WASHINGTON, DC - - The President and Mrs. Clinton are hosting his Excellency Václav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Havlová at a White House State Dinner on Wednesday, September 16, 1998. President and Mrs. Havel will arrive at the North Portico at 7:15 p.m.

Guests will be received by the President and Mrs. Clinton, and President and Mrs. Havel in the Cross Hall of the White House. Following the receiving line, the President and Mrs. Clinton will escort President and Mrs. Havel into the East Room for dinner.

The tables in the East Room will be set with Eisenhower gold base plates; the Truman china will be used for service. Kennedy Morgantown crystal and gold vermeil flatware will be set on celadon green damask tablecloths. The gold candelabra from the Vermeil Collection will be surrounded by beige Sahara roses, salmon Donna roses, white hydrangea and votive candles.

Following the dinner, guests will be entertained in the East Room by Lou Reed.

STATE DINNER ENTERTAINMENT IN THE EAST ROOM:

LOU REED
Born in Brooklyn more than fifty years ago, Lou Reed first became famous as the main singer and songwriter of the legendary band, Velvet Underground. Like many other groups from that era, the band chronicled the ways and means of the community in which they lived.

In the mid 1960s, Mr. Reed introduced a revolutionary new style of vocals which enabled the lead singer to tell a story, in an informal and conversational style. Through his lyrics, he communicates his life experiences to the audience, including his journeys through the underworld of New York City. More than thirty years after the start of his musical career, he has perfected an electric, diamond sound that no other artist can equal.

Mr. Reed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was awarded the Chevalier Commander of Arts and Letters by the French government in 1992. A recent PBS American Masters series paid homage to Mr. Reed, with an in-depth documentary of his many achievements, aptly titled, "Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart." His newly released album, "Perfect Night," is a compilation spanning the career and life of Lou Reed.

OFFICIAL GIFTS

PRESIDENT CLINTON'S GIFT TO PRESIDENT HAVEL:
The official gift for President Havel from President Clinton on the occasion of his State Visit to Washington, D.C. is a hand-crafted sterling silver cachepot from Tiffany & Co. The piece features an etched border design inspired by a cornice found in the East Room of the White House and an etched floral design taken from the fireplaces in the Green and Red Rooms of the White House. The flower in the center is a dogwood blossom, a tree frequently found in the President's home state of Arkansas. The cachepot was designed exclusively as a gift for President Clinton to present for the State visit. The Presidential Seal is engraved on the bottom of the Tiffany silver piece.

MRS. CLINTON'S GIFT TO MRS. HAVLOVÀ:
The official gift for Mrs. Havlová from Mrs. Clinton is Judith Leiber hand-beaded evening bag. This particular bag has white rhinestones and gold trim.

OFFICIAL DELEGATION GIFT:
The official gift for members of the Czech Republic delegation is a Tiffany & Co. silver-plated 12" Chippendale tray with an inscription commemorating President Havel's State Visit to Washington.

PRESIDENT HAVEL'S GIFT TO PRESIDENT CLINTON:
President Clinton received a large crystal glass vase presented in a blue leather case with a brass plaque inscription to the President.

MRS. HAVLOVÀ'S GIFT TO MRS. CLINTON:
Mrs. Clinton received a painting and a book, entitled Jiri Anderle.

---

President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House
White House for Kids | White House History
White House Tours | Help | Text Only

Privacy Statement