The Logistics of White House State Dinners

Compare news coverage. Spot media bias. Avoid algorithms. Try Ground News today and get 40% off your subscription by going to ground.news/hal...
Get a Half as Interesting t-shirt: standard.tv/co...
Suggest a video: halfasinteresti...
Follow Sam from Half as Interesting on Instagram: / sam.from.wendover
Follow Half as Interesting on Twitter: / halfinteresting
Discuss this video on Reddit: / halfasinteresting
Video written by Ben Doyle
Check out our other channels: / wendoverproductions
/ jetlagthegame

[@sully1492]

The idea of being the secret service guy who needs to go grocery shopping around town must be an interesting experience

[@timmccarthy9917]

Talk about a secret shopper

[@Pistolita221]

Their jobs are a lot more boring than you might imagine. They do a lot of babysitting and waiting in the living room, and not a lot of secret agenty stuff. They probably do laundry sometimes. They also watch them at parties, too. Imagine watching a spoiled rich kid party as your job (not common but I'm sure it happens), and basically being a nanny while the kid tries to ruin the guest house. Vin Diesel the nanny

[@mrslinkydragon9910]

​@timmccarthy9917 "The secret service are in again..." "How can you tell?" Both look over to the guy looking at tinned chicken peas, who is built like a brick shithouse

[@johnladuke6475]

I assume you're right about it being Secret Service assigned to the job, but the video just said they were "undercover White House staff" so I guess just anyone whose job doesn't involve press conferences. Either way, I'm picturing someone who eats normal people food, trying to find a local DC grocery store with weird ingredients for a super-fancy chef. "Who even _sells_ albatross eggs?!?"

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Sounds like Half an Interesting experience Keepo

[@etymologynerd.]

4:36 real foootage of a bishop moving diagonally

[@bencotter9285]

😂😂😂😂

[@tylerellison9834]

Criminally underrated comment!😂 Well spotted, well played. Thank you for that, got a good laugh out of me!👏👏👏

[@kraanialepsy]

It one minute after sawing this comment and I can’t stop laughing, for real, bro. Its fucking gold😂😂😂

[@Mrqwerty2109]

Underrated comment!!!

[@connieh.4212]

Oh my gosh even the floor 😂

[@baberiel]

For anyone wondering what the difference between black tie and white tie is: With black tie, you'll wear a tuxedo. This is a short (normal length) jacket, with specific details such as jetted pockets, peaked or shawl collar, and a single button (unless it's double-breasted), and a matching pair of pants with a galon along the side seam (basically a stripe of fancier material). You can then wear either a cummerbund or a waistcoat (which should be part of the tuxedo set, and not a random black vest). Finally, the "black tie" itself is a bowtie, NOT a regular necktie. There are variations you can play with, such as color of the tuxedo/jacket, pocket square, and shoes, but thats the general idea. White tie is even more formal than black tie. You'll wear a tailcoat (what Obama was wearing next to the queen), which usually isn't fastened at all, but will have buttons on both sides. Your pants will have a double galon, and for shoes, opera pumps usually work, but wholecut oxfords are also acceptable (or tap shoes if you're Fred Astaire). You'll also have a waistcoat, which is almost always white (or like a creamy off-white), but I've also seen black waistcoats on rare occasion. Finally, your tie is, you guessed it, a white bowtie. For both, you'll want a special shirt, usually with a stiff front held together with shirt studs, and french cuffs. A normal white dress shirt won't work. Black tie has a lot more room to play around than white tie, and it's also far more common than white tie is today. White tie is pretty much only for when royalty is visiting, in America anyway.

[@demolisherman1763]

I can not express how much I want a HAI video on the differences between white and black tie attire

[@donaldmacisaac8479]

Yes please

[@WyvernYT]

I assume this is already in the works.

[@j3tztbassman123]

Gentlemen's Gazette has such a breakdown.

[@farlesbarkley1022]

DO IT

[@carloscamejo391]

Black tie is a simple black tuxedo, white tie is full on tails and vest and rather strict

[@rehpicllib4745]

2 HAI videos in one day? Amazing!

[@trinityy-7]

hello bill cipher

[@certifiedcapybaraenjoyer]

It’s almost… as interesting……

[@anareaforakinglikeme3029]

😅

[@user-yp89he6]

I was about to comment the same thing. Sam really do be hitting that upload schedule, respect to him

[@superJ5858]

I’m definitely saving the link to this one

[@benw4409]

"Those two guys have better things to do then standingfour feet away from Rishi Sunak" burn of the century

[@katashworth41]

I mean pretty much everybody comes under that category.

