President Obama and President Peres of Israel Speak at State Dinner, March 21, 2013 (video)

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Obamas State Dinner for Mexico slated for May 19, 2010

Believe me, there will be no reality tv folks waltzing into this dinner. First one, post Desiree Rogers.

President Barack Obama will hold a state dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon on May 19.

It will be the second such affair for the Obama administration. The Obamas' first state dinner, held in November for India's prime minister, was marred by at least three people who attended despite not having received formal invitations.

First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to visit her Mexican counterpart, Margarita Zavala, next month.

The president has met twice with Calderon in Mexico.

Source

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Valerie Jarrett explaining away Desiree Rogers (Video)

Desiree Rogers assigned herself as a "guest" and not a "staffer", at the State Dinner? The White House wants this to go away, but when you have the Social Secretary acting in this manner and we have a President who has the most death threats of any sitting President, somebody needs to be FIRED over this. Oh, Rogers gets executive privilege, that is why she is not testifying in front of congress today. Good interview by Meredith Viera of The Today Show.



FROM NPR:

But Rogers' style and glamour are a double-edged sword, one that might have drawn a little political blood over the past few days after the gate-crasher snafu.

Other social secretaries have stood on the steps to greet guests as they enter the White House for state dinners; it's considered an extension of the first lady's hospitality, since she can't be there at the moment herself. Instead of greeting guests, Rogers functioned as one: she walked the press line, posed for photos and became fodder for the chattering classes by sticking out from the formal versions of Ann Taylor-wear normally seen at state occasions by coming to dinner in cutting-edge Japanese couture.

Some have even suggested that Rogers step down, since she can't contain her own ego needs to serve the first lady. That probably won't happen. For one thing, she has a powerful protector and loyal friend in Obama mentor Valerie Jarrett. For another, Michelle Obama values Rogers' style and savvy; the first lady clearly feels her social secretary has her back when it counts, regardless of what she's wearing.

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Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers still getting slammed (Video)

The White House still protecting her. Yes, she falls under the West Wing, but after her major snafu of not doing her job for the State Dinner which resulted with the uninvited guests who actually PUNKED the White House, just how long will she go on in her position. She is a MAJOR embarrassment to the White House. I am on this because she clearly did not have the list together, 2 people from her office was TOLD that these people was not on the list, and all she cares about is being SEEN. I have NEVER witnessed a Social Secretary acting like she is the focal point over the persons who live in the White House. Again, Obamas, I know she is your friend, but one who obviously does not understand what her position and job is. Clean it up. Watch video below, 1/2 way into it.



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Desiree Rogers lack of doing her job, continues..... (Video)

Again, the Desiree Rogers story continues.....

The White House says its social secretary will not testify at a congressional hearing into the security lapse that mistakenly allowed a couple into last week's state dinner.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that Desiree Rogers will not testify before the House Homeland Security Committee. The panel has scheduled a hearing Thursday and Rogers had been invited to testify. Gibbs cited the separation of powers and a history of White House staff not testifying before Congress.

The Secret Service has acknowledged that Michaele and Tareq Salahi got into the Nov. 24 dinner because its security procedures at a checkpoint were not followed. Rogers also has acknowledged that no one from her office was at the checkpoint to help identify guests.

This is the problem with Rogers, for DECADES the Social Secretary's office worked in TANDEM with the Secret Service in verifying guests at every entrance to the White House. Rogers needs to focus on doing her job and not worry about being in the society columns, social columns, fashion magazines, stop walking red carpets and being announced for any White House duties and stop trying to one up the First Lady. It took Robert Gibbs to tell her to get out of the picture with VOGUE magazine. I have never heard of a Social Secretary doing all that she is doing. In fact, the Social Secretary is to be invisible to the President and First Lady, but I guess she wants everyone to know who she is. Well, we certainly do NOW, after this major security breach.

And this scathing piece on Rogers....

On the night of the Obamas' first state dinner, White House social secretary Desirée Rogers glided past the rope line of press and photographers at 6:53 p.m., pausing to boast, "We are very excited . . . everything looks great." Little did she know that the evening would end up tarnishing her vaunted reputation as an overachieving perfectionist.

[snip]

On Thursday, a House committee wants answers from her about how this could happen. A key question: Was anyone from Rogers's office staffing the front gate? Even though Secret Service has accepted full responsibility for the security lapse, Rogers also has indicated that none of her staff was present when the Salahis arrived. As a result, her managerial style is under scrutiny. And her Hollywood persona, fairly or unfairly, could prove to be the most damning evidence of all.

Rogers -- the point person for the high-profile, high-security, high-stakes diplomatic gala for the Indian prime minister -- was dressed in a pale peach gown from the avant-garde Japanese design house Comme des Garcons. It was the sort of attention-getting dress, with its translucent sleeves and strands of pearls encased in layers of tulle, that proclaimed the wearer a fashion savant.

