RE: Toner Prize update

From:jbenenson@bsgco.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-03-24 12:17 Subject: RE: Toner Prize update

You just gave me my first big laugh of the day. Wait until you hear me go off the deep end. I’m not known as the maestro of calm that Plouffe and Axe were. You think I should wait to have my second cup of coffee before I sound like Phillipe? JP --Sent from my iPad-- john.podesta@gmail.com<mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com> For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com<mailto:eryn.sepp@gmail.com> On Mar 24, 2015, at 9:11 AM, Joel Benenson <jbenenson@bsgco.com<mailto:jbenenson@bsgco.com>> wrote: Before we bitch too much let’s look and see if they have covered the award event. To add to NYT bitch file: not 1/2 column inch in paper on this award speech in honor of their reporter or her CAP appearance. I guess they didn't have it from "four senior government sources" so there was no news value. On Mar 23, 2015 10:45 PM, "Margolis, Jim" <Jim.Margolis@gmmb.com<mailto:Jim.Margolis@gmmb.com>> wrote: Excellent Well done everyone Jim Margolis Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse typos. On Mar 23, 2015, at 3:43 PM, Nick Merrill <nmerrill@hrcoffice.com<mailto:nmerrill@hrcoffice.com>> wrote: Speech was good. She throttled off the funny a little too early I think, they were hungry for more, but in the end it didn't matter. Good on humor, good on a light nudge for accountability, and good on substance. She had no plans to sit but wanted to see the Toner kids present. She sat again after remarks and connected with most of the beat folks as Huma noted below along with Jonathan Martin, Betsy Fischer, Laura Meckler, and a few others. The Carolyn Ryan conversation was awkward but appreciated by Carolyn. She asked her a few questions about health care and the courts. Was fine. The best part is that HRC was squarely in the mindset of very glad she did it, and glad she stayed and mingled. It was a good setting for it. A little griping about her not taking questions (Biden spoke last year and also did not take Qs), including Dan Balz jokingly offering to yield his time for her to take some questions during his remarks. But I think it was fine, especially because it was truly what the family wanted. All in a all and very good evening. Nick On Mar 23, 2015, at 9:29 PM, Huma Abedin <huma@hrcoffice.com<mailto:huma@hrcoffice.com>> wrote: Will let Nick and Dan give more color but it appears as though her speech was well-received by both guests and reporters in the room. They appreciated that she was funny and several people said they were impressed she addressed the elephant in the room and was self-deprecating. Andrea mitchell, laura meckler, jon allen, anne gearan, phil rucker, karen tumulty in unison agreed that she did the right thing and appreciated that she "acknowledged" that she has a problematic relationship with the press. Nick, hrc and I all had uncomfortable exchanges with Carolyn Ryan. Carl Hulse said some NYT staff was betting that she would cancel her appearance tonight. Also, we noted at least one young tracker. And she was audio taped the entire mix and mingle by amy chozick who may as well have been sitting in her lap....