[@Peter-xx6tz]

@@katashworth41including but not limited to rishi sunak aswell

[@thorgot911]

I laughed too hard at that joke. I was in the USAF Honor Guard and performed dozens of Cordon of Honor details. The jobs were always a pain because fun fact, the Army is in charge and the Army sucks the fun out of everything...

[@WannabeMarsanach]

I mean... All 21 do

[@merseyviking]

As a Brit, I have better things to do than stand 4 feet away from that man.

[@Tarkov.]

It's funny that they didn't let the queen sleep in the Queen's Bedroom.

[@Abdega]

“It’s too obvious. We need to always keep any bad actors guessing” - US Diplomatic service probably

[@OpalLeigh]

@@AbdegaThat’s funny, but also actually a good point! The intruders would be disappointed if they went to kidnap the queen and got Camilla instead. She won’t have as high of a ransom 😬

[@Abdega]

@@OpalLeigh kidnappers: We’ll pay you to take her back! Please!

[@bernadmanny]

It's called that because she did stay there, most likely when visiting Reagan.

[@Jade93972]

As an Australian I can confirm that Qantas doesn't use planes and in fact just uses kangaroos with wings

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Honor the winged kangaroo, the only reason Australia did not, and still has not, fallen to the emus.

[@ezzy525]

Ah yes. The BOING 747. Badum-tsss.

[@OpalLeigh]

Common misconception, but the “winged” kangaroo actually doesn’t have wings, it can just jump VERY far 😉

[@Brando56894]

@@ezzy525 Well done......is how I like my kangaroo

[@jessebannasch5410]

i love when the kangaroos sing "I Still Call Australia Home"

[@jonathandevries2828]

Sam, can you get amy to research and figure out what was said during some of the most awkward toasts?

[@Bacopa68]

The most awkward music performance was the Muskrat Love incident with Eizabeth II.

[@General12th]

Hi Sam! You should have sent HAI Correspondent Amy to be the guest of honor at one of these state dinners. Where's your due diligence???

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@General12th]

@@EEEEEEEE You're goddamn right.

[@stellacollector]

The "logistics" of White House state dinners? I think lawyers from Wendover Productions will be in touch soon.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎

[@green29373]

This would be so much better if they had a gaming night with each other after the dinner

[@Ceruleansquid-lo3iv]

They can't do that anymore after the great monopoly fight of 1918. Ever wondered why the USSR existed?

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@Ceruleansquid-lo3iv This checks out.

[@keonyang3332]

​@@Ceruleansquid-lo3iv biggest bruh moment of the 20th century

[@jesseberg3271]

Don't be so sure they don't. After all, there are a select group of leaders who do get asked to stay in the White House. That means everyone else goes home, but they are the first couple stay.

[@maruftim]

the amount of trash talks would be insane

[@iceymanz]

Dammit, the Albo's Kanga-pegasus was top secret Australian Government knowledge, how do you do it???

[@MargoMB19]

I just can't imagine the stress involved in setting all that up and making sure everything goes exactly right within very specific time restraints. Wow.

[@alexanderf8451]

AND the looming threat of death.

[@minikiwigeek2]

Video: “You have just received an invitation to a White House state dinner…” Me, who never goes outside: “oh that’s cool, anyway…”

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Sounds neat, but they lost me at "tie". And I'm far to... caucasian... to get away with a dashiki, or a robe and turban, or whatever Modhi is sporting.

[@timmy6890]

lol

[@hypotheticalaxolotl]

@@MonkeyJedi99 Have you considered... the K I L T?

[@OpalLeigh]

@@hypotheticalaxolotlAh yes, the kilt 🙌🏻 the pale people’s solution to not wanting to wear pants. And so, we honour it.

[@five-toedslothbear4051]

I’m most of the way through the video, and I’m already thinking about the implications of declining an invitation to the White House. Thank goodness that there is no way that the president of the United States would want me to visit him at home.

[@Indian-Canadian]

A fun fact. When the White House hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the menu was exclusively vegetarian with only Sea Bass offered on request. This was to accomodate Modi being a vegetarian

[@DangerAngelous]

“I offer you the best American burger you will ever have in your life, in exchange for BFF status”

[@The_DASHER]

Honestly that would be better than how governments work know

[@Maserati7200]

This was almost certainly a publishing error - but I’m all here for the 2 HAI’s in 1 day

[@zmadl]

Probably just a sponsor end of month deadline

[@YapJunHaoChs]

no way 2 HAI Videos in 8hours 😮 count me in 🔥🔥🔥

[@joermnyc]

At Windsor Castle they have a long table.. as in it has to be set up to cross through wide doors into several rooms and needs a lot of chairs. (A docent was kind enough to let us actually sit on one!) I’m guessing if you’re seated at the far end of the table several rooms away from the King you’re not very important, but if you are at least in the same room as the King, you’re somebody important after all.

