Back in DC for Ukraine Week

All,

I have not been to DC this often since back in the 60’s when we used to go down there to demonstrate as a student radical 🤪.

But now that I am older, wiser, and more mature (?) I hope to have a slightly different impact on things – or at least do it in a better manner 😉

I flew up Tuesday to attend part of the Ukraine Week activities.  By luck, I got to sit next to RFK Jr, who was flying up from Florida after being approved by the Senate committee to be voted on as the next US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

I pretty much left him alone, but we chatted about a few things. He was very gracious and, I think, appreciated that I didn’t ask for a selfie hahahahaha.  We talked about all the “theater” today in politics, and I mentioned that I had read the book “Thirteen Days in October” about the Cuban missile crisis when his Dad and Uncle (John F. Kennedy) had to navigate that. How “real” it was for them.  It’s an incredible story and based, in fact, on his Dad’s diary from those days.  Worth reading.

In the morning, Steve Scully and I visited the US Senate office of PA Senator Dave McCormick (we visited the other US Senator–John Fetterman’s office, my last time there a few weeks ago). I’ve met Dave a couple of times, and his staff knows Steve from his long career in DC. Their office is tucked away in the basement (he just got elected), so it was cozy. Not the office I’m sure he had up in Westport, CT when he ran Bridgewater 😉.  But where he will hopefully get some good things done.

At the event (view the daily recap here), there was a prayer breakfast that I missed where Vice President JD Vance spoke, along with Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. My “main event” was the session of the US-Ukraine Business Council. Now, I’m not really good at these kind of events, but luckily for me, my son Derek is, and everyone there knows him and thinks the world of him. So the opening of every conversation with all the “bigwigs” there starts with, “Oh, you must be Derek’s Dad. Great to meet you. I think the world of him”.  Easy icebreaker for me 🤪

At the Biz Council, lots of high-end folks from Ukraine, US industry, and the government. Sentiment was fairly optimistic that the Trump Admin is working hard to end the war and ensure Ukraine gets a fair deal out of any settlement. Most everyone there thought that would be the case.  And EVERYONE there stood in awe at the strength, courage, and innovation of the Ukrainian people and what the future can hold for them once this war ends.

I met some very interesting people, which will lead to new connections and opportunities for LP to continue supporting Ukraine’s war efforts and reconstruction. A worthwhile few days.

Onward!

Here are some of the slides and participants: