The invitation read “We Were There . . . Let’s Gather Again to Remember and Celebrate,” and that’s what John F. Kennedy’s family, friends, and colleagues did on Saturday night at the Spring Valley home of Nancy Dutton, who worked in the West Wing. The dinner party was rare because it brought together members of the old gang, not many of whom are left. The menu of JFK-era favorites began with “John F. Kennedy chowder,” followed by salmon and sole ballotine and duck a l’orange, and ended with poire Jacqueline. They drank Italian and French wines and toasted with Pomeroy rosé Champagne. On Monday morning, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Robert Kennedy’s daughter and JFK’s niece, sent an e-mail that read, “It was a wonderful evening, never to be replicated. We were all so lucky to be there.”
This is one of those social occasions where the guest list tells much of the story. Below is who was there and their connection to JFK. Dutton said a CBS News crew was on hand to video tape the party for inclusion in a special broadcast that will air on Saturday, November 16: As It Happened: John F. Kennedy 50 Years.
From the Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson families:
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Ted Kennedy Jr., and his wife, Kiki; Lynda Johnson Robb and her husband, former governor of Virginia and senator Chuck Robb.
From the JFK White House and special appointments:
Dick Goodwin and his wife, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Harris Wofford, John Cochran and his wife, Barbara, Sue Mortensen Vogelsinger, Helen Lempart Westbook, Dan Fenn and his son, Peter, Meredith Burch, Eileen Carver, Lenny Donnelly, Jean Lewis, Maura Hurley Brackett, Pierrette Spiegler, Kathy Rafferty Tollerton, Mary White, Nancy Larson, Gillian Sorensen (widow of Ted Sorensen), Larry O’Brien III (son of Larry O’Brien), Murray White, Jim Symington, Lynn Paul, Charlie Peters, Frank Mankiewicz, Bill Haddad, Mary Ann Orlando, and Berl Bernhard.
From the staff of Vice President Lyndon Johnson:
Bess Abell and Judith Hackett.
From federal agencies:
Tom and Jane Casey Hughes (State); Bill Polk (Policy & Planning); Susie Wilson (USIA); Peter Galbraith (State); John Doar, Bill Geoghegan, Barrett Prettyman, and Peter Edelman (Justice); Mortimer Caplin and Walter Pozen (Treasury/Commerce); Frank Loy (FAA); and Jill Udall (Interior).
Members who served in the 87th and 88th Congress, which coincided with JFK’s presidency:
John Dingell and, representing her husband, Carrie Lee Nelson.
Senate staff:
Walter Pincus.
From the 1960 campaign:
Bill Wilson and Melody Miller, Lester Hyman, Ron Linton, and Alexandra West.
Special friends:
Marie Ridder, Polly Kraft Cutler, Wendy Morgan, and deputy ambassador Kevin Conmy of the Embassy of Ireland.
JFK historians:
Jeff Greenfield, Howard Willens, Kitty Kelley, and Chris Matthews.
Members of the media who covered JFK:
Ben Bradlee, Al Spivak, Sid Davis, Hedrick Smith, Lucy and Peter Jarvis, and Roger Mudd.
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
The Guest List From a Rare Gathering of JFK’s Family and Friends
Former White House staffer Nancy Dutton hosted the dinner at her Northwest Washington home.
The invitation read “We Were There . . . Let’s Gather Again to Remember and Celebrate,” and that’s what John F. Kennedy’s family, friends, and colleagues did on Saturday night at the Spring Valley home of Nancy Dutton, who worked in the West Wing. The dinner party was rare because it brought together members of the old gang, not many of whom are left. The menu of JFK-era favorites began with “John F. Kennedy chowder,” followed by salmon and sole ballotine and duck a l’orange, and ended with poire Jacqueline. They drank Italian and French wines and toasted with Pomeroy rosé Champagne. On Monday morning, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Robert Kennedy’s daughter and JFK’s niece, sent an e-mail that read, “It was a wonderful evening, never to be replicated. We were all so lucky to be there.”
