Kevin Spacey Hosts a DC Dinner and Draws the Power Crowd Plus Congressional Leaders (Photos)

Kevin Spacey the actor came to town on Saturday night, along with Kevin Spacey the crooner, the
comedian, the impressionist, and the political commentator. He charmed and wowed at
a private dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel that raised funds for his foundation, which mentors and provides scholarships for young
artists and supports DC’s Only Make Believe, a nonprofit that brings arts programs
to hospitals and care facilities.

His 140 guests included a power crowd of money, influence, and media stars as well
as the House majority and minority whips—the GOP’s Rep.
Kevin McCarthy was there for cocktails and the early part of dinner, while the Dems’ Rep.
Steny Hoyer worked the room between the entrée and dessert—even while on Capitol Hill their colleagues
pushed or pulled toward a possible government shutdown.

The congressmen’s comings and goings were not lost on Spacey, who plays a House whip
on Netflix’s Emmy-winning series
House of Cards. “As you know I’ve been trying to bring together the two houses,” he said. “Kevin
McCarthy was here, and just as he left Steny Hoyer showed up. It seems that part of
the problem is they’re not quite in the same room at the same time.” He paused for
the laughter and charged on: “They are here to enjoy themselves and they have nothing
to worry about except perhaps the shutdown of the government, whether to trust Iran,
and whether there will be a third season of House of Cards.”

Earlier, during cocktails on the hotel’s lawn, Spacey joined McCarthy for a photo
op, the kind of real and pretend match-up both Washington and Hollywood love.

The shutdown was clearly on the minds of those assembled. “Are you essential?”
Jessica Straus, a lobbyist for the Dish Network, asked
Dave Grimaldi, chief of staff to FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn, at the Ovation network’s table.
Grimaldi said he is not. “Actually, I’m loving being nonessential,” he confessed.
“It means I can pick up my kid at school.” An aide to Vice President Joe Biden, who
begged to remain anonymous, turned out to be the only essential at the table.

But there was plenty of time for fun. Hoyer, a widower, was spotted occasionally holding
hands with
Christine Taylor, communications chief for Ron Perelman’s MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings. (No doubt
they are just good friends.)

Spacey spent time with
Andrea Mitchell,
Eden Rafshoon, and
Greta Van Susteren, and closed in for a group hug with his
House of Cards castmates
Jayne Atkinson,
Michael Gill, and
Michael Kelly, plus Netflix executive
Peter Friedlander and director
John David Coles. He embraced
Chris Lemmon, son of the late actor Jack Lemmon, who was a mentor to Spacey, and for whom the
dinner was in part a tribute.

At least one guest suggested a scene that should be included in
House of Cards. AT&T’s
Lyndon Boozer (whom Spacey called “Lyndon Baines”), the son of LBJ’s personal assistant, had an
idea for a scene set in the Senate dining room. Spacey listened patiently, and ribbed
Grimaldi with: “I don’t know the acting chair of the FCC, but I know a guy who acts
like a chair.” Was that a cryptic Clint Eastwood/Barack Obama reference? He didn’t
say.

Spacey sat for dinner between McCarthy and MSNBC
Hardball host
Chris Matthews. Also at his table were McCarthy’s son, Connor, a sophomore at Georgetown University;

Kathleen Matthews, Van Susteren and her husband,
John Coale;
Matthew and Nicole Mellon; and Lemmon and his wife,
Gina. The menu was poached Maine lobster on an heirloom tomato and avocado salad, slow-roasted
tenderloin with Dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables, and a dessert trio of crème brûlée,
chocolate hazelnut tart and fresh fruit tart. The wines were from California—a 2011
Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc and a 2011 Fisher Vineyards Unity Cabernet Sauvignon.

Spacey stuck mostly to tea, sipping one hot cup after another to warm his vocal chords
for the main event, a “Kevin cabaret” with a set list out of the
Great American Songbook. Spacey was backed by the Capital Focus Jazz Band, made up of local high school—and
one middle school—musicians, who caught rehearsal time, they said, at various area
locations where Spacey was shooting
House of Cards’ second season.

Between songs Spacey talked about the success of his TV show. “I think this new Netflix
distribution model has made something of an impact,” he said. “It’s certainly something
to get Washington to pay attention to anything for more than five minutes.”

Carol Ross Joynt