Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Tommy Quinn, a.k.a. Thomas H. Quinn, Esq., is just another reason to love Washington. Not to be confused with Tom Quinn, the fictional character in the BBC espionage television series Spooks, TQ (as he is often called), is a political operative who served in the presidential campaigns of the late Hubert H. Humphrey and Edward M. Kennedy and has remain continuously active in the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Campaigns.
Friends gathered at his Georgetown home to celebrate his birthday. Quinn is known for his famous parties and famous friends. Guests often include a roster of high level Democrats.
Tom McMillen, Terry McAuliffe (newly minted Governor of Virginia) and Tom Quinn at a recent birthday party he hosted for McMillen
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
TQ is best known amongst his friends for his sense of humor and his intense loyalty to friends. “For half my life, you have provided a narrative to the better times in DC,” said one guest. “We talk about them every time we are together and every time we talk about the better times it gives us hope to know that there is a civility here and can come again. I’d like to raise a glass to character, because character is king and you have it up and down and in and out and why we all love you so much.”
“What you’re talking about doesn’t sound familiar to me,” laughed Tommy’s brother Paul. Joking aside he added: “He is my brother, my best friend. He is intelligent, has good judgement and as we all know has lots of energy and is enormously generous. One quality that he excels in is the one he shares with the new Pope – modesty and humility. If Tommy could only overcome a little bit of both, we think he could go places in this town. Here’s to you!”
“Tom, you’ve been a tremendous role model and great friend,” added another guest, “and as many people know, we’ve had a lot of fun together, we’ve gotten into some trouble here and there, we’ve had a lot of laughs. The most important thing is that we’ve never gotten caught.”
We’re thinking, though, that his appointment by President Clinton as the Alternate U.S. Observer to the International Fund for Ireland was probably his favorite gig. “You know what they say about the Irish,” quipped one guest. “the Italians sing in the church; the Irish, they sing in the bar……..”
Speaking of bars and a sense of humor, another guest relayed a funny scene: “Some years ago when Tommy was about 40, he was in a place called Clydes, a bar up the street here. He was chatting up a young lady who was only about 20 and very enthusiastic about Tommy. Finally I heard her ask ‘well, how old are you’ and then said ‘you are almost old enough to be my father’ to which Tommy replied without skipping a beat ‘tell me your mother’s name.’
Toast by Erik Huey:
Main slider photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
