Modern Luxury

Bill Clinton's Swank Soiree
October 6, 2008

By Kelly Will

The Top of the Rock suffered from a major culture clash on September 23, when guests from a Bill Clinton party and a Manhattan magazine soiree collided. The ex-Prez was holding a private event on the 64th floor for foreign dignitaries, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, while R&B crooner Robin Thicke was the special guest at the Manhattan bash one floor up at the Rainbow Room. Seems the Secret Service needs to brush up on its soul music, because agents didn't recognize the singer. Robin and his wife, actress Paula Patton, were heavily scrutinized every time they made their way past the heavily armed feds, who were brandishing high-powered rifles and wearing bulletproof vests. The gorgeous couple was stopped multiple times as a safety precaution. But while the Secret Service didn't have a clue, several of Bill's guests did. At one point during the festivities, the elevators were shut down for the arrival of the Iraqi president, and a number of dignitaries snuck up the single flight of stairs to the Rainbow Room to watch Robin perform.