There are more difficult assignments than a summer evening dinner at the Carnegie Abbey Club in Portsmouth, overlooking Narragansett Bay. But it was uncomfortably warm.
In fact, between the yellow and red tomato gazpacho with corn tortilla ribbons and the roasted filet mignon, I actually felt compelled to slip my jacket off. No one noticed. Most everyone was crowding around a stone path, awaiting the arrival of the guest speaker, former President William Jefferson Clinton.
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And arrive, he did.
Led out of Carnegie Abbey’s main clubhouse by a contingent of colonial militiamen from the Newport Artillery Company, President Clinton’s entrance was marked by a 21-gun salute, which included the firing of a bronze cannon cast by Paul Revere in his foundry in Boston in 1798.
Spirited and patriotic background music was provided by the Community Baptist Church Mass Choir. The entrance was capped with a terrific performance of The National Anthem by Emily McGuire, an 11-year-old who will enter seventh grade at Thompson Middle School in Newport next month.
Yes, Brian O’Neill, the new owner of the Carnegie Abbey Club can throw a party.
President Clinton’s appearance was part of the club’s World Leadership Guest Series, which kicked off last month when former President George H.W. Bush headlined a similar gathering.
The series has served as a coming-out party of sorts for Carnegie Abbey. Founded in 2000 by Peter de Savary, a renowned yachtsman and environmentalist, the club changed hands earlier this summer to O’Neill, founder of O’Neill Properties Group, a Pennsylvania-based company with more than $4 billion in real estate holdings.
In addition to its golf course, boating, spa and equestrian trail, Carnegie Abbey boasts of extravagant residences, all sporting spectacular views of Narragansett Bay. And soon, condominiums ranging in price from $1 million to $7 million will emerge out of a 220-foot luxury tower, a completely rebuilt structure that once served as the Kaiser Aluminum manufacturing plant.
Well, amazing views and filet mignon aside, the highlight of the evening was a former president.
In the moments leading up to his speech, I jotted one word in my notebook. “Giddy.”
That’s how I would best describe the highly partisan crowd.
President Clinton’s speech started out resembling that of a campaign rally. He thanked fellow Democrats, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, as well as several other Rhode Island politicos in attendance.
To his credit, the 42nd President of the United States focused his speech on leadership and the ability for anyone – quite literally – to change the world.
“Ordinary citizens have more power to change the world than ever before,” he said. “The range of opportunity to have a profound impact on the world has never been greater.”
President Clinton spoke for about 45 minutes. He had no notes – and never seemed to need them. He looked fit and comfortable.
He has no real update on the political aspirations of his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, except to say that if she were to be elected president, he would do whatever she asked of him. He talked about the issues he wanted to address as a former president, including health care, specifically the growing problem of obesity in children and youth work programs.
Carnegie Abbey officials would not say whether he was paid for his visit. But he did leave with some sporting gifts, including:
*A 1920s-style brass Carnegie Abbey putter with a wooden shaft.
*An Abel Super 8 Stars & Stripes fly reel bearing serial number 42 and a red, white and blue Thomas & Thomas fly rod.
*A selection of Rhode Island flies tied by Captain Eric G. Thomas, enclosed in a zebra wood fly box.
The evening ended with fireworks, and I’m told, dancing. I was too full from the filet mignon.
