PUBLISHED: January 31, 2025 | www.baltimoresun.com
The most prominent, influential elected officials, political appointees and business leaders in the United States convened for a special banquet hosted by the Alfalfa Club on the last Saturday of January.
The small club boasts a storied history with, like most clubs, humble beginnings. The first meeting of the Alfalfa Club was in 1913, when four Southerners in Washington, D.C., joined to celebrate the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Over time, the club grew, both in scale and in philosophy. In 1974, Black men were admitted for the first time. In 1994, the first women were admitted after then-President Bill Clinton boycotted the club for not allowing women to join.
The club takes its name from the alfalfa plant, a reference cleverly encapsulated by a 2009 Politico article, which noted that alfalfa is famously “known to do anything for a drink.”
The composition and purpose of the club have evolved in line with the shifting dynamics of its membership and America.
I participated in the activities of the day at the 112th Alfalfa Club Dinner, an exclusive event and, in reality, the only event that the club exists for. The event is a black-tie banquet held on the final Saturday of each January. The banquet has no real purpose other than to bring together a group of devoted, patriotic Americans from the highest levels of government and business. Lobbyists, business executives, elected officials — you name it, all convening at the banquet for the enjoyment of the company there, unconcerned with the political affiliations of the attendees.
The most striking aspect of the banquet was the presence of people from diverse political backgrounds. Guests included Democrats such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar, business leaders like Jeff Bezos and Republicans such as Kevin McCarthy.
Attending such a dinner reveals that the leaders of these political parties, who publicly disparage one another almost daily, do not view their relationships in the same manner as many Americans regrettably do. They engage with and befriend individuals whose political ideologies do not align with their own. Both Democrats and Republicans share a profound love for America and a reverence for life, and in private discussions, their political differences do not impede these feelings.
And, really, it’s too bad. If the public observed the genuine attitudes and interactions among elected officials and other leaders, they might emulate their behavior as they do today. Yet, the sad fact is that the mere act of agreeing with a person from an opposing political party — showing them even the smallest bit of kindness and respect — is perceived as a betrayal of one’s own party. This has led Americans to increasingly retreat into their own echo chambers.
What we need now more than ever, and what the Alfalfa Club Dinner so perfectly illustrates, is a sense of unity that extends beyond the walls of these exclusive gatherings. It’s the responsibility of our leaders and the media to show that America can and should be a place where our shared values bring us together. We should be a nation where civility transcends political differences. In a way, America is like its own Alfalfa Club: Everyone from around the world wants to come here. It is a nation that everyone dreams of being a part of, yet only a fortunate few truly get the chance. We should all take advantage of the fact that we are a part of this exclusive club and treat each other with respect and dignity, just like our leaders do with one another at the Alfalfa Club.
Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.
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