politics

Richard Nixon's Gold-Inlaid Browning Shotgun at Auction

In addition to Ernest Hemingway's safari hunting rifle that we wrote about on Wednesday, a rare gold-inlaid Browning 12-gauge automatic shotgun that was presented to president Richard Nixon in 1970 will be offered at James D. Julia Auctioneers' Important Firearms sale in Fairfield, Maine on March 14. The gun, estimated at $50,000 – $75,000, is also historically significant in that it was the two millionth Browning shotgun made. At one time destined for the Smithsonian, Nixon returned the gun to Browning Arms where it resided in their archives until it was given to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Gallery: Richard Nixon's Browning Shotgun

Tags: American presidents, Browning, browning+guns, browningguns, celebrity, Ernest Hemingway, firearm, gold, gun, hunting, James D. Julia, Maine, politics, presidents, Richard Nixon, rifle, shooting, shotgun

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Sen. John Kerry's Sailing Yacht for Charter

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Sen. John Kerry's Sailing Yacht for Charter

Earlier this month we reported that Sen. John Kerry had joined the superyacht set in St. Barth's aboard his 75-ft. sailboat Isabel (above). Now the classic yacht is available for charter with rates beginning at about $45,000 per week. The sleek $7 million craft built by Friendship in New Zealand last year features plenty of luxe touches including a wet bar and wine storage in the pilothouse. The Edwardian-style interior is finished in glossy varnished teak, and the yacht can accommodate four guests in two VIP main staterooms with en-suite baths. Tenders and toys include a 13.5-ft. Zodiac and on board there are all the bells and whistles a busy politico needs, from satellite communications to Wifi. In the past Kerry caught flack for dodging a big tax bill on the yacht by mooring her in Newport, R.I.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: John Kerry's Yacht 'Isabel'

Tags: John Kerry, New Zealand, politician, politics, sailing, sailing yacht, yacht, yacht charter

Russian President Medvedev Buys $42 Million Megayacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

Russian President Medvedev Buys $42 Million Megayacht

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has spent $42 million on a secondhand superyacht complete with whirlpool baths, an artificial waterfall and a cinema. The 177 foot-long explorer-style Sirius (above), above, was built in 2009 and has accommodations for 12 guests in six staterooms along with 12 crew. The Kremlin bought the yacht from Turkey's Proteksan-Turquoise shipyard as a replacement for the current presidential yacht, which is due to be decommissioned, the London Telegraph reports. The craft's other luxury features include a deck Jacuzzi for 6, spacious sunbathing areas, a gym, a sheltered lounge area and an alfresco dining area for 14 with barbecue and bar. Ironically, Medvedev has been critical of Russians flaunting their wealth.

Sirius can reach a maximum speed of 18 knots, powered by twin Caterpillar 3512B diesel engines, each rated for 1,911 horsepower. Her range is 5000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots, making a transatlantic trip possible. Kremlin spokesman Viktor Khrenikov was quoted in the Russian press to the effect that the yacht will be given a presidential upgrade at an unspecified cost, no doubt with some Abramovich-style security features as well. "Everything necessary for a president for work and relaxation has been thought of," Khrenikov says, noting, "The president could use her during the 2014 Olympics [in the Black Sea port of Sochi]."

Gallery: Dmitry Medvedev's Superyacht 'Sirius'

Tags: Dmitry Medvedev, Kremlin, politician, politics, Russia, superyacht, yacht, yachtspotting

Sen. John Kerry Joins the St. Barth's Superyacht Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

Forget about "a day late and a dollar short" – Sen. John Kerry was several days and several hundred million dollars short on a recent sojourn to the glitzy resort of St. Barths, still awash in all the money and celebs left over from Roman Abramovich's New Year's blowout. Kerry missed out on the action but still managed to make the scene in his sailing yacht Isabel (above). While completely dwarfed by the likes of Abramovich's 550-ft. Eclipse – the 75-ft. Isabel looked like one of Abramovich's tenders by comparison – Kerry's classic sailboat served as a timely reminder that style has nothing to do with size.

