The State Dinner for President Calderón of Mexico got off to a slippery start for White House veteran and current State Department Chief of Protocol, Capricia Marshall. Both of the Obamas admonished the press NOT to print the picture of her falling in a lovely pink gown on the White House steps. That fall is nothing compared to Desiree Rogers freshman and final State Dinner featuring the security gaffe seen round the world. This is Take Two in the Obama Administration on many fronts. But there is one dessert that is making a first appearance: Goat Cheese Ice Cream. One thing that remains a trend for the Obamas is a guest Executive Chef that specializes with a particular type of cuisine. In this case a hometown fave of the president's and first lady, Chef Rick Bayless. He last tweeted about his sauces and mole earlier this morning before rushing off to the siren call of his pots and pans at the White House.
Another signature hallmark that is appearing from the first lady for her state dinners are bold color palettes for the table settings. This state dinner is half the scale of the November Dinner for Prime Minister Singh of India. Two hundred guests for dinner in the East Room with the historic paintings of George & Martha Washington overseeing the festivities from their gilt frames and then a fabulous switch to the outdoor entertainment tent/building which will see a glamorous Beyoncé. This dinner has a better weather forecast than the November diplomatic soirée that took place on one of DC's most rainy fall days. Prickly pear is making an appearance in the floral arrangements along with fuschia and delicate roses.
Photo courtesy of Getty
President Calderon, his wife Margarita Zavala with President & Michelle Obama in the North Portico of the White House.More to come...
Confirmations: saw up close it IS the Clinton China.
This was the first State Dinner where the Obamas as First Couple descended the Grand Staircase for a State Dinner in public view. The Staircase was designed specifically by President Truman for formal entrances of the American Head of State
or used in the State Dining Room's or the East Room's table decor. Either room may be used and the East Room would hold more elegant diners, but makes the after dinner entertainment space a new challenge. If Michelle Obama is a last minute dress chooser - oh dear. (Photo of Obamas going up the Grand Staircase back to the residence after greeting Ambassadors to the US.)
col experts on name pronunciation, food requirements, allergies and taboos, complete with full black tie etiquette. A briefing book has already been compiled and the secret invite right now is for the under two dozen friends and staff that get to attend a tasting menu featuring choices for the meals. Her residence staff is theming floral pieces for all of the bathrooms and a host of contract workers need to be ready to produce the pièce de résistance of an elaborate multi-course meal for at most 140 people. It will be the hardest ticket to obtain in Washington DC since the inaugural. All those people who have spent time sucking up to the first lady's friend and Social Secretary while writing puff pieces about her are about to find out if the investment was worth it.
The newly re-elected fourteenth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Manmohan Singh and his lovely wife, Gursharan Kaur will receive the full ceremonial honors of arriving at the South Lawn. After a troop review and opening remarks, the couples will go through the Diplomatic Reception Room and usually share some time together before the spouses go one direction and the heads of state another. After a luncheon, the next arrival will be on the North side of the White House in view of the world's press as they are formally greeted by the president and first lady in formal attire on the red carpet. They will go upstairs and have a moment to share in the Yellow Oval Room in the private residence. Just before dinner, Ruffles and Flourishes will announce the president and first lady as they descend the Grand Staircase with their honored guests to stand and welcome each invited guest in the Entrance hall as the President's Own plays and photographers film. There are vast differences in height so the images will need some thinking through by the professionals. (Gursharan Kaur with Michelle Obama from April in London during the Obamas first meeting of the G20.)
nd her baby brother splashed in the famous fountain. Yet, there are always the unscripted moments. Caroline Kennedy was about five when she gave an impromptu interview. A reporter asked what was her father doing. Caroline replied, nothing. He was upstairs with his socks and shoes off. Caroline was treated to endless entreaties to be America's new Shirley Temple. Chelsea did not feel well at her new school and the nurse needed permission to dispense an aspirin and was about to call her mom. Chelsea interrupted and said no, she was too busy, please call my dad. Dad wins a Nobel Peace Prize and the Obama daughters liken it to the big events in their lives - Bo Obama's birthday and a three day weekend. And so it goes, those little moments that end up in the history books. (Caroline & John Kennedy, Jr and the president right outside the Oval Office with her pet horse, macaroni. This is just steps away from where Sasha & Malia's swingset is today. Photo courtesy Clinton Presidential Library)
Not everyone's dad has a helicopter with your favorite candy right at your seat or a hulking plane that stars in its own major motion picture and gets fighter jet escorts. A ride to school for most kids is to get out of the minivan or SUV as soon as it seems like it stops so no one sees you with your parents. Instead the newest kids of a president get an armored up SUV with fully armed guards to ride with you to school each and every day and knows whether you are finishing a piece of homework hastily in the car or got in a mite of trouble. When riding on official business with dad there are flags on each side of the hood of The Beast and a presidential seal is everywhere and imprinted indelibly on everything. For all the requirements, the unscripted moments still occur. (The Bush Twins, Barbara on the left and Jenna on the right. They traveled more in the last year of their father's presidency.)
f my favorite stories from last year was candidate Obama went to the Middle East, including Jordan and to the Aqaba palace. As a candidate he did not have formal privileges to get a ride from the State Department. King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein drove him to the airport in his own personal car. They broke the speed limit and both president and the King are Trekkies. As seen in the top image now their powerful spouses are getting a chance to know each other as well. From Former First Lady Nancy Reagan came to the White House for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall's visit for the formal dinner. Nancy Reagan and the president both attended Lady Diana's 1981 royal wedding deluxe to Prince Charles. She hosted the very famous dinner for their visit that had a svelte Princess Diana twirling across the floor with John Travolta in the Grand Foyer which works marvelously well as a dance area.
The West Wing side of the Obama Administration shows savvy at the White House website with a blog, policy briefs, and a YouTube channel. Nothing like it exists readily for the Obama East Wing. Yes, there are a couple of photo albums for the first lady, Michelle Obama, but no blog, no fulsome history of each of the State Rooms, the extensive White House American Art collections, no White House Residence senior staff profiles, no details of events hosted by the first lady that resonate - the music series, the output of the $200 investment of the Kitchen Garden or the choices of China, silverware or floral arrangements used at events. Those things must wait for chronicling by a haphazard news media that misses points for posterity. These details are important and will be part of the record of Michelle Obama's tenure as first lady, especially as the first African American. (Photo courtesy the White House of Michelle Obama meeting the retired Chief Florist Nancy Clarke's new granddaughter at a staff party in the mansion.)
Michelle Obama oft repeats that she wants to bring the White House to people who have never seen it and offering up a robust web presence would do that for millions in this nation and millions if not billions more outside of it. Nothing has captured the imagination of global interest like her garden and the implications for nutritional value of home grown local food. Prince Charles waxed ecstatic about the Kitchen Garden and members of Congress along with other guests plus the family eat the fruits of the labor of the kids at Bancroft Elementary, Mrs. Obama, the White House chefs and the landscape crew. It would be great to talk about the garden in terms of healthy eating right at the site - rather than through the occasional news article prompted by a photo op. 
environs and the furniture of history that many in the public are acutely interested in for the first time. It is an opportunity so many want and few have have to make such a lasting impact on learning about the White House and its internationally famous first family. The archives of what Laura Bush did is an excellent example from where to start and innovate. We need more information, history lessons and access on the White House website - Please, Please, PLEASE with a vermeil candelabra on top. (Michelle Obama in her East Wing office with her new Chief of Staff, Susan Sher.)
Mamie Eisenhower had no shame in her game going on vacation in the dead of winter. Back in the 1950's longer plane rides made for longer presidential vacations. For 10 days in February 1958, Mamie Eisenhower hung out in Georgia with her husband. On the 23rd of February, the president went on his private plane - Columbine III with the usual assortment of staff and announced the next stop was Phoenix, Arizona where he would lunch with friends at Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance Farm. The first lady was staying on to soak up the sun in Arizona, and he would be doing a power lunch with pals and turning right around to go back to DC. Even back then, lots of screaming between the press secretary and the press about who was paying for that,.. I was more interested that the works at the Arden beauty farm was $400 a week. Sheesh! In a top flight spa you can do that before you put on the robe. (Mamie sampling her birthday cake - she really was a popular first lady. Photo courtesy AM New York)
Now Jackie Kennedy picked exotic places, but this has to be a 1960's thing that had no etiquette precedent in the First Lady Rule Book. What do you wear to ride a camel with your sister in Pakistan? Date line: Karachi, March 25, 1962 the answer is Kitten heels, pearls, hair immaculate that dares the wind, and a designer dress as you sit sidesaddle above a bunch of men leading your walking, humped spit creator. Jackie's vacation trip was at the suggestion of the Ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith.
When presidents go to the Vatican, they see the Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard of the world's smallest yet sophisticated army that protects the pontiff. Brightly colored uniforms lull tourists, but each is trained as a world class member of the military. There is a beautifully appointed room in the papal apartments set aside for meeting dignitaries. The array of cultural history over a millenia makes an impression because it is everywhere the eye touches from the gardens to the statuary to walls and famous ceilings. Visiting Vatican City is a state visit as the Vatican City is a sovereign state. Pope Benedict XVI receives President Barack Obama & Mrs. Obama as a head f state and the Universal Church. (Just over the president's shoulder and behind Obama's Lead Security, J. Clancy, is the Swiss Guard. Photo courtesy AP) UPDATE: Pete Souza, official photgraoher at the White House took this extraordinary picture of the Obamas being escorted by the Swiss Guard below. Note how tall they are.)
