Interested in keeping up with your French? Join the French Conversation Group!
Formed to help French-speaking members maintain their proficiency, the group meets monthly for lunchtime conversation involving foreign relations, diplomatic history, cultural activities, travel, and - of course! - French food and wine.
The DACOR cash bar opens at 12 noon and the group moves to a reserved table at Members' Lunch at 12:30 pm. Only French is spoken during lunch. Attendees have the option of participating in the Members' Lunch for $35, or joining the conversation group without eating (no charge). Registrations are required for all participants.
Members' Lunch for $35 includes a biscuit/bread, two courses, and a cup of coffee/tea. Wine and other beverages may be purchased at the bar or at the table.
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Join us for a delightful evening of Italian wine tasting at the DACOR Bacon House. A curated selection of sparkling, white and red wine will guide attendees through the various regions and grapes of Italy. Matched food pairings will be served with the wine.
Leading the event is Keith Murphy, Regional Manager for old world imports at Winebow. He will be assisted by his colleague Missy Pankow.
Keith Murphy is the Regional Manager of the Mid-Atlantic for Winebow Imports – Heritage Division. He oversees a portfolio of European fine wines imported from over 112 family-owned estates.
Before joining Winebow Imports in 2014, Keith spent eleven years as a restaurant focused sales representative for a large wine & spirits distributor in Maryland. To go along with his twenty one years of experience in the beverage industry, he currently holds certifications from the Society of Wine Educators as a Certified Specialist of Wine, as a Certified Specialist of Spirits and is also a Certified Beer Server through the Cicerone organization.
Keith loves to share his passion for Italian wine and cuisine far and wide. When he is not busy sharing this love, he enjoys cooking, traveling and seeing live music with his family.
Missy Pankow is a Certified Winebow Professional and DACOR's Sales Consultant. She has a WSET Level 3 and a Master of Champage certification from the Wine Scholar Guild. She has expertly led multiple wine, whiskey and other tastings at DACOR. Missy is also the principal clarinetist with teh Arlington Concert Band.
Winebow is a national importer and distributor that offers a dynamic portfolio of fine wine and spirits from around the world. Winebow represents some of the most established, family-owned properties, as well as a new generation of winemakers and distillers who are dedicated to innovation and quality. With a commitment ot exceptional service, their vision is to inspire a passion for fine wine and spirits nationwide.
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Since our "Cocktails on the Patio" events in the warmer months are so popular, we are bringing back the monthly "Cocktails in the House" during the cooler months. Join us on the first Thursday of each month for this member favorite!
Featuring a cash bar and a laid-back ambiance, DACOR's happy hours are being held the first Thursday of each month until "Cocktails on the Patio" begin in May. Join us for refreshing drinks and great camaraderie in our beautiful house.
Cocktails in the House does not require reservations. Non-DACOR members of the foreign affairs community are invited to join our members. Members are also encouraged to bring prospective members to enjoy a lovely evening at the DACOR Bacon House!
If you would like to bring a larger group, please let staff know so we can be prepared with enough drinks for everyone! more info...
Please note that this event has to be postponed from its original date of December 8. The rescheduled date will be made available as soon as possible.
Ralitza Patcheva, piano, performs mystery composer Jan BRANDTS-BUYS in " Beethoven & the Beethoven-Buys Symphony No. 9 "
This holiday recital will be a tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827). Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is a choral symphony, his final symphonic work composed between 1822 -1824 before his death in 1827 at age fifty-seven. First performed in Vienna in spring of 1824, "the 9th" now enjoys its 200th anniversary in 2024! "The 9th" is regarded as the supreme achievement in the history of music and one of the most frequently performed symphonies in the world. Later in the early 20th century Dutch-Austrian composer Jan Brandt-Buys (1868-1933) decided to write a piano transcription of the symphony, including its instrumental as well as its vocal and choral complexities. Bulgarian pianist Ralitza Patcheva has made a study of Beethoven''s music and found the Buys transcription of Beethoven's 9th symphony of exceptional musical and educational value. Recognizing also "the 9th's" 200th anniversary this year, Ms. Patcheva will present this pianistic tour-de-force, the Beethoven-Buys transcription along with her own transcription of a song by Buys and a Bagatelle by Beethoven to top off this exceptional program.
Come and listen to how two later musicians hear Beethoven's symphonic music in pianistic form, its themes, harmonies and contrapuntal strategies and celebrate Beethoven with us.
Pianist Ralitza Patcheva has been called a “phenomenon” (The Washington Post) and praised for her “elegant pianistic technique”, “courageous, innovative interpretation” and “crystal tone; amalgamation of witty virtuosity, powerful expression and profound sensitivity”.
