Earlier this month Secretary Clinton delivered a major address to the Economic Club of New York on the role of economics in US foreign policy. She talked candidly about a variety of critical issues such as currency manipulation, piracy, sustainability, and various modern-day trade and investment barriers, including those cherished by many old-school “free” traders.

A comprehensive, clear, and compelling review of current events and future strategy, the speech is the fourth in a series that the Secretary has given on various aspects of economic statecraft. As always, her remarks are well worth reading or viewing:

The prior three speeches in the series treated different aspects of the same general topic. The first speech discussed how diplomacy and overseas development assistance contribute to domestic economic health. The second emphasized economic values and the importance of respecting rules of fair global competition. The third focused on the critical role of women in creating and maintaining a robust and equitable global economy.

Delivered in the immediate aftermath of passage by Congress of comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic relations agreements with South Korea, Columbia, and Panama, the fourth speech is a strong statement of how the Administration will engage in matters of trade, investment, and economics going forward.

My Kiwi friend David White is in the U.S. this week on business, and I arranged for him to go say hello to a few of my American friends in New York and L.A.  I always like introducing folks with similar passions and goals.  You never know what kinds of great things will result.

A budding entertainment mogul, David writes and develops feature films, television shows, and documentaries. He currently has two projects in production – The Red House (a feature-length documentary) and Toi La Who? (a short film).  He already has Fringe Festival productions, TV pilots, award-winning music videos, a new production company (White Balance Pictures), and a feature film (The Last Great Snail Chase) under his belt.  Busy guy.

David, Emmy-winning/Oscar-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson, and
Sundance-honored Lesli Klainberg.

His first hello for me in the U.S. was to my friend and former client Lesli Klainberg. Lesli and I served together for many years on the GLAAD board of directors.  I also had the great pleasure of doing the legal work for a film that she produced, Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  I last saw Lesli when she took the train down to DC from New York to attend my swearing-in ceremony.  And yes, she is as warm and wonderful as her smile indicates.

Lesli e-mailed me the photo above, taken after lunch with David.  Coincidentally, she was heading off to a shoot with another person whom I had arranged for David to see, Bruce Cohen, so she took David along.  Bruce is a great friend from Los Angeles who produces movies for a living, and does it grandly.  Bruce has a best picture Oscar on his mantle for producing American Beauty, and he was nominated again most recently for Milk.  Like Lesli, he is a peach of a person, a generous philanthropist, and an involved citizen who makes a positive difference. 

My favorite pic of Bruce (far left), beaming with other
American Beauty Oscar winners.

From all that I have seen and heard, David is having a great visit to the U.S.  I look forward to chatting with him when he gets back.