Presidential First State Dinners

Nov 2009 - the Obamas hosted India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. Michelle Obama wore a shimmering gold strapless dress by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan.

Obama hosted the fewest state dinners since Truman. And according to Michelle, he wore the same tux to each one.

Sept 2001 - the Bush’s hosted Mexican President Vicente Fox, his new bride, Martha Sahagun de Fox. Laura Bush wore a dress designed by Arnold Scaasi.

George wore cowboy boots to the “fiesta”. Jeb was in attendance but Sr. was not invited.

June 1994 - At Clinton’s first “official” state dinner they hosted the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In 1993 they hosted South Korea’s president and wife for dinner but insisted it wasn’t an “official” state dinner. Sorry for the watermark, it was the only photo I could find aside from grainy 90’s footage.

Bill Clinton recited a haiku at the dinner:
"Nearing autumn's close/ my neighbor/ how does he live/ I wonder” by Japanese poet Basho.

Sr’s first state dinner was with Egypt in April ‘94... but I couldn’t find a single picture of that one. So here they are with the Soviet Union’s Gorbachev in May 1990.

EDIT: it had been brought to my attention that this is not Gorbachev! Sorry guys! I did strive for accuracy and I let y’all down.

Feb 1981 - the Reagan’s hosted the United Kingdom’s prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Nancy Reagan is in red, for those of you who don’t know.

The Carters first state dinner was in Feb 1977 for the Mexican President. Again, I couldn’t find a picture of it. So here is an April 1977 state dinner for the UK’s PM. Rosalynn Carter is in the dress with the white skirt and red bow.

EDIT: my apologies, another use brought to my attention that this photo isn’t of the UK PM but the Shah of Iran. Sooo sorry!!!

Gerald Ford’s first state dinner was in 1974 for King Hussein of Jordan. This image is actually from King Hussein’s second state dinner at the White House in 1976.

March 1969 - Richard and Pat Nixon hosted Canada’s PM Trudeau and his wife. Nixon famously insulted Trudeau on the White House tapes in 1971 by calling him an “egghead”. Trudeau responded by saying he had been called worse things by better people.

And yes, this Trudeau is Canada’s current PM’s father! America isn’t the only country with father-son dynastic leaders.

Oct 1964 - The Johnson presidency’s first state dinner welcomed the president of the Philippines.

May 1961 - Jack and Jacqueline Kennedy hosted the president of Tunisia for their first state dinner.

Oct 1953 - Eisenhower hosted king Paul of Greece. Sorry for the watermarked image, it was the only one I could find.

Harry and Bess Truman’s first state dinner was in November 1945 for the UK and Canada, however this image is from the Brazil state dinner in 1949. If memory serves me correctly... Bess hated Washington DC and their daughter often filled in as acting First Lady.

FDR’s first state dinner was in 1933 with Panama. This image is of a state dinner in 1943 with Paraguay.

April 1931 - Herbert Hoover hosted the king of Thailand.

Ulysses Grant hosted the first state dinner for the King of Hawaii in 1874