Courtesy photo
You know you’re bound to get a top notch crowd when the event is a party to celebrate a book on how to manage not one, but two, homes. And such was the case at a book party held Wednesday night at the Four Seasons for “The Second Home Book,” the latest tome by longtime writer and political player Marylouise Oates (she’s also the wife of political guru Bob Shrum). Actually, Oates and Shrum have three houses (Cape Cod, Los Angeles and New York).
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Because he was staying at the hotel, lots of guests at the party were “greeted” by actor Tom Hanks who happened to be walking by (we’re sure he has at least two homes). The party included a lot of veterns of the “Shrum-Oates meal plan”; back in the day, the couple would throw dinner party after dinner party in their home. Notables included Andrea Mitchell, Alan Greenspan, Alex Castellanos, Tammy Haddad, Barbara Comstock, Ann Jordan, Betsy Apple, Betsy Fischer, Chuck Todd, Anne Wexler, Jane Oates, Greg Craig, George and Elizabeth Stevens, Tom Oliphant, Betty Ann Ottinger and Tad Devine.
The conversation naturally concerned the presidential election and, actually, Debbie Dingell had to leave early for a meeting about a possible Michigan primary. The room’s Hillary people suspiciously eyed the Obama people and vice versa. But the funniest topic of conversation involved attendees remarking on how smooth Christopher Hitchens’ skin was now that he’s quit smoking.
The group later headed to Café Milano for a night cap, naturally. National Journal’s Linda Douglass, Marylouise Oates, author, Jane Oates, New Jersey’s Commissioner on High Ed
Elizabeth Bagley, Tad Devine and Andrea Mitchell
NBC political Director Chuck Todd, Bob Shrum, Alan Greenspan, Steve McMahon
Bill Maher’s producer Sue Bennett, Newschannel 8’s Rebecca Cooper and Betsy Fischer, Executive Producer, Meet the Press
