Brad Makes Pitt Stop in D.C.

The President and Speaker of the House met with the "Benjamin Button" star

One-half of the "Brangelina" machine stormed the White House Thursday.

Heartthrob Brad Pitt met with President Barack Obama and D.C. bigwigs like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to talk about his work in New Orleans and green initiatives.

Sorry, salivating Congressmen - Angie wasn't with him. 

Pitt did bring along a crew of do-gooder celebs for the visit, including Elizabeth Hurley's ex, Stephen Bing, philanthropist and Jolie pal Trevor Nielsen and former Bill Clinton staffer Chad Griffin, the New York Daily News reported.
 
From the moment he stepped into the Capitol on Thursday, sunglassed and goateed, Pitt's star power transformed congressional business-as-usual in a way any lawmaker or new president might envy.

"Nice face. Waaaay too skinny," one Senate source e-mailed on condition of anonymity after catching sight of the actor between meetings with lawmakers about helping rebuild New Orleans.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was not immune to his charms. Praising Pitt for his work to rebuild New Orleans' hurricane-ravaged 9th Ward, she even allowed that meeting him affords her "bragging rights to my children and my grandchildren -- a real treat for me as well."

And during a closed meeting earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confided to Pitt that he was envious that his lieutenant, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, got to meet soccer star Mia Hamm a day earlier, according to one person who was present and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Well, Pitt replied, he'll bring along co-parent Angelina Jolie next time to help Reid make Durbin jealous, this person said.

Later, a Durbin aide sniffed: "Durbin's already met Angelina Jolie."

The Power of Pitt drained entire congressional offices of their female employees and quite a few male aides as well, all of whom could be picked out by the way they suddenly appeared in the Senate's doorways and halls, nonchalantly cupping cell phones and cameras at their sides and hanging around waiting news crews.

Finally, around 1:30 p.m., Pitt, four aides and assorted security guards climbed out of a darkened SUV at the Capitol's north gate and strolled across the sun-dappled plaza.

As he approached the building, all nonchalance inside disappeared. Was he coming in the carriage entrance? No! He was coming through the North Door.

And so he did, entering through the famous Brumidi corridor, whose ornate and historic paintings he probably couldn't see through his sunglasses. Reporters, photographers and giggling staffers shuffled after him, up a flight of stairs and around a corner toward Reid's office. As Pitt entered the parlor, he took off his shades. An aide closed the door behind him.

Inside with Reid, Pitt made an earnest case for nationalizing his "Make It Right New Orleans" campaign, in partnership with Congress, according to a second knowledgeable aide who spoke on condition that he not be named because the meeting was private.

Afterward, this official said, Reid and Pitt posed for pictures, the senator cracking, "How will people tell us apart?"

Outside the door, grinning Capitol Police officers put up ropes to keep the hordes out of the path Pitt was expected to take toward his next meeting, with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in a building across the street.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Judiciary Committee chairman who has appeared as himself in several "Batman" movies and even had a speaking line in "The Dark Knight," stumbled across the crowd gathered outside Reid's door.

Told who was inside, Leahy issued a giddy, "Gosh!" and kept walking.

In the end, Pitt and his entourage slipped out a side door and took an elevator to the basement subway.

For those unfamiliar with the project, check out Pitt talking about his work in New Orleans with Charlie Rose below.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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