THE DIPLOMAT, THE STORY OF LARGER-THAN-LIFE AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, AS TOLD BY HIS SON, DEBUTS NOVEMBER 2, 2015 EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO Our Coverage Sponsored by Martin's Tavern of Georgetown Est. 1933
FEATURED IN IMAGE: David and Richard Holbrooke
Photo Credit: Jodi Cobb/Courtesy of HBO
Established in 1933, Martin's Tavern is one of Washington DC’s most historic family-owned enterprises. For 80 years, Martin’s Tavern has been a renowned fixture in the mid-Atlantic and a must-visit establishment in historic Georgetown. In the late 1890's, William S. Martin traveled from Galway, Ireland to America. Forty years later, he and his son, William G. Martin, the current Billy's grandfather, opened Martin’s Tavern on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street NW which is run today by our friend, William A. Martin Jr. You can call him Billy! From sitting Presidents and media icons, to city residents and worldly travelers, Martin’s Tavern is a welcoming home to the many who have long embraced its warm atmosphere. Its quintessentially classic American fare has delighted discriminating palates for decades from the Oakwood Atlantic Smoked Salmon to the Filet Mignon to whatever your little heart desires from the convincing menu. Every President from Truman to George W. Bush has happily dined at Martin's Tavern, and you can see the delicious culinary choices preferred by each in our review: Martin's Tavern is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know:
The President’s favorite booths, The Proposal Booth of Jack and Jackie Kennedy, Mickey Mantle in The Dugout Room, George W. Bush and family at Table 12 are just a few of the iconic stories. Fourth generation owner Billy Martin, Jr. continues the tradition of Washington’s oldest family owned restaurant and Georgetown landmark.
FEATURED IN IMAGE: Richard Holbrooke and Hillary Clinton
Photo Credit: State Department/Courtesy of HBO
The only thing better than a new HBO Documentary is one that celebrates someone told by someone that KNOWS them, in the spirit of "Whom You Know." You all should be extremely excited by the phenomenally intriguing story of the brilliant Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, told by his son, David. This is one of the best we've seen this year! The risk management mind of Richard Holbrook boasted a timeless understanding of how history is continuous and knowing one and one's country must learn from the past.
This will appeal to all patriots and those that have an interest in the world around them. It is a total must for those interested in foreign service.
This will appeal to all patriots and those that have an interest in the world around them. It is a total must for those interested in foreign service.
FEATURED IN IMAGE: David, Richard and Anthony Holbrooke
Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
The camaraderie of diplomacy and foreign service celebrated over a career not only honors the legacy of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, but also evidences that personal relationships trump all else when it comes to business and national accomplishment. Things happen when people get along, compromise and have an understanding. With a career spanning from the Vietnam War until just recently, Holbrooke has a fascinating life that was chronicled by him in letters to his wife early on. He saw the Vietnam War up close.
Holbrooke loved talking to strangers and had no inhibitions (quite opposite to the other HBO recent documentary-How to Dance in Ohio). In the middle of the action, Holbrooke was always interested in the depth of the situation. Ronan Farrow, who worked for Holbrooke until the end, has some laudable insights into his character
Holbrooke loved talking to strangers and had no inhibitions (quite opposite to the other HBO recent documentary-How to Dance in Ohio). In the middle of the action, Holbrooke was always interested in the depth of the situation. Ronan Farrow, who worked for Holbrooke until the end, has some laudable insights into his character
FEATURED IN IMAGE: Richard Holbrooke and Bill Clinton
Photo Credit: Clinton Presidential Library/Courtesy of HBO
A lovable bulldozer in personality, Richard Holbrooke had an undeniable talent for thinking outside the box which we of course love. His strategies resulted in the beauty of making peace and his intelligence of action, tone, and word choice are something we can all learn from. His foresight and criticisms of the current White House, which sadly did not make time for him, are really well-thought-out and interesting to hear. When Holbrooke died, he had had a plan for exiting Afghanistan, and not everyone he worked with had the appreciation and respect they should have had for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke's accomplishments and experiences.
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke brought honor, dignity and friendship to his posts and his son David does an exemplary job in chronicling his life, right down to the bar named after him, Tricky Dick's.
A final word: Negotiators always carry their own spoons!
The Diplomat is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
FEATURED IN IMAGE: Richard Holbrooke
Photo Credit: The UN/Courtesy of HBO
Documentary Features Interviews With Madeleine Albright,
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry,
Henry Kissinger, General David Petraeus And Samantha Power
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Ambassador Richard Holbrooke died unexpectedly from heart complications on Dec. 13, 2010. Shortly afterward, his eldest son, David Holbrooke, attempted the seemingly impossible: capturing the legacy of his influential father “to understand him better in death,” while traveling across the globe to reveal a behind-the-scenes view of U.S. foreign policy.