She is a prizewinner of the 51st International Piano Competition " Ferruccio Busoni" and the Washington International Piano Competition, as well as the "Accademia di Citta di Pinerolo" International Chamber Music Competition ( in a duo with her husband, cellist Vasily Popov).
Ralitza has presented numerous recitals in Europe and the United States. Since 2002 she co-directs the Chamber Music At Noon Series at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington DC with cellist Vasily Popov. Ralitza has presented performances at the Kreeger Museum, the Phillips Collection, the Arts Club and other popular concert locations in DC. Ralitza has created the project "A Room with a Symphony" which explores the connections between the symphonic repertoire, chamber music and the piano solo genres. Ms. Patcheva is the associate chair of the chamber music program and a member of the piano faculty at Levine Music. she is also a lecturer in piano and chamber music at the Rome School of Music, Drama and Art at the Catholic University of America.
Please note this is a hybrid event - you have the option to attend in person or virtually. Registrations are required for all attendees. For in-person attendees, the event will run from 12 - 2 pm and will include lunch. The live stream will begin at 1:10 pm (virtual attendees will be sent a link for the event via email).
Join us for a conversation with Assistant Secretary Anne Witkowsky for a look into the work of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) is charged with leading the formulation and implementation of U.S. conflict prevention and stabilization strategies, policies, and programs. It provides the secretariat for the U.S. government’s multi-agency Atrocity Prevention Task Force and is the State Department’s lead implementer of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. CSO houses the Department’s Negotiations Support Unit, which advises U.S. diplomats and other officials on resolving some of the thorniest and most intractable international disputes. CSO’s efforts to reduce fragility, strengthen democratic institutions, and increase social cohesion with and within priority partner countries directly advance U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Anne Witkowsky was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations on January 10, 2022. Before then, she was most recently a non-resident Senior Democracy Fellow at Freedom House, where she co-directed the joint Freedom House, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and McCain Institute Task Force on the U.S. Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism. Assistant Secretary Witkowsky previously served in government as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs (2014-2016) in the Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Policy; as Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator in the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (2012-2013); and as the Bureau of Counterterrorism’s Deputy Coordinator for Homeland Security and Multilateral Affairs (2009-2013). She also served as Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control on the White House National Security Council staff (1993-2000) and spent her early government career in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Assistant Secretary Witkowsky holds a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and East European studies from Yale University and a Master in Public Administration with a concentration in international security from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is the recipient of several State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Join us for a presentation on the 2025 Open Doors Report, one of the most comprehensive resources on international education trends in the United States.
Published each year by the Institute for International Education (IIE), the Report provides detailed information on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States. It also documents the economic impact of international education across the country. In addition, the Report tracks studies trends related to US students studying abroad.
Open Doors is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IIE. This year’s report will be the 75th edition of Open Doors.
Dr. Allan E Goodman (CEO) and Julie Baer (Research and Learning Lead) from IIE will provide an overview of this year’s report, and then participate in a Q/A session moderated by Marie Royce, former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
IIE promotes the exchange of scholars and students, rescues scholars, students, and artists from persecution, displacement, and crises, conducts research on international academic mobility, and administers the Fulbright program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
Julie Baer is a Research and Learning Lead on IIE’s Research, Evaluation, and Learning (REL) Team, where she serves as an expert on trends in international education mobility. Ms. Baer’s nearly ten years of experience includes working with diverse stakeholders to coordinate research, providing programmatic insights, and engaging with external clients, such as the U.S. Department of State. She leads the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, a comprehensive resource on international students and scholars in the United States and American students studying abroad for academic credit. She also manages IIE’s signature Snapshot Survey Series, which provides critical insights about the current landscape of international educational exchange designed to provide insights to higher education institutions, the press, and other stakeholders.
Ms. Baer’s research focuses on historical analyses of international student data and examining underrepresented populations engaging in international exchange, such as educational mobility at community colleges and minority-serving institutions. Ms. Baer led the Open Doors Special Report – Promoting Access to U.S. Higher Education: International Students with Disabilities, supported by the U.S. Department of State. Other recent publications on these topics include book chapters on Characteristics and Patterns of International Students at Community Colleges: Lessons from the Open Doors Data and International Students and Study Abroad at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Ms. Baer is a member of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and NAFSA: AssociationofInternational Educators. She has presented and served on panels widely, including the AIEA Annual Conference, the NAFSA Annual Conference, and the Forum on Education Abroad Annual Conference. Ms. Baer was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia in 2012. She holds a Master of Education in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics from Centre College.
