Preview Newsletter
State Dinner Media Coverage
-
Here’s the Guest List for the Obamas’ Final State Dinner
Oct 18, 2016 | TIME
By Sarah Begley
Any state dinner is a major event, but Tuesday’s Italy state dinner is an especially notable affair: it’s the last one for the Obama administration. Mario Batali is the chef on duty for the night, and his fare will be enjoyed by Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Rachael Ray, Frank Ocean, Ken Burns, Jerry Seinfeld and John Turturro, among many other prominent attendees. Here’s the complete guest list as provided by the White House. -
First Lady Michelle Obama Wears Versace for Italian State Dinner Featuring Plenty of American Talent
Oct 18, 2016 | WWD
Tuesday night’s State Dinner for Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini featured a guest list heavy on fashion, politics, media, finance, the arts — and with a few hairdressers thrown in. -
The Bella of the Ball! Michelle Obama pulls out all the stops for Barack's last state dinner as she welcomes a VERY impressed Italian prime minister in a stunning custom-made Versace gown
Oct 18, 2016 | Daily Mail
Michelle Obama dazzled the crowd at her final state dinner as first lady, in a floor-length rose gold chainmail gown. -
Complete guest list for the state dinner in honor of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
Oct 18, 2016 | Washington Post
By Veronica Toney
The complete guest list as provided by the White House for the state dinner honoring Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. -
Key Capitol Hill Hearings
Oct 19, 2016 | CSPAN
A brief clip on C-Span introducing Alex and Patricia Gorksy. View clip here: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/24592713?token=46b781cf-a08c-41cb-a637-deeca8056711
Traditional Media
Broadcast Media Coverage
-
Here’s the Guest List for the Obamas’ Final State Dinner
Oct 18, 2016 | TIME
By Sarah Begley
Any state dinner is a major event, but Tuesday’s Italy state dinner is an especially notable affair: it’s the last one for the Obama administration. Mario Batali is the chef on duty for the night, and his fare will be enjoyed by Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Rachael Ray, Frank Ocean, Ken Burns, Jerry Seinfeld and John Turturro, among many other prominent attendees. Here’s the complete guest list as provided by the White House.
Only relevant names included:
Mr. Alex Gorsky, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Ms. Patricia Gorsky
-
First Lady Michelle Obama Wears Versace for Italian State Dinner Featuring Plenty of American Talent
Oct 18, 2016 | WWD
Tuesday night’s State Dinner for Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini featured a guest list heavy on fashion, politics, media, finance, the arts — and with a few hairdressers thrown in.
For what may be this administration’s last seated dinner for a foreign dignitary, First Lady Michelle Obama chose to honor her guest’s native country and donned a dress by Versace. FLOTUS chose a floor-length, rose gold chainmail gown designed by Atelier Versace. She also tried out another new look wearing her hair pencil-straight, similar to Donatella Versace’s signature style. Landini also chose a shimmery gown, a strapless style with black beading.
Earlier in the day for a welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn, the First Lady wore a sleeveless chevron chiffon dress and Landini wore a green lace short sleeve Valentino dress. (Renzi’s wife also wore a rose-colored Valentino dress for her arrival in Washington, D.C., on Monday night.)
Giorgio Armani represented Italy’s fashion sector and Naeem Khan, who has suited up Obama in his eveningwear on numerous occasions, was also in attendance. Gap Inc. chief executive officer Art Peck, Johnson & Johnson’s chairman and ceo Alex Gorsky and Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. president and ceo Fabrizio Freda -
Oct 18, 2016 | Daily Mail
Michelle Obama dazzled the crowd at her final state dinner as first lady, in a floor-length rose gold chainmail gown.
It was a 'bittersweet moment' for the Obamas on Tuesday as they welcomed Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife for an official visit and the final state dinner of the president's time in office.
Barack Obama had promised that they had 'saved the best for last.' And the first lady lived up to that promise with her stunning custom-made Atelier Versace dress.
She showed off her signature toned arms and completed the glamorous look with poker-straight locks.
The Obamas, greeted Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini - who also sparkled in a floor length, silver and gray gown - on the North Portico before accompanying them inside the White House for the final state dinner.
The final state dinner of Barack Obama's presidency featured a mix of guests from the worlds of fashion, politics, media, finance and the arts.
The president paid tribute to America's relationship with Italy during the dinner, offering a toast to the 'enduring alliance' between the two countries.
Obama said that American democracy has been graced by a touch of Italy, noting that both the Lincoln Memorial and the interior of the U.S. Capitol dome were done by Italians.
