Draft:State dinners during the presidency of Gerald Ford

Background

what state dinners are

Hosting of state dinner of King Hussein of Jordan (March 12, 1974) while vice president

how Ford became president

General aspects of dinners

Despite the brevity of Ford's presidency (roughly two and a half years), he hosted a large number of state dinners. The 33 state dinners held during his presidency is the fifth most of any U.S. presidency . The first of these came only a week into Ford's presidency, hosting King Hussein of Jordan on August 16, 1974.

During their final year in the White House, the Fords hosted eleven state dinners. This large number of state dinners was, in part, due to great interest from foreign dignitaries in visiting the United States for a state dinner amid the United States Bicentennial celebrations. Ford made the decision that year to erect a tent in the White House Rose Garden to host dinners outside. For state dinners held using this tent, the receptions, entertainment, and dancing portions of the evenings were still held inside of the White House.

As Ford launched his candidacy for the the 1976 presidential election, the hosting of state dinners became an aspect of his campaign's "Rose Garden strategy".

_______rose garden strategy

Betty Ford and Edward Villella dancing in the Entrance Hall during the May 8, 1975 state dinner

Of the state dinners the Fords hosted, Betty Ford remarked,

From the beginning, Jerry and I tried to make the White House a place where people could have fun and enjoy themselves. Most of all we wanted the state dinners to express the very best about America, particularly during the bicentennial year.

The Fords chose to invite eclectic array of guests to their state dinners, including notable celebrities from the entertainment industry. The Fords' children often also attended the dinners they hosted. Beginning with the first state dinner that she arranged as first lady, Betty Ford revived dancing as an activity of White House state dinners. The Nixons had previously removed dancing from the state dinners during their time in the White House. At the state dinners of the Ford presidency, the president and first lady always led off the dancing, and dancing often lasted beyond midnight. _________ betty ford's history with dance____

Executive Chef Henry Haller prepares platters with butler Johnny Johnson, and maitre d' John Ficklin (October 2, 1975)

White House support staff preparing food (October 2, 1975)

During the Ford presidency, Henry Haller was White House executive chef. Haller served as executive chef from 1966 until 1987, oversseeing the menus of more than 250 state dinners during his tenure including those of the Ford presidency. Dishes that the Fords particularly liked serving at their state dinners included wild rice, Columbia River salmon, soufflé, and flambé. The state dinners that Ford planned as first lady made a deliberate effort to showcase American ingredients. By late 1974, Ford had shifted to exclusively serving wine that was American-cultivated at state dinners. The November 12, 1974 state dinner for Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky saw the first instance in which a wine from the Fords' home state of Michigan was served at a White House state dinner, with wine from the Tabor Hill Winery being served. It was not until 2016, during the presidency of Barack Obama, that a Michigan wine would again be served at a White House state dinner.

Duplicate of the Frankie Welch-designed gown worn by Betty Ford during several state dinners (May 15, 1975; June 1, 1975; June 2, 1976). The satin chiffron dress utilized Betty Ford's favorite shade of green

general attire gowns worn by Betty Ford

social secretary

Ruwe speaks with a White House butler in the State Dinning Room ahead of the February 5, 1975 dinner

1974

See also: Timeline of the Gerald Ford presidency (1974)

King Hussein of Jordan (August 16, 1974)

The Fords and Jordanian royals stand atop the Grand Staircase

Dress worn by Betty Ford

The Fords dancing together in the East Room

Details

Visiting nation	Jordan	Jordan–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Hussein I	King
Accompanied by:	his wife, Alia	Queen Consort
Entertainment:

The first state dinner of the Ford presidency came only a week into Ford's presidency, hosting King Hussein of Jordan on August 16, 1974. Once she became first lady, it fell to Betty Ford to arrange this already-scheduled dinner. She found out of this upcoming dinner and her responsibility for planning it through a phone call she received within 24-hours after her husband's swearing-in as president. As previously mentioned, the Fords had hosted a state dinner for King Hussein months earlier, during Gerald Ford's vice presidency, on March 12, 1974, after president Nixon asked then-Vice President Ford to take over for him in hosting a planned dinner for the King.

