Clinton Enjoys Birthday Clambake

As the sun set in a blaze of orange, President Clinton celebrated his 51st birthday Tuesday with a clambake dinner at the home of actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.

Clinton and 75 others partied late into the night to the strains of rock star Jimmy Buffett, who sang his signature song “Margaritaville” to great applause. Much of this area’s celebrity population showed up at the festivities, including singer Carly Simon, television talk show veteran Merv Griffin and author William Styron.

Also present were Katharine Graham, chairwoman of the Washington Post Co. executive committee; political consultant Mandy Grunwald; Newsweek writer Mathew Cooper, and Wall Street investment banker Steven Rattner.

After the traditional clambake, the guests enjoyed a raspberry- and blueberry-filled vanilla bean sponge cake baked in the shape of the lighthouse in the main town on Martha’s Vineyard, Edgartown. They then danced the night away as the moon cast a pale glow over the island.