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esday's State Dinner at the White House is being regarded as the most high-profile event hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to date--but Mrs. Obama has just added a seriously signature move to the day's festivities. Just hours before hundreds of guests arrive for the dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, Mrs. Obama will be giving a history lesson--in the State Dining Room. She's invited the twenty high school students who are part of the new White House girls' mentoring and leadership program for an afternoon event, where she'll explain some of the intricacies of hosting important foreign visitors, including protocol and White House history. Mrs. Obama will be joined by White House Curator William Allman and the State Department's Tanya Turner, a protocol officer, and they'll be giving a first-hand look at the myriad critical considerations in the complicated process of planning and carrying out an event that involves international dignitaries--and which will be scrutinized for years to come. (Above: Mrs. Obama in Denver last week)
"The First Lady is excited to provide the mentees a behind-the-scenes look at Tuesday’s State Dinner," said Semonti Stephens, Mrs. Obama's deputy press secretary, when announcing the event.
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will be quite a look behind the scenes--because it's happening on a day when the White House will be filled with the most formal pomp and circumstance, with a big welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister planned in the morning, and all kinds of other extraordinary things going on (color guards in formal attire; a joint press conference by the President and Mr. Singh...).Mrs. Obama is reportedly seeking to make the mentoring initiative her signature program, and welcoming the high school girls on such an important day personalizes the State Dinner for Mrs. Obama further. The dinner history lesson is also a continuation of Mrs. Obama's efforts to make the White House what she calls "The People's House," more open than it has ever been before. Hundreds of school children have been welcomed since January, including the group of Bancroft Elementary School Students who worked regularly in the Kitchen Garden. Students have participated in the music series programs; a group of culinary students were invited into the kitchen before the Governors Dinner in February. But Tuesday's event is perhaps the top rung on the ladder of using the White House itself as an educational tool.
"The goal of Mrs. Obama’s [mentor] program is to have a concrete impact on the lives of young women by engaging, encouraging, and inspiring students from different walks of life to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential," Stephens said.
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here could not be anything more concrete--nor more inspirational than what Mrs. Obama will be discussing at the event; she'll be revealing the china pattern(s) and flowers for the dinner. These seemingly simple domestic objects are actually loaded with American history, especially the china. During each administration, first ladies create their own patterns with symbols and colors that reflect the values of the presidency; often, critical events become symbols on the china. While discussing china and flowers is a traditional role for a first lady, bringing in high school girls for a first-hand look at the whole process is not. Mrs. Obama will explaining exactly why the china pattern for the State Dinner was chosen--and it's a fair bet that she's used more than one pattern, to boost the history value, and to make a point (Mrs. Obama has already mixed patterns at White House events; she's the only first lady to ever do so). The flowers, too, will no doubt be emblematic of White House and American history--and no doubt the history of India. Flowers have their own language, as flower enthusiasts know, and a simple bouquet can tell a profound story, if it's "read" correctly. Mrs. Obama explaining these stories to the group of girls is a whole different kind of story, too, its own piece of history. The girls will be served dessert after the history lesson--a not-so-subtle message that success is sweet. (Above: A plate from the Truman china set)Mrs. Obama took th
e mentoring initiative to Denver last week, to launch it in that city, and at the White House, top-op level staff have signed on for the mentoring duties, including Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett; Mrs. Obama's Chief of Staff Susan Sher; and social Secretary Desiree Rogers. But it should also be noted that the bevy of female staff in all the positions around the White House are terrific role models for girl visitors, too, from the women Secret Service agents to the staff that micromanage events, armed with BlackBerries, clipboards, and patience. If having the First Lady wrap her arm around your shoulder seems like a dream for the high schoolers in the program, seeing White House staff in action is another way of making the whole idea of dreaming big and working for success very concrete (as is having a female Top Toque...). The media will also be getting schooled at the afternoon history event--it's being melded with the press-preview for the dinner--which will put to rest all the speculation that's run rampant, particularly over the past week. And yes, your intrepid blogger will be getting schooled, too. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Susan Sher, at the launch of the mentoring program)*The guest list for the State Dinner is still a closely guarded secret; even the number of guests has not been revealed by the White House, but 400 guests are believed to have been invited. The guest list will be announced on Tuesday.
Related: The Prime Minister is a vegetarian, and the Kitchen gGarden is mostly dormant: No problem! Rehearsing the Arrival Ceremony is here. Building the Tent, part I and part II. New White House florist Laura Dowling makes her debut at the State Dinner. Marcus Samuelsson will be guest cheffing with the White House chefs.
*The White House Museum has a good photo essay on the China Room, where presidential china is displayed.
