The elite world of Brett Kavanaugh

Washington is a city where the stars of politics, government and the judiciary reign, many of whom migrate to the nation's capital after growing up and establishing their reputation in Farflung.

Yet , Kavanaugh is this rare high ranking personality who is pure Washington, a product of his most prestigious addresses: the Georgetown Preparatory School, where all boys were taught by Jesuits before going to Yale; the White House, where he was deputy advocate for President George W. Bush, and the Sanctuary of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Catholic parish just off Chevy Chase Circle, where he and his family attend services.

Brett Kavanaugh was appointed by the Supreme Court in the wealthy property Chevy Chase, Md.

[Brett Kavanaugh has broad views of presidential powers]

Politics is not what happens when Ashley Kavanaugh, director of their Chevy Chase section, organizes the July 4th parade a procession that lasts two blocks and ends with a barbecue.

Her husband, a judge at the powerful US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit, was known to help traffic at the parade, ready to joke with the neighbors of the Washington Nationals, which he attends regularly to the games.

Politics also does not arise when Kavanaugh attends Sunday Mass at 5:30 pm in the Blessed Sacrament, sometimes accompanied by his two daughters, always in basketball uniforms played – and he trained – earlier this day.

The church has long been the parish for a diverse range of the region's Catholic elite, liberal giants like the late Senator Ted Kennedy and MSNB anchor Chris Matthews at such conservatives Pat Buchanan and William Bennett

"Regardless of their affiliation, they want to know Jesus Christ and that is why they are here," said William Foley, the pastor of the church. who has his own ties with Washington official: his father served a director of the administrative offices of the United States courts under Warren Burger, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Mark Shields, a liberal commentator who serves as a bailiff at the church, said that what makes the parish "very special" is the way the leadership the clergy have focused people on service "to those who are less blessed than us."

"We do not give decisive tests, there is just an assumption that you believe in the values ​​and teachings of Christ" , he said. "I've never seen anyone act like," How can you be here, you're a baby killer! " To those who voted for John Kerry, or someone who says that someone else is anti-immigrant. He tries to find out what we have in common rather than applying a litmus test to everyone who enters the room.

However, Bishop John Enzler, now president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington, said he avoided when he was a priest at the sacrament of the Blessed Sacrament from 2010 to 2014. [19659017] "I admit that I have been careful because you do not want to discourage people.On the other hand, with regard to immigration, I will talk about it without hesitation , whatever happens, "said Mr. Enzler.He says that one of the present priests of the Blessed Sacrament often preaches about immigration.

Chevy Chase, where the Kavanaugh live since 2006, is one of Washington's most coveted neighborhoods, where the median household income was $ 146,547 in 2016 the most recent date of the US Census, and where homes are commonly selling for $ 2 million and $ 3 million The Kavanaughs paid $ 1.2 million for their four-bedroom home, which has close to years old and is located in a street lined with thick trees and lush lawns. On the sidewalk in front of their house on Tuesday, there was a basketball hoop. An American flag floated outside the entrance

Gregory Chernack, a Democrat and a lawyer who lives around the corner, said that he was aware of Kavanaugh's conservatism, but that he had never intended to talk politics with him. talk to Brett, whether it's baseball or Springsteen, "said Chernack, who is chairman of the city council for their neighborhood, known as Village of Chevy Chase, Section 5." It's no different from any father in the neighborhood. "19659023]" I know there are things on which we do not agree, from what I've read, "says Chernack." But I also know how qualified he is to do it. He is the type of Republican that you would like Republicans to name. "

Kavanaugh's wife is the town's director of the village, a job that she runs mostly from home with a salary of about $ 60,000," Chernack says. Antithesis of the denominated, "he said." And she does not talk about what her husband does. If I did not know him independently, I would never know. "

The Kavanaughs met firmly in Washington – while both were working in the White House, their first meeting was on September 10, 2001," said the judge in his speech Monday after Trump's 39, announced as his candidate.

