President Ulysses Grant hosted the first White House state dinner for King David Kalakaua ... Gold china commissioned under the President Bill Clinton administration to commemorate the 200th ...

FILE - The new White House ... for a state dinner, includes 220 place settings with 4,372 pieces. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) FILE - Gold china commissioned under the President Bill Clinton ...

President Ulysses Grant hosted the first White House state dinner for King David Kalakaua, one of the last monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in December 1874. Nearly 400 have been held since then ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The art of culinary diplomacy, practiced by presidents at White House state dinners for more than 150 years, is the theme of this year's official White House Christmas ornament.