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An Invitation to the White House
Part 2: Just like any ordinary American home - NOT!
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Every detail one needs to worry about in entertaining at home, needs to be considered on the Presidential level, just in a grander way. In one chapter there is an exhausting timeline that illustrates the planning that went into the September 1998 visit of Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic. Research began in the spring to determine the music, flower, and food preferences of the dignitary. The next steps involved strategizing the guest list, selecting the china from among the various White House collections, and choosing the tablecloths, candles, flowers, menu and finally the entertainment. When the big day arrived, there was a non-stop schedule that began with the White House players taking the stage at 7:00a.m. and that didn't finish until the last dance late in the evening. It makes the reader appreciate the voluminous staff maintained simply for the purpose of entertaining. In fact, there are three calligraphers on staff for the sole purpose of addressing official invitations.

Just as when we entertain at home it's often customary to give guests a party favor and to give your hostess some kind of a gift, gifts are exchanged between the President and foreign dignitaries. The only difference is the degree of forethought and expense that goes into the selection of Head of State gifts. As we worry about what sort of entertainment or music to provide for our guests' pleasure, the White House does the same.

For Prime Minister Blair, we arranged a transatlantic performance by Elton John and Stevie Wonder; their rendition of That's What Friends Are For summed up our nations' close relations.

Of course foreign dignitaries aren't the only guests entertained by the White House. That's why there's a chapter discussing the entertainment of Joe Citizen, called "The People's House". Hillary attempts to remind us of how lucky we are to be invited to Easter egg hunts and carnivals held on the White House lawn. And she doesn't forget to pat herself and Bill on the back for hosting several of their college reunions in the White House, as well. It's just too bad most of us weren't in their classes!

If you happen to be a fan of the Clintons, then you will love the photos documenting their years of living and entertaining in the White House. From pictures with foreign dignitaries, to photos of their own private birthday bashes, we're allowed to see how grand it is to live as the First Couple. And as hard as I looked, I did not manage to find a single bad photo of the loving twosome.

History buffs will enjoy learning about some of the history of this famous home and how it changed under the guidance of various presidencies. Decorators will discover the reasons behind the selection of fabrics, furniture and other home furnishings in many of these famous rooms, especially as they were selected by Hillary. Lovers of music and the arts will gain perspective on the efforts by the White House to promote and celebrate American artists.

My favorite part was the recipes presented at the end of the book. There are over two dozen fabulous recipes from the White House kitchens, some with mouth-watering photographs. Most are way too intimidating for the typical home cook. You'd have to devote an entire day, with nothing else on your agenda, to preparing many of these dishes. That's assuming you can find many of these ingredients. And yet reading about them completes the picture of what a typical day in the life is like at the untypical home of America's most prominent couple.

Buy this book!

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