"The next morning," recalls Kavanaugh, "I was a few steps behind her. We all left to get past the front doors of the White House because there was an incoming plane.

Sport, Not Politics

When Kavanaugh was born, Kavanaugh's parents lived in the district. His father, E. Edward Kavanaugh, 77, held one of these titles in Washington only – president of the Cosmetic Association, Toiletry and Fragrance. In C-SPAN's video archive, the eldest Kavanaugh can be found testifying in 1983 before the Congress of his industry.

Kavanaugh's mother, Martha, 76, taught history in two public schools of D.C. Woodson and McKinley Tech. She went to law school at night, graduated from American University in 1978, before becoming a prosecutor in Montgomery County and then a Circuit Court Judge.

"The President introduced me tonight as Judge Kavanaugh. But for me this title will always belong to my mother, "said Kavanaugh during her remarks on Monday." When I was 10, she went to law school and became a prosecutor. the law came to our table when she practiced her closing arguments.His line was: "Use your common sense. What's true? What's wrong? "

As a child, Kavanaugh and his parents attended the Little Flower Parish in Bethesda, a large congregation where Judge John Roberts and his family are now traveling.At high school, Kavanaugh went to Mater Dei, a Catholic preparation school based in Bethesda with the motto: "Work hard, play hard, pray hard, but most of all be a good guy! "

Students came mostly from Montgomery County, but the school intended to teach them how to get around the city, devoting a week to subway tours to landmarks such as the Smithsonian and the Capitol. "Solid, solid, solid," said Chris Abell, a former professor of Mater Dei, describing Kavanaugh: "He was a type of stick-to-this-kind.I have his job done.It was pretty much as solid as them. "

Young man, Kavanaugh was immersed in the area's Catholic community, friendly with boys enrolled in schools such as Holy Name and Gonzaga College High School while he was in Georgetown Prep. He and his friends went to Redskins games at RFK, and until Baltimore for Oriole games.

When they were old enough, they went to bars – Garrett and the third edition in Georgetown, said his childhood friend, Scott McCaleb. 19659036] In Kavanaugh's Georgetown Prep directory, he introduced himself as the treasurer of the "Keg City Club – 100 Kegs or Bust" and referred to the "Ralph Club Beach Week" and the "Rehoboth Police Fan Club."

But McCaleb He said Kavanaugh was studious, getting enough grades to attend Yale University and then Yale Law School.

"He was always like an old soul," said McCaleb. "He was more mature than the rest of us.His reputation for rigor lasted until adulthood, while he wrote a resume containing prestigious Washington titles. : Clerk of the Supreme Court Justice, Anthony M. Kennedy, whom he would replace, Ken Starr's deputy attorney during his Clinton inquiry, a Bush adviser and staff secretary, and a judge of appeal

For all his accomplishments, however, his friends say that Kavanaugh remained steadfast in his commitment to coaching basketball at the Blessed Sacrament, the school of his daughters where he is known "Coach K." His team of sixth year was undefeated last season and won a municipal championship in the local league of young Catholics.

Kavanaugh would even attend games in another school, Georgetown Visitation, just because he admired the "best of times". coach of the school.

"I present myself Let's go for a match, and one of the only other people in the stands would be Brett Kavanaugh, "said Tom Conaghan, a lawyer whose daughter played for him at one point. "He's a quiet coach – you can not hear him from the other side of the court – it's very important to teach the tightrope codes of the game."

After the games, Kavanaugh sometimes goes with other coaches to Monday, a group of his friends gathered under the television to see Trump announce his new candidate.

Peter Gouskos, the owner, said he planned to add a photo of Kavanaugh to an audience of well-known clients, including the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, CNN's Jake Tapper, and Senator Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican.

Gouskos is happy for Kavanaugh, but promises, when he sees it in the future, to stick to the usual subjects: sports, sports, and more sports.

"I am a democrat," said the owner. "I never discuss politics with my clients."

Ann Marimow and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this story.