Hardball host Chris Matthews with Senator John Kerry.
Photo: Courtesy of NBC
“Hiya, Senator,” “Hello, Congressman.” Those were the greetings for the boldface guests who gathered Thursday night in Washington to celebrate the 10th anniversary of MSNBC’s Hardball. The show’s barking-head host, the larger-than-life Chris Matthews, was also toasting the release of his Random House book, Life’s a Campaign. A few hundred politicians, high-level staffers, media types, and talking heads turned up to mark the occasion.
In typical Washington fashion, it wasn’t so much the party trappings but the attendees that made the bash a hot ticket. Only-on-Pennsylvania-Avenue moments—like Senator Edward Kennedy bumping into his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy, walking into the party—underscored the power-mingling scene. Other notable guests included former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, NBC newsman Tim Russert, and Senator John Kerry.
The venue itself smacked of history—the Decatur House, with its expansive, tented courtyard, is yards away from the White House. NBC event manager Alison Katz, who coordinated the fete from New York with help from planners at Random House, said Matthews and company were looking for an outdoor setting that was “a bit different” than the usual hotel-courtyard standbys. The understated decor, which included pin lights and colored linens, was inspired by the Hardball logo. “I looked at the logo and tried to apply it to the look and feel of the party,” Katz said.Large flat-screen TVs looped a montage of scenes from the show’s 10-year run, reminding guests why they were there. Passed hors d’oeurves from Occasions Catering were one-bite snacks that leaned toward comfort food, like little bits of mac-and-cheese topped with shredded barbecue chicken or tiny open-faced hamburgers.
For those who know the party host, it came as no surprise that the biggest topic of conversation was the news that Matthews himself made. During his address to the crowd, in which he thanked MSNBC, his producers, and family, Matthews took a swipe at the Bush administration, vociferously criticizing the Bushies for often complaining about comments he's made about them on-air. “They won’t silence me!” he bellowed. While the remarks sparked plenty of buzz, at this party, no one was expecting a softball.
In typical Washington fashion, it wasn’t so much the party trappings but the attendees that made the bash a hot ticket. Only-on-Pennsylvania-Avenue moments—like Senator Edward Kennedy bumping into his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy, walking into the party—underscored the power-mingling scene. Other notable guests included former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, NBC newsman Tim Russert, and Senator John Kerry.
The venue itself smacked of history—the Decatur House, with its expansive, tented courtyard, is yards away from the White House. NBC event manager Alison Katz, who coordinated the fete from New York with help from planners at Random House, said Matthews and company were looking for an outdoor setting that was “a bit different” than the usual hotel-courtyard standbys. The understated decor, which included pin lights and colored linens, was inspired by the Hardball logo. “I looked at the logo and tried to apply it to the look and feel of the party,” Katz said.Large flat-screen TVs looped a montage of scenes from the show’s 10-year run, reminding guests why they were there. Passed hors d’oeurves from Occasions Catering were one-bite snacks that leaned toward comfort food, like little bits of mac-and-cheese topped with shredded barbecue chicken or tiny open-faced hamburgers.
For those who know the party host, it came as no surprise that the biggest topic of conversation was the news that Matthews himself made. During his address to the crowd, in which he thanked MSNBC, his producers, and family, Matthews took a swipe at the Bush administration, vociferously criticizing the Bushies for often complaining about comments he's made about them on-air. “They won’t silence me!” he bellowed. While the remarks sparked plenty of buzz, at this party, no one was expecting a softball.
