Notable State Dinners at the White House
December 12, 1874: First state dinner for a foreign head of state King David Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Hosted by...
Diplomacy With Our Northern Neighbors
Geography, history, and friendship have been the driving force of official ties between the United States and Canada. In 1927, our two countries exchanged ambassadors and began a long diplomatic relationship. The first official State Dinner was held on December 6, 1927, with President and Mrs. Coolidge and Canada’s Governor General Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, and Viscountess Willingdon of Canada. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his 2016 State Visit to the White House, like his father before him, we reflect on the history, food, and protocol of official foreign visits by Canadian heads of state to the Executive Mansion.
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Collection Dining in the Executive Mansion
A dinner at the White House has always had significance beyond the merely gastronomical. The elegance of the State Dining...
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Collection Italy in the White House
Long before the emergence of the United States and Italy as nations, close connections between our two peoples influenced political...
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Collection The Hospitality of Diplomacy
The White House has hosted many important heads of state over the years. Typically, the President and First Lady join...
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Japanese State Dinners
Following the close of World War II, Japan and the United States developed a close alliance and strategic and trade...
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Frank Sinatra Sings at the White House
Throughout his legendary music career, Frank Sinatra performed several times at the White House. On April 17, 1973, Sinatra performed at a...
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The United States Marine Band: In Performance
Many of the world's finest performing artists have shared the White House stage with the Marine Band. Great tenors and...
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The United States Marine Band: Music as Diplomacy
Music has been an essential part of life in the White House from the earliest days of our nation, not...
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The United States Marine Band: Musicians
Since 1798, the Marine Band's primary mission has been to provide music for the President of the United States. Whether performing...
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Singapore State Visits to the White House
April 10, 1973: Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew — Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and President Richard M. Nixon held discussions emphasizing continued cl...
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Gallery The State Dining Room
The State Dining Room, which now seats as many as 140 guests, was originally much smaller and served at various times...
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Gallery Remembering First Lady Nancy Reagan
As first lady, Nancy Reagan lent her support to the Foster Grandparent Program, the subject of her 1982 book, To Love...
