Via Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief, and the mastermind behind The Daily Flotus, the wording for the most sought-after invitation in DC--or possibly the world:
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
On the bottom it says "Black Tie," and the words "East Wing," a reference to the usual entrance for White House social events. The invitation is printed on cream paper with a gold Presidential Seal, and black ink. The official guest list will be released by the White House tomorrow. The invitation was hand-delivered to Prime Minister Singh by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when she visited India in July. While this is a "State Dinner," the Prime Minister's visit is not considered a "state" visit but rather an "official" visit. The Prime Minister is not the head of state. India’s head of state is President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Her position has rnominal little constitutional power, but she is considered the Rashtrapati, or lord of the realm.
