If pre-first impressions matter, then the “Right Honourable Tony Blair” was definitely a standout for MD Anderson Center‘s “A Conversation with a Living Legend” at the Hilton Anatole on May 9. Would there be a VIP reception with Tony with his interviewer Greta Van Susteren? No. What about a post-luncheon reception as mentioned on the Dallas Morning News blog? No, he was leaving the city immediately after the luncheon. What about electronic coverage? Audio recording allowed only during the Blair entrance. Video cameras may shoot b-roll of event and first five minutes of interview — no audio (little rough for radio reporters). Photos could only be taken during Tony’s entrance in the Chantilly Ballroom and during the first five minutes of the talk. Print media “may remain in ballroom for remainder of interview. Broadcast media will be escorted from ballroom.” One media type muttered, “Does he think he’s still prime minister?” as security types appeared around the ballroom.
All these restrictions may have explained why the man who is still actively working internationally to make a difference for good had a minimal media turnout.
What they missed!
Having just celebrated his 59th birthday three days before, Tony probably didn’t realize that his Texas visit was going to be more that an exchange of niceties with the 5’3″ FOX Network’s Van Susteren. But more about that later.
For some of the 650 guests, the luncheon seemed like a déjà vu situation. Didn’t they just attend “A Conversation With A Living Legend” in January with Richard Branson and Miles O’Brien? Yup, but that date was necessitated by Branson’s schedule.
This go-around Mandi Bush was chairing the event with the help of Lana Andrews and another All-Star lineup of guests including Alicia Landry, Peggy and Jere Thompson, T. Boone Pickens, Lyda Hill, Kimberly and Shannon Wynne, Renee and David Winter, Toni Brinker, Jill and Bob Smith and Allie Beth and Pierce Allman.
MIA were Lee Ann and Alan White, who had just made big news earlier in the day with the announcement of PlainsCapital being purchased by Gerald Ford‘s Hilltop Holdings for $520M. Lee Ann and Alan, KRLD’s David Johnson was looking high and low for you.
Following presentation off the flags, a welcome by Mandi sans husband George P. and invocation by Rev. S. M. Wright II, a fine lunch was served (baked brie tart with microgreens, candied walnuts and basil oil and champagne vinaigrette; grilled filet of beef on wilted spinach, herbed polenta, classic demi-glace grilled asparagus and baby carrots; jalapeno corn muffins and whole wheat rolls and valrhona chocolate tart with caramel sauce), it was time to get down to business.
Following the viewing of a video on world-famous MD Anderson Center, MD Anderson President Ronald DePinho introduced young living legend Taylor Helland, who in 2011 at the age of 14 was diagnosed with colon cancer. For several weeks she traveled to MD Anderson because it was “the only facility in the country that offers an aggressive cancer treatment called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy to children. Since my cancer had spread through blood to my lymph nodes, it was highly recommended that I undergo this procedure.”
Looking at Taylor on stage presenting a gift first to Greta, Tony off-stage looked like a man who was truly in awe of the teenager. Having lost his mother to cancer, he understood the fear, anxiety and importance of a team of specialists in fighting cancer. He also might have been thinking back when he was 14 and his greatest concern was modeling himself on Mick Jagger with dreams of being a rock star.
After receiving his gift from Taylor, he took his place on stage with Greta for an interview with her opening question on the election of the new French president just 72 hours before.
Looking like a man who had expected some niceties before diving in to the “heavy stuff,” he chuckled about Greta’s getting down to business. But despite the restrictions placed on the media and organizers, Tony proved to be utterly charming and articulate throughout the whole process.
Highlights of the conversation included:
- Having just completed his 18th trip to Israel and Palestine to negotiate peace — “As my wife pointed out, it’s not actually the number of visits you make, it’s the progress that counts.” [Laughter]
- The big issue facing Israel and Palestine — “The Israelis have got to see the creation of the Palestinian state as a strategic necessity. . . and the Palestinians have got to understand that the only circumstances in which Israel is going to agree to establishing the Palestinian state is that if it is clear that the existence of Israel as a Jewish state is acceptable. . . but negotiating it is incredibly difficult when it is so bound up by the politics of the region. . . This is a region that will never contain its turmoil.”
- “There’s a lot of negativity toward our countries. . . but underneath there’s a huge admiration for America. . . They (people in other countries) want us to stay strong.” [Applause]
- “As China develops farther economically, it will open up.”
- One of the problems facing Europe “is a big clash between, if you like, the best short term politics and the right long-term policy.”
- George W. Bush — “He’s a good friend of mine. I’m a fan of 43. [Applause] These sentiments don’t always evoke that response.” [Laughter]i
- Miss being prime minister? “Yes, from time to time until I remember what it’s like. I haven’t rule out going back into politics.”
- Social media — “The immediate cause for many of these revolutions is social media. Governments can’t control it. The trouble is it’s not always a fantastic media to have a measured debate.”
- American revolution — “Small misunderstanding. [Laughter] Incredible error in judgment.”
- Dreams of being a rock musician — “I did want to be a Mick Jagger. (Being prime minister) is not the same.”
- His kids’ comments about a photo of him as a youth in bell bottoms and long hair — “No matter how bad we’ve been, we’ve never looked that bad.”
- “People want to do good. Bad politics gets in the way.”
yvonne says
great write up.. Tony Blair is one of the most interesting of the MD Anderson’s Living Legends … and so Candid.. and a side note – “is Lana Andrews ever going to age”? I think not.. beautiful and always doing amazing things for our community.
Let’s not forget what MD Anderson Cancer has done.. Taylor Helland is the proof!