Though it cost a mere $7 million, a pittance compared to the megayachts like the iPad-controlled Solemates choking up the harbor, Kerry was not there to compete with the likes of P. Diddy and Simon Cowell; though the Isabel, built by Friendship last year, features plenty of luxe touches including a wet bar and wine storage in the pilothouse. The Edwardian-style interior is finished in glossy varnished teak, and the yacht can accommodate four guests in two VIP main staterooms with en-suite baths. Tenders and toys include a 13.5-ft. Zodiac and onboard there are all the bells and whistles a busy politico needs, from satellite communications to Wifi.

[via JamesList]

Gallery: John Kerry's Yacht 'Isabel'

Tags: John Kerry, politicians, politics, Roman Abramovich, senator, Solemates, St. Bart, St. Barths, yacht

The Classicist: Inside the Embassies & Historic Mansions of Paris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books, The Classicist, Wealth, Architecture & Design

Very rarely do any of Paris' remaining private palaces come on the market; when they do the properties invariably rank among the world's most expensive, such as the 1912 mansion built for the Duchesse de Montmorency recently listed at $140 million that we told you about back in November. The reason there is so little movement among these magnificent monuments to wealth lining the famed city's storied avenues is that most are occupied as embassies and ambassadorial residences. An equally magnificent new book, Historic Houses of Paris: Residences of the Ambassadors from Flammarion by Alain Stella with photography by Francis Hammond offers a guided tour of 22 of these amazing edifices, some seen for the first time, most originally built for members of the aristocracy and now the setting for lavish diplomatic entertainments and intrigues.

Gilded halls, formal sitting rooms, stately dining rooms, paneled libraries, perfectly landscaped gardens, chambers filled with rare antiques, luxurious wallcoverings and private living quarters are all examined in delectable detail, in mansions ranging from a 17th-century hôtel particulier to a Belle Epoque palace and even a couple more contemporary examples, now occupied by the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, China, India and more. The cover (above) depicts the Sicilian theater of the incredible Italian Ambassador 's residence, aka the Hotel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville, built in 1732. Some, like the Indian Ambassador's residence, aka the Hotel de Marlborough built in 1910 by architect René Sergent, who also designed Claridge's in London and Rome's Grand Hotel, are named for famous former owners; in this case the Duchess of Marlborough, aka Consuelo Vanderbilt, one of the world's richest and most beautiful women at the time.

Gallery: Historic Houses of Paris

Hotel d'Avaray (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Tags: antiques, architecture, aristocrats, Belle Epoque, books, coffee table books, decor, embassy, estates, France, historic houses, mansion, Paris, politics, real estate, wealth

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Abramovich Could Be Moscow's Next Mayor

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Russian news service RIA Novosti reports that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich could be appointed the next mayor of Moscow, an incredibly influential position, following the incumbent's ouster.

Russian president Dimitri Medvedev gave Yuri Luzhkov his walking papers this week in the wake of a long-simmering feud. The job is unlikely to be maintained in its present form and may be divided into two posts to avoid a repeat of Luzhkov's power concentration.

If the free-spending 43-year-old billionaire does get the job – though we're not sure how he'd have the time given his many other interests, from football clubs to megayachts – it wouldn't be his first foray into politics.

Abramovich served as governor of Chukotka (an impoverished region in the Russian Far East) from 2000 to 2008, and was credited with improved living standards, restoring schools and housing and attracting investment, RAI notes, and he is currently the chairman of the Chukotka Autonomous District Duma.

Tags: Dimitri Medvedev, Moscow, politics, Roman Abramovich, Russia, Russian billionaires

Spicy Cigar Fundraiser Scrapped

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Stephen almost had a brilliant fundraiser. Running in New Hampshire, he was set to benefit from a July 11, 2010 fundraiser hosted by cigar distributor Victor Vitale, who planned a bikini contest for the event. And, let's face it: there's nothing like a handful of hotties to get guys to pry open their wallets (just visit any strip club if you need proof of that!

According to Vitale, the bikini contest portion of the barbecue fundraiser was his idea alone, and Stephen didn't know it was coming. The fundraiser is still going to be held, but without this particular aspect. I'm sure it will still be fun ... but it's a shame about the contest.

I had the chance to catch up with Vitale in Easton, Pennsylvania, at Cigar Expo, and he told me about plans for the Ortsac brand ("Castro" backward), particularly in the run-up to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers show this summer.

