Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined the President, First Lady and other guests at Farm Neck Saturday night to celebrate Democratic adviser and civil right's activist Vernon Jordan's 80th birthday.
Mr. Jordan's birthday party was part of a weekend of high political wattage on the Vineyard. Earlier Saturday, the former President joined the current President on the links at Farm Neck. There will be a private fundraiser Sunday for Mrs. Clinton, a Democratic candidate for president.
The Clintons are familiar faces on the Vineyard; they have long spent summer vacations on the Island, including when they were in the White House. According to a picture circulated on social media, Mr. Clinton was spotted by Islanders Friday at Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven.
But on Saturday night the focus was on Mr. Jordan. He and his wife, Ann, are also longtime Vineyard summer visitors.
According to the White House, about 200 guests attended the birthday celebration for Mr. Jordan, including actor Morgan Freeman, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Harvard professor Henry Louis (Skip) Gates, American Express executive Ken Chenault, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett, and former U.S. Chief of Protocol officer Capricia Marshall.
The Obamas arrived a little after 7 and left about three hours later.
The menu included salad, surf and turf, and birthday cake. According to the White House, Mrs. Jordan offered the first toast of the evening, followed by the President, who praised Mr. Jordan's kindness and generosity and "told attendees that Vernon’s wisdom and enthusiasm are rare qualities." President Clinton and the Jordans' daughter Vickee Jordan also offered toasts.
"The President and First Lady have known the Jordans for over twenty years, and were grateful to have sat with Ann and other guests this evening," a White House official said in a statement.
Last year around this time, the Obamas and Clintons attended an 80th birthday party for Mrs. Jordan, which was also held at Farm Neck.
Earlier in the day Saturday, Mr. Jordan played a birthday round of golf at Farm Neck, joined by Mr. Obama, Mr. Clinton, and former U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk.
The press pool was given an opportunity to watch the foursome on the green at the first hole, with President Obama, former President Clinton, and Mr. Jordan all hitting the ball into the hole.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Clinton arrived on the Vineyard Saturday from Iowa, where she was campaigning at the Iowa State Fair. On Sunday, she was scheduled to attend a "Conversation with Hillary" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vineyard home of Carol and Frank Biondi. According to her website, tickets to the event were $1,000 per person at the "friend" level and $2,700 per person for a "champion" level ticket, which included a photo with Mrs. Clinton.
Mrs. Clinton will quickly dash over to the other island: she is scheduled to appear at a 2 p.m. fundraiser on Nantucket at the home of Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley.
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