TDiplomats, politicians, and industrial leaders from India and the U.S. convened at the Upper East Side townhouse of Meera and Vikram Gandhi, the final home of Eleanor Roosevelt from 1959 to 1962, for an intimate cocktail gathering to benefit the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (ERVK), in Hyde Park, NY. The Center advances the former First Lady’s ideals in human rights, social justice, education, and peace. Roosevelt visited India in 1952 at the invitation of Jawaharal Nehru, and then wrote the book India and the Awakening East (Harper and Bros., 1953).

The guest of honor was another former First Lady, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, herself a 1995 recipient of ERVK’s highest honor, the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, recognizing Clinton’s ongoing work in support of basic human rights. Held just one day after the historic 100th wedding anniversary of Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Clinton remarked, as she cut a commemorative wedding cake, that Mrs. Roosevelt’s presence seemed very much “in the room.”

After standing by Bill during his recent medical procedures, Sen. Clinton seemed to be in high spirits, and quipped to the crowd: “Mrs. Roosevelt was once asked to run for public office but, given her good judgment, didn’t!”

The Sheet just couldn’t resist reminding Sen. Clinton, that if she were to become president, that would make Bill the First Lady! The good-natured Senator, who has a great sense of humor, responded with a lighthearted chuckle.

In the VIP pack: Meera and Vikram’s children Kanika, Kabir, and Kiran Gandhi, Barbara Tober, Phylicia Rashad, James Forbush, Judy Lewittes, David and Mary Moody, Andrea Marsh, Eileen Guilfoyle, Vibhuti Patel, Isabelle Orlansky, and Hannah Pakula. A night to pay tribute to two first-rate First Ladies!