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As part of an official state visit, the White House State Dinner is an opportunity for the President and First Lady to honor a visiting head of state. In addition to expressing goodwill and hospitality, the state dinner showcases global power and influence and sets the tone for the continuation of dialogue between the President and the visiting head of state.
The White House Historical Association continued its mission of supporting the preservation of State and public rooms of the White House through its funding of the refurbishment of the State Dining Room and Family Dining Room — a multi-year process that was completed in 2015.
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A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official State Visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this collection, explore the history of
The White House Historical Association continued its mission of supporting the preservation of State and public rooms of the White House through its funding of the refurbishment of the State Dining Room and Family Dining Room — a multi-year process that was completed in 2015.In the State Dining Room, the Association’s support included the repainting and glazing of the walls, new
State Dinners at the White House have been a tradition for more than a hundred years and are examples of goodwill and influence between the United States and other nations.
The first State Dinner for an Italian head of state was in January of 1964. It was for Italian President Antonio Segni and was hosted by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
From the first French State Dinner for Prime Minister Pierre Laval by President Herbert Hoover to more recent French State Dinners, the United States and France continue to maintain their strong bond.
On February 9, 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama announced a nationwide campaign called Let’s Move! to mobilize public and private sector resources to reach the goal to confront and resolve the challenge of childhood obesity. In support of Let’s Move!, The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and Kids’ State Dinner invites a parent or guardian to work with their child ages 8-12 to cre
The State Dining Room, which now seats as many as 140 guests, was originally much smaller and served at various times as a drawing room, office, and Cabinet Room. Not until the Andrew Jackson administration was it called the “State Dining Room,” although previous Presidents had used it for formal dinners.
For over 75 years, George Peter Alexander Healy’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln has remained an important aesthetic element for the White House State Dining Room. Prominently displayed above the central mantel, millions of visitors have seen it during a public tour or on a visit to the White House. Lincoln’s placement in one of the largest rooms on the Stat
A state dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official state visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. It is a courtesy, an expression of
The State Dining Room, which seats as many as 140 guests, was originally much smaller and served at various times as a drawing room, office, and Cabinet Room. Not until the middle of the nineteenth century was it referred to as the “State Dining Room,” although previous presidents had used it for formal dinners. Today’s State Dining Room incorporates the space
Featuring Alex Prud’homme, bestselling author and great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child
Featuring Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., Chairman of the White House Historical Association
