May 1, 1997

The Right Party

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The Right Party

Esprit gets between Clinton and his Calvin.

#167 Ron Burkle, 44, Los Angeles, Calif. Party: D. $132,000 total contributions.

View Burkle’s itemized contributions.

Food 4 Less supermarket mogul Ron Burkle threw the Hollywood political event last September, raising $4 million from a guest list that included Steven Spielberg (#52), Lew R. Wasserman (#18), Rob Reiner (#205), and Sharon Stone. Partygoers enjoyed a show starring the Eagles (with #51 Don Henley), co-host Barbra Streisand (#364), and emcee Tom Hanks (not to mention comic relief by Mother Jones‘ Paula Poundstone).

Bill Clinton was also in attendance, and according to a DNC source, co-host David Geffen (#42) arranged to have close friend Calvin Klein seated next to the president. Esprit co-founder Susie Tompkins (#90) noted the two men together and worried that the president would be photographed next to Klein, whose CK Jeans ad campaign had been lambasted as kiddie porn by conservatives — and both Clintons. Aides swapped the president’s seat, and the first lady wound up sitting next to Klein. No photos or reports of the incident ever surfaced.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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