Written and directed by David Holbrooke, the insightful and revealing documentary THE DIPLOMAT chronicles the political and personal life of the larger-than-life U.S. ambassador whose career spanned 50 years of American foreign policy, ranging from Vietnam, to Bosnia and Kosovo, to Afghanistan.
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of one of Holbrooke’s greatest foreign policy achievements, The Dayton Peace Accords, THEDIPLOMAT debuts MONDAY, NOV. 2 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, with an encore presentation Saturday, Nov. 21 (5:15-7:00 p.m.) on HBO Signature, marking the date the peace agreement was signed.
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 2 (4:30 a.m.), 5 (5:00 p.m.), 7 (12:30 p.m.), 9 (8:30 a.m.), 10 (3:00 p.m., 12:35 a.m.) and 15 (2:45 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Nov. 4 (11:45 a.m., 10:30 p.m.), 16 (12:20 a.m.) and 22 (11:30 a.m.)
The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW and HBO GO.
THE DIPLOMAT draws on access to Richard Holbrooke's personal archives, which include rare photos, letters, journals and exclusive audio recordings that are being heard for the first time, illustrating his public versus private personas and creating a sensitive portrait of fatherhood, ambition and the force required to effect change in the world.
Holbrooke’s career spanned 50 years, encompassing landmarks of American foreign policy in such countries as Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Holding a range of positions in both the public and private sectors, he served as Asst. Secretary of State for Asia (under President Jimmy Carter); U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Asst. Secretary of State for Europe and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (under President Bill Clinton); and U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan (under President Barack Obama). As an appointee of President Carter, Holbrooke became the youngest Asst. Secretary of State in history, cultivating a reputation as someone who “stepped on a lot of toes,” but was on the right side of issues.
His career took him all over the world, often at the expense of family. Litty Holbrooke, Holbrooke’s first wife and David’s mother, admits that Holbrooke was “absent a lot.” When David had his own children, he was frustrated that his father didn’t have time for them. David’s younger brother, Anthony, agrees, noting, “It was about him so much of the time. Let’s be honest…his life was often more interesting.”
THE DIPLOMAT features observations by Madeleine Albright, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Henry Kissinger, General David Petraeus and Samantha Power, as well as an array of world leaders, including Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, and Bakir Izetbegovic, president of Bosnia. Friends and family featured in intimate interviews include Richard Holbrooke's brother, Andrew Holbrooke, and son Anthony Holbrooke; his widow, Kati Marton; colleagues Vali Nasr, Rina Amiri and Ronan Farrow; and journalists Diane Sawyer, George Packer, Dexter Filkins and Roger Cohen.
In Nov. 1995, after years of brutal civil war in the Balkans, including the horrific massacre in Srebrenica, Holbrooke was successful at bringing together Slobodan Milosevic (president of Serbia, 1989-1997), Franjo Tudjman (president of Croatia, 1990-1999) and Alija Izetbegovic (leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992-2000) for peace talks in Dayton, Ohio. Regarded as one of his greatest achievements, the peace talks ended with a signed agreement that became known as The Dayton Peace Accords. “We could have never reached peace without Richard Holbrooke,” reflects Izetbegovic’s son.
Holbrooke embarked on his final post under President Obama as U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ultimately, his style clashed with the administration, and he began meeting with journalist Bob Woodward to share his candid observations on tape. Holbrooke also started privately recording his thoughts, including his true feelings about the government’s Afghanistan strategy.
Friends and colleagues reflect on the importance of high-stakes diplomacy, where peace is waged and wars are ended. Commenting on Holbrooke’s sudden passing on Dec. 13, 2010, President Clinton says, “The world seems to be coming apart again, and why do we have to lose one person who seems to able to put things together?”
Director David Holbrooke is festival director of the Telluride Mountainfilm festival. His previous film, “Hard as Nails,” aired on HBO in 2007; among his other projects are “Freaks Like Me,” “Time for a New God” and “A Redwood Grows in Brooklyn.” Before becoming a filmmaker, he spent a year in the dotcom world, and prior to that worked extensively in TV news, producing long-form pieces for "The Today Show," CBS News and CNN.
Producer Stacey Reiss is an Emmy®-winning filmmaker who has also produced documentaries for NBC and WNET. Her other HBO credits include “It’s Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise,” which debuted earlier this year, and “I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale.”
THE DIPLOMAT is written and directed by David Holbrooke; producer, Stacey Reiss; executive producers, Scott Berrie, Tom Freston, Barbara and Andrew Gundlach, Marshall Sonenshine and Louis Venezia; editor, Seth Bomse. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
