Four Things About The White House State Dinners

Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was hosted to three White House State Dinners during his time as Prime Minister - 1973, 1975 and 1985.

Four things about the White House State Dinners

1. ORIGIN

When it was first initiated in the 19th century, the term “State Dinner” was used to denote any affair that honoured the President’s Cabinet, Congress, or other dignitaries.

In 1874, President Ulysses S Grant changed the meaning of the term when he welcomed King David Kalakua of the Kingdom of Hawaii. These days, state dinners are grand affairs hosted to welcome a visiting head of state or government.

2. INTENSE PREPARATIONS

A state dinner requires months of preparation, sometimes a minimum of six months. Thorough research is conducted to celebrate the guest of honour’s country, culture, and preferences. Hallmarks of American culture are also chosen, often by the First Lady, and these considerations are translated — with approval by the First Lady, State Department and White House Social Secretary — into invitations, menus, guest lists and entertainment.

White House state dinners are not only lavish affairs, they’re “bigger than the biggest weddings,” former White House chef Walter Scheib once said. “State dinners (are) not just an opportunity to show off American hospitality,” he wrote in his book White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen. “They are a chance to parade American food and wine before the world.”

3. RARE EVENT

Under President Obama, State Dinners have become quite rare. He and the First Lady have held only 11 state dinners thus far, beginning with then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009. The Obama’s most recent State Dinner was an unusual joint affair: With the five leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Among modern-day US presidents, Mr Harry Truman was said to have held the least number of State Dinners — just six in about eight years, while Mr Lyndon Johnson’s record of 54 State Dinners in 62 months has yet to be surpassed.

4. HIGH COSTS

The general price tag of a State Dinner is US$500,000 (S$687,736.20). In 2015, it cost about US$590,000 (S$810,877.94) to remodel the White House’s State Dining Room, the venue for the event.

But costs can often vary. According to the Washington Examiner, the Obama White House reportedly spent nearly US$1 million on the State Dinner for Mexico’s then-president Felipe Calderon, which included a performance by Beyonce.

Source: TODAY