Dr. Allan E. Goodman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of International Education, which marked its Centennial in 2019. IIE promotes the exchange of scholars and students, rescues scholars, students, and artists from persecution, displacement, and crises, conducts research on international academic mobility, and administers the Fulbright program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. IIE collaborates with a wide range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe. 108 of its directors, grantees, and alumni of programs administered by IIE are recipients of Nobel Prizes.
Dr. Goodman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the selection committees for Rhodes and Schwarzman Scholars and has previously served on the Yidan Prize. He also serves on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation International Quality Group Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees of the Education Above All Foundation. Dr. Goodman has a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard, an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a B.S. from Northwestern University, and is the recipient of honorary degrees from Canadian, European, Japanese, UK, and US universities. He received decorations for his work in promoting educational exchange and scholar rescue from the governments of France, Germany, and Norway; he received the first Gilbert Medal from the Universitas 21 Organisation.
Before joining IIE, Dr Goodman was Executive Dean of the School of Foreign Service and Professor at Georgetown University. His books on international relations are published by Princeton, Harvard, and Yale University presses. He has served at the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Honorable Marie Royce is a businesswoman, diplomat, and educator who serves as an advisor, and on non-profit and for-profit boards.
She recently served as Assistant Secretary of State, Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). While Assistant Secretary, she managed a wide range of global programs to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives through educational, professional, cultural and sports exchanges. She oversaw the Presidentially-appointed Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and the Presidentially-appointed Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC)..
Ms. Royce has 25+ years of global experience in the Fortune 500. She also served as a full-time visiting professor and is a small business owner. more info...
If you have an interest in Africa or want to learn more, join DACOR members at the monthly Africa Discussion Group. Discussions are organized around theme, country, region or on a selected speaker’s interests.
The DACOR cash bar opens at 12 noon and the group moves to a reserved table at Members' Lunch at 12:30 pm. Attendees have the option of participating in the Members' Lunch for $35, or joining the discussion group without eating (no charge). Registrations are required for all participants.
Members' Lunch for $35 includes a biscuit/bread, two courses, and a cup of coffee/tea. Wine and other beverages may be purchased at the bar or at the table. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Join us for our annual Holiday Buffet Brunch. Bring visiting friends and family for a delicious spread and great conversation. This is also a great opportunity for introducing prospective members to our House and Community.
The event features communal seating. Please let us know if you will be a party of 6 or more.
There are two seatings (10:30 am - 12 pm and 1 pm - 2:30 pm) and you will be able to select one based on availability during your registration. Caroling will be held in-between the seatings at 12 noon. A good singing voice is not a requirement, just good cheer. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Interested in keeping up with your French? Join the French Conversation Group!
Formed to help French-speaking members maintain their proficiency, the group meets monthly for lunchtime conversation involving foreign relations, diplomatic history, cultural activities, travel, and - of course! - French food and wine.
The DACOR cash bar opens at 12 noon and the group moves to a reserved table at Members' Lunch at 12:30 pm. Only French is spoken during lunch. Attendees have the option of participating in the Members' Lunch for $35, or joining the conversation group without eating (no charge). Registrations are required for all participants.
Members' Lunch for $35 includes a biscuit/bread, two courses, and a cup of coffee/tea. Wine and other beverages may be purchased at the bar or at the table.
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Since our "Cocktails on the Patio" events in the warmer months are so popular, we are bringing back the monthly "Cocktails in the House" during the cooler months. Join us on the first Thursday of each month for this member favorite!
Featuring a cash bar and a laid-back ambiance, DACOR's happy hours are being held the first Thursday of each month until "Cocktails on the Patio" begin in May. Join us for refreshing drinks and great camaraderie in our beautiful house.
Cocktails in the House does not require reservations. Non-DACOR members of the foreign affairs community are invited to join our members. Members are also encouraged to bring prospective members to enjoy a lovely evening at the DACOR Bacon House!
If you would like to bring a larger group, please let staff know so we can be prepared with enough drinks for everyone! more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Please note this is a hybrid event - you have the option to attend in person or virtually. Registrations are required for all attendees. For in-person attendees, the event will run from 12 - 2 pm and will include lunch. The live stream will begin at 1:10 pm (virtual attendees will be sent a link for the event via email).
At a time when the world is in turmoil and American leadership is being challenged, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat recounts in The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World (Rowman & Littlefield, May 28, 2024), America’s most significant and consequential negotiations over the past fifty years. These include efforts to resolve conflicts from the Middle East peace process to “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, and lingering issues of World War II, from the reunification of Germany to justice for Holocaust survivors. Eizenstat addresses the use of American military force as an instrument of diplomacy, from Vietnam to the Balkan Wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drawing lessons that are applicable to today’s conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Eizenstat played a leading role himself in several of these negotiations, adn he has also personally interviewed more than 125 U.S. and international leaders, including some of the greatest practitioners of the art of diplomacy. Join us at DACOR for a discussion of The Art of Diplomacy's themes and example diplomatic moments.
