USA: MARGARET THATCHER: 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

(24 Oct 1995) English/Nat Margaret Thatcher's 70th birthday bash, thrown by tobacco conglomerate Philip Morris, attracted a Who's Who of American political conservatism. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, film star Charlton Heston and former First Lady Nancy Reagan were among 600 guests who paid a thousand dollars each to get into Monday night's party in Washington. The former British Prime Minister was toasted at a gala ball in Washington's cavernous Union Station. The guest list included a who's who of America's conservative elite, including former first lady Nancy Reagan and Republican presidential hopeful Phil Gramm. Thatcher is an almost mythical source of inspiration for America's new right. SOUNDBITE: I think she's one of the great people on the planet. I count her as one of the greatest people I've ever met in my life and I love her. SUPER CAPTION: Phil Gramm, Republican senator SOUNDBITE: She's one of the great figures of the latter part of the 20th century. She showed that one person with a firm sense of direction, a belief in democracy and free markets can change a culture, change a nation into being an example for the western world. I think we're going to follow her spirit in 1996 with the presidential and congressional elections. SUPER CAPTION: Steven Forbes, Republican tycoon Former U-S Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger and ultra conservative Senator Jesse Helms were among the prominent right-wingers who turned out to celebrate Baroness Thatcher's birthday. Guests arrived to jeers from Irish protestors across the street, angry at Britain's policy in Northern Ireland. A British newspaper reported that American tobacco giant Phillip Morris spent around a million dollars on the party. Proceeds for the event are to go to Baroness Thatcher's own foundation, established to promote her conservative ideas. In an emotional climax, Thatcher was presented with the Stars and Stripes by Scott O'Grady, the U-S pilot who was dramatically rescued from Bosnia after being shot down by Serbs. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...