During the Clinton years, Walsh hosted a “changing of the guard” party when Mike McCurry stepped down from the podium and allowed Joe Lockhart to step up. In the Bush administration, Walsh did the same when Ari Fleischer was replaced by Scott McClellan. And, on Saturday, Walsh invited Washington notables over to his Chevy Chase house to bid farewell to Tony Snow and welcome Dana Perino to one of the world’s most powerful microphones.

McCurry was there to represent the Democratic press secretaries, and Marlin Fitzwater held down the fort for the Republicans. Walsh gave Perino an Army survival kit to prepare her for the prickly Fourth Estate. And, naturally, he couldn’t avoid a shameless plug by giving her some copies of the books he’s authored.

Fitzwater complimented Perino for maintaining such poise when she filled in for an ailing Snow this year. But the aging, bald and proudly rotund Fitzwater brought the place down with laughter when he told the attractive Perino that, when she says something brilliant to reporters, they will say, “Yes, but, you’re not as attractive as Marlin Fitzwater.”

Other attendees included Perino’s principal deputy, Tony Fratto, The Associated Press’ Terry Hunt, CNN’s Ed Henry and The Washington Post’s Peter Baker and Michael Abramowitz.