Michelle Obama presentation on history of the White House dinners

The First Lady joins what she called her "mentees" from the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program to listen to Bill Allman discuss State Dinner history.

First Lady Michelle Obama held a preview on Tuesday afternoon in the White House State Dining Room of that night's State Dinner for visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, the first to be held at the White House during the Obama administration.

The event showcased the intricate place settings and floral arrangements that guests at the State Dinner would encounter at their seats, but in addition to the requisite press preview, the First Lady invited 19 young women, all participants in the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program, for an informative lesson on the history and 
protocol surrounding White House State Dinners.

Obama spoke to the assembled "mentees" about the importance of international diplomacy efforts, citing her visits to eight countries so far during her time as First Lady and extolling the hospitality she has encountered at every stop.

Following her remarks, White House Curator Bill Allman and State Department Protocol Officer Tanya Tucker recounted past state visits and gave examples of the roles they have played in American diplomacy.

— Photographs by Christina Wilkie

State Dinner menus are frequently kept as mementos by dinner guests

The settings feature two white wine glasses, a red wine glass, and a water glass; note the fish knife to the immediate right of the plate.

White House Curator Bill Allman speaks to students about the history of State Dinners at the White House.

The First Lady wore a pale gray knee-length skirt with a metallic beaded cardigan and a metallic silver belt. She also sported ten ivory and silver beaded bangles evocative of Indian jewelry.

The seasonal dessert is a pumpkin pie tart (foreground) and a pear tatin (background)

The centerpiece is designed to evoke a classic American garden: hydrangea, garden roses, and sweet peas in deep purples that pay homage to the state bird of India, the Indian peacock.