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat is Senior Counsel in Covington & Burling LLP’s international practice. His work at Covington focuses on resolving international trade problems and business disputes with the U.S. and foreign governments, and international business transactions and regulations on behalf of U.S. companies and others around the world. He was an Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (1982-1991), where he taught a course on presidential decision-making. He has been a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution (1981) and the Woodrow Wilson Center (2001).
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat is Senior Counsel in Covington & Burling LLP’s international practice. His work at Covington focuses on resolving international trade problems and business disputes with the U.S. and foreign governments, and international business transactions and regulations on behalf of U.S. companies and others around the world. He was an Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (1982-1991), where he taught a course on presidential decision-making. He has been a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution (1981) and the Woodrow Wilson Center (2001).
During a decade and a half of public service in six U.S. administrations, Ambassador Eizenstat has held a number of key senior positions, including Chief White House Domestic Policy Adviser to President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981); U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration (1993-2001).
In the Carter White House, he was major figure in all the domestic legislative achievements of the Carter Administration. He also recommended to President Carter a Presidential Commission on the Holocaust, headed by Elie Wiesel, which led directly to the congressional approval of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
During the Clinton Administration, he had a prominent role in the development of key international initiatives, including the negotiations of the Transatlantic Agenda with the European Union (establishing the framework for the U.S. relationship with the EU); the development of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) among European and US CEOs; the negotiation of agreements with the European Union regarding the Helms-Burton Act and the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act; the negotiation of the Japan Port Agreement with the Japanese government; and the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, where he led the U.S. delegation.
Much of the interest in providing belated justice for victims of the Holocaust and other victims of Nazi tyranny during World War II was the result of his leadership of the Clinton Administration as Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State on Holocaust-Era Issues, while continuing to hold his other Senate-confirmed positions. He successfully negotiated major agreements with the Swiss, Germans, Austrian and French, and other European countries, covering restitution of property, payment for slave and forced laborers, recovery of looted art, bank accounts, and payment of insurance policies. He was the principal negotiator of the 1998 Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art with 44 countries, which continues to be a basis for recovery and compensation for Nazi-looted art. His book on these events, Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor, and the Unfinished Business of World War II, has been favorably received in publications like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Business Week, and Publisher’s Weekly. It has been translated into German, French, Czech and Hebrew.
In addition, during the Obama administration, he served as Special Adviser on Holocaust-Era Issues to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry (2009-2017). During this period of his public service, Ambassador Eizenstat negotiated significant Holocaust-related agreement with the governments of Lithuania (2011), and with France (2014), regarding the deportation of Jews on the French railway. During this time, he was also the principal U.S. negotiator for the Terezin Declaration with 47 countries (2009), which strengthened the Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art and urging measures to assist the social welfare of poor, elderly Holocaust survivors, and the agreement with over 40 countries on Best Practices and Guidelines for the Restitution and/or Compensation of Private (Immovable) Property Confiscated by the Nazis and their Collaborators Between 1933-1945. In the Obama Administration, he also served on the Defense Policy Board, for Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.
During the Trump administration, he was appointed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as Expert Adviser to the State Department on Holocaust-Era Issues (2008-2021).
In the Biden administration, he is currently serving as Special Adviser to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Holocaust Issues. In this capacity, he played a major role in the negotiation of the Best Practices for the Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art (2024), now supported by 25 countries. He was appointed by President Biden as Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council (2022-present).
Since 2009, he has served as pro bono Special Negotiator for the Jewish Claims Conference in negotiations with the German government, obtaining billions of dollars of benefits for poor Holocaust survivors, for home care, social and medical services, enhanced pensions, hardship payments, child survivor and Kindertransport survivors, special supplemental payments for the poorest of the poor, and worldwide educational benefits.
Ambassador Eizenstat has received more than eighty awards, including eight honorary doctorate degrees from universities and academic institutions. He has been awarded high civilian awards from the governments of France (two Legions of Honor awards in 2004 and 2024), Germany, Austria, Israel, Belgium and Lithuania, as well as from Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and the Alexander Hamilton Award from Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers. In 2003, he received the Great Negotiator Award from Harvard Law School. In 2007, he was named "The Leading Lawyer in International Trade" in Washington, DC by Legal Times. His articles appear in The New York Times, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Foreign Policy magazine, and Foreign Affairs magazine, on a variety of international and domestic topics. He was the co-author of Andrew Young: The Path to History (1973), which chronicled how Andrew Young became for the first African American to win a congressional seat in the Deep South since Reconstruction following the Civil War.
