The White House
President George W. Bush		 Print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
May 16, 2006

Table Settings and Entertainment at the Official Dinner Honoring the Honorable John Howard, M.P. Prime Minister of Australia and Mrs. Howard

  Photos

      Official Visit of the Prime Minister of Australia

Floral Centerpieces
Deep rings of hot pink hydrangea, variegated pink and white floribunda roses and blush-colored lisianthus surround historic White House silver candelabra

Candelabra

  • Set of four, l8l0-l8ll, London, made by Paul Storr, one of the foremost silversmiths of the Regency period, once belonged to the Dukes of Hamilton. Gifted to the White House in l963.
  • Set of eight, l898-l899, Providence, Rhode Island, made by Gorham Mfg. Co. The United States government purchased these candelabra during the administration of President William McKinley. President McKinley used these candelabra for a gala dinner in September l899 for Admiral George Dewey, hero of the Spanish-American War.

    Tablecloths
    Pistachio-colored silk dupioni tablecloths

    China
    Clinton State Service, ivory with a gold trim, was commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the White House with designs inspired by architectural motifs - from the State Dining Room on the dessert and soup plates to the cream soup cup and saucer.

    Entertainment in the East Room
    KENNY CHESNEY

    For Kenny Chesney, singer, songwriter, and Entertainer of the Year for both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, music has always been the current running through his life. He grew up in Luttrell, Tennessee, got his first guitar his freshman year in college, and loved singing for anyone. His break came in 1992 with a publishing offer from Acuff-Rose, a venerated Nashville publishing company that once signed Hank Williams.

    His 2005 album Be As You Are: Songs from an Old Blue Chair debuted at #1 on Billboard's all-genre Top 200 and sold a million copies in just a few weeks, and his summer concerts have sold over a million tickets during each of the past three years. He has filled stadiums, sold out Madison Square Garden, and made his first network special, ABC's "Kenny Chesney: Somewhere in the Sun."

    The country star's last major studio album, When the Sun Goes Down, won the CMA Album of the Year and like his albums Greatest Hits, and No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problems has sold over four million. His newest album is The Road and the Radio.

    Mr. Chesney's songs explore emotions and vulnerabilities. He believes that the enjoyment of life is necessary to balance the sadness. "You have to maintain your perspective- especially as a songwriter."

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