johnbarrett

There are numerous pictures taken of people coming down these steps. The African American man seems to be the announcer. Since there are other pictures in this bunch having to do with Taft's inauguration I wonder if that is what these are from.

The man with the megaphone is also in these photographs:

   

This event is probably the Diplomatic Corps Reception at the Pan American Building, Washington D. C. on New Year's Day 1913. These distinctive gates are at the front of the Pan American Building, Washington D.C.. See this photograph for confirmation : www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179870664/ John Barrett, a very experienced diplomat, was Director General of the Pan American Union (and its' predeccessor) from 1907 to 1924. [ ref. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrett_(diplomat) ] On New Year's Day 1913, President Taft hosted his New Year's Day Reception at the White House, which many of the Diplomatic Corps attended. [ query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9900EEDA123BE633A... ] However, on that same day and also referred to in that New York Times article: "Second only in importance to the White House Reception was the breakfast at the Pan-American Union Building where the Secretary of State and Mrs. Knox entertained the members of the Diplomatic Corps and their families, withthe members of the Committees of the House and Senate dealing with our foreign relations. To welcome these guests the Secretary and Mrs. Knox dropped out of the White House receving line after the passing of the Supreme Court. In the Pan-American Building they received standing at the head of the marble stairway overlooking the patio. The breakfast was served in the Hall of the Americas, regarded as the most beautiful formal apartment in Washington." There is also a photograph of P. C. Knox, the Secretary of State with his wife and the same herald with megaphone on the same steps as those depicted above here : www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3314477848/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_American_States has a second photo that shows the gates of the Pan American Union Building more clearly -- to confirm lifeasdaddy's hypothesis. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OAS_Building_-_DC.jpg

Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff (1862-1939), German ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico, 1908 to 1914. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Heinrich_von_Bernstorff#Amba...

Sir George Houstoun Reid, GCB, GCMG, KC (25 February 1845 – 12 September 1918) the Premier of New South Wales and fourth Prime Minister of Australia. He was married to Flora Ann Brumby. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Reid_(Australian_politician)

See www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2851188434/ Could be at same event.

A possibility for this John Barrett is the diplomat who was a director general of the Panamerican Union. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrett_(diplomat)

Yes, it is the diplomat John Barrett. The Library of Congress has other photos of him. hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pan.6a25060 hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b30493 hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.07062

"In the winter of 1917-18 [Reid] made a semi-official speaking tour of the United States of America for the war effort, but became ill at St Louis in February and again in April after returning to London. In July he took part in a debate on Irish affairs, moving an important amendment to defuse a motion condemning the government's policy. He died on 13 September 1918 of cerebral thrombosis, survived by his wife, who the previous year had been appointed G.B.E. for work on behalf of convalescent servicemen, and their two sons and daughter." -- Australian Dictionary of Biography Online