[video via Cigar Reader]

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Tags: cigar, new hampshire, politics

Asian Art Fuels Political Speculation

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

There have always been connections between art and politics. Whether you scan the crowd behind Plato and Aristotle (where you'll see Ptolemy wowing a small crowd) or step back from Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" in Madrid, you'll see messages subtle and overt. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that portraiture is telegraphing who North Korea's next leader will be.

Homes and business establishments in North Korea tend to have two portraits on display: Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. A third is now ready for public display: Kim Jong-un. He is Kim Jong-il's third son and is rumored to be next in line for the top position in the country, according to "Rescue the North Korean People! Urgent Action Network," which usually goes by the much more compact acronym RENK. The group says that the portraits are ready to go, and "we assume that these will be distributed on Kim Il-sung's birthday, which falls on April 15."

Other signs that Jong-un is likely to take the lead next in North Korea also fall distinctly into the "lifestyle" category. His birthday, January 8, has been made a national holiday. This year, it was celebrated, at least quietly, with a collection of songs dedicated to him. Also, anyone who has the same name as the new leader has been instructed to change it.

Interestingly, the portrait will offer a first look at Jong-un for many, especially outside North Korea. So far, only two photos have been found: one at age 11 (furnished by his former Japanese cook) and another at age 16 (shot when he was in boarding school in Switzerland).

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Tags: artwork, Kim Il Sung, kim jong il, Kim Jong-Il, kim jong-un, north korea, politics

Limited Edition Rock The Vote Prints On Sale Today

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Shepard Fairey has already turned his artist's eye toward the political with his art for Barack Obama but now he's embracing the voting process as a whole. Today at 11:00 am PDT, CafePress and Rock the Vote will start selling 100 exclusive framed prints created, signed and numbered by the popular artist. This limited edition art was designed by Shepard Fairey for Rock the Vote to get those youngsters out there voting. The print measures 18" x 24" and comes framed. It sells for $250 and only on per customer will be sold until they are sold out . All proceeds will got to Rock the Vote. CafePress will also make all Shepard Fairey/Rock the Vote merchandise such as T-Shirts, prints, stickers, buttons, etc. available for purchase.

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Tags: art, politics, rock the vote, RockTheVote, shepard fairey, ShepardFairey, voting

A Handbag for Change

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Are you suffering from campaign fatigue? Tired of seeing Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama duking it out on TV? Me too. But here's a bright spot: You can support the Democratic Party and make a fashion and political statement with the Change tote bag from Alexis Hudson. Company designers Rachelle Copeland and Emily Ironi teamed up with Los Angeles artist Greg Miller to create the bag.

"The Change bag is designed for everyone who believes in hope, change and the Democratic party," said Copland. "It's a real statement piece!" Ten percent of proceeds from the sale of the bag will support either Clinton's or Obama's race against John McCain. The bag will be available at alexishudsoninc.com for $95 starting in mid-May.

Alexis Hudson offers a range of really nice bags, though much more expensive than the Change bag, in the Spring '08 collection (see a few below).

Gallery: Alexis Hudson Spring '08 Handbags

Tags: Alexis Hudson, AlexisHudson, democrat, democratic party, DemocraticParty, democrats, handbag, handbags, politics, tote, tote bag, ToteBag

The Bush Administration Gets Pricey Gifts

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping

The official record of gifts given to President Bush last year reveals that he got some very luxurious gifts. The top gifts include an $11,000 Cartier Santos Dumont watch, given to Bush in April 2006 by Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra and a pair of black leather Hungarian riding boots stitched with an off-white leather "W" from Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. Bush has also received more standard gifts such as silver plates, cufflinks and vases.

The President isn't the only one hauling in the gifts, the First Lady received a silver sculpture from a Mexican governor, a cashmere shawl, silk scarves and many books and jewelry items last year. Condoleezza Rice has gotten gifts of white gold and diamond jewelry from Saudi King Abdullah worth a total of $32.000 in 2006. Saudi Arabia also doled out gifts to gifts to Vice President Dick Cheney, Cheney's wife and members of Cheney's staff, and various members of the State Department. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, also ggot a a Cartier watch from the attorney general's office in Qatar.

The National Archives and Records Administration stores gifts to the president, the vice president and member of their families. The AP reports that under a 2006 rule, recipients may not keep gifts from foreign officials that are worth more than $305 but they are accepted on behalf of the American people.

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Tags: george bush, GeorgeBush, government, laura bush, politics