question. president obama: during the course of my presidency i have had repeated conversations with brussels, with angela, francois, and others around how we could effectively recover from the crisis of 2007 and 2008. it is fair to say we have paid -- we have made more progress more quickly and what i tried to point out was the reason we were able to make progress was we focused very early on in providing a large infusion of demand through our fiscal policies, rebuilding roads and bridges and investing in energy, teachers, clean

saving the auto industry. it then also, what was very trying towas quickly fix the banks and infusing capital and making sure they were more stable and transparent and would attract confidence so that the financial system was working again. were more stable and transparenk record. we have grown faster and created more jobs in this past year, we have seen incomes rise and poverty fall more quickly than a lot of our counterparts in europe. i recognize that europe is a more complicated collection of states and more difficult to move and some are in the eurozone and some are not. i do not expect that everything we have done can immediately

translate to europe and there are some parts of what europe does that we could learn from in terms of the social safety net, for example. what i do know is that given the very slow growth that has taken place in europe or contraction over almost what is a decade now, you have a generation of european youth who are not attaching themselves to the labor market fast enough and if you do not reverse some of those trends then it becomes a generational loss and the income of wealth of economic i know most. -- now that countries like italy

and others have made real progress on their finances and their deficits and that there is more market confidence in their position, now would be a good time, i believe, to refocus attention on growth and making investments because one of the reasons that we have been able to cut our deficits by two thirds is not simply because we cut spending by two thirds. we disciplined spending, but we also grew fast enough that more revenue came in and that is one of the best ways for you to arrive at a sound fiscal position and monetary policy alone is not sufficient. i think mario draghi and the european central bank has done

good work trying to maintain a positive trajectory in europe, but ultimately, there is only so much monetary policy can do if it is not combined with fiscal policy. my hope would be that matteo is right, italy has been true to its word in europe and met its obligations, but my hope would be the debate broadens as europe moves forward around how to grow more quickly and put more people back to work, see incomes rise, create a greater sense of momentum and optimism because i do believe there is a connection between stagnation and some of the less constructive populace impulses that have been rising

up and those trend lines about europe do concern me because if you look at the european experiment over the last 40 years, i said this in hanover, there has probably been no group of people who have enjoyed more prosperity and more peace over the last several decades than a united europe. if it begins now splintering because their cents is the global capitals and elites are not attentive to the ordinary concerns of people, that would be a tragedy and my hope is that that discussion led by matteo and others will continue. and by the way, yes, i think -- i will not weigh in on the referendum, but the reforms matteo is initiating us -- on the economic side

are the right ones and in a global, internet driven world, governments have to be able to move fast and quickly and transparently and so, i am rooting for success, but i think he should hang around for a while the matter what. aisha roscoe. >> thank you mr. president. i would like to ask you about the election. donald trump telling his supporters that the election is rigged and asking them to monitor certain areas on election day. how concerned are you for the potential of the violence and what about after election day? are you worried the results of the election may be distrusted? and for prime minister renzi, the offensive in mosul has begun are you concerned about what happens after liberation? and mr. president, if you want to weigh in on that as well. president obama: i do.

thank you. one of the great things about america's democracy is we have a vigorous, sometimes bitter political contest and win it is -- when it is done, historically, regardless of party, the person who loses the election congratulates the winner who reaffirms our democracy and we move forward. that is how democracy survives because we recognize that there is something more important than any individual campaign and that is making sure the integrity and trust in our institutions sustains itself because democracy, by definition, works by consent, not by force. i have never seen in my lifetime

or in modern political history any presidential candidate trying to discredit the elections and the election process before votes have even taken place. it is unprecedented. it happens to be based on no facts. every expert, regardless of political party, regardless of ideology, conservative or liberal, who has ever examined these issues in a serious way will tell you that instances of significant voter fraud are not to be found, that, keep in mind,

elections are run by state and local officials which means that there are places like florida, for example, or you have a republican governor who has republican appointees running and monitoring a whole bunch of election sites. the notion that somehow it mr. trump loses florida it is because of those people that you have to watch out for, that is both irresponsible and, by the way, doesn't really show the kind of leadership and toughness you want out of a president. if you start whining before the game is even over. if whenever things are going badly for you and you lose you start blaming somebody else, then you don't have what it takes to be in this job.

