What’s a State Dinner?
Tuesday's guest of honor
Yesterday evening, President Obama (with the help of Michelle Obama) hosted his first state dinner at the White House. You might think it’s just another term for a fancy Washington party, but there are specifics that make it a state dinner – specifics you should know since you helped foot the bill for the 300-guest shindig.
A state dinner is a formal dinner (usually black tie) paid for by the government. It is typically held in the State Dining Room, but yesterday’s event took place in a tent on the South Lawn. The official purpose of a state dinner is to honor a foreign head of state.
Last night, India’s Prime Minister Singh was honored. Singh has done many things for India over the decades, including bringing economic reform in the ’90s, continuing peace with Pakistan, and implementing a civil nuclear agreement with the United States.1
The guest list at state dinners is always an interesting mix. This time around, besides the expected politicians, guests included Katie Couric, M. Night Shyamalan, and Steven Spielberg.2 Entertainment included both American themes and Indian themes, with performances by Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and others.
Read on:
msnbc.com – Obamas welcome Singh, guests to state dinner
abcnews.com – White House State Dinner: The Menu, Entertainment, and Decor
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