"Old College Ties." (Bush was "DKE"....."Skull & Bones" was Hereditary"

[KoKo]

Old College Ties

Elisabeth Bumiller writes in the New York Times: "It's a long way from sharing a one-bedroom garage apartment as hard-partying bachelors in Houston to welcoming prime ministers to the Oval Office. But that's what Donald B. Ensenat and George W. Bush have done ever since the president made his old pal, 'Enzo,' the nation's chief of protocol. .....

"Mr. Ensenat declined to be interviewed for this article, citing busyness. He is one of the official sociable faces of the administration, but he rarely speaks to reporters. (He has, however, spilled a few stories. As he told The Washington Post in 2000 of his time with Mr. Bush in Houston: 'It's not like we were living in a commune and smoking dope all day long. But I guess we were living the 60's life in our own way, drifting through life, doing what we felt like doing, thinking only about where we were going to have our fun next.')"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/06/13/BL2005061300982_5.htmlale
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May 2003

Yale Insider: Welcome

Friday, May 30
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PARTY HARDY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. No press was allowed inside yesterday's White House reception for the Class of 1968, celebrating their 35th reunion, so the AP Wire ran a short story, and the New York Times just reports the highlight: George W. Bush '68 singing "We are three little lambs who have lost our way". But the Washington Post really did its homework and gives us a great story. Among other details, it chronicles the attempt to talk to those DKE '68 brothers who are now highly placed federal officials:

An e-mail from Enzo -- one of Bush's '68 Dekes -- arrives. "Am swamped as Chief of Protocol with tomorrow's trip so unable to respond to your tel call," it says. "Enzo" would be Donald B. Ensenat, who is chief of protocol for the State Department. A Deke in charge of diplomatic protocol? It gets worse. "Must decline comment until confirmed by the Senate," says another e-mail, from Trent Duffy, spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget. Duffy is explaining that his boss, Deke '68 brother Clay Johnson, would not be able to relive his frat days because he is awaiting confirmation as deputy OMB director. A Deke running the nation's finances? And there's more. "The ambassador to China? He was our social chairman," says Franklin Levy, also Deke '68 and a successful Boston law firm partner. Levy is referring to Deke '68's Clark T. Randt Jr., Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic. In addition to the three Dekes whom Bush has placed in high government office, the president's fraternity brothers include the wealthy developer and movie financier Roland W. Betts and C.E. Thomas Cleveland, who runs a $200 million equipment business. Is it possible the bad boys of '68 have become stuffy 57-year-old men? "It happens," admits Levy, who asserts, improbably, that his frat nickname was "Biff."

The real scoop, however, has been carried this whole past week in Doonesbury: See the strip from: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. (Also, the New Haven Register ran a long article about the reunion last Sunday.)

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:1D5LcqRsuGIJ:www.yaleinsider.org/blog_archives.jsp%3Fmonth%3D4%2
6year%3D2003++Donald+B.+Ensenat&hl=en

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Receiving Line
Ambassador’s Ball Boosts Multiple Sclerosis Research

The 24th annual Ambassador’s Ball, held on Oct. 1, attracted a glittering array of diplomats, congressional leaders and business executives.

Held at the Grand Hyatt Washington, the Ambassador’s Ball is a salute to the Washington diplomatic corps for their many contributions to the city. It is also an opportunity for diplomats and other city leaders to welcome newly assigned ambassadors to Washington, D.C.

The ball raises funds to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in its effort to find a cure for MS, a disabling disease affecting young adults worldwide. It is customarily held under the honorary patronage of the president and the first lady, the secretary of state and the congressional leadership.

The Ambassador’s Ball has raised more than $8 million for research into the cause and cure of MS and for vital programs and services to help the more than 6,000 people with MS and their families who live in the Washington area.

This year’s co-chairs were Susan Bayh and the Rev. Kathleene Card. The traditional toasts were offered by their husbands, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).

A benefactor reception was held at the residency of New Zealand’s ambassador, John Wood, and his wife Rose Wood. More than 1,200 guests attended this year’s Ambassador’s Ball, including several dozen ambassadors.

“This is such a great cause. The fight against MS is one we can all support and get behind,” said Ambassador of Israel Daniel Ayalon.

Ambassador of Ethiopia Kassahun Ayele said the ball is a great opportunity to get to meet some of his fellow diplomats and support a very important charity. “This is an important night for social, but especially for scientific and humanitarian reasons. This is a fine cause,” Ayele said.

—John Shaw and Katherine Tallmadge

Meridian Ball Raises $400,000

On Oct. 4, more than 800 people enjoyed a spectacular early autumn evening at Washington’s fabled Meridian House for the 34th annual Meridian Ball.

The ball provided a memorable evening of fun, splendid conversation and generous support for one of Washington’s most important institutions—the Meridian International Center, which promotes international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and the arts.

The Meridian Ball raised more than $400,000 to fund Meridian’s many programs, which include support for foreign diplomats, seminars on global issues, professional exchanges, art exhibits and educational outreach in Washington public schools.

Members of the diplomatic corps, Congress, the Bush administration, the Supreme Court, and an array of business and community leaders attended this year’s ball.

This year, as in past years, the diplomatic corps played a central role in promoting the ball. The evening began with dinners at 33 embassies and then the festivities moved to the Meridian Center for dessert and dancing.

The Washington Diplomat attended a memorable dinner hosted by Yemen’s ambassador, Abdulwahab Al-Hajjri, at his residence in the Spring Valley area of Washington.

After a delightful cocktail hour, Ambassador Al-Hajjri escorted the guests into his elegant dining room for a buffet meal of traditional delicacies. In good-humored and informal remarks, the ambassador gave a brief history of his nation and encouraged people to visit the ancient city of Sanaa as well as the rest of Yemen, which sits on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and is home to one of the world’s oldest cultures.

Alma Powell, wife of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, served as honorary patron of the ball, while Ambassador Donald B. Ensenat, State Department chief of protocol, was the honorary chairman. The co-chairs of the ball were Mrs. Spencer Abraham, Mrs. John Chapoton and Mrs. John Dingell.

Ambassador Walter L. Cutler, president of the Meridian Center, welcomed guests as they entered the elegant Meridian House. Prominent guests included Queen Noor of Jordan, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, director-general of the Foreign Service, and television host John McLaughlin.

The magnificent setting of the historic Meridian House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its impressive gardens were accentuated by special lighting, elaborate decorations and handsome floral arrangements. Many guests lingered outside in the center’s picturesque gardens, chatting amid the linden trees.
http://www.washdiplomat.com/02-11/a9_02_11.html