Who Went to Dinner at the White House -- and Why?

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Didn't score an invite to the White House dinner with Queen Elizabeth II? Wondering who made the cut -- and why? There's the official diplomatic delegation, of course, and the usual administration bigwigs. But here's a bit more info about other VIPs on the 134-person guest list.

Leonore Annenberg: Former United States chief of protocol.

Anne Armstrong: Former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain; last year, Dick Cheney shot Harry Whittington on her Texas ranch.

Lee Bass: Fort Worth oil billionaire, Yale alumnus, raised at least $300,000 for Bush's two presidential campaigns.

Sid Bass: Fort Worth oil billionaire, Yale alumnus.

Calvin Borel: Last-minute invite; he's the jockey who won the Kentucky Derby Saturday.

Katherine Boyd: California interior designer who raised at least $300,000 for Bush's two presidential campaigns.

Elizabeth Cheney and Philip Perry: Daughter and son-in-law of the vice president.

James Click: Arizona auto dealer who raised at least $300,000 for Bush's two presidential campaigns.

John Danilovich: International shipping exec, former ambassador to Costa Rica and Brazil, lived in London for many years.

Rohan De Silva: Pianist who performed with Itzhak Perlman.

Marta Domingo: Wife of opera legend Placido Domingo.

Don Evans: One of Bush's oldest friends, former secretary of commerce, chair of 2000 presidential campaign.

William Farish: Longtime Bush family friend, former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, Yale alumnus.

Brad Freeman: Bush pal for 30 years, chaired 2000 and 2004 inaugurations, overnight guest at the White House.

Sir Martin Gilbert: One of Britain's leading historians, author of "Churchill and America."

David Gregory: Feisty White House correspondent for NBC.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Token Republican on "The View."

Steve Holland: White House correspondent for London-based Reuters.

Ray Hunt: Billionaire Texan oilman, serves on president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and Halliburton's board of directors.

Richard Kinder: Former president of Enron; gave $250,000 to Bush's second inauguration.

Herbert Kohler: Billionaire plumbing magnate.

Peyton Manning: Won the Super Bowl. No relation to British Ambassador Sir David Manning.

John Marion: Former chairman of Sotheby's North America, married to Fort Worth oil heiress Anne Windfohr.

Charles Moncrief: Texas oilman, raised at least $100,000 for Bush's 2004 reelection.

Jim Nantz: CBS sportscaster is a Texan, Bush family friend for years.

Joseph O'Donnell: Bush pal since his days at Harvard Business School, raised at least $300,000 for Bush's two presidential campaigns.

Arnold Palmer: Won British Open in 1961 and 1962.

Itzhak Perlman: The world-renowned violinist performed after dinner.

T. Boone Pickens: Dallas oil and gas billionaire, gave $2.5 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, $250,000 to Bush's second inauguration.

Earl "Rusty" Powell: Director of National Gallery of Art.

Robin Roberts: ABC's morning co-anchor, did a huge feature story on the queen's dinner.

Michael Sacco: President of Seafarers International Union, free trade supporter.

Gerry Shaheen: President of Caterpillar; Bush toured plant in January.

Harold Simmons: Dallas billionaire, gave $3 million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, $100,000 to Bush's second inauguration.

Robert Tuttle: Current U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, pal of Bush 41 and 43, raised at least $100,000 for the president's 2004 reelection campaign.

Mark and Linda Vincent: Brother and sister-in-law of Lynne Cheney.

Richard Wolffe: Native Brit, White House correspondent for Newsweek, graduated summa cum laude from Oxford.

LOVE, ETC.

Engaged: Actor-rapper Nick Cannon, 26, and Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks, 24, after about three months of dating. The couple attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art's costume gala Monday night, after which Cannon took Ebanks in a chauffeured Rolls to Times Square, where he dropped to one knee with a 12-carat diamond as a Jumbotron blazed the words "Selita, will you marry me?" This is so totally gonna last.

THIS JUST IN ...

• Paris Hilton yesterday rehired the publicist she had fired for giving the supposed bad legal advice that put her behind the wheel on a suspended license and staring down a 45-day jail stint. Meanwhile, fans posted a petition on the Internet seeking clemency for her from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Wait -- she has fans?) A spokesman for the governor said that he would consider appeals on behalf of the 26-year-old heiress just like anyone else, but that she needs to go through the courts first.
• Local chefs and restaurants were recipients of James Beard Foundation Awards -- the Oscars of the cooking world -- in NYC Monday night. Michel Richard of Citronelle won "outstanding chef," while his restaurant got the prize for "outstanding wine service." R.J. Cooper of Vidalia and Frank Ruta of Palena shared honors for best mid-Atlantic chef. Chef-owner Jose Andres (of Cafe Atlantico, Jaleo, Zaytinya and Oyamel) was inducted into "Who's Who of Food and Beverage."