A ‘Washington’ Story


by Monica Gray 

Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell – a dynamic duo and true Washington romance – shared the spotlight last night at the Newseum, leading a lively discussion before the screening of “The Philadelphia Story,” their pick for the “Reel Journalism with Nick Clooney” season finale.   
Co-produced by the American University School of Communication and the Newseum, the “Reel Journalism” series presents screenings of classic and contemporary films which are accompanied by live discussions with prominent filmmakers, award-winning actors, top journalists, and, as was the case last night, the former head of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
Greenspan, now the head of the economic consulting firm Greenspan Associates, and Mitchell, NBC’s chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” agreed that their mutual affection for Katharine Hepburn was one of the main reasons they chose to show the classic 1940 romantic comedy.
“She (Hepburn) was beautiful in an unconventional way. She was a strong woman who talked back. I love that aggressiveness and that feistiness,” Mitchell said.  Greenspan added that he too was a big Hepburn fan: “She’s kind of a startling person…almost compares to Andrea.”
According to Mitchell, she and Greenspan – who are celebrating their 14th anniversary together this month – met over the federal budget.  “I was trying to fact check the numbers and someone suggested I call a ‘real economist,’ so I called Alan. Not exactly a sexy come-on. It took a few years….it’s a big budget!”
“Is that how you woo women? With budget talk?” asked moderator Susan Bennet, Newseum Senior Vice President who was filling in for Nick Clooney.
To which he replied, “Works all the time.”

A ‘Washington’ Story


by Monica Gray 

Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell – a dynamic duo and true Washington romance – shared the spotlight last night at the Newseum, leading a lively discussion before the screening of “The Philadelphia Story,” their pick for the “Reel Journalism with Nick Clooney” season finale.   
Co-produced by the American University School of Communication and the Newseum, the “Reel Journalism” series presents screenings of classic and contemporary films which are accompanied by live discussions with prominent filmmakers, award-winning actors, top journalists, and, as was the case last night, the former head of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
Greenspan, now the head of the economic consulting firm Greenspan Associates, and Mitchell, NBC’s chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” agreed that their mutual affection for Katharine Hepburn was one of the main reasons they chose to show the classic 1940 romantic comedy.
“She (Hepburn) was beautiful in an unconventional way. She was a strong woman who talked back. I love that aggressiveness and that feistiness,” Mitchell said.  Greenspan added that he too was a big Hepburn fan: “She’s kind of a startling person…almost compares to Andrea.”
According to Mitchell, she and Greenspan – who are celebrating their 14th anniversary together this month – met over the federal budget.  “I was trying to fact check the numbers and someone suggested I call a ‘real economist,’ so I called Alan. Not exactly a sexy come-on. It took a few years….it’s a big budget!”
“Is that how you woo women? With budget talk?” asked moderator Susan Bennet, Newseum Senior Vice President who was filling in for Nick Clooney.
To which he replied, “Works all the time.”