because there are a lot of times when things do not go our way, or my way. that is ok, you fight through it and work through it, you try to accomplish your goals. but the larger point i want to emphasize here is that there is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig america's elections, in part because they are so decentralized and the numbers of votes involved. there is no evidence that has happened in the past or that there are instances in which that will happen this time. and so, i would invite mr. trump to stop whining and go try to make his case to get votes and if he got the most votes then it

ofld be my expectation hillary clinton to offer a gracious concession speech and pledge to work with him in order to make sure that the american people benefit from an effective government and it would be my job to welcome mr. trump, regardless of what he said about me or my differences with him on my opinions and escort him over capital in which there would be a peaceful transfer of power. that is what americans do. that is why america is already great. one way of weakening america and making it less great is if you start betraying the basic american traditions that have been bipartisan and have helped to hold together this democracy now for well over two centuries. with respect to mosul, we are seeing iraqi forces with the

support of the coalition that includes the united states and italy and other nations moving forward and encircling mosul. the intention is to drive isil out of what was its first major urban stronghold and what continues to be one of the key organizational and logistical and leadership hubs for isil. i am confident we see it -- we can succeed although it will be a tough fight and a difficult fight. it is iraqis who are doing the fighting and they are performing effectively and bravely and taking on significant casualties. there will be ups and downs in the process, but my expectation is that ultimately it will be

successful and this will be, i think, a key milestone in what i am -- in what i committed to doing when isil first emerged, that which was that we were going to roll them back and we're going to ultimately drive them out of population centers and we will destroy them and defeat them so that they are not in a position to carry out terrorist attacks against our people's or our friends and allies or against innocent people inside of iraq and syria. we have seen steady progress on this front. you asked an important question which is if in fact we are successful, how do we deal with what could be a humanitarian crisis because isil, win it -- when it occupies these territories, it bleeds them dry and feeds off of them and the

-- of presses local populations. it is not good at governance so just basic functions like electricity or water start running down. people are fleeing from their homes and there will be significant displacement. this has all been part of the coalition planning process in conjunction with the united nations and major aid organizations and so, we have put together plans and infrastructure for dealing with a potential humanitarian crisis that is as extensive as the military plans. that does not mean that we do not have to pay attention to it and executing will be difficult. it will still be a tough environment to operate under and no doubt, there will be instances where we see some heartbreaking situations if, in fact, large numbers of people flee.--

it is hard when you leave your home and you did not have a lot because you were living under an oppressive barbarous regime. it is hard to leave your home in a war zone. it is not something that i expect will be easy, but i think it, perhaps, hasn't in publicized enough, at least in the american press, the degree of planning and assets and resources we are devoting to this very important problem because if we are not successful helping ordinary people fleeing from isil, that makes us vulnerable to seeing isil return and feeding on the resentment and aftermath of mosul being liberated. there is a strategic and humanitarian interest in this getting that right. mr. renzi: where particularly

about [indiscernible] and we support an italian company that will work to restore it because it could be a great populated -- problem for the population and for the rest, we are engaged with the rest of coalition. the possibility seven future. let me be very great to the italian army who provide in these -- this country to learning the local police. we're not worried for the future bring mosul. reconstruction will be a priority for everyone member of the international committee. italy is engaged with the alliance.

thank you, mr. president. mediterranean -- [indiscernible] because of the constant flow of migrants. is there a common strategy on act as a can italy bridge between europe and africa, and how the american administration can [indiscernible] leaves alonee italy to face the challenge. inc. you. -- thank you. : our position is always the same one. europe has to be more convinced and look toward africa with more conviction. and from this we cannot go every

time to ask for help to the united states without doing her part. states are busy and all the international theaters are the ones that are close to us. ofobviously need the support our best friends because the united states are our best friends. an we also have to start italian and european strategy. we can always just sit and wait for this type of support. therefore, the issue of the mediterranean in africa has in left aside during the last 10 years in the opinion in. we have to give it priority again. we have to work as the commission had foreseen it would do. it is not doing it but the necessary -- at the necessary speed and we will do whatever we can with the agreement with

