Photo credit: Janet Donovan
“Most of you think that you have been invited by Francesca and in a sense it’s true,” joked Gérard Araud, The Ambassador of France at a reception he hosted in her honor as she says goodbye to her post as Social Secretary and moves on to MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). “In a sense it’s true because she has been inviting a lot of people that I don’t know. First, everybody from the State of Rhode Island. To be frank, I was lucky that she was from Rhode Island and not California. There are 600,000 Rhode Islanders and approximately 40 million from California. So really, even this residence would have had some limit issues. There were also, of course, her friends, but it was great. It was really great to meet the friends of Francesca.”
Ambassador Gérard Araud
“She’s going now to work for Charles Rivkin (new head of MPAA). She’s going to meet movie stars, and I think it’s a major reason why she’s leaving. I don’t see any other reason,” Araud continued with his well know sense of humor. “The first quality of Francesca, she’s quite a snob. I think it’s quite important for a Social Secretary to be quite a snob. It’s fairly easy to explain. She’s from Newport. The second aspect of Francesca is that, basically, she’s barely met a computer during her life which gives her a reputation as a sort of fantasy. Of course, I’m joking. Francesca has been with us for so many years, and when I say so many years, immediately you have to understand that means so many Ambassadors. Really, she worked for the Ambassadors the way you are going through storms. Francesca had to go not only through the Ambassadors but through the spouses of the Ambassadors. So Francesca, we have been a great team. We have had a lot of fun and I think you have had also a lot of fun with Pascal (his partner). I do think it was a great job we did together. You are always welcome here. Thank you Francesca. Thank you for your energy, your vitality. So be happy. Best to you! “
Ambassador Araud and Francesca Craig
“He’s always such a hard person to follow,” responded Francesca. “I knew it would be a privilege to work for France when I took this job, first offered to me by Ambassador and Mrs. Delattre in 2011. Having a mother who’s a bit of a French cliché and having lived in Paris as a teenager when I attended a French school, I found one may leave France, but France never leaves you. I had no idea that two different cultures would be so much fun, so challenging and at times intriguing. It’s been a long opportunity to meet the people who run this town to help create memorable events from morning to late at night that help illuminate the values of France. France is an important political and economic contribution to the world conversation, which sometimes happens over dinner parties. The residence has always been and always will be one of the most coveted embassy growth invitations in Washington. Ambassador Araud wouldn’t have it any other way. I thank the Ambassador and Pascal for the wonderful opportunity they have given me and for their support and friendship. They’re both wickedly funny too. I leave this job in very capable hands and take with me to my next adventures treasured expertise, memories and gratitude. Thank you.”
“Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, if I could just offer a toast. My name is Charles Rivkin and I will be working with Francesca in the future at The Motion Picture Association. And I just wanted to first of all say thank you Mr. Ambassador. Thank you for your graciousness, thank you for releasing Francesca from her contract, thank you for ending her indentured servitude.” And we thought Amb. Araud had the handle on humor. “I also want to say that after the announcement that Francesca will be joining me at the Motion Picture Association of America, I became the most popular person in all of Washington DC. People I hardly even know come up to me. The first thing they say is always you are the luckiest man alive, they say that to have Francesca working with you, and I know that to be true because I’ve seen what she’s done here. The second thing they say is please tell her not to have us get kicked off the list for the French Embassy. And then they say at least have her keep those lists so that she can let us come to your new screenings at the Motion Picture Association. We are thrilled at MPAA, we are extremely lucky and I just want to raise a glass because Francesca is going to help us transform this 95-year-old American Institution into something pretty extraordinary with her help. So here’s, ladies and gentlemen, to an extraordinary human being and the future leader at the Major Picture Association.”
Embassy Social Secretaries bid farewell.
Francesca was definitely “le plus aimé” person in the room.