President Ford saw the dinner as an opportunity for the First Lady to _____ https://fordlibrarymuseum.tumblr.com/post/55009222731/king-hussein-president-ford-queen-alia-and-mrs/amp

info about dinner

The meal was immediately followed by dancing, with music provided by the Howard Devron Orchestra. This marked a return of dancing at state dinners, as dancing had been removed from state dinners during Nixon's presidency.

portrayal on TV show "The First Lady" https://www.wpbstv.org/new-10-part-series-the-first-lady-premieres-on-wpbs-tv-october-11-2024/

Menu

Course	Food	Wine/spirits
Entrée	Cold Columbia River salmon en bellevenue sauce verte Paillettes dorees	1969 Schloss Johannisberg
Main course	Roast Sirloin of Beef Bordelaise (sirloin-cut beef, roasted and served in Bordelaise sauce) Mushrooms Provencale Artichokes St. Germain	1968 Cabernet Sauvignon by Louis M. Martini Winery
Desert	Bib Lettuce salad Brie cheese Mouse au chocolat (chocolate mouse)	1967 cristal by Louis Roederer

Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel (September 12, 1974)

Dress worn by Betty Ford

Details

Visiting nation	Israel	Israel–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Yitzhak Rabin	Prime Minister
Accompanied by:	his wife, Leah Rabin	Spouse of the prime minister
Entertainment:

Giovanni Leone, president of Italy (September 25, 1974)

Receiving line in the East Room

President Leone speaks during the dinner

The Fords and Leones (accompanied by an interpreter) speak in the Yellow Oval Room

Details

Visiting nation	Italy	Italy–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Giovanni Leone	President
Accompanied by:	his wife, Vittoria Michitto	Companion of the president
Entertainment:

Edward Gierek, de facto leader of Poland (October 8, 1974)

Strolling U.S. Army musicians perform for the president and first secretary's table

Cooks and support staff working in the State Floor Kitchen during the dinner

Details

Visiting nation	Poland	Poland–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Edward Gierek	First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party
Accompanied by:		—
Entertainment:

Bruno Kreisky, chancellor of Austria (November 12, 1974)

Vikki Carr performing in the East Room

Secretary of State Henry Kissinger converses with Lee Bouvier Radziwill (the sister of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) during the dinner

Details

Visiting nation	Austria	Austria–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Bruno Kreisky	Chancellor
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:	Vikki Carr

Pierre Trudeau, prime minister of Canada (December 4, 1974)

President Ford greets Prime Minister Trudeau at the North Portico

Guests at the president's table

Details

Visiting nation	Canada	Canada–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Pierre Trudeau	Prime Minister
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:

Helmut Schmidt, chancellor of West Germany (December 5, 1974)

Joel Grey performing in the East Room

Details

Visiting nation	West Germany	West Germany–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Helmut Schmidt	Chancellor
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:	Joel Grey

1975

See also: Timeline of the Gerald Ford presidency (1975)

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, prime minister of Pakistan (February 5, 1975)

Guests seated in the East Room to watch the entertainment

Betty Ford shakes Billy Taylor's hand after his performance in the East Room

Dress worn by Betty Ford

President Ford dancing with figure skater Peggy Fleming in the Entrance Hall

Betty Ford dancing with columnist Art Buchwald in the Entrance Hall

Details

Visiting nation	Pakistan	Pakistan–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto	Prime Minister
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:	Performance by Billy Taylor (accompanied by Larry Ridley and Bobby Thomas) in the East Room

https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0018/81555764.pdf

Harold Wilson, prime minister of the United Kingdom (January 30, 1975)

Details

Visiting nation	United Kingdom	United Kingdom–United States relations; Special Relationship
Visiting dignitary:	Harold Wilson	Prime Minister
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:

In a toast to Wilson during the dinner, Ford remarked, In a toast to Wilson at a January 1975 state dinner, Ford remarked,

It gives me a very great deal of pleasure to welcome you again to the United States. You are no stranger, of course, to this city and to this house. Your visits here over the years as a staunch ally and a steadfast friend are continuing evidence of the excellence of the ties between our countries and our people.

You, Mr. Prime Minister, are the honored leader of one of America's truest allies and oldest friends. Any student of American history and American culture knows how significant is our common heritage. We have actually continued to share a wonderful common history

Americans can never forget how the very roots of our democratic political system and of our concepts of liberty and government are to be found in Britain. Over the years, Britain and the United States have stood together as trusting friends and allies to defend the cause of freedom on a worldwide basis. Today, the North Atlantic Alliance remains the cornerstone of our common defense.

Kenneth Kaunda, president of Zambia (April 19, 1975)

Kaunda making a toast during the dinner

Details

Visiting nation	Zambia	Zambia–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Kenneth Kaunda	President
Accompanied by:
Entertainment:

King Hussein of Jordan (April 29, 1975)

Lee Kuan Yew, prime minister of Singapore (May 8, 1975)

Yew giving a toast during the dinner

Joop den Uyl, prime minister of the Netherlands (May 14, 1975)

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran (May 15, 1975)

Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel (June 11, 1975)

Table settings

previously in 1974

Walter Scheel, president of West Germany (June 16, 1975)

chancellor had been hosted months earlier

Takeo Miki, prime minister of Japan (August 5, 1975)

File:Photograph of President Gerald R. Ford Delivering a Toast at a State Dinner Honoring Prime Minister Takeo Miki of Japan - NARA - 7839943.jpg

Alfonso López Michelsen, president of Columbia (September 25, 1975)

Dress worn by Betty Ford

Betty Ford inspecting the table settings and decorations before the dinner

In the weeks that preceded the dinner, Ford had survived two assassination attempts. One on September 5 while visiting Sacramento, California; and another on September 22 while visiting San Francisco, California.

Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako of Japan (October 2, 1975)

prime minister had been hosted in August

Anwar Sadat, president of Egypt (October 27, 1975)

Betty Ford escorts Jehan Sadat through the Grand Entrance Hall as California Governor Jerry Brown (back, right) observes

Dress worn by Betty Ford during the dinner

While planning the dinner, Betty Ford and Social Secretary Maria Downes inspect the old west-themed sculptures by Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell which were used as centerpieces]]

Table settings, complete with old west-themed centerpieces

Betty Ford dancing during the state dinner

Omar Sharif and Pearl Bailey performing in the East Room

https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhetoric-and-composition/rhetoric-today/cowboy-themed-state-dinner-president-anwar-al-sadat

Gaston Thorn, prime minister of Luxembourg (November 12, 1975)

Presidential table in the State Dinning Room during the meal

1976

See also: Timeline of the Gerald Ford presidency (1976–1977)

Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel (January 27, 1976)

The Fords and the Rabins pose in the Cross Hall after a post-meal guest reception

Dress worn by Betty Ford

Betty Ford (right) joins guests in dancing the hora in the Entrance Hall

Overseeing preparations, Betty Ford joins decorator Danya Pelzman and sculptor Malcolm Moran in inspecting decorations in the State Dinning Room

Previous state dinners for Rabin had been hosted by the Fords both in 1974 and 1975.

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/betty-ford-dances-the-hora

Liam Cosgrave, taoiseach of Ireland (March 17, 1976)

Entertainer Ben Vereen performing in the East Room

King Hussein of Jordan (March 30, 1976)

The Fords and the Husseins

Colonial American themed table decorations

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, president of France (May 17, 1976)

The Fords and d'Estaings speak with each other after receiving guests

Betty Ford and French President d'Estaing dine with celebrity guests Clint Eastwood (actor), Adele Simpson (fashion designer), and Earl Hines (pianist)

Earl Hines performs in the East Room

Dress worn by Betty Ford

https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/02/13/state-dinners-at-the-white-house/

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain (June 2, 1976)

Receiving line

Details

Visiting nation	Spain	Spain–United States relations
Visiting dignitary:	Juan Carlos I	King
Accompanied by:	his wife, Queen Sofía of Spain	Queen consort
Entertainment:

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom (July 7, 1976)

President Ford dances with Queen Elizabeth II

Betty Ford dances with Prince Philip

Bob Hope entertaining in the East Room

Queen Elizabeth II joins President Ford and Vice President Rockefeller in a toast

Betty Ford and Social Secretary Maria Downs giving the media a tour of the tent erected on the South Lawn for the dinner

Details

Visiting nation	United Kingdom	United Kingdom–United States relations; Special Relationship
Visiting dignitary:	Queen Elizabeth II	Queen regnant
Accompanied by:	her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	Royal consort
Entertainment:

prime minister Wilson had been hosted in January 1975

This was among the most notable state dinners that the Fords hosted. The dinner was held to coincide with the American bicentennial celebrations. Much of the dinner was held in tent on the South Lawn.

https://geraldrfordfoundation.org/betty-ford-timeline/

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/examples-of-state-dinners-throughout-history

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/remembering-queen-elizabeth-ii-queen-visits-president-ford-white-house-1976/69-b5442639-04cd-46ba-bebc-9a114fe3bae3#

Helmut Schmidt, chancellor of West Germany (July 15, 1976)

Betty Ford planning the table settings in preparation for the dinner

Ford and Schmidt raising their glasses during a toast

A previous state dinner for Schmidt had previously been hosted by the Ford on December 5, 1974. Additionally, the Ford's had held a state dinner for the West German president on June 16, 1975

Malcolm Fraser, prime minister of Australia (July 27, 1976)

Urho Kekkonen, president of Finland (August 3, 1976)

Betty Ford shakes hands with a guest during the dinner

William Tolbert, president of Liberia (September 21, 1976)

Giuilo Andreotti, prime minister of Italy (December 6, 1976)

Entertainer Tony Orlando serenading Betty Ford in the East Room

held after Ford's election loss the previous month

president Giovanni Leone had previously had a state dinner hosted by Ford in September 1974

Legacy

https://www.devoslearningcenter.org/betty-ford-patch

See also

• Timeline of the Gerald Ford presidency

External links

• House State Dinners, 1974-76 at Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum website