Workers prepare the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for a State Dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Workers prepare the head table in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for a State Dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
A detail of a menu is seen on a place setting for the State Dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama arrives for a State Dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Former President Bill Clinton, right, greets President Barack Obama as Obama arrives at a State Dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama walk out of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, to greet China’s President Hu Jintao. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wait for the arrival of China’s President Hu Jintao, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, for the State Dinner. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet China’s President Hu Jintao at the Grand Staircase as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome China’s President Hu Jintao to the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for the State Dinner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
First lady Michelle Obama follows President Barack Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao into the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for the State Dinner. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Actor Jackie Chan arrives at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for a state dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan arrives at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for a state dinner in honor of China’s President Hu Jintao. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Barack Obama listens as China’s President Hu Jintao speaks before offering a toast during a State Dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama speaks before he offering a toast as he and first lady Michelle Obama, not seen, host China’s President Hu Jintao for a State Dinner, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Musician Herbie Hancock arrives in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, to perform for President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, China’s President Hu Jintao, and guests during a State Visit. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
From left, Coca Cola Company CEO Muhtar Kent, first lady Michelle Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao toast during a State Dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle and Barack Obama welcomed a mix of Hollywood A-listers, big business types and prominent Chinese-Americans to the White House as they threw a “quintessentially American” state dinner Wednesday for the president of China, complete with apple pie and ice cream, and jazz music for the entertainment.
The first lady was clad in an elegant red shoulder-baring gown that swished around her in soft folds and the president sported a tuxedo as they welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao on a red carpet on the White House portico. An honor guard stood at attention behind them.
Celebrity star power arrived in the form of singer Barbra Streisand, her hubby-actor James Brolin and action film star Jackie Chan. Big business turned out in force, too, including Microsoft’s Steven Ballmer and JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, among others. Among the big names: fashion’s Vera Wang, Vogue’s Anna Wintour, artist Maya Lin, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to add some gravitas. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter made the cut, too.
