News & Politics

Flashback: Washington Parties With Kevin Spacey on the Eve of the Last Shutdown

It was a...different time.

Flashback: Washington Parties With Kevin Spacey on the Eve of the Last Shutdown
Spacey, US Representative Kevin McCarthy (then the Majority Whip), and Major Garrett.

How things change. On September 28, 2013, the not-yet-disgraced actor Kevin Spacey held a fundraiser at Washington’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel for his eponymous foundation, part of his long campaign to win over permanent Washington. Washingtonian photographer Evy Mages was there on assignment as a freelancer and supplies some of what she captured that day. Looking back now, it’s hard to imagine any of this ever happened, except for one potential historical echo: This event took place just before Congress was unable to agree on a bill to fund the government.

Kevin Spacey 2013 DC
Mike Allen (then with Politico), Garrett, Spacey, Greta Van Susteren (then with Fox News), and Ed Henry.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Ashleigh Banfield, who emceed the event, with Spacey.

Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Andrea Mitchell.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
House of Cards cast member Michael Kelly with Spacey.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Singer Peter Cincotti, left, and actor Chris Lemmon surround Spacey. The evening honored Lemmon’s father, Jack. Spacey sang at the event’s dinner and according to a Washingtonian report at the time, “did impressions, cracked jokes, and charmed his guests.”
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Ron Klain, who led Al Gore’s recount effort in Florida in 2000, served in the Clinton and Obama White Houses, and later advised Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Netflix executive Peter Friedlander, director/producer John David Coles, and House of Cards cast members Jayne Atkinson, Michael Gill, Spacey, and Kelly.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013.
Garrett, media consultant Tammy Haddad, Spacey, and Henry.
Kevin Spacey DC 2013
Spacey and McCarthy.

Senior editor

Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. He lives in Del Ray.