"Just because she has this job, it's not going to make her a worker bee," says a friend who did not want to be identified in order not to offend. "She's glamorous."

Barack and Michelle Obama, she may be your very good friend, but not only does she need to step in the background and try to do her job, maybe, you should replace her with someone who KNOWS how to do the job.

From the White House on NEW procedures for State Dinners



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Secret Service needs to get it right

Well, everyone is a buzz about the D.C. area couple who busted into the State Dinner on Tuesday. This would be funny if it was a "punked joke", but for the leader of the free world, this is hardly funny. It is very dangerous and no one is laughing about this.


This photo released by the White House Nov. 27, 2009, shows President Barack Obama greeting Michaele and Tareq Salahi, right, at a State Dinner hosted by Obama for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House in Washington Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. The Secret Service is looking into its own security procedures after determining that the uninvited Virginia couple managed to slip into the dinner.

The Northern Virginia socialite was being taped by a production crew for Bravo cable channel's forthcoming "The Real Housewives of Washington."

"It was a lot of schmoozing with the staff," James Packard-Gomez, CEO of Erwin Gomez Salon, said Thursday, explaining why the hair and makeup session lasted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The salon was abuzz because Michaele and her husband, Tareq, were among the 320 VIPs invited to join the president and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "They were asking, 'So, what do you think of them getting invited to this?' "

The stylist doing Michaele's hair asked to see the White House invitation, Packard-Gomez said. "She starts rummaging through her purse, and then said, 'It must be out in the car.' "

Would the film crews get into the White House, too? " 'We tried,' " he says she told them, " 'but they wouldn't let them in.' "

This couple, Michaele and Tareq Salahi are part of the new Bravo series, "Real Housewives of D.C. or Washington". Again, this would be all fine and dandy for SOMEONE ELSE, but not the President of the United States. The Secret Service is not a secret by letting this couple, who was not on the list of attendees, to actually bypass their procedures and security to actually meet and greet the President of the United States and the Vice President of the United States. This takes me back to the President Bush "shoe incident" in Iraq. Though this was funny, for me the first thought was, "Where is the Secret Service?"

This coming from an agency that has stated it is overwhelmed at the increase of death threats against President Obama and his family, an increase of 400%. The highest for any sitting U.S. President. And now this? If this agency needs increase of funds, give to them. If this agency needs to hire new personnel, allow them to do so. An incident like this should never happen again, a total embarrassment.

Yes, the Secret Service is embarrassed.

Sullivan said that “the preliminary findings of our internal investigation have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial checkpoint, verifying that two individuals were on the guest list.

“Although these individuals went through magnetometers and other levels of screening, they should have been prohibited from entering the event entirely. That failing is ours,” he said.

Sullivan said it wasn’t good enough that his agency screened more than 1.2 million visitors last year to the White House complex and protected more than 10,000 sites for the president, vice president and others.

“Even with these successes, we need to be right 100 percent of the time,” he said. “While we have protocols in place to address these situations, we must ensure that they are followed each and every time.”

It is unclear what the couple told officers at the checkpoint that allowed them to go through the security screening. Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully falsify statements on matters within the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Lastly, the White House released a statement that the Obama Family will not spend the Christmas Holiday in Chicago. After this, I am not surprised, as the Obamas live in the heart of the City of Chicago, under urban dwelling and for the Secret Service it just may be too much of a stretch to protect the family when homes are so close to one another.

Washington Post

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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.


Vimeo Video





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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State Dinner Tuesday with the Obamas (a must read)

Maureen from East Wing Rules comes through again with full details on how these state dinners are put together and reminds you to watch C-SPAN as full coverage on this will be uninterrupted.

This was a plate (mid bites) prepared by White House Chef Sam Kass for the governor's formal dinner in February 2009. The presidential seal is on the dessert chocolate and notice not a smudge - each one is checked for perfection. This was Mrs. Obama's first formal dinner at the White House and she chose the Wilson China.

Watch C-SPAN for coverage that is uninterrupted and filled with salient tips from experts on everything from military protocol to the floral arrangements. A State Occasion, let a lone a dinner is lavish and meant to welcome a head of state with the finest of American hospitality at America's most famous address. First Ladies traditionally show off their arrangements and release details regarding floral arrangements, china selection, silverware settings and other details during the day. The room is already arranged and the menu selected. It is written by hand for each setting by the White House calligrapher's office. Each course is designed, pre-tasted by the first lady and a small group of insiders and every seat has a handwritten name above each plate. Mrs. Obama's press secretary Katie Lleyveld will be overwhelmed today as most microscopic minutiae will be fodder for the press and interested folks like me ... and you!

Read the full post, here.

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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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