Diary

HRH Princess Lia of Romania

HRH Princess Lia of Romania knows some of the world's most illustrious people, many of whom were at President Obama's inauguration

Posted: 10/08/2009

There have been so many momentous occasions that my husband, Prince Paul of Romania and I have had the privilege to attend in the States recently, that I wished to compress them into one Diary report.

HRH Princess Lia of Romania

One of the highlights for us was the fact that my longtime friend, Senator Dianne Feinstein was named Chairperson of the President Obama Inauguration. I understand that we were the only European couple to be officially invited. In Washington, the code of power is not whom you know but who knows you. Consequently, I was happily surprised to be ushered not to the VIP section for the Lincoln Memorial Concert but actually to be seated, on stage, where mere mortals were not allowed. Having worked in the President Carter White House, served on the National Finance Council of the Democratic National Committee, and co-chaired Democrats Abroad, imagine how pleased I was to be rubbing elbows with cabinet members who would be steering the destiny of the most powerful country in the world. It was a rare opportunity to lobby the Secretaries of Justice, State, Labor, Agriculture, Treasury, Management and Budget and Energy about the potential of Romania.

Perhaps the most sentimental moment amongst the performances of Tom Hanks, Beyonce, Bono, U2, Garth Brooks and opera diva Renee Fleming was when I heard a familiar voice, directly behind me, singing along during Shakira and Stevie Wonder's duet. There was the third most powerful politician in America, nestled against the cold with her grandchildren, jamming away on Motown hits, my dear buddy, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Previously, on the Hill, the Political Action Committees held the reins, but the new doctrine in DC politics is the infusion of influence from the generous coffers of Hollywood. The dinner that night was a prime example. Of all the inaugurations I have been honoured to attend, both Republican and Democrat, I had never seen such efforts to stress the need for Americans to symbolically join together. When the invitation arrived to attend a small (300) black tie dinner, not to honour the Obamas nor the Bidens but General Colin Powell, President Bush's Secretary of State, I knew President Obama's mandate was off to a positive start. From a strategic standpoint, it was fascinating to see the delegation from LA, which included directors Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Oscar winners Dustin Hoffman, Forest Whitaker and Halle Berry schmoozing with the Senate leadership. These people had raised the equivalent of the GNP of several emerging nations to elect the 44th president. The General abhors requests to be photographed but he graciously made an exception for us not because of any reason other than we had worked quite hard over the years to bring Powell's Mentoring Campaign here, through the Prince Paul Foundation for Romania. His charming wife, Alma arranged the picture.

Prince Paul with former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

I had had a premonition that this week would be not just a historical milestone but a charmed moment in time. Why? Because upon our arrival at Dulles Airport, we were whisked to the Diplomats Lounge where I was tapped from behind and greeted by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. During the time that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, I had been asked to travel to Cape Town and try to convince Tutu to come to America to lobby against apartheid and secure the support of the Reagan administration. Travelling together with his family to 17 US cities, guiding his appearances on every national television talk show from Larry King Live to the National Public Radio will always be a profoundly fulfilling memory. After one gets an enthusiastic bear hug from His Grace minutes after our arrival to the Inauguration Week, one knows the rest of the schedule will be blessed. And it was.

Other highlights of my diary need to include the American Romanian Military/Economic Strategy Forum in New York, headlined by Rudy Giuliani. Having never had the pleasure of meeting one of our generation's true heroes, it was an opportunity to learn from his address but also to get to know him a bit at the luncheon gala. My husband and I were also on the speakers' roster for the work we had done with the American military and the Romanian government in the pre-Nato era. From the MILS to MILS program outfitting Bucharest's military hospital, to the co-ordination of publicity for the generous American gift of a Hercules C140 troop carrier plane, to the implementation of the 12 Pentagon frequency experts that my husband invited through his friendship with AT&T Global Network President James Brewington with 25 Romanian generals, we were able to reiterate the bonds between our two countries.

Princess Lia, Prince Paul and Steven Spielberg during celebrations held for the inauguration of Presdent Barack Obama.

Although we all can recall what we were doing when the Kennedy assassination ripped the world, will we remember what we were doing this lazy summer when the King of Pop died? Clearly not on the same level of importance but from a news saturation barometer, it will be a focal point. Again, Tutu comes to mind. At the very peak of Jackson's popularity, during his "Bad" tour, one of his representatives rang me after the press conference where I announced "The Archbishop Tutu Tour" which started in Washington and ended in California. Jackson wanted to help. Aware that the who's who of national business, politics and the arts had committed to lobby the American people on his anti-apartheid mission, I sensed we needed to have an event to culminate the tour. An art auction offering the artistry of Claus Oldenberg, Erich Snabel, Jackson Pollock and a Dali had to be housed in an idyllic site for the LA bidders. In Hollywood, it is not only in real estate that location, location, location is important. Fundraising events also embrace this motto. So, when Jackson and his family graciously offered to lend their home for the event and to additionally convince some of his friends to join the art auction committee, I couldn't believe our luck. When one refers to Michael Jackson's friends, it is not exactly his high school classmates. No, through Jackson's personal entreaties Marlon Brando, Yoko Ono, Keith Haring, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbra Streisand, Vice President George Bush, California Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown all became involved in Tutu's cause. Although I chaired the art auction, it was Michael Jackson who was responsible for the success of this event, which raised $2 million for the peaceful efforts to combat and educate against this civil rights outrage. It was a sad and difficult letter of condolence that I sent to Elizabeth and Joe, Michael's parents, on their son's passing.

Lastly, the diary should touch on one of the most original 4th of July festivities I have attended here in Bucharest. May I preface this by first stating that because my Romanian-born father was a scientist in the US Navy, my cousins graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy, and my family's dearest friends in our Washington days were Admiral Noonan and the legendary Admiral Hyman Rickover, are the reasons why I believe I must have some salt water in my veins. Not only is it a highlight every 15th August to attend the Constanta "Day of the Navy" where former naval commander, President Basescu is in his element, it was a particular treat to attend the military liaison office of the US embassy's invitation for Independence Day. For us to have been the only civilians amidst this gathering of eagles was an honour. Typical of military discipline, everything was presented beautifully, well-organised and served punctually on time. The American and Romanian brass were relaxed in their civvies dress. It was a rare moment to chat with the brave men and women who selflessly serve to make our countries safe.

Comments:

1.

Thursday 20th August 2009 at 01:08

Jerry Mendel said:

"I just started reading a book"Oh the hell of it all" by Pat Montandon, who was one of Melvin Belli´s wives, as was Lia. I thought of Lia and checked the internet. What a surprise.Lia was a "cousin" of a good friend, John Burza. Another friend, Charles Papanteles lived in a house on Telegraph Hill in San Fran-cisco that was owned by Lia and Mel. I met Lia only once at a benefit at a theater in S.F. that she chaired that honored a woman who had the same birthdate as I; Mae West.Unfortunately, we never got to meet each other.Ms West was wearing white platform shoes and looked as if she didn´t know where she was or why she was there; poor thing. Ah, the good old days. Jerry Mendel Buenos Aires, Argentina"