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 While renovating the White House into a symbol of presidential history, Jacqueline Kennedy also transformed presidential entertaining into highly cultured events. She orchestrated every detail of state dinners—from her clothing to topics of conversation—to project an image of intelligence and youthful sophistication.
For dinners, Mrs. Kennedy favored round tables seating eight or ten guests over more formal giant horseshoe and E-shaped tables of the past. She acquired elegant glassware from West Virginia to be used with fine embroidered linen tablecloths. Guests were served menus conceived by French chef René Verdon and treated to entertainment by the finest performers.
 In less than a year, the Kennedys’ style of entertaining was well-known. Look magazine reported in January 1962: “Washington is striving to erase a long-held notion—that, compared to other world capitals, it’s a cultural hick town where there’s nothing to do at night. The White House has set a new tone in making it an agreeable and fashionable civic duty to encourage the arts.”
Learn about these events in the exhibition through original seating charts, programs, and menus, and watch a video showing the Kennedys and honored guests at White House functions.
Finish your tour with two key White House receptions. >>
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