Tucked away in the Napa hills, President George W. Bush dined at the ivy-covered Harlan Estate Thursday night against the backdrop of a smoke-tinged Napa Valley.
Thursday night’s Republican National Committee fundraiser on Oakville Grade raised about $850,000, according to a source involved with the event. With an estimated 112 guests, donations averaged more than $7,500 per person.
Members of the press and other witnesses to the president’s arrival and departure had no chance to speak with him, as Bush moved quickly from one location or form of transportation to the next.
Among the guests at the fundraiser, according to one Meadowood caterer, were Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor Robert Duvall, “Law & Order” actress Angie Harmon and her husband, former NFL player Jason Sehorn.
The expansive Harlan Estate sits atop Oakville Grade, where Spanish moss swayed slowly as it hung from trees on the property. The president’s view of the lush vineyards and hills below was muted by the purple-gray of smoke from the California wildfires.
Guests dined on a four-course meal catered by Meadowood that included grilled garden vegetables on whole wheat; smoked turkey and Mt. Tam cheese and pesto aioli on sourdough; roast beef, aged cheddar cheese and caramelized onions on ciabatta; organic greens, Belgian endive, croutons and crumbled blue cheese. Guests were also served a crudite platter of fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, kettle chips, and brownies and cookies for dessert.
Dinner was prepared in sandwich form, according to caterers, because silverware could pose a potential security threat to the president.
Caterers say they poured red 2002 Harlan Estate wines.
“Red, only,” one caterer specified.
Getting ready
Preparations for the president’s arrival began in the afternoon, when Bush was still touring fire-ravaged areas near Redding with the governor.
CHP cars began clustering on Silverado Trail and Highway 29 around 3 p.m.
At 3:15 p.m., about an hour before Bush made a quick visit to Travis Air Force Base on his way to the Napa Valley, police, Secret Service and CHP cars blocked the Highway 29 entrance to the Sutter Home Winery distribution center.
The facility swarmed with Secret Service, Marines, military police, California Highway Patrol officers and officers from several local police forces.
In black suits, Secret Service agents paced, chirping into their headpieces. Each wore a gold lapel pin with a red star — an indication of their affiliation with the Secret Service.
Vans and SUVs waited along the perimeter of the distribution center for the president’s arrival. In the center of the waiting motorcade, two flags waved from the front of the black SUV that would carry the president through his whirlwind Napa Valley tour. On the left, one flag sported the presidential seal. On the right, an American flag waved in the hot air. On the doors, gilded presidential seals shone bright.
At 5:30, four choppers landed on the lawn at Sutter Home’s distribution center, including a sparkling olive green helicopter donning an American flag. Motes of dust spit like bullets as the chopper touched down, trees bent back to their roots.
Staff had been preparing the helicopter for the president for days, one Secret Service agent said, including a perfect polish of the chopper’s million-dollar paint job.
The Secret Service agent said this particular chopper, one of two used by the president, is referred to as the “Corvette” because of its capability to operate at high speeds. The other, with its roomy restroom, is the “Cadillac,” he said.
Two Marine Corps ceremonial guards marched toward Marine One as the blades began to slow. Opening the door to the helicopter, the Marines saluted sharply in their pressed uniforms.
Finally, with all men in their positions, the president left Marine One.
From there, he was whisked into his SUV. All men at hand sprinted into the motorcade that then exited south on Highway 29.
The motorcade of about 20 vehicles dashed past crowds of friendly onlookers who waved and snapped photos of the procession that flashed red, white and blue lights as it passed.
The motorcade cut left onto Zinfandel Lane, where private driveways were blocked by California Highway Patrol vehicles. The convoy then turned south past Quintessa Winery and onto the Oakville Cross Road, cutting again onto Highway 29.
At 5:51 p.m., the motorcade began climbing the Oakville Grade, stopping just before Diamond Oaks Winery. Reaching the top of the windy road, the cars passed through two stone columns to the estate of Bill Harlan, owner of Meadowood Resort in St. Helena and the “cult” Harlan Estate Winery.
Members of the press buzzed about, cordoned off downstairs in the cellar. The fundraiser took place above.
The president dined for about an hour and a half with guests, while Secret Service agents lined the perimeter of the house. Military police squatted outside with binoculars and rifles.
At 7:30 p.m., the president returned to the car and motorcade wound back down the hill where rows of vineyards lined the hillsides.
Taking the same route back, but at a faster pace, the motorcade snaked through the Napa Valley once again.
The roofs of cars peeked just above the rows of vines. American flags waved by locals whipped back from the speed of the motorcade, and one man raised a wine glass high in the air, toasting the final moments of the presidential motorcade.
From his SUV, the president walked briskly back to Marine One and climbed into the chopper.
As the helicopter rose, the same two Marines who greeted Bush earlier in the evening bowed forward in what is called a “ceremonial tuck,” covering their brass and gun, while the roar of helicopters faded in the Napa Valley skies.
