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A Guide To Offending And Charming At State Dinners
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— Extravagant floral arrangements and lights decorate the East Room of the White House for the state dinner given by President Theodore Roosevelt in honor of Prince Henry of Prussia in 1902. In the early 19th century, state dinners were given to honor the Cabinet, Congress and other officials. The first state dinner to honor a foreign monarch was on Dec. 12, 1874, when King David Kalakaua of the...
Extravagant floral arrangements and lights decorate the East Room of the White House for the state dinner given by President Theodore Roosevelt in honor of Prince Henry of Prussia in 1902. In the early 19th century, state dinners were given to honor the Cabinet, Congress and other officials. The first state dinner to honor a foreign monarch was on Dec. 12, 1874, when King David Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) visited the United States.
Library of Congress / NPR
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— Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (from left), Indian Ambassador to the United States Vijaya Pandit and President Harry Truman leave National Airport in 1949. Nehru arrived in the president's personal plane and was the first Indian prime minister to be honored with a state dinner.
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (from left), Indian Ambassador to the United States Vijaya Pandit and President Harry Truman leave National Airport in 1949. Nehru arrived in the president's personal plane and was the first Indian prime minister to be honored with a state dinner.
AP / NPR
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— King Baudouin of Belgium, first lady Mamie Eisenhower and President Dwight Eisenhower walk toward the State Dining Room prior to a state dinner honoring the Belgian monarch in 1959. The State Dining Room seats 120 people. Dinner parties that exceed that limit are usually held in an outdoor tent.
King Baudouin of Belgium, first lady Mamie Eisenhower and President Dwight Eisenhower walk toward the State Dining Room prior to a state dinner honoring the Belgian monarch in 1959. The State Dining Room seats 120 people. Dinner parties that exceed that limit are usually held in an outdoor tent.
AP / NPR
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— Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and President Richard Nixon welcome guests prior to the state dinner given in honor of Trudeau's visit in 1969. Visiting dignitaries and guests are traditionally greeted on the North Portico of the White House.
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and President Richard Nixon welcome guests prior to the state dinner given in honor of Trudeau's visit in 1969. Visiting dignitaries and guests are traditionally greeted on the North Portico of the White House.
AP / NPR
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— First lady Betty Ford (center left) and decorator Betty Sherrill (center right) inspect table settings in preparation for a state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain in 1976.
First lady Betty Ford (center left) and decorator Betty Sherrill (center right) inspect table settings in preparation for a state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain in 1976.
AP / NPR
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— Queen Elizabeth II dances with President Gerald Ford during a state dinner held in her honor in 1976. State dinners are considered to be an expression of goodwill and hospitality in addition to being a demonstration of influence and culture.
Queen Elizabeth II dances with President Gerald Ford during a state dinner held in her honor in 1976. State dinners are considered to be an expression of goodwill and hospitality in addition to being a demonstration of influence and culture.
Ricardo Thomas / Gerald R. Ford Library/NPR
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— Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (left) shakes hands with former baseball player Joe DiMaggio at a state dinner in 1987. Gorbachev wore a business suit instead of a tuxedo. His casual attire provoked one Washington Post reporter to remark, "Poor Mrs. Gorbachev ... is married to the leader of the proletariat and doesn't get a chance to dress up very often." (Ronald Reagan Library via Getty...
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (left) shakes hands with former baseball player Joe DiMaggio at a state dinner in 1987. Gorbachev wore a business suit instead of a tuxedo. His casual attire provoked one Washington Post reporter to remark, "Poor Mrs. Gorbachev ... is married to the leader of the proletariat and doesn't get a chance to dress up very often."
Ronald Reagan Library via Getty Images / NPR
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— While President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin shared a toast during a state dinner, human-rights activists gathered outside the White House to protest Zemin's visit.
While President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin shared a toast during a state dinner, human-rights activists gathered outside the White House to protest Zemin's visit.
Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images/NPR
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— First lady Michelle Obama offered reporters a preview of the first state dinner hosted by President Obama, for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, Tuesday.
First lady Michelle Obama offered reporters a preview of the first state dinner hosted by President Obama, for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, Tuesday.
Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images/NPR