His book President Carter: The White House Years (2018, 2020) is a definitive history of the Carter administration, which has been favorably reviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, National Interest, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Moment Magazine, and many other publications. His most recent book is The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World (2024,which has also won accolades from a variety of publications.
Ambassador Eizenstat grew up in Atlanta and was educated in its public schools. He was All-City and Honorable Mention All-American (Dell Sports Magazine) in basketball. He is a Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was inducted into the Order of the Old Well and Golden Fleece Society, and has an endowed chair in his name, The Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat Chair of Modern Jewish History. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He was married for 45 years to the late Frances Eizenstat and has two sons, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson. more info...
On the third Thursday of the month, we hold a Welcome to DACOR lunch for new members. All members are encouraged to come and meet the newest members of our community over a communal lunch.
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (starting in 2024, a glass of wine is not included; wine and other drinks may be purchased). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancellations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
If you have an interest in Africa or want to learn more, join DACOR members at the monthly Africa Discussion Group. Discussions are organized around theme, country, region or on a selected speaker’s interests.
The DACOR cash bar opens at 12 noon and the group moves to a reserved table at Members' Lunch at 12:30 pm. Attendees have the option of participating in the Members' Lunch for $35, or joining the discussion group without eating (no charge). Registrations are required for all participants.
Members' Lunch for $35 includes a biscuit/bread, two courses, and a cup of coffee/tea. Wine and other beverages may be purchased at the bar or at the table. more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
Please note this is a hybrid event - you have the option to attend in person or virtually. Registrations are required for all attendees. For in-person attendees, the event will run from 11:45 am - 2 pm and will include lunch. The live stream will begin at 12:55 pm (virtual attendees will be sent a link for the event via email).
Join DACOR and UAA for a conversation with Shanta Devarajan, Professor of Practice at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, on the crises in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Prevously, Devarajan was an Acting Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. More information coming soon! more info...
Members are welcome to make reservations for Members' Lunches and invite their accompanied guests. Please note that DACOR now requires reservations for members lunch. Please be sure to reserve a spot for each member/guest.
Members' Lunch includes an entree, a dessert, and a cup of coffee/tea per patron (please note that starting in 2024 a glass of wine is no longer included; wine and other drinks may be purchased at the bar). A cash bar opens at 12 noon and lunch is served at 12:30 pm.
Pre-payment is preferred. Reservations should be made no later than 2:00 pm the business day before the Members' Lunch. Cancelations made after 10 am the business day before your reservation will result in a charge.
Members' Lunches are held at communal tables. If you would like a private table or room, please contact events@dacorbacon.org instead of registering here. more info...
The ever-popular Burns Night at DACOR Bacon House will return in 2025. Tickets are expected to sell quickly so reserve yours today! Special early bird pricing available through 12/8.
Our 2025 Robert Burns Birthday Supper will feature Scottish music, songs and poetry by Robert Burns, traditional toasts, delicious food, and fun and camaraderie. In addition, there will be a Scottish spirits tasting.
Dress code: Highland Evening/Black Tie more info...
Celebration of 200 Years of Music Making Join us at this bicentennial celebration musicale that will celebrate Music at DACOR Bacon House over it's 200 year history. The event will include a performance of the "Esterhazy Ripple" written in 1891.
Music was always an important component of entertainment and culture at DACOR Bacon House. William and Sally Carroll installed a Chickering piano on the South Parlor of the house during the 1850s, and their four daughters were trained to play. Alida Carroll’s sheet music popular songs for piano and voice, now in the Harvard Library, was bound shortly before she became a bride and moved to Maine, so we know what kinds of music was heard in the house. In 1891, a composition marking the renown of Sally Carroll’s daughter Sally Virginia Carroll Griffin Esterhazy, was arranged for the US Marine Band by John Philip Sousa and performed several times in Washington.
At the end of the century, the Fullers were also musically inclined, and two of the daughters were trained by top European musicians. Mamie Fuller, their eldest daughter, hoped to become a concert pianist, and performed in the house when she visited. Robert and Virginia Bacon were patrons of the arts and purchased the Steinway that is still in the house. After she was widowed, Virginia became one of the important Washington patrons, and frequently entertained Rubinstein and his wife in the house. She was instrumental in gathering government support for the creation of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The musicale will embrace the Victorian and modern music making eras of DACOR Bacon House.
