smiledr
08-10-2009, 11:33 PM
Source (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/bill-clinton-celebrates-his-63rd-in-las-vegas/)
Bill Clinton Celebrates His 63rd in Las Vegas
By Adam Nagourney
LAS VEGAS – No one can say former President Bill Clinton doesn’t know how to throw a birthday party for former President Bill Clinton.
Mr. Clinton is in Las Vegas on Monday as one of the marquee speakers at the National Clean Energy Summit, put together by Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader. The event has drawn a pretty impressive turn-out, from former Vice President Al Gore to the wealthy oilman T. Boone Pickens.
But it became clear that something else was afoot in this sweltering desert city when some of Mr. Clinton’s friends – the kind who would appear not to have a particular interest or expertise in the kind of summit Mr. Reid has arranged – were spotted on the Vegas strip.
Turns out Mr. Clinton decided to celebrate his 63rd birthday with a dinner at one of this city’s hottest – and most pricey – restaurants: Craftsteak at the MGM Grand hotel. How pricey? The 8-ounce wagyu New York strip steak goes for $240. (Potatoes and other sides are extra.)
Among those who are on the list:
Terry McAuliffe, the former leader of the Democratic National Committee who is Mr. Clinton’s long-time friend and golfing buddy
Paul Begala, a senior adviser from his 1992 presidential campaign
John D. Podesta, a former White House chief of staff under Mr. Clinton
Haim Saban, a friend, Hollywood executive and significant financial contributor to Mr. Clinton and his efforts
Steve Bing, the Hollywood media mogul who has become one of Mr. Clinton’s best friends and regularly lends him his private jet. (Most recently, Mr. Clinton used the jet for his trip to North Korea, where he helped negotiate the release of two American journalists who worked for Mr. Gore.
Jay Carson, a former communications director for Mr. Clinton.
As of Monday afternoon, it is not clear that Mr. Gore – who appears to have had something of a rapprochement with Mr. Clinton after the North Korea rescue mission – was going to be on hand. One of Mr. Clinton’s friends said they were told that Mr. Gore was leaving town after today’s summit and would not be able to attend the night’s festivities.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the secretary of state, is in The Congo, as part of her trip to Africa, and thus will miss the celebration. No worries. Mr. Clinton might be celebrating on the strip on Monday, but his actual birthday is not until Aug. 19.
Bill Clinton Celebrates His 63rd in Las Vegas
By Adam Nagourney
LAS VEGAS – No one can say former President Bill Clinton doesn’t know how to throw a birthday party for former President Bill Clinton.
Mr. Clinton is in Las Vegas on Monday as one of the marquee speakers at the National Clean Energy Summit, put together by Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader. The event has drawn a pretty impressive turn-out, from former Vice President Al Gore to the wealthy oilman T. Boone Pickens.
But it became clear that something else was afoot in this sweltering desert city when some of Mr. Clinton’s friends – the kind who would appear not to have a particular interest or expertise in the kind of summit Mr. Reid has arranged – were spotted on the Vegas strip.
Turns out Mr. Clinton decided to celebrate his 63rd birthday with a dinner at one of this city’s hottest – and most pricey – restaurants: Craftsteak at the MGM Grand hotel. How pricey? The 8-ounce wagyu New York strip steak goes for $240. (Potatoes and other sides are extra.)
Among those who are on the list:
Terry McAuliffe, the former leader of the Democratic National Committee who is Mr. Clinton’s long-time friend and golfing buddy
Paul Begala, a senior adviser from his 1992 presidential campaign
John D. Podesta, a former White House chief of staff under Mr. Clinton
Haim Saban, a friend, Hollywood executive and significant financial contributor to Mr. Clinton and his efforts
Steve Bing, the Hollywood media mogul who has become one of Mr. Clinton’s best friends and regularly lends him his private jet. (Most recently, Mr. Clinton used the jet for his trip to North Korea, where he helped negotiate the release of two American journalists who worked for Mr. Gore.
Jay Carson, a former communications director for Mr. Clinton.
As of Monday afternoon, it is not clear that Mr. Gore – who appears to have had something of a rapprochement with Mr. Clinton after the North Korea rescue mission – was going to be on hand. One of Mr. Clinton’s friends said they were told that Mr. Gore was leaving town after today’s summit and would not be able to attend the night’s festivities.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the secretary of state, is in The Congo, as part of her trip to Africa, and thus will miss the celebration. No worries. Mr. Clinton might be celebrating on the strip on Monday, but his actual birthday is not until Aug. 19.