MYWASHINGTON
Stuart Holliday, President and CEO, Meridian International Center
BY KEVIN CHAFFEE
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WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS AT
MERIDIAN? First, it’s a team effort. We have
been able to grow our major partnership
with the State Department in global
leadership development in critical areas –
such as entrepreneurship – and do great
work as a cultural diplomacy center. We
are now more global and work extensively
overseas in places like Johannesburg,
Stockholm, New Delhi, and Beijing. Our
cultural diplomacy programs are also world
class with major partnerships with China, the
UAE and India, among others.
WHY IS THE MERIDIAN BALL SUCH A MUST
ATTEND EVENT EVERY FALL? Every ball has its
own character, and is a constant anchor of
Washington civic life. We have tireless and
amazing ball chairmen and we could not do
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If you haven’t seen the silent drill at the (1)
Marine Corps Barracks (8th and I streets SE),
it is very moving and a great summer tradition.
I remember when a young marine dropped his
rifle during the drill and President George H. W.
Bush wrote him a note saying that we all make
mistakes – truly a class act.
I love the energy at (2) Café Milano: (3251
Prospect St. NW) and the food should get
more recognition. It reminds me of the Amalfi
Coast where “Pasta waits for no man!”
(3) The Linden Grove Garden at Meridian
International Center is a bit of a “home
pick” but it’s a magical place and has the most
European feel in Washington. In winter the
trees turn to “sculptured fists.”
(4) The Bishop’s Garden at Washington
National Cathedral is also magical. I often
wander among the roses and boxwood there
while reflecting on the the three F’s – faith,
family and friends – the most important things
in life.
(5) Camillo’s Barbershop in Tenleytown (3921
Windom Pl. NW) has been around forever and
has a classic neighborhood feel.
(6) The French Ambassador’s Residence (2221
Kalorama Rd. NW) has been spectacularly
renovated and I love the oversize blue abstract
hanging in the foyer – at night you can see it
from outside.
Every morning I drive around beautiful (7)
Sheridan Circle, named for Union Gen.
Philip Sheridan (don’t tell my Texas relatives).
Its diminutive scale amid the Beaux arts
embassy buildings makes it a quintessentially
Washington place.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
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H O L L I DAY P H OTO CO U RT E SY M E R I D I A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L C E N T E R ; M A R I N E B A R R AC K S P H OTO CO U RT E SY
D I A/ MCC S S P I K E CAL L ; L I N D E N G R OV E GAR D E N P H OTO CO U RT E SY M E R ID I A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L CEN TER ;
’S GARDEN PHOTO COURTE SY WIKIMEDIA/VOXINFERIOR; FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S RE SIDENCE PHOTO BY
OW E L L .
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
As a special assistant to President George
W. Bush, I was responsible for building the
administration’s leadership team in foreign
policy, defense, homeland security and
intelligence during his first term. My job
as ambassador for special political affairs at
the U.N. Security Council from 2003-2005
was a unique experience at a challenging
time. There is no feeling like representing
your country and the American people.
Peacekeeping was a big part of that and I am
proud of the work we did to stabilize Sudan,
Haiti and Cote d’Ivoire.
MY TOP SPOTS
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it without the support and involvement of
over 25 embassies that host pre-ball dinners.
We have also developed a Global Leadership
Summit on the morning of the ball to add
a substantive discourse to the day. This year’s
Meridian Ball and Summit on Oct. 16 will
be a magical evening.
ST UA R
W I KI M
BISHO
TO N Y
HOW WAS YOUR INTEREST IN DIPLOMACY SPARKED?
It started as a family affair and an expression
of my own interest in how the world works.
My father was a diplomat and I was born at a
U.S. embas