in Europe were beginning to regard America as the enemy" struck a real chord with me. That was exactly my experience during the Bush years. It made me very sad because I think the USA is a great country and I have no problems saying I love it (I am here by choice, remember?).
The worst possible legacy of the Bush/Cheney years is that America lost its moral standing and its "You are either for us or against us - show us you are for us by doing what we say, otherwise you are against us" attitude destroyed its reputation in the world. Even friendly countries like my native England began to be against the USA. I wondered if it was irreversable and if McCain had been elected it might have been.
Barack Obama gives the USA a chance to rejoin the civilized world.
Let's not forget the way media spin stories. They love Obama and hated Bush...it shows and their collective ability to pursuade their audience toward the same opinion has been and should be an eye opener.
Yep, Pres. Obama has me in tears too. But I'm not laughing....
You need to stop and look around for a minute. Seriously.
What type of arrogance does it take to stare the vast, vast majority of Americans in the eye and say "You're all dead wrong. You know nothing. Me and my small minority are correct."
No wonder people that don't like Barrack Obama (or "lefties", or Dems, or taxes, or gays, or whatever else it is that you hate today) are so bloody mad all the time. Even when Bush was in office, you were mad. You're never satisfied.
I assume you're in tears and not laughing because of Barrack's 3% tax increase on those at the highest levels of the income food chain. Or because you feel that Obama's decision to stabilize the economy and properly fund the programs required to run your country are outlandish.
Instead of feeling hatred all the time for "those people" or "the other side", maybe you should stop and give your head a shake. What do you think the entire world and the vast majority of America are excited about? Those of you that bitch the most about the government are the ones who stand to gain the most from the changes that Obama is trying to make.
Thom Yorke wrote a song about people like you.
So tell us...why so mad friggin' mad all the time?
Where do you see anger in my comment? That was profound sadness, not anger. I'm too tired to be angry, as I watch everything I've worked for my whole life be discounted and redistributed to the bankers and automakers who deserved to be left swinging in the wind for their criminal actions and inefficiencies, and to untold numbers of social programs for people who haven't earned it. Where is the bailout for me, the small business owner who could actually help employ some willing workers if anyone recognized that the only way to create wealth is to produce something in the private sector. You are correct. I did not like Bush, and I do not like Obama. In fact, I see very little difference between them except the rhetoric. Both major parties are nothing but tax and spend, and feed their own fat bellys at our expense. OK, Thanks! Now you've made me mad again!!
Great post! I'm glad that Europeans are beginning to have a better attitude about us, and thanks for your honesty on this subject. I, for one, am thrilled with my new President. I'm, uh, middle aged, ahem, and I've never had a President whom I've liked or admired, as much. I may not always agree with him, but it's not in my DNA to agree all the time with anyone. We're truly blessed to have him representing our country. Glad you had a good time at the dinner, and I look forward to reading more of your posts.
interesting comments from D. Versace,,,,,good to get European viewpoint from a non-politico...look forward to more from her....
Excellent first post, Donatella. I enjoyed and appreciated getting such a perspective on the evening, and you pretty well nailed it about the allure of our new President and his wife.
I hope Arianna invites you back for more. You've got most MSM beat by a mile!
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