[@ferretyluv]

Basically, black tie = fancy formal (prom-level), white tie = super fancy formal (haute couture ball gowns, hair up, dickie + cummerbund), e.g. royalty level.

[@CharlesGregory]

That sounds like something that would have taken less time to include in the video, rather than the comment about how complicated it would be to explain.

[@ferretyluv]

@@CharlesGregory There’s different etiquette rules surrounding whether something should be a black tie or white tie affair and different OCP protocol regarding dress code. I just gave an oversimplification. But GENERALLY, royalty gets white tie while everyone else gets black tie. Again, it depends. Vast majority of people will never get invited to a white tie affair.

[@juliusjohansson636]

@@ferretyluvI’ve been to 3 white tie occasions and zero black tie. So it really depends on where in the world you are

[@CallanKilderry]

1:22 Former NZ PM John Key called it Wombat One, which Turnbull ran with for a while.

[@tessjuel]

0:26 Why do you assume I'm not a foreign head of state or a member of a royal family? Don't underestimate your audience here!

[@Jasonenjoysminecraft]

Are you?

[@ccityplanner1217]

The King of Great Biscay once made a state visit to the U.S. Upon arrival, His Majesty gave a brief speech from the top of the plane steps. His Majesty rides his horse every morning, a tradition which has been going on for centuries & which he had his embassy provide a horse for him to continue the routine in the District of Columbia. The first morning he rode out on the Rock Creek trail, the second in Glover Archibald Park, the third on Rock Creek again and early on the final morning, he had his horse brought to Lafayette Square so he could go for a hack out on the National Mall. The visit actually lasted for 5 days: Great Biscay has no equivalent of Air Force I so we chartered a B474 from our national airline. They couldn't afford to have a plane out the sky for 4 days so we had different planes each way. On the way back, the plane after it had arrived had developed a faulty fuel injector that had to be fixed. It was discovered at 10 o'clock in the morning but a spare part had to be sourced, it took all day to fix & wasn't ready to take off until after midnight.

[@lucienskinner-savallisch5399]

Aye looks like somebody got hella sponsor deals 😜 I'm happy to see it and if we get more videos all the better

[@Izzy-Maurer]

I have better things to do than standing 100 miles away from Rishi Bloody Sunak. Great video!

[@williamsledge3151]

Wow, two HAI vids in one day?

[@JoeBleasdaleReal]

Lovely dig at Rishi Sunak there 😂😂😂😂

[@Rubrickety]

No dancing if you're elderly or the Pope? But I wanna see Pope Francis' dope dances!!

[@Ging-Freecs]

We all do. Regrettably the Catholics might not want to see their person closest to God dancing around to Beyonce.

[@jplayzow]

@@Ging-Freecs Can't have any fun with them

[@loganayers5053]

ironic considering out of all the popes I've lived under, Francis is the most likely to dance 😂

[@darkwoodmovies]

I've always wondered why high government positions come with so much high-class luxury. Like the whole idea is that people like the President are supposed to be "like the rest of us". I get e.g. the president flying a personal plane for security reasons, but I don't understand why every interior has to be lavish and like billionaire-status level stuff. POTUS can sometimes eat off a paper plate like the rest of us, he's just human, not some divine mythical figure.

[@megarockman]

The main key is that the President (and really all high-level executives and heads of state) is representative of the country as a whole, and to break out the best and most expensive stuff for your visit is an indication of how much respect they're giving you for taking the time and energy to come visit.

[@Ryukuro]

Its the equivalent of your parents (or grandparents) getting out "the good plates". Theyre for special occasions.

[@krejados1]

Yep. Ironic how it's supposed to be the people's house but people are never invited and all the appointments - furnishings, art et al are kept in a secure warehouse that the people have no access to. Those pieces aren't even occasionally displayed in museums; they're reserved exclusively for use by the presidential class. IOW: tell us you're royalty without saying you're royalty.

[@WyvernYT]

It's not for the president, as a guy. It's not even for the other national leader as a guy. All countries do this, to send an implied message of "OUR country is rich and powerful and can have all of this; is YOUR country rich and powerful enough for this? Be nice to us because we're rich and powerful."