certain states, with the five states that are our priority. we have to work for africa to be a priority, including a priority from the point of view of resources. local involvement. we will talk about this during the g7 in italy -- he cicilline's year. in terms of investments, the political investment which perhaps in the last two years has been sorely lacking. before asking for help from the united states which is something we gladly do, italy and europe have to do their part. italy will increase its efforts for international cooperation and the g7 for international cooperation. we were the last in the inssification, the seventh the list of seven, it is not a good position, but we will reach the fourth place in terms of gdp. which each of us proposes. we have an increase in terms of

the money in international cooperation and in terms of libya, you know that we are working, we want to stabilize the government, we want to make a block of all these brothers and sisters that leave their country every time they go to eat, they risk dying. we are happy and we are very butd to help save lives, the ocean is one of the worst places to do that but we do not want the mediterranean to become a cemetery, so we have to have long-term strategy. we spoke about this and we have to have short-term strategy as well. we are very proud of what we are doing that we know that this method cannot go on forever. we cannot think of being in charge by ourselves of all the problems of libya and africa. on thursday and friday at the european council, we will talk about this.

me make aobama: let few points. it is a strategic interest of the united states to the migration crisis that has been taking place in europe is solved. it is a strategic interest because of the terrible loss of life that we see as people attempt to reach europe, but also because of the distorting effect you can have on european politics if the sense is that the influx of migration is , andderly, chaotic overwhelms european countries. committedare deeply in europe's success resolving this issue effectively.

now, obviously, there are a lot of contributors to it. we are very focused on strengthening the government of national accord as i indicated. secretary john kerry and others are working with his counterparts on a multinational -- multilateral basis to strengthen the government and resolve tensions that exist between the different portions to be able tothen invest and build in their capacity to control their borders and their waterways, if we do not have a partner on the other side of the ocean that is going to continue to be a problem. that is point number one. number two, we are deeply generositye of the and humanitarian impulses of the italian people in wrestling so many people through operation

sophia. what it in warsaw during the nato meeting was to indicate that although that is primarily an eu mission, nato and the united states and our naval assets are prepared to assist in a robust way where appropriate. it is just a matter of coordinating with europe to find out and italy and other countries what it is that you need. we will help. the same way that we do with respect to helping to enforce the agreement between turkey and the european union. that portion, on that body of water. point as much a of pointed out, is trying to help these countries that are having difficulties where people feel either unstable, insecure, or just hungry and in search of

opportunity. had we help them develop in such a way that people till they can succeed and raise their families moreut fleeing to developed countries. that is a longer-term proposition but we have to begin to make the investments now. havetioned to matteo, we different issues with respect to migration and net migration into this country has actually been flat. in some cases, even decreased or we have seen reverse flows and respect to mexico particularly. one area where we have seen a big spike over the last several years is actually from the smaller countries in central america. doingthe economy is poorly, agriculture has done poorly and partly because of changing weather patterns, notence brought on by

co-traffickers. vice president biden, i gave him the charge of working with those countries to come up with a developing plan, congress on a bipartisan basis supported is putting more money into these countries for development. more effective policing, dealing narcoighting the traffickers and investing in young people, but that is not going to happen overnight. that will be a decade-long process potentially. in the meantime, we have insisted those countries cooperate with us to send a message to the populations that it is a dangerous trip to reach the united states and if you get here, you are likely to be turned back to try and discourage this dangerous passage but also to try and undermine the human traffickers who are preying on the desperation of these people to make money. so, all those strategies have to be employed. and the one thing i would encourage is and i have said

this whenever i visited europe, you can't have a situation where arey, greece, germany bearing the entire burden. if in fact throughout the european union, your unified not just for the desk for the benefits but also for the cost and i do think it is important for europe collectively to be invested in solving this problem and not just leave it to one country in the same way that here in the united states, obviously, we are an actual nationstate as opposed to a , but we separate states would not abandon one state and just say, here, you do with an entire problem. and good luck with that. solidarity and

benefit from that solidarity, on a whole range of issues, then that means you also have joint responsibilities. ok? that is what i just said. i said central america. >> i was wondering if you could comment [inaudible] president obama they spiked heavily into a 14 and went down significantly in 2015, have gone back up this year in part because there is still desperation in central america. it are still not at the levels they were in 2014 by or appreciate you shutting out a question since i am sure there are a lot of other colleagues who would want to do the same. thank you very much, everybody. appreciate it.

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> c-span brings you more debates from key senate races. today at 7 p.m. eastern, live coverage on c-span2. republican caucus when todd young faces evan