Posted on 09/05/2001 11:04:49 PM PDT by Utah Girl
Snagging an invitation to President Bush's premiere state dinner was the first hurdle. Getting a good table came next.
First lady Laura Bush, eye-catching in an Arnold Scaasi gown of hot pink and sparkly red lace, claimed some of the evening's most handsome guests -- guest of honor Mexican President Vicente Fox, actor Clint Eastwood and Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green -- for her front table.
Tenor Placido Domingo, the only other celebrity type at Wednesday's exclusive White House soiree, won a spot at President Bush's table for 10, along with Mexico's new first lady, Martha Sahagun de Fox.
Bush, raising a glass of 7-Up, toasted the first state dinner of his presidency as more like a ``family gathering'' than diplomatic exercise. Brother Jeb Bush, the Florida governor, was among the 130 guests.
The Texas political clan was the largest, with Bush's homestate exporting to Washington for the night a governor, a congressman, two senators, a painter/sculptor, a CEO, a rancher, even the railroad commissioner.
Texas style mixed -- sometimes clashed -- with the evening's black-tie dress code. Bush wore freshly shined black cowboy boots. Texas artist Luis Jimenez, who shunned bow tie for a string tie with a lacquered cow clasp, kicked through the East Room receiving line in bright red boots.
Fox, affectionately calling his host ``Jorge,'' slipped in a plug for expeditious changes to U.S. immigration law as he paid tribute to Bush's down-home style. ``We not only have in common that we wear Western boots ... we have in common that we like to see things happen,'' Fox said.
This was hardly your average family dinner. Under the watchful portrait of Abraham Lincoln, guests digging into their pumpkin-seed-crusted bison -- or ``buffalo meat,'' as Bush dubbed it -- had to navigate a confounding place setting of three gold forks, three gold knives and an oversized spoon.
No one expected much business to be conducted over the California wines selected for their Mexican-American vintners. But the State Dining Room seating chart was obviously plotted with some business in mind.
White House chief of staff Andy Card and Vice President Dick Cheney split the duty of tending to two of the few Democrats attending. Cheney, Bush's designated arm-twister on Capitol Hill, was at a back table with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, while Card took a side table with House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt.
In step with Bush's courtship of Catholic voters, Cardinal Roger Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles, was at the president's table.
Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla, looking for nothing but fun over the three-course meal, had hoped to be seated with Tour de France champ -- and fellow Texan -- Lance Armstrong, but the cycling star called in sick at the last minute. Some kind of 24-hour bug, he told the White House.
Cindy McCain, wife of Bush's political rival, Sen. John McCain, was sitting pretty in pink with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott evidently had recruitment in mind, elbowing into Eastwood's spotlight as reporters surrounded the Hollywood actor who did a two-year stint as mayor of Carmel, Calif. ``We're looking for a candidate for governor out there in California,'' Lott teased. When Eastwood walked away in search of his dinner place card, Lott playfully called out: ``Come back, come back!''
The Mississippi Republican, who lost control of the Senate to Democrats earlier this year, said he's not worried about the recently announced retirements of GOP Sens. Phil Gramm of Texas, Jesse Helms of North Carolina (both of whom were in attendance Wednesday night) and Strom Thurmond, the South Carolinian who, at age 98, is the Senate's oldest member.
``As long as they're replaced by even better, YOUNGER Republicans, we'll be fine,'' Lott told reporters.
Since the Bushes were determined to keep the dinner intimate, just a handful of top White House advisers were included. Others, including presidential counselor Karen Hughes and deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin, got consolation-prize invites to the after-dinner performance by soprano Dawn Upshaw. Bachelor press secretary Ari Fleischer traded his signature spectacles for contact lenses, brought a date, and left his cell phone and pager at home.
Just before Bush led guests onto the Blue Room balcony to view an explosion of fireworks, he said they were welcome to stay even later for dancing in the Grand Foyer.
But, being neither a night owl nor much of a Fred Astaire, Bush warned would-be waltzers that he would not be with them for long. ``For those of us who like to go to bed early -- well, I guess I'll be here for one dance.''
Bachelor press secretary Ari Fleischer traded his signature spectacles for contact lenses, brought a date, and left his cell phone and pager at home.I'm so sorry, Dio. I know you are heart broken L
:-D
At the the Clinton suppers the setting consisted of corn cob holders, wet-naps and can coolers.
This is the most amazing thing for me. Must be a Texan thing. My F-I-L was like that. Company was there but when ready he would say "enjoy yourselves but I'm going to bed."
Ohhh! I was always taught, start with the outside fork or spoon and work your way IN. The reason is, the unusual silverware is usually removed with the bowl or plate and is no longer in the way. The large spoon was for the crab soup so it was on the outside. The salad fork would have been on the outside because it would have been the next course, leaving only the dinner fork (and perhaps a dessert fork). Anybody else have any instructions for place settings.
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