[@mharley3791]

@@krejados1what? The White House is visited by citizens everyday. And unlike royalty, presidents get voted out

[@theplayer4664]

2 videos in the span of one day?! this is just amazing!

[@g0ast]

Is nobody else freaking out about the security breach at the greeting at the airport with that pink triangle disappearing suddenly? Someone notify secret service about the interloper shape pretending to be a US service member.

[@MrTurbo_]

1:22 As someone who is not from Australia, that's probably how they get around in Australia

[@marinmarcelo8494]

2 videos in 1 day. Thats intresting

[@Phoenix-zu6on]

6:02 makes me proud to see Tagesschau as High Factuality :)

[@bruhchan4743]

Used footage of the old Air India One. It has since been replaced by newer Boeing 777-ERs which are operated by the military and not Air India. They are still maintained by Air India though.

[@ryanair4713]

Double HAI videos in a day? Whopee

[@ccityplanner1217]

The photo at 2:34 is of the Queen in Windsor Castle when she was hosting a state visit.

[@GrantCelley]

Now I need to become president and envite all of Sam's friends and employees to a state dinner so he'll ban all of his contacts on twitter. Maybe I'll envite his sponsors.

[@noncreativeguy7284]

I won’t trust this video until Amy has a White House state dinner in her honor and reports back.

[@AG-fs8yn]

We need a video on the difference between black tie and white tie events

[@kevinbarnard3502]

This vid reminds me of the opening [before credits] of a West Wing episode. It's a few of the staff setting up flags on a blueprint of a table for the President's something breakfast. They're going on and on about no that person can't sit next to that person because of this or that reason, they have to go here, but that other person doesn't like the one that was moved and so on. At the end, they sit back proud of themselves for finally putting the seating arrangement puzzle together where there won't be any international incidents. It takes a couple ticks, then someone says it won't work. WHAT?!?! WHY NOT?!? Then they notice there's still one flag sitting on a side table and not on the diagram. Which flag? The US.

[@AmyDentata]

How exclusive can these parties be if Kevin from the south side made it in 0:30

[@szabolcstarnai]

yess, im not alone

[@jcarman]

0:30 - isn't that Steve Howey (who played Kevin Ball in Shameless)?

[@NirvanicSunshine]

Dancing was honestly the most surprising part. The White House turns into a private club after 9pm.

[@TaserTheFox]

1:49 the pink triangle just dies

[@franzfanz]

Okay, but at what point in the proceedings do you wander, drunkenly into the streets, looking for a pizza?

[@RealTal.]

Wow ben 2 vids in a day? you're really churning out the vids nice!

[@23snowy23]

Don't you dare drop your cocaine at the party either, as they won't have any idea who's it is 🤔

[@qfurgie]

we just skimmed over the gifts at no more than 390 dollars

[@bobthegoat7090]

Could you make these longer because I actually think they are more than just half as interesting.

[@jeffluhn4514]

I LOVE the idea of the video with the sponsor at the end.

[@Gr33n1230]

We need that video on the black tie white tie debacle.

[@rennoc6478]

4:33 he may be the pope but he’s walking like a bishop

[@Shadow_Glider]

The pope is also the bishop of Rome

[@BrandonW9]

Christmas must be early this year for 2 HAI videos in a day

[@jwplays78]

Two videos in one day! I guess you’re Whole As Interesting now

[@cwtdos1994]

0:33 Is that Michael Avenatti pre-prison?

[@rnasta22]

Most times these videos seem like he is planning a heist and we're partners in crime

[@ahadmrauf]

4:15 Under "Order Onions", does the menu read "2 kittens, everything in 2" on the right, above a list of groceries?

[@killernat1234]

All the food in the White House are prepared in a spectre facility by todays video sponsor hello fresh

[@LMacNeill]

I would say the Federal government having a calligrapher on staff and spending $600K-a-pop on multiple parties every year is a *SERIOUS* waste of my tax dollars... But the Pentagon misplaces $2 trillion on a fairly regular basis, so that feels kind of petty...

[@scythal]

To be fair those parties are kind of displays of American power and influence too...

[@thehangmansdaughter1120]

I had to laugh when the question of Australian transport was raised. New Zealand PMs travel commercial (with a police officer). Likely business class, but still commercial. Our leaders don't have their own planes, though the air force do provide some rides.

