Scene in D.C.: Kissinger, Rometty, Tillerson, Scowcroft
Everyone had a Brent Scowcroft story last night.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said he and the onetime national security adviser had been friends for more than 40 years. Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), said he got to know the general through the Scowcroft Group and other organizations.
They were among guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington for a tribute dinner where Scowcroft, 87, received the Lifetime International Statesman and Business Advocate Award from the National Defense University Foundation.
“He’s a giant of the 20th century” and “architect of the Gulf War,” said Philip Pillsbury, a retired Foreign Service officer and a great grandson of Pillsbury Co. (GIS) founder Charles Alfred Pillsbury.
“I was a nobody, but he treated me like part of the delegation,” said Ashton Carter, deputy secretary of defense, reminiscing on a trip the two took to Moscow in 1983.
Guests mingling during the cocktail reception included Ginni Rometty, chairman and president of International Business Machines Corp. (IBM); The Atlantic’s Steve Clemons, sitting with Kissinger and his wife, Nancy; and Ralph D. Crosby, the former chairman of EADS North America, who noted that Scowcroft was “a fellow West Pointer”; and Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman.
EADS CEO Sean O’Keefe was present, as was Deloitte’s CEO of federal government services, Robin Lineberger, who attended with his wife, Terry.
Guests enjoyed a meal of rare seared tuna, pomegranate glazed duck breast and chocolate tart with peppermint ice cream.
The tributes went late into the evening, prompting Scowcroft to joke that breakfast was about to be served when he delivered the closing remarks.
Health Fitness
Herschel Walker, Mia Hamm and Olympic beach-volleyball player April Ross were some of the athletes at the party Tuesday night on the eve of National Health Through Fitness Day.
The reception at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center was hosted by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, a trade organization for companies such as Nike Inc. (NKE) and Converse Inc.
Paul Rosenlund, an attorney with Duane Morris LLP, said he would show former Los Angeles Dodger Jeff Kent around Capitol Hill.
Kent anticipated learning about the legislative process while lobbying for federal funding for physical-education programs in schools and advocating sports as preventive health care.
“I’m a sponge,” he said.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include Manuela Hoelterhoff on arts, Richard Vines on food.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Scowcroft Dinner
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Virginia Rometty, chairman and CEO, International Business Machines Corp., greets Albert C. Zimmerman, president and COO at EPS Corporation and executive committee chairman of National Defense University Foundation.
Virginia Rometty, chairman and CEO, International Business Machines Corp., greets Albert C. Zimmerman, president and COO at EPS Corporation and executive committee chairman of National Defense University Foundation. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser, center, with Nina Pillsbury and Philip Pillsbury, a retired foreign service officer.
Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser, center, with Nina Pillsbury and Philip Pillsbury, a retired foreign service officer. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., and Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy.
Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., and Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
James Holmes, president of the American Turkish Council, and Ralph Crosby, the former CEO of EADS North America.
James Holmes, president of the American Turkish Council, and Ralph Crosby, the former CEO of EADS North America. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ashton Carter, deputy secretary of defense, and Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser.
Ashton Carter, deputy secretary of defense, and Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Steve Clemons, editor at large of The Atlantic and Quartz, talks with Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state, and Nancy Kissinger.
Steve Clemons, editor at large of The Atlantic and Quartz, talks with Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state, and Nancy Kissinger. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Brent Scowcroft, the evening's honoree, and Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state.
Brent Scowcroft, the evening's honoree, and Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Scowcroft Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Katherine Griffin Hand, vice president of special projects at the National Defense University Foundation, Robin Lineberger, Deloitte's CEO of federal government services, and Terry Lineberger.
Katherine Griffin Hand, vice president of special projects at the National Defense University Foundation, Robin Lineberger, Deloitte's CEO of federal government services, and Terry Lineberger. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
National Health and Fitness Day Reception
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
William Marshall, owner of Athletes Ground, Herschel Walker, former NFL player and 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, and Vincent Mayor, business operations manager of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.
William Marshall, owner of Athletes Ground, Herschel Walker, former NFL player and 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, and Vincent Mayor, business operations manager of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
National Health and Fitness Day Reception
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
April Ross, professional volleyball player and 2016 Olympics hopeful, far right, with Robert Puccini, president of Mizuno USA, Emily Adams Knight, assistant business unit manager of Mizuno USA, and Harper Cornell, public relations manager of Mizuno USA.
April Ross, professional volleyball player and 2016 Olympics hopeful, far right, with Robert Puccini, president of Mizuno USA, Emily Adams Knight, assistant business unit manager of Mizuno USA, and Harper Cornell, public relations manager of Mizuno USA. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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