Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Another exciting Washington social night. First visited home of Ellen and Gerry Sigal at 2909 – 44th Street, N.W. just 2 blocks from our house. Occasion was book signing party for Valeria Plame Wilson to celebrate publishing of her new book “Fair Game” about her outting as a covert CIA agent. Chris and I have gotten to know her and her husband Joe Wilson over the past year, mostly through the Sigal’s. Interesting irony (see previous notes) that I am friends with Joe and Valerie at the same time as I am friends with Scooter Libby. Had to leave party early to go to Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellenata’s residence. On way out as I apologized to Joe for leaving early, he joked “As long as you are not going to a party at the VP’s house”. In fact, that is exactly what I am doing on Thursday (see below). Function at Italian Ambassador’s house was fun. Party to honor the visit of Italian President Enrico Napolitano. Usual DC glitterati were there – Mike and Meryl Chertoff, Colin Powell, Lee Hamilton, Frank Balducci (author), D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and wife Michelle, former head of Italian CIA Carrado Cantatore (had nice conversation with him about Italian covert ops in Iraq - i.e. Italian Special Forces are still operating there even as Italian troops pull out), Sen. Pat Leahy, etc. I sat next to my good friend Cecilia Piccione (Chief-of-Staff to the Ambassador).