Social Diary 10/9/03 - The French-American Foundation held its annual gala dinner at The Four Season Restaurant

Last night at The Four Season Restaurant the French-American Foundation held its annual gala dinner

Last night during cocktail-hour at The Four Seasons Restaurant.

A warmer Wednesday in early October in New York, with the autumn temperatures reaching into the mid-70s.

The French-American Foundation held its annual gala dinner last night in the pool room at the Four Seasons restaurant where they presented the Benjamin Franklin Award to the Forbes Family – Steve and Sabina, Robert and Lydia, Christopher and Astrid, Timothy and Anne Forbes, and Moira and Kenneth Mumma.

The Picasso tapestry at The Four Seasons Restaurant

The Forbeses have had a long relationship with France where their father, the late publisher Malcolm Forbes fought in the United States Army as a machine gunner in France during the Second World War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his service and bravery.

Malcolm Forbes eventually acquired the now famous Forbes Chateau de Balleroy in Normandy and began what has become for the Forbes family a lifelong patronage of the arts and restoration of historic treasures, such as the chateau, as well as through the family publishing empire which informs executives on both sides of the Atlantic.

The French-American Foundation was created in the year of our nation’s bicentennial, 1976, in order to promote and strengthen French-American relations and to encourage an active dialogue between our two countries in order to promote a deeper mutual understanding and to reduce misperceptions. They bring together French and American leaders, policy makers and other professionals to exchange views on common problems. They also arrange a wide variety of programs, including conferences, public opinion polls, reports, lectures, exchanges and study tours, designed to identify, explore and share innovative practices on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the Pool Room of The Four Seasons. 8:00 PM.

The evening was held under the patronage of His Excellency the Ambassador of France and Madame Jean-David Levitte and the Consul General of France in New York and Madame Richard Duque. Begun with remarks by Elizabeth Fondaras, who is vice-chairman of the foundation. Mrs. Fondaras, who has been written about many times in these pages, is an American who has lived much of her adult life in both New York and Paris.

A chamber trio played La Marseillaise and then the Star Spangled Banner, the instruments presenting the national anthems very gently and delicately (and peacefully). Ambassador Levitte talked briefly about French-American relations, pointing out Benjamin Franklin’s gathering of support from the court of Versailles which led to the decisive victory of Washington’s forces over the British at Yorktown.

Elizabeth Fondaras and John Richardson

The ambassador thanked the Americans for “saving” them in the two World Wars of the last century. He gently reminded that the French are still allied with the Americans in their policy in both Afghanistan and North Korea. In reference to the differences on the Iraqi war, he quoted Secretary of State Colin Powell’s remark that France and the United States had been “engaged in marriage counseling for 225 years,” with the French-American Foundation as the marriage counselor.

Steve Forbes gave the acceptance speech for his family. Forbes, off-camera, does not have the height that I’d imagined from his photo images. He’s an excellent speaker, relaxed, informative, diplomatic but sensible and practical. He recounted the arrival of the 19-year-old Marquis de Lafayette in this country and meeting General Washington. Washington, admiring of the marquis’ military training, told him that they had “much to learn” from him. The marquis replied to Washington: “I am here to learn, not teach.”

The black-tie evening was chaired by the Honorable Anne Cox Chambers, the Honorable Walter J.P. Curley, Liz Fondaras, Mrs. David Hamilton and Mrs. Michael Patterson. Mr. Patterson, who is Vice Chairman of JP Morgan Chase, is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Foundation. The wines and champagnes were donated by the House of Moet et Chandon and Chandon Estates California.