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WHCD focuses on press freedom and history, not stars and comedy | TheHill

posted onApril 28, 2019
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Article snippet: The 2019 White House Correspondents’ Dinner focused more on history and press freedom than celebrities and comedy as . The usually star-studded evening was more subdued than in previous years. Last year, which also didn’t see a strong showing from Hollywood, stars such as Kathy Griffin and Rob Reiner were spotted at the Washington Hilton. This year, one notable guest was Kelleth Cuthbert, known on social media as the “Fiji water girl” photobomber, whose snapshots at the Golden Globes went viral earlier this year. The keynote address was delivered by acclaimed historian Ron Chernow, whose biography “Alexander Hamilton” about the first U.S. treasury secretary was the historical basis for the acclaimed Broadway musical “Hamilton.”  ADVERTISEMENT Chernow’s speech on historical admiration and tensions between presidents and the press mixed in a few jokes and examined notable media moments between figures such as George Washington, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. “The relationship between the president and the press has almost always been difficult, almost always adversarial but doesn’t have to be steeped in venom,” he said. A comedian usually headlines the event, but after edgy remarks made last year by entertainer Michelle Wolf, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) opted for a less controversial speaker. Ahead of the event, WHCA president Olivier Knox said he wanted to put the focus of the event back on journalism. “When I ran for the job in early... Link to the full article to read more

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