State Dinners at the White House Press Collection

This group photograph of the White House residence staff was taken in the State Dining Room on January 6, 1982, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The staff photographed worked primarily in the Executive Mansion and include kitchen staff, butlers, and the White House Curator's Office. The photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, pictured standing in the second row in his chef's hat. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken by Joseph J. Scherschel of National Geographic on April 4, 1970, guests converse in the Blue Room during a formal dinner party hosted by President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon in honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. At the far left is Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the eldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, standing between aviator Charles A. Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The event included dinner in the State Dining Room and after-dinner entertainment in the East Room by singer and pianist Bobby Short and singing troupe the Young Saints. As King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor briefly ruled the United Kingdom in 1936, but abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who gained the title of Duchess of Windsor due to her marriage.

In this photograph, taken by Joseph J. Scherschel of National Geographic on April 4, 1970, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and her husband David Eisenhower mingle with guests in the Red Room during a formal dinner party hosted by President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon in honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The event included dinner in the State Dining Room and after-dinner entertainment in the East Room by singer and pianist Bobby Short and singing troupe the Young Saints. As King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor briefly ruled the United Kingdom in 1936, but abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American socialite who gained the title of Duchess of Windsor upon her marriage.

In this photograph, aviator Charles A. Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh converse with a guest in the Cross Hall during a dinner held in honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor on April 4, 1970. President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon hosted a formal dinner in the State Dining Room, and enjoyed entertainment in the East Room by singer and pianist Bobby Short and singing troupe the Young Saints. As King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor briefly ruled the United Kingdom in 1936, but abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who gained the title of Duchess of Windsor due to her marriage.

This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by Joseph H. Bailey in January 1975 during the Gerald R. Ford administration. On the long table rests James Monroe's 13-foot gilded bronze surtout de table centerpiece, also known as a plateau. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for state or official dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by Joseph H. Bailey in January 1975 during the Gerald R. Ford administration. On the long table rests James Monroe's 13-foot gilded bronze surtout de table centerpiece, also known as a plateau. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for state or official dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph is of the Eisenhower family enjoying Christmas dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in 1960. Seated at the table are President Dwight D. Eisenhower, First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower, their son John S. D. Eisenhower, and several grandchildren.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows astronaut James McDivitt and Edward White and their families in the State Dining Room. They were invited to the White House following the successful Gemini 4 mission to space, which included 62 Earth orbits over four days and the first American spacewalk. The invitation followed their promotion by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the rank of lieutenant colonel the week before at an event at NASA's Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas, and the visit included an overnight stay at the White House.

This photograph of tables set for a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Chief Justice Earl Warren was taken on February 20, 1962. The table settings include glassware from the John F. Kennedy administration and china from the Harry S. Truman administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph of tables set for a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Chief Justice Earl Warren was taken on February 20, 1962. The table settings include glassware from the John F. Kennedy administration and china from the Harry S. Truman administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph of table settings for a luncheon or a small state dinner was taken in February 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The table settings include glassware from the Kennedy administration, china from the State Service of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and replicas of flatware from the James Monroe administration. The table is also decorated with floral arrangements in bronze doré or gilded bronze pieces from the Monroe administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This closeup of a table setting for a luncheon or a small state dinner was taken in February 1962. The table settings include glassware from the John F. Kennedy administration, china from the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, and replicas of flatware from the James Monroe administration. The table is also decorated with floral arrangements in bronze doré or gilded bronze pieces from the Monroe administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph of table settings for a luncheon or a small state dinner was taken in February 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration. The table settings include glassware from the Kennedy administration, china from the State Service of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and replicas of flatware from the James Monroe administration. The table is also decorated with floral arrangements in bronze doré or gilded bronze pieces from the Monroe administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows White House staff and servers setting tables in the State Dining Room ahead of a State Dinner. President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon hosted the January 27, 1970 dinner in honor of Prime Minister Harold Wilson of the United Kingdom.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows White House staff and servers setting tables in the State Dining Room ahead of a State Dinner. President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon hosted the January 27, 1970 dinner in honor of Prime Minister Harold Wilson of the United Kingdom.

This is one of a pair of gilded brass candelabra that First Lady Lucy Hayes chose from Tiffany and Company for the State Dining Room in 1880. The candelabrum historically remain in the State Dining Room.

This walnut side table is one of four attributed to Anthony and Henry Jenkins of Baltimore and bears a shield likely inspired by the Great Seal of the United States. These tables were used in the State Dining Room by 1867.

This overmantel glass and painting is framed in gilded red pine. It was given by Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh on behalf of her father, King George VI of Great Britain, upon completion of the Truman Renovation. It was placed in the State Dining Room, and was accompanied by a musical clock gifted by President Vincent Auriol of France, which was placed in the Red Room.

This photograph shows John Adams' blessing on the State Dining Room mantel and was taken in 1961 after the Kennedy restoration. The benediction reads, “I Pray Heaven To Bestow The Best Of Blessings On This House And All that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof.” The words are taken from a letter written by Adams in 1800.

This rosewood side chair is one of 42 purple velvet covered rosewood chairs by Charles A. Baudine of New York commissioned by First Lady Sarah Polk for the State Dining Room. Mrs. Polk also installed matching purple-and-gold draperies.

This photograph is of the table settings and decor for the State Dinner held in honor of French president Emmanuel Macron on April 24, 2018, during the Donald Trump administration. For the State Dinner, the first hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, china from the Bill Clinton administration was used and a menu was placed upon each service dish. The menus were flourished with a gold, embossed fleur de lis. The State Dinner was held in the State Dining Room with each table decorated with a centerpiece of sweet pea and white lilac flowers. Suz Redfearn took this photograph for the White House Historical Association on April 23.

This photograph is of the table settings and decor for the State Dinner held in honor of French president Emmanuel Macron on April 24, 2018, during the Donald Trump administration. For the State Dinner, the first hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, china from the Bill Clinton administration was used and a menu was placed upon each service dish. The menus were flourished with a gold, embossed fleur de lis. The State Dinner was held in the State Dining Room with each table decorated with a centerpiece of sweet pea and white lilac flowers. Suz Redfearn took this photograph for the White House Historical Association on April 23.

This photograph is of the table settings and decor for the State Dinner held in honor of French president Emmanuel Macron on April 24, 2018, during the Donald Trump administration. For the State Dinner, the first hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, china from the Bill Clinton administration was used and a menu was placed upon each service dish. The menus were flourished with a gold, embossed fleur de lis. The State Dinner was held in the State Dining Room with each table decorated with a centerpiece of sweet pea and white lilac flowers. Suz Redfearn took this photograph for the White House Historical Association on April 23.

This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken on July 20, 2017, during the Donald Trump administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House. In 2015, refurbishment of the room, a three year project overseen by First Lady Michelle Obama, was completed. Among the improvements made to the room were a custom, woven rug with a motif of wreaths and maple leaves inspired by the plasterwork on the room's ceiling; peacock blue and ecru striped silk window treatments; and 34 mahogany chairs inspired by ones purchased by President James Monroe for the East Room in 1818.

This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken on July 20, 2017, during the Donald Trump administration. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House. In 2015, refurbishment of the room, a three year project overseen by First Lady Michelle Obama, was completed. Among the improvements made to the room were a custom, woven rug with a motif of wreaths and maple leaves inspired by the plasterwork on the room's ceiling; peacock blue and ecru striped silk window treatments; and 34 mahogany chairs inspired by ones purchased by President James Monroe for the East Room in 1818.