RSVP / THE SOCIAL CITY : Dole Takes Leading Role in Tribute to Nixon as Peacemaker

The “Architect of Peace” tribute to former President Richard Nixon, originally set for June 16 with Nixon as keynote speaker, has been rescheduled for July 13 at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda. Invitations went out this week.

Senate Republican leader Robert Dole has been asked to replace the late Nixon as keynoter. The original committee--including Gov. Pete and Gayle Wilson as honorary dinner chairs, Lod and Carole Cook as dinner chairs, and Caroline Ahmanson and George and Judie Argyros as co-dinner chairs--plans a $2,500-per-person candlelight White House-style state dinner created by Henry Haller, White House executive chef to Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

At the request of Nixon and his late wife, Pat, the library accepts no federal funding. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the annual $2.8-million operating costs.

Bowled Over: “It’s the best Bowl season yet,” president Joan Stubbs told Friends of the Hollywood Bowl at a luncheon in the Volunteer Cottage.

Friends are prepping for the July 5 gala opening of the season, a 73-year-old Southern California tradition of music, picnics and friendship. American conductor Andrew Litton will lead the L.A. Philharmonic on opening night.

On the committee: Susan Holt, Nancy Wayte, Jan Corey, Deanne Kelly, Rebecca O’Neill, Lynn Wolf and Katherine Yamada. Friends provide 100 volunteers to staff Open House at the Bowl (a summer-long festival of children’s activities) and an additional 40 to staff the Bowl’s gift shop. They expect to raise $75,000 for the Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Summer Festivities: In a world of nuclear turmoil, white lilies on celadon tablecloths and friendly exchanges among Los Angeles residents cast a festive spell on the “Korean Arts of the 18th Century” opening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

It was William A. Mingst’s first official affair as new president of museum trustees. The museum has received a generous grant of $275,000 from the Korea Foundation for a three-year educational outreach program designed to increase appreciation of Korean art and culture.

Prominent at the event were Korean Consul General Hang Kyung Kim; Ki Suh Park, chairman of the Festival of Korea for Southern California; festival vice chairman Jae Min Chang and director Sandy Yi; Vishaka Desai, director of galleries and vice president of the Asia Society, and Faranak Van Patten, executive director of the Asia Society/Southern California Center.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

* Social events are swirling around debutante balls and teas now that the college set is home. In Bel-Air, at the home of Dody Booth, 25 debutantes arrived with their mothers and grandmothers to receive pink peony bouquets and stand in line to be introduced to members of Las Madrinas, the support group for Childrens Hospital. The debs will be honored at the Las Madrinas Debutante Ball on Dec. 22 at the Beverly Hilton.

Receiving guests were Las Madrinas President Peggy Galbraith, debutante chairwoman Kay Onderdonk and ball chairwoman Susan Hull. The minted iced tea flowed and the brilliantly polished tea urns were resplendent around caterer Isabelle Linenberger’s famous tea sandwiches.

Founded in 1933, the group honors families committed to community service. In 1993, Las Madrinas completed its $3-million endowment and has begun a new $1.5-million endowment for molecular genetics.

Debutantes: Tarry Baker, Andrea Browne, Katherine Buster, Caitlin Carroll, Elizabeth Freeman, Marie Frere, Clare Gibbs, Jennifer Gilchrist, Kelly Graves, Michelle Harb, Suzanne Jones, Treadon Kraus, Margaret Magee, Amy McGaughey, Jennifer Moore, Katherine O’Keefe, Hilary Palmer, Katrina Roski, Chanel Scott, Alison Sweeney, Lynda Thomas, Jennifer Von Der Ahe, Kristen Wallace, Susan Webb and Melissa Wu.

* Guests might have been in an Italian villa with lacy rose garlands, clipped hedges and tables topped with Italian urns. It looked that way for the 33rd annual June Ball hosted by Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington.

Moving through the crowd were guild president June Banta, ball chairwoman Susan Seidel and debutante chairwoman Karen Hammond. Debs had the honor of being announced by Ulysses Grant Buchanan III, whose wife, Betsy, is a founding guild member.

The June Ball committee makes it clear that those participating understand the importance of contributions to Childrens Hospital. Thus, fathers and daughters toured the hospital together, and the debs’ mothers toured with guild members. This year’s proceeds support pediatric surgery.

Debutantes: Melissa Bruce, Kristin Capalbo, Katie Coleman, Stephanie DeCastro, Heidi Gilbaugh, Kelly Martin, Galen Moore, Kristin Podley, Megan Rader, Susan Rusnack, Sarah Schoellkopf, Carrie Sullivan and Nicole Ogilvie.

* Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Director Craig C. Black and his wife, Elizabeth, are departing for Albuquerque, N.M., soon, but first they gathered friends at their Hancock Park residence to introduce director designate James Powell (coming from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia) and his wife, Joan.

* Laney and Tom Techentin hosted dinner in Pasadena to honor Ann and Olin Barrett on their 25th wedding anniversary.

* Kudos to the stalwart givers: James A. Thomas, honored by the Center for the Partially Sighted at a black-tie Beverly Hilton dinner . . . Caltech chemistry professor emeritus John D. Roberts, honored as a “history-maker” by the Pasadena Historical Museum at its Orange Blossom Ball, chaired by Karen Craig at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington.

* Mayor Richard Riordan received the 1994 TELACU Creo Award from TELACU (the East Los Angeles Community Union) President and CEO David C. Lizarraga at a black-tie dinner at the Century Plaza.

* Today at 2 p.m., the 55-piece all-volunteer Los Angeles Police Band, its new Highland Pipe Band and Mariachis perform at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 W. 8th St. Tickets are $10 to $50.