He also praised his honored guest Renzi as someone who represents the energy, optimism, vision and values that can carry Europe forward.
And although it's his final state dinner, Obama quoted another famous Italian — the late Yogi Berra — in saying, 'It ain't over till it's over''It ain't over till it's over'
Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., one of the many high profile guests at the event, said he was 'a little sad' that it was Obama's last state dinner, while Michelle Obama's hairstylist Johnny Wright also described the moment as 'bittersweet.'
Famed Italian designer Giorgio Armani joined the likes of Naeem Khan, who has regularly dressed President Obama, as well as the heads of Gap Inc., Johnson & Johnson's chairman and and Estée Lauder Cos. Inc.
Singer Gwen Stefani, who had Blake Shelton on her arm, Chance the Rapper, Frank Ocean and James Taylor were also invited for the final dinner. T
hey weren't the only artists, as they were joined by poets, filmmakers, producers, actors and comedians including Jerry Seinfeld and his wife, and MoMA's Paola Antonelli.
Top talent and media executives such as The New York Times' Mark Landler and Doug Mills, Bloomberg's Margaret Talev and CBS This Morning's Gayle King with her daughter Kirby Bumpus, a White House staffer also attended.
Meanwhile businesses executives from Google and Fiat chairman John Elkann were in attendance, as were former racing driver Mario Andretti and Fiat's chairman John Elkann were in attendance.
Some of the Obamas' political allies also made the cut, such as Secretary of State John Kerry and Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, while the Obamas' favored interior designer Michael Smith, event planner Susan Holland, hairstylists Yene Damtew and Johnny Wright, makeup artist Carl Ray and chef Sandra Lee were also at the state dinner in honor of Renzi.
Obama is a fan of the Italian prime minister, who he has described as young and handsome and credited him with challenging the status quo in Italy with bold reforms.
'He's put forth a vision of progress that's not rooted in people's fears but rather in their hopes,' Obama said at the welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn.
Renzi, in turn, told Obama that many people think politics is about screaming, fighting and creating division, but that Obama was different, adding: 'We think history will be kind with you, Mr. President.'
After each leader spoke, they hugged briefly and patted each other on the back.
Earlier at an arrival ceremony, the First Lady wore a sleeveless chevron dress while Landini had worn a green lace short sleeve Valentino dress for the event yesterday morning.
The arrival ceremony marked the beginning of a day-long visit that will be capped with a glitzy state dinner that features celebrity chef Mario Batali in the kitchen and singer Gwen Stefani performing.
The visit provided star treatment for a key European ally who soon faces a critical leadership test in his home country.
White House officials described the two political leaders as ideologically sharing a great deal of common ground, most notably their belief in the importance of a strongly integrated Europe.
Britain's decision to exit the European Union is testing that vision, and a December 4 referendum in Italy on the government's proposed overhaul of the constitution could derail Renzi's political future if it fails.
The White House said Obama strongly supports the economic and political reform efforts that Renzi has undertaken as prime minister, and he wanted to show it.
'He wants to actually demonstrate the strength of the relationship with Italy as well as to get behind and put wind in the sails of someone he sees as one of the most promising young politicians in Europe,' said Charles Kupchan, senior director for European affairs at Obama's National Security Council.
Kupchan said it goes without saying that Europe has faced tough times over the last couple of years with sluggish growth and a migration and refugee crisis stemming from conflict in the Middle East. Those trends have created an undercurrent of anti-European Union sentiment. He said Obama believes that Renzi's agenda to revitalize Europe is critically important to the long-term interests of the United States.
During the arrival ceremony, Obama spoke of how Italian-Americans have helped shape the United States.
He said their experience was often one of arriving with nothing, of overcoming prejudice and discrimination, and relying on faith and the love of family to go on to succeed.
The president added that it revealed a 'truth we must never forget, and that is that America was built by immigrants, America is stronger because of immigrants.'
-
Complete guest list for the state dinner in honor of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
Oct 18, 2016 | Washington Post
By Veronica Toney
The complete guest list as provided by the White House for the state dinner honoring Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
Only relevant names included:
Alex Gorsky, chairman and chief executive, Johnson & Johnson
Patricia Gorsky -
Oct 19, 2016 | CSPAN
A brief clip on C-Span introducing Alex and Patricia Gorksy.
View clip here: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/24592713?token=46b781cf-a08c-41cb-a637-deeca8056711
Traditional Media
Broadcast Media Coverage
Add recipients
Suggested