The White House on Friday released new behind-the-scenes photos from February, including two from President Obama and First Lady Obama's black-tie dinner for the National Governors' Association on Sunday, Feb. 24. The annual fete for America's state executives was the first formal affair of the President's second term. Mrs. Obama wore a custom-designed beaded gown by designer Naeem Khan, and the menu starred steak and seafood. Above, the President and Mrs. Obama with Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden in the Blue Room before the dinner started, according to the photo caption.
"I just want to say thanks to you for being on your best behavior last night," President Obama told the Governors the next day during a White House meeting.
"I’m told nothing was broken. No silverware is missing," he joked. "I didn’t get any calls from the neighbors about the noise--although I can’t speak for Joe’s after-party at the Observatory. I hear that was wild."
Tony-award winning singer/actress Audra McDonald gave a command performance during the closed-press reception that followed the dinner in the East Room, and the White House also released a photo of the vocalist in action. (Above, the Obamas and Bidens are in the front row). "Wasn’t Audra McDonald incredible?" Dr. Biden said to the Governors the next day as she met with them at the White House.
The dinner was a bit overshadowed by a top-secret event that came later in the evening: Mrs. Obama appeared on the Academy Awards broadcast in a livestream from the White House's Diplomatic Reception Room, presenting the Oscar for Best Picture to the film Argo.
The White House also released the photo, above, taken of the President through a pantry door as he waited to speak with the Governors the next day.
Related: The 2012 Governors' Dinner; The 2011 Governors' Dinner; the 2010 Governors' Dinner; and the 2009 Governors' Dinner.
*Photos by Pete Souza/White House
