The Obamas State Dinner for Prime Minister Singh of India (Video and Pictures)

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife to the White House Tuesday for the administration's first state dinner. (Nov. 24)



President and Mrs. Obama host Prime Minister Singh of the Republic of India at a State Dinner on November 24, 2009.


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First Lady Mrs. O has debuted her ensemble for the state dinner, wearing a gown by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan. The strapless gown features hand cut sterling silver sequins sewn on nude silk chiffon, creating an abstract floral pattern. The dress is entirely handmade, requiring three weeks of work by 40 people, completed in Naeem Kahn's family workshop in India. The custom, one-of-a-kind gown was made specially by the designer for Mrs. O to wear to the state dinner, which honors Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and his wife, Gursharan Kaur.

Mrs. O accessorized her ensemble with oversize drop earrings, featuring a fleur de lis at each ear and tear drop shapes made of gold and purple stones. Mrs. O completed the look with a dramatic stack of bangle bracelets on her right arm, a nude wrap, and her hair swept into a loose, romantic updo.






Official List of Guests to the Obamas State Dinner
The Obamas china used for State Dinner
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and wife, Gursharan Kaur (Pictures)
President Obama and Prime Minister Singh's remarks to the press (Video)

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Full Guest List of the Obamas State Dinner for Indian Prime Minister Singh

Here we go, and I just heard on C-SPAN that Oprah Winfrey was on the list but Gail King is coming in her place.

Producer Steven Spielberg, music mogul David Geffen and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman are among the guests at tonight's White House state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) will be attending, and he's not the only Republican.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is attending, as is Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN).

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has backed the White House on key matters, also is attending.

Ari Emanuel, brother to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

Congressional leadership, Cabinet members and White House staffers are on the list, including incoming general counsel Bob Bauer.

Oprah Winfrey isn't on the list, but her best friend Gayle King, is.

Television personalities Katie Couric of CBS, Brian Williams of NBC and Sanjay Gupta and Fareed Zakaria of CNN are on the list.

Full guest list after the jump. Source

Official Guest List for State Dinner in Honor of Prime Minister Singh is here.
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The Obamas State Dinner China (picture)

From the Photo Spray held by FLOTUS displaying tonight's table settings on the South Lawn. The beautiful grounds and rolling green lawn seem to be a key part of the inspiration. It also is quite reminiscent of the Green Room with its silk moire in the White House where the Obama family had their official family portrait taken by Annie Libowitz.

Here what we can tell from this photo - Its the William Jefferson Clinton China with the gilded flatware from Barbara Bush. The cushions on the chairs match the tablecloth and the linen napkins. That means a stunning backdrop for what FLOTUS or Michelle Obama has chosen to wear. (Photo courtesy CBS.) The brand spanking new White House Chief floral designer, Laura Dowling (last week's East Wing hire is how new), will have an amazing centerpiece which we do not have photos of yet.

Read more here @ East Wing Rules

Official State Dinner Menu

Michelle Obama's explains protocol for a State Dinner



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President Obama and Prime Minister Singh's remarks to the press (Video)

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The hottest ticket TONIGHT is the Obamas first State Dinner honoring India, here are some tidbits

And Jennifer Hudson, Chicago's own, is part of the entertainment.

-Here's the invite to the hottest ticket in town Tuesday night--President Obama and First Lady Michelle's first state dinner. Several news outlets are reporting that the entertainment will include Chicago's Jennifer Hudson and Kurt Elling. This is the most anticipated event yet produced by White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers--so the Chicago connections are no surprise.

Some 320 guests are expected.The invite is on a cream-colored card embossed with a gold presidential seal and black text:

The President and Mrs. Obama request the pleasure of the company of Mr. _____ at a dinner in honor of His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, to be held at The White House on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at seven o'clock.

