Tony Bennett serenaded Nancy Pelosi on the night before she takes the Speaker’s gavel at Washington dinner attended by the Clintons
- The iconic singer performed at the Italian embassy
- Both are Italian-Americans
- Pelosi had to postpone a ‘Dessert reception’ from National Bldg Museum amid shutdown
- Bennett has performed for Pelosi in the past
- She brought him to Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech in 2013
The night before she was to take the Speaker’s gavel for the second time in her career, Rep. Nancy Pelosi was serenaded by crooner Tony Bennet at a dinner hosted by Italy’s ambassador to the U.S.
Bennet helped give Pelosi a send-off at the elegant embassy Wednesday as she was to become the first lawmaker since the powerful Sam Rayburn to take on the speakership for a second time.
Her party featured several notables, including former President Bill Clinton and former first lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who live nearby the embassy.
Pelosi has said she might have retired rather than seek to reclaim the speakership had Clinton won rather than Donald Trump.
Tony Bennett performed at an event for Nancy Pelosi before she resumed the speakership
Pelosi and Trump are now in a standoff over the president’s border wall, which Pelosi has told fellow Democrats may be connected to his ‘manhood’ amid a partial government shutdown that has now gone on for 12 days.
Pelosi spoke at the event, and the first female speaker spoke about political achievements for women.
She said the nation would ‘celebrate the first 100 years of women having the right to vote,’ while also ‘celebrating over 100 women in the Congress – in the House of Representatives. That’s pretty remarkable. It’s pretty exciting,’ she said.
Also there was former Secretary of State John Kerry, Playbook reported.
Based on photos tweeted out by guests, there were at least 16 tables, each adorned with an elegant flower arrangement.
Several attendees tweeted out photos of the event – including Bennett performing in front of a rhythm section at the embassy.
Pelosi spoke to guests hours before she was to address the full House after her election
PROUD ITALIAN-AMERICAN! The event was hosted by Italy’s ambassador to the U.S. Armando Varrichio
Pelosi (left) has said she might not have sought the speakership a second time had HIllary Clinton (right) won the presidency
Former President Bill Clinton also attended. The Clintons have a home in Washington that is nearby the embassy
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (L) and singer Tony Bennett attend the 87th birthday celebration of Tony Bennett and fundraiser for Exploring the Arts, the charity organization founded by Mr. Bennett and wife Susan Benedetto, hosted by Ted Sarandos & Nicole Avant Sarandos among celebrity friends and family on August 3, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California
Tony Bennett and Nancy Pelosi attend the 8th Annual Exploring The Arts Gala on September 29, 2014 in New York City
New Jersey lobbyist Bill Pascrell III, whose father is a Democratic House member, tweeted out an image of singer Tony Bennett
Both Pelosi and Bennett are Italian-American. Bennett was born Anthony Benedict Benedetto.
She brought him to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech in 2013, and Bennett, 92, has performed at other Pelosi events.
Pelosi had to postpone a ‘Dessert reception’ for the 116th Congress that was to be held at the National Building Museum amid the partial government shutdown.