Re: A July Writing

Colleagues and Friends:

Earnest being my strong suit, I don't know that I ever have stir-the-world words in me. This early July writing surely won't. So as to a topic suddenly in our Washington news, I will go for direct instead. As there is no secret here, you may know much of this detail already. Even so, I think it is right that these words come from me directly, over my signature (if that image still pertains).

For a half dozen years, Atlantic Media has been hosting sponsored salon dinners in Washington and around the U.S. I don't believe that any one of these events had any of the ill intention or effect that some have attributed to The Washington Post concept. But we live on a street too close to the brush fire to pretend no interest. So what I thought I might do is give the detail of the Atlantic Media dinners, address some of the concerns I'm reading now on the Web, explain the virtue I see in this work and end with a personal statement and caveat. Please forgive me if this runs long.

Let me begin by saying that I won't distance myself from this issue. From some of our earliest events, I have been part of the thinking behind this work. I've approved many sponsored dinners personally, sent out my own invitations, hosted some dinners at my house, welcomed the sponsors in my remarks and written thank you notes to those involved. I am a part of this work. Openly.

So, if I may, let me give you some detail about salon dinners.