This is one of those social occasions where the guest list tells much of the story. Below is who was there and their connection to JFK. Dutton said a CBS News crew was on hand to video tape the party for inclusion in a special broadcast that will air on Saturday, November 16: As It Happened: John F. Kennedy 50 Years.
From the Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson families:
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Ted Kennedy Jr., and his wife, Kiki; Lynda Johnson Robb and her husband, former governor of Virginia and senator Chuck Robb.
From the JFK White House and special appointments:
Dick Goodwin and his wife, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Harris Wofford, John Cochran and his wife, Barbara, Sue Mortensen Vogelsinger, Helen Lempart Westbook, Dan Fenn and his son, Peter, Meredith Burch, Eileen Carver, Lenny Donnelly, Jean Lewis, Maura Hurley Brackett, Pierrette Spiegler, Kathy Rafferty Tollerton, Mary White, Nancy Larson, Gillian Sorensen (widow of Ted Sorensen), Larry O’Brien III (son of Larry O’Brien), Murray White, Jim Symington, Lynn Paul, Charlie Peters, Frank Mankiewicz, Bill Haddad, Mary Ann Orlando, and Berl Bernhard.
From the staff of Vice President Lyndon Johnson:
Bess Abell and Judith Hackett.
From federal agencies:
Tom and Jane Casey Hughes (State); Bill Polk (Policy & Planning); Susie Wilson (USIA); Peter Galbraith (State); John Doar, Bill Geoghegan, Barrett Prettyman, and Peter Edelman (Justice); Mortimer Caplin and Walter Pozen (Treasury/Commerce); Frank Loy (FAA); and Jill Udall (Interior).
Members who served in the 87th and 88th Congress, which coincided with JFK’s presidency:
John Dingell and, representing her husband, Carrie Lee Nelson.
Senate staff:
Walter Pincus.
From the 1960 campaign:
Bill Wilson and Melody Miller, Lester Hyman, Ron Linton, and Alexandra West.
Special friends:
Marie Ridder, Polly Kraft Cutler, Wendy Morgan, and deputy ambassador Kevin Conmy of the Embassy of Ireland.
JFK historians:
Jeff Greenfield, Howard Willens, Kitty Kelley, and Chris Matthews.
Members of the media who covered JFK:
Ben Bradlee, Al Spivak, Sid Davis, Hedrick Smith, Lucy and Peter Jarvis, and Roger Mudd.
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Trump Hotel Employees Reveal What It Was Really Like Catering to the Right Wing Elite
March 4 Isn’t the Only Date on the QAnon Calendar
Report Claims NFL Investigation Recommends Dan Snyder Be Forced to Sell
The Bulwark Was Founded to Oppose Trump. Now What?
Washington’s Most Influential People
Washingtonian Magazine
March 2021: The Influencers
View IssueSubscribe
Get Us on Social
Get Us on Social
Related
Video From Fall Real Estate Market Update With Local Leaders
Washingtonian Real Estate Virtual Happy Hour
Videos from Washingtonian’s Wellness Day
Washingtonian Real Estate Virtual Happy Hour
More from News & Politics
A New DC Program Lets Housebound Seniors Sign Up for Zoom Sessions with Rescue Animals
Axios Political Reporter Alexi McCammond is Teen Vogue’s New Editor
Report Claims NFL Investigation Recommends Dan Snyder Be Forced to Sell
Today’s Vaccine Signup Was Messy Again. Next Week Doesn’t Look Promising.
A DC Experiment in Direct Cash Transfers to Fight Poverty
The Capitol Police’s Request to Retain the National Guard Took DC Officials by Surprise
DC’s Covid Vaccine Appointments Were Filled in Under 10 Minutes This Morning
Chasten Buttigieg and Doug Emhoff Hung Out on Capitol Hill Yesterday