The Greek-American Presence at the Inauguration
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S O C V st ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ W ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ E 101 ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald anniversa ry N www.thenationalherald.com A wEEkly GREEk-AMERICAN PublICATION 1915-2016 VOL. 20, ISSUE 1007 January 28 - February 3, 2017 c v $1.50 The The Greek-American Presence at the Inauguration “Greek As President Trump Freak” is sworn in, Priebus Streaks is by his side TNH Staff Antetokounmpo: WASHINGTON, DC – The Greek-American presence was from Sepolia’s Streets strong at the historic festivities of the inauguration of the 45th to NBA All-Star US President Mr. Donald Trump. On Thursday evening January TNH Staff 19th Archbishop Geron Demetrios of America bestowed The son of Nigerian immi - during a Greek-American inau - grants to Greece, Giannis Ante - gural reception, the Medal of tokounmpo has become a force Saint Paul, the highest honor of in the National Basketball Asso - the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese ciation, ranked fifth among its of America, to Reince Priebus, superstars and a starter in the the new Chief of Staff of the All-Star game. White House, to Congressman It was an Odyssey that took Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and to him from walking around the George Gigicos, Deputy Assis - streets of the Athens working- tant to the President and Direc - class neighborhood of Sepolia tor of Advance. All three are Ar - selling sunglasses to help keep chons of the Ecumenical his family from getting evicted Patriarchate, of the Order of St and being able to survive to the Andrew the Apostle.The inau - hardwood courts and bright gural reception, traditionally or - lights of the big time. ganized on the eve of the Presi - “I would like to thank each dential Inauguration, was and every one of you from the sponsored by The Hellenic Ini - bottom of my heart for your tiative and was held in St. Regis support throughout these days,” Hotel just two blocks from the Antetokounmpo wrote on his White House. Twitter account in Greek. “You Both Reince Priebus and all took an active part in making AP PHOTO/ANdREw HARNIk Congressman Bilirakis spoke my dream come true… I really Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, center, accompanied by ald Trump, right, during a White House senior staff swearing appreciate it! You can be certain Vice President Mike Pence, left, is embraced by President Don - in ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 22. Continued on page 6 that I will be playing for you too at the All-Star Game. Thanks Greece!” Four years ago he was sitting in the stands at the NBA draft George Gigicos in Trump’s Inner, Inner Circle Archbishop with a Greek flag and looked at as a tall project with immense upside potential, a 6-9 point TNH Staff one of the “original five” who Trump often takes calls on his of the campaign, all the protests, Demetrios traveled with Trump around the phone (which has now been and negative stories. Scavino NEW YORK – Among the four country during the primaries, traded for a secure device) and continued, “We all have our staffers in Donald Trump’s inner Gigicos as Director of Advance watches cable news. The aide lanes and one common goal, Talks to TNH circle who survived the cam - is responsible for trip-planning continued, as quoted in Time and that’s to look out for our paign trail is Greek-American and Trump’s schedule. Also of “when he’s bored, he calls in boss and see him succeed.” George Gigicos, a Deputy Assis - note is the fact that Gigicos was Hope [Hicks], Keith [Schiller], An open-door policy for his By Theodore Kalmoukos tant and the Director of Advance the only person to join the [Dan] Scavino, John [McEntee] closest advisors is how Trump for President Trump, and who Trump campaign when the es - or George [Gigicos] to work on will apparently work every day. WASHINGTON, DC – His Emi - the organizer of each one of his tablishment chose to ignore or some new thing or to point out The inner circle will be close nence Archbishop Geron of rallies. Gigicos is one of the few even dismiss Trump’s presiden - some news story he likes.” even during off-hours at the America Demetrios discussed on the Trump team with actual tial bid. Scavino described the new White House. Choosing their his impressions with The Na - White House staff experience. Gigicos is expected to work president’s inner circle as housing with the distance from tional Herald of the presidential He previously served as an ad - very closely with the president bonded by fire, Time reported. the Oval Office in mind, some inauguration of Donald Trump. vance man for President George daily. As one top aide told Time “We’ve been through it all to - of Trump’s top aides will live His Eminence, who was offi - W. Bush, as reported in Time of President Trump, “he doesn’t gether. We’re like family,” he cially invited to the ceremonies magazine. A central figure and like being alone,” noting that said, referring to difficult days Continued on page 2 and had an opportunity to talk briefly with Mr. Trump told TNH that “I saw a polite and calm man.” The archbishop emphasized St. Sophia Debutante Ball in Beverly Hills, CA the great significance of the ap - pointment of Reince Priebus and AP PHOTO George Gigicos to key positions “Greek Freak” Giannis Ante - By Vasilis Papoutsis in President Trump’s circle, to tokounmpo, NBA All-Star the Greek-American community LOS ANGELES, CA – The 52nd and to Hellenism in general. guard who could shoot, dunk, Saint Sophia Philoptochos “Everything will pass through fly through the air and was still Debutante Ball was an elegant the Chief of Staff, Reince developing at 18 years old. and glamorous affair that took Priebus” the archbishop noted. Now 22 – and 6-11 – he’s the place at the world famous Bev - It was Demetrios’ fifth presi - tallest guard in the league and erly Wilshire Hotel in the heart dential swearing-in ceremony almost an unstoppable force of Beverly Hills, CA overlooking (he attended every one since when he’s on his game, which Rodeo Drive. 2001), and he said “the process he mostly is, and a nightly high - Originally, this was named and the protocol” were the same light with a jaw-dropping array the Coronation Ball and started as that of the others. of dunks and moves defying in 1950 as a means of social in - “I was invited to all the fes - gravity, a pterodactyl with a 7-4 teraction and fellowship for tivities,” he said. “We started on first-generation Greek Orthodox Continued on page 4 immigrant youths and was Continued on page 6 sponsored by the Hellenic Or - thodox Youth of America that is now the Greek Orthodox Youth of America(GOYA). Young ladies James were nominated and the most Greeks popular was elected queen, and she was accompanied by her Vlasto, Pol. royal court at the ball. “My dad Nominated Ernie Anast and his friend John Pappas were on couple of the Adviser, 82 coronation ball committees” for Oscars said Katrina Anast Beers, who is now a co-chair of the Ball. “As TNH Staff NEW YORK – James S. Vlasto, the ladies grew older and joined a prominent public relations the Philoptochos Society, the GINA CHIARAMONTE LOS ANGELES, CA– The nomi - practitioner and political adviser The 52nd St. Sophia Philoptochos Debutante Ball was an elegant affair at the world famous Bev - nations for the 2017 Academy in campaigns for Governor, Con - Continued on page 2 erly Wilshire Hotel introducing 16 young women shown here dancing a choreographed waltz. Awards were announced early gress and the Senate, passed on Jan. 24 and some notable away Jan. 19 from pulmonary Greek filmmakers are among disease, his son Christopher, an the nominees. The Greek film Executive Producer of ABC’s The Lobster directed by Yorgos Good Morning America said. Inauguration: Plexidas Follows his HS Hoop Dreams Lanthimos earned a nod in one He was born Dimitrius Solon of the major categories. The film Vlasto on June 11, 1934 in the Live from the is in the running for the Best Washington Heights neighbor - By Eleni Sakellis in the United States and not in he and his parents decided it Original Screenplay Oscar. The hood of Manhattan, to a promi - Greece, as their cousin Harry would be worth the long com - Lobster written by Lanthimos nent Greek-American family, the Bleachers JERSEY CITY, NJ – For many Prassakos told The National mute. It looks like it was the and Efthimis Filippou features New York Times noted in his athletically-inclined young peo - Herald. right choice.” Plexidas filled out one of the most original scripts obituary. By Constantinos E. Scaros ple, sports and sports scholar - Dimitri's parents, Nikos and his paperwork for his visa to at - among the nominees. Lanthi - His father, Solon, was an im - ships can be a great means to Kiki Stoumpou-Plexidas, are tend high school and since Sep - mos and his co-writer Filippou migrant from Athens who be - WASHINGTON, DC – January pay for an increasingly expen - both from Ptolemaida. Dimitri’s tember 2016, he commutes have been nominated before for came the publisher of The At - 20th was a very red day. I sive college education. With the mother is Harry’s father George from Flushing to Jersey City, NJ Dogtooth which received a nom - lantis, a Greek-language daily emerged from the Red Line of increasing popularity of basket - Prassakos' first cousin.