[@specialtasker8445]

The image shown was just an old air India commercial craft, the new India one has a different livery its a Boeing 777-300 ER with the words Bharat in Hindi and India written. They are flown by Indian Air Force pilots .A tiny detail I noticed that was off but all in all love your videos Sam interesting as always

[@epicredhead13]

The funny thing is at some point in the future, many government leaders and other influential people will have heard of HAI and some will even be fans.

[@theurchin65]

The sarcasm in these videos just gets better and better. 😂😂😂

[@jgr7487]

Now we need a video on the difference between black tie and white tie.

[@noahsomething160]

2 in a day. This isn’t real. Sam ARE YOU OKAY???

[@BLITZKRIEG1]

as an Australian, I can confirm that contraption you created is a close match to what we use

[@TheNadnerb]

Two in one day? Sam has truly blessed us

[@rogink]

How is this not a Wendover Productions video? Does HAI have to pay a licensing fee for any video with 'logistics' in the title?

[@TheGreatNW]

0:30 Kevin Ball

[@Tommuli_Haudankaivaja]

You know, if Pekka Haavisto wins the Finnish presidential election, there can be someone invited to the state dinner who has heard of Half As Interesting. That's because he's a chill dude and I have met him and will most likely meet him again. Technically speaking he's meeting my mom, but since I too am part of their party, I'll be there too.

[@proudkekistani8352]

Is there any version of this channel without the half-assed jokes?

[@AsterGB]

The fact theres 2 hai videos in one day, this is headline news for sure

[@josemarquez2060]

Was that Kevin from shameless??? 0:26

[@michaelworley6431]

Yes

[@KC-Mitch]

The Blair house also housed Eleanor Roosevelt after Truman was sworn in following her husband's death, and later Truman himself after the White House was gutted and rebuilt from the inside, out (look it up, the pics are just wild to imagine). The Blair house is also where Truman was nearly assassinated by two Puerto Rican nationalists, one of whom survived and stated that they had no beef with Truman, in particular. They just wanted to gain attention towards the PR nationalist movement at the time, wanting independence for the island. Shit has a crazy history, honestly.

[@contone]

Last day of the year huh… those sponsors really got you on the time crunch!

[@nulcheck]

1:49 RIP magenta triangle. o7

[@02svg]

this video would be so much better if they did a crossover with the guy from wendover productions

[@yitzakIr]

I bought the Ground News, it was 10$/year at the lowest level and it looks pretty good. First ad I've bought in a while!

[@clayhackney3514]

Its weird to see how much has changed since that one phone call with JFK griping people out for buying too expensive furniture and how it was going to look bad. We need to bring that attitude back.

[@johannestetzelivonrosador7317]

2 HAI videos in one day?

[@HiDDENk00l]

I'm really interested in seeing some examples of those sub-$390 gifts

[@kanlalonde1356]

“You’ve been invited to a White House dinner.” What’s the point? I can get McDonalds outside of the White House, too. Seems like a waste of time.

[@Skorcch]

Those thumbnails are so better than videos themselves 😂

[@JunoOnTour]

black tie vs white tie video needed

[@crow8067]

Love any and all logistics videos you make

[@charliemunson7467]

For the record, Diplomatic Security protects Foreign Minister level diplomats. There are a few exceptions, but Heads of State are protected by the US Secret Service.

[@qwertyuiop37361]

3:32 that's not the yellow oval room. That's the oval office which isn't in the residence. Same with 3:34 and 3:35

[@Marylandbrony]

Anyone in the middle of a Half as interesting marathon today?

[@crazystemlady]

17:36 fr if ur BEING FRUGAL U AINT STEPPPING NO FOOT UP IN THERE

[@Pro_Existance]

2 VIDEOS IN ONE DAY???? No way!

[@warriorson7979]

You know it's going to be a good day when there's a new video from RealLifeLore...😌😌

[@va1355]

are you lost buddy?

[@belthesheep3550]

He snuck in that be rest assured thinking we wouldn't notice, the gall.

[@maxblast8210]

"Old or the Pope," is redundant, the Pope is always old.

[@sophiew757]

"A random schoolchild... and Ethan!"

[@Themadkiller10]

I can confirm that several people at Biden’s Chanukah party are avid HAI fans

[@youurdream182]

Having attended a White House State dinner, one should fittingly say their goodbyes; 'Bye Then!' with the current state of affairs that is.

[@votekyle3000]

WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT APPROPRIATE TIES!!!!

[@HelpFromAbove1]

@1:05 "Only a few *hundred* people per year" - But the caption says "Few people per year". Which is accurate?