My column with background on the Obama dinner is here. Mrs. Obama presides over a session Tuesday afternoon with girls she is mentoring on the history of White House dinners. Her East Wing will also show off the place settings at that time. Mrs. Obama will be joined by White House Curator William Allman and Tanya Turner, protocol officer for the Visits Division of the State Department.

All the Chicagoans in the White House--Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod and Susan Sher are expected. Emanuel's brother, superagent Ari, will be part of the Hollywood crowd showing up. There will also be a Chicago contingent, including business executive Penny Pritzker, the chairman of TransUnion, Pritzker Realty Group, and Classic Residence by Hyatt. She was the finance chair of the Obama presidential campaign and Obama might not be in the White House today if it were not for her efforts, especially in the first quarter of his campaign in 2007. Read it all here....

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and wife, Gursharan Kaur (Pictures)

First Lady Michelle Obama stands with Gursharan Kaur, wife of the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, during a welcoming ceremony at the White House in Washington November 24, 2009.



No doubt, we have a tall First Lady. And she wore Isaac Mizrahi. Oh, here is the take from Mrs. O


Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L), accompanied by U.S. President Barack Obama (R), listens to the Indian national anthem as they participate in a state arrival ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 24, 2009 in Washington, DC.





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The Obamas first State Dinner goes to....INDIA....

I was always wondering who would get the first State Dinner and this one goes to India. It is all about diplomacy and the rift in Afghanistan, Pakistan with India on tow.

And the first state dinner of President Barack Obama's administration goes to ... India.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is coming to America for a state visit Nov. 24, just before Thanksgiving. Such visits include an elaborate arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn, one-on-one time with the president and, in the evening, a state dinner.

It's a plum presidential nod of recognition for the world's largest democracy and most stable U.S. ally in a hostile corner of the world.

But why India first?

It was just four years ago that President George W. Bush and Singh raised their glasses and toasted the U.S.-India relationship at the start of a July 2005 state dinner.

Indian officials, however, have watched warily since then as the U.S. has become more engaged with its archrival, Pakistan, focusing on greater military cooperation in dealing with Islamist extremists there and in neighboring Afghanistan. Honoring Singh with what is considered one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs 10 months into Obama's presidency may allay some of those concerns, along with perceptions that Pakistan has surpassed India as America's best friend in South Asia.

It also may be Obama's way of closing the loop with all the major U.S. allies as his freshman year in office draws to a fast close. read more here....

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Secretary Clinton's Op-Ed in Times of India

Encourage Pakistan as it confronts extremism

At a time when headlines are often depressing, the United States' growing relationship with India is welcome good news. Recent elections in both countries have provided our new governments with an opportunity to broaden our partnership and take on the world's most pressing challenges. President Obama and I are personally committed to this task, and I am working to advance this goal during my visit to New Delhi and Mumbai this week.

Our two countries are defined by their demography, their democracy, and their diversity. Together, they are home to almost one out of every four human beings on the planet. Our people share common interests, common values, and a common stake in the 21st century. We and the rest of the world have a lot to gain from our enhanced cooperation.

India's 6% growth rate is a bright spot amid the global economic downturn, and bilateral trade and investment flows between our nations have doubled in the last five years. Some Americans fear that greater partnership with India will mean lost jobs or falling wages in the United States. But if we manage our relationship well, both sides can benefit from India's economic progress.

The 300 million members of India's burgeoning middle class present a vast new market and opportunity. Our countries should work together to open that market and spread the benefits of sustainable prosperity.

We have a shared asset in this task. Millions of Indian-Americans are active throughout every sector of our society. And there are 90,000 Indian students in the United States. In medicine, finance, engineering, and education, these unofficial envoys can serve as a conduit for future collaboration.

But for the United States, India's ascent is more than an economic phenomenon. Our nations should also work together to address common challenges including security, non-proliferation, and climate change.

Our countries have experienced searing terrorist attacks. We both seek a more secure world for our citizens. We should intensify our defense and law enforcement cooperation to that end. And we should encourage Pakistan as that nation confronts the challenge of violent extremism. read more here....

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