Category: In The Press

Upstaging the late George Plimpton was never easy – being tall helped him command the spotlight. On most occasions, you couldn’t miss his silvery hair and sleepy eyes floating several inches above a milling party scene. But to me his appeal, besides his charm, was his gift as a storyteller – the sense that if you could only get close enough you might hear anecdotes unlike any others, true tales taking you from the sedge grass of the Bharatpur reserve to the percussionist’s seat with the New York Philharmonic to a pre-Castro gin mill in Havana for a night of drinking – with Ernest Hemingway. Wherever he stood, Plimpton’s warm embrace of life created a tidal pull that caused others to gravitate to him.

And so it was not surprising when in 2000 my husband, a White House correspondent, won the approval of Mary Mel French in President Clinton’s protocol office for his request to bring Plimpton, the participatory journalist, to the annual White House Christmas Party for the press.

The evening began, coincidentally, with a party for Plimpton and his latest book, Pet Peeves. When that party ended we departed for the White House, hoping to arrive before the Secret Service locked the doors to the executive mansion. On our way out, we acquired a retinue that included Kevin Chaffee, a reporter for the Washington Times, and Chaffee’s friend, a boyish-looking Ethiopian.

In the haste of the moment, Chaffee wasn’t able to make proper introductions. We were just grateful that his young friend agreed to man the wheel for a hair-raising ride down Rock Creek Park. He’d handle the parking, which meant we should make it into the White House in time.

Upon arriving, we all filled out identification cards for the uniformed Marine who would announce each guest to the President. Plimpton and I noted with interest that the driver also had managed to make his way into the East Room. There we encountered a long receiving line filled with such media heavyweights as Sam Donaldson, Andrea Mitchell (with Fed chairman-husband Alan Greenspan), Steve and Cokie Roberts, Diana Walker, John and Barbara Cochran, and Diane Rehm. The terminus was out of sight – the line snaked through several rooms and down one flight of stairs where the President and First Lady waited.

Capricia Marshall, the social secretary, suddenly walked over and asked me if the five of us were together. I said yes. With that she whisked us to an elevator and the front of the line. Several of the notables, still stranded in place, scowled.

An upbeat mood suffused the elevator as it descended. My husband said, “Well George, you did it for us.” Then the elevator opened, and a White House aide interrupted the other musings: “Will the prince of Ethiopia please step this way.”

There followed an extended conversation between the President and Ermias Sahle Selassie, grandson of the late emperor. Plimpton’s own chat with the president was warm, and George left with another story for his repertoire.

– Willee Lewis

Willee Lewis is president of the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, on which her friend George Plimpton also served. REPRINTED FROM WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2003

BY CARA BUCKLEY cbuckley@herald.com THE MIAMI HERALD

KEY WEST – The Lion of Judah’s grandson was almost unnoticeable in the Saturday night crowd. He hung at the party’s edges, a wisp of a prince, his feet on American soil, his heart heavy with longing for a tattered kingdom half a world away.

It was Prince Ermias Selassie’s first trip to Key West. Well-heeled friends invited him so they could fete him at a party, and begin documenting on film his life story and memories of his grandfather, Haile Selassie, the late emperor of Ethiopia, and the man revered by Rastafarians as the “Black Christ.”

Selassie lives in Virginia just outside Washington, D.C., and runs a charity that brings Ethiopian students to the United States. He was 14 and at school in England when, in 1974, a military coup ousted his grandfather and, as a result, 17 members of his family were jailed.

Haile Selassie died the next year under house arrest, and the boy, exiled from his country, finished his schooling in England before studying at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He made the United States his home, but Ethiopia commanded his mind, and he watched anguished as the rest of the world came to see his homeland only as a country stricken by famine and ravaged by civil strife.

”The world has a very one-sided view of Ethiopia’s problems,” Selassie said. “If they know of them at all.”

Selassie’s grandfather, Taffari Makonnen, married an emperor’s daughter in 1911 and became a prince, or, in Ethiopian, a Ras. In 1917, he was named heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Jamaican revolutionary Marcus Garvey was propounding black pride and the ”Back to Africa” movement. He told followers to look for an African king as their leader, and in the prince, Ras Taffari, they saw a prophecy fulfilled.

The Rastafarian religion was born.

Taffari was crowned emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, the 111th emperor in succession of King Solomon, a title known also as the Lion of Judah, and took the name Haile Selassie, which means “Might of the Trinity.”

Selassie quickly established himself as a progressive ruler. Prior to his coronation, he pushed to modernize Ethiopia’s government, schooling, financial, health and social services, and helped abolish the country’s slave trade in 1923 to win entry to the League of Nations.

Selassie also sought to maintain peace with Italy, whose new leader, Benito Mussolini, was hungry to expand his colonies beyond Eritrea. Italy invaded in 1935, brutalizing Ethiopians with chemical warfare.

FORCED INTO EXILE

The League of Nations condemned Italy but did nothing, and the world watched amazed as Ethiopia desperately fought back and Selassie was forced into exile. Time magazine named Selassie Man of the Year in 1936. Later that year he made an impassioned speech before the League of Nations, condemning an act of aggression against one small country as aggression against all countries, and captivating audiences worldwide.

Selassie returned from exile in 1941 to rule for over three decades until the country’s army, fueled by riots and angered by famine, banished him from power.

In 1992, Selassie’s remains were discovered buried beneath a toilet in the imperial palace. Seven years passed before they were laid to rest in a cathedral in the capital, Addis Ababa.

FIFTH IN LINE

In a family photograph taken in the early 1960s, Ermias Selassie, then just a toddler, sits at his grandfather’s feet. Dozens of family members fill out the photo: Many are now dead, others live in exile and a dozen sit on the Crown Council, which Selassie chairs.

Selassie, who is fifth in line for the crown, returned to Ethiopia this year for the first time in three decades. It was a bittersweet, powerful visit, and he was heartened to see pictures of his grandfather, once banned, adorning shop windows again.

Selassie’s friends in Key West, many of them well connected and wealthy, hope to revive Haile Selassie’s story by filming a documentary that follows Ermias retracing his grandfather’s steps in Ethiopia.

On Friday, an interview by Shirrel Rhoades, a media consultant, was taped at the community college.

On Saturday, a party was thrown in Ermias Selassie’s honor at the opulent home of his friend, the Dutch architect and philanthropist Jacob Gelt Dekker, who is interested in African issues, and John Padget, Monroe County’s superintendent of schools.

Though the Crown Council is not a government-in-exile, Selassie said he would welcome the restoration of an Ethiopian monarchy if the people so chose — not necessarily to rule, he said, but in an advisory capacity, to promote democracy and rights.

”It’s absolutely not a divine right to rule, it’s an embedded sense of responsibility to serve,” he said. “You can’t run away from things, the sense of duty, of patriotism. The country’s in your blood.”

THE GRANDSON of Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 when he was deposed, was in Portugal recently for a week’s visit.

His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, was here to reestablish Luso-Ethiopian ties.

During his visit he took in sites which his grandfather, Emperor Haile Selassie I, had visited on his historic visit to Portugal in August 1959. He also participated in the celebrations at Ourém Castle, near Fatima, marking the opening of the 600th anniversary of the Royal House of Braganza.

Prince Ermias, who today lives in the United States, is the son of the youngest son of Emperor Haile Selassie, who died in 1975 at the age of 83. He is the President of the Selassie Foundation, created in memory of his grandfather, which provides aid to impoverished Ethiopians.

His Imperial Highness spent his first day here in Santarém. After being welcomed by the Civil Governor on behalf of the Portuguese Government, he was presented with a medal, the equivalent of the “keys to the city.”

Later he visited the Church of Our Lady of Grace, where he was received by the Mayor who showed him the tomb of Santarém’s most famous citizen, Pedro Álvares Cabral, the explorer who discovered Brazil in 1500.

A tour which included the Cabaças Medieval watchtower, the S. Joâo de Alporão Church, Marvilla Church and an archaeological exhibit, was followed by a visit to the Shrine of the Most Holy Miracle of Santarém where Mass was celebrated for the repose of the Soul of Emperor Haile Selassie, who had been killed by Communist revolutionaries on that same day in 1975.

The following day, the Prince was in Sintra at the Sousa Pedro Industrial Park.

In the afternoon, Prince Ermias was received at Sintra Royal Palace by the Duke of Braganza D. Duarte [The Official Website of His Royal Highness Dom Duarte Pio de Bragança], and they went to Cabo de Roca – “where Europe ends and the ocean begins.” The Royal visitor then went on to Lisbon where he, together with D. Filipe Folque de Mendonça, Count of Rio Grande and descendant of King John IV, the first king of the Braganza Royal House, paid homage to the Kings and Queens of the Braganza dynasty at the Saint Vincent Monastery’s Royal Pantheon.

During a visit to Lisbon Cathedral, Prince Ermias prayed in the crypt and received the blessing from the Franciscans.

The second day ended with a gala banquet at Valbom Palace, hosted by the Duke of Braganza and attended by many members of Portugal’s aristocratic families.

During the event the Prince was made Honorary Patron of the new Prester John Luso-Ethiopian Friendship Association – the Portuguese counterpart of the Haile Selassie Foundation – which will help raise much-needed funds for Ethiopia, which is facing its worst famine of the past 30 years.

The following day, to Royal visitor and his delegation of five spent time at Ourém Castle, the birthplace of the Royal House of Braganza, for the start of its 600th anniversary jubilee year.

He was received at City Hail by Deputy Mayor Victor Frazão, the President of the Royal Association of Leiria-Fátima, and Government Minister Teresa Costa Macedo was also present.

The celebrations were initiated with the unveiling of a bronze bust honouring the firstborn of the Royal House of Braganza, D. Afonso, IV Count of Ourém. This was a gift of the American friends of Ethiopia and was accompanied by a special dedication by the Prince to the Duke of Braganza and the Royal Family on this jubilee occasion.

The Mass, celebrated by D. Avilio Ribas, Bishop of São Tomé e Principe, was attended by more than 100 people. During it, Prince Ermias was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Brotherhood of the Most Holy Sacrament and received from the Bishop the Grand Cross of Saint Thomas the Apostle, Sao Tome’s highest decoration.

A guided tour of the castle included an exhibit commemorating the visit of Emperor Haile Selassie to Portugal in 1959. The day ended with a Royal Banquet at the Oureana Foundation’s medieval restaurant.

During the final days of his visit, the Prince visited Fátima, where he attended mass and at the Capelinah made an act consecrating Ethiopia and the Imperial Crown, descended from King Solomon, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

At the Pope Paul VI Pastoral Center, Prince Ermias was received by Bishop Serafim Silva of the Leira-Fátima Diocese, whom he decorated with the Order of the Holy Trinity and presented to Our Lady of Fátima the Collar of the Seal of Solomon, Ethiopia’s highest Order.

The last days of the Prince’s visit to Portugal were spent at the Vagalha Monastery, Alcobaca Monastery, and Nazaré’s famous Royal Shrine of Our Lady of Nazareth.

At each of those sites where he was received officially by the Mayors, the Prince was surprised and delighted to find people who had toured with his grandfather at the same sites, 44 years previously.

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On Saturday, September 13^th, San Pedro hosted a most important guest when His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle Haile Selassie paid a visit to Ambergris Caye. The Prince is the grandson of the late Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, the spiritual leader of the Rastafarian, who was murdered in 1974 by communist rebels. Prince Ermias received a royal welcome from an island delegation comprised of Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr., San Pedro Mayoress Elsa Paz and Town Councilors, The San Pedro Sun, as well as the newly crowned Miss San Pedro, Tatiana Rivero.

After a brief tour of town, the SP delegates “rolled out the red carpet” for the Ethiopian prince, stopping first at the renowned Ramon’s Village Resort for cocktails at the Purple Parrot Bar. Following friendly conversation, the group traveled to the south end of the island, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch at picturesque Victoria House Resort. 

During a conversation, Prince Ermias made special mention of how impressed he was with Governor General, Sir Colville Young, who remembered their first meeting. Ever the storyteller, the Governor General recalled a story told to him by the young prince some years ago. The tale involved a man of considerable wealth and status who was invited to a dinner with the “Heads of State” from several countries. Upon his arrival, the man, dressed in a fine business suit, was scolded for wearing common clothing to such a formal affair. He was asked to leave and to please return properly attired. After some time, the man returned to the party dressed in clothing “fit for a king.” Later that evening, as each course of the dinner was served, the same man, instead of eating, was observed stuffing pieces of food into every one of his pockets. Outraged, the same person who had scolded the man earlier questioned why he would embarrass his host with such odd behavior. The man turned to him and calmly replied, that it was quite obvious that it was not he who was invited to eat, but his suit.

Accompanying Prince Ermias to San Pedro was Ms. Rosalie Staines, the producer and host of “Oapn Paki,” a popular radio talk show in Belize. Ms. Staines arranged Prince Ermias’ visit through her acquaintance with Dr. Richard Stevens, a former professor of African History at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. who is now the Prince’s personal advisor.

Before departing the island, Prince Ermias and his hosts were treated to a boat tour of North Ambergris Caye and a snorkel trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, courtesy of Ramon’s Village Dive Shop. The Prince was clearly impressed by the day’s activities, as he expressed a desire “to spend a lot more time in ëLa Isla Bonita’ when I return to Belize.” In addition, he stated how pleased he was to see a picture of his grandfather, Haile Selassie, displayed on the front of a San Pedro business.

Born in 1960, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie left Ethiopia to further his education in the United Kingdom and the United States. At the time of his grandfather’s murder, King Hussein of Jordan assumed financial responsibility for the teen prince’s education. Although he has been exiled from Ethiopia for nearly 30 years, Prince Ermias travels at the invitation of foreign governments to attend speaking engagements. He promotes spirituality and international Caribbean-African relations through these activities.

Now, an international marketing consultant, Prince Ermias is also an owner of WORTH, Bahamas, a company which designs and produces decorative medals used to honor international dignitaries. After being informed of this, Lion Eileen Jamison, on behalf of the San Pedro Lion’s Club, presented the Prince with a SP Lions Club award-winning fellowship pin.

Prince Ermias is also a Director for the Haile Selassie Foundation for Ethiopian Children, which supports his grandfather’s beliefs in technological education and self-sustainability. This charitable organization recently sponsored 22 technical scholarships for Ethiopian men and women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds to study in Pennsylvania, USA.

Prince Ermias’ trip to Belize was made possible through the kind support of the City of Belize, the Belize Tourism Board, the Princess Hotel and Casino, Mayan Island Air, Belize Offshore Center, Alliance Bank, A&R Center, Capital Life, the San Pedro Town Council, the International Free Zone, Novelo’s Bus Service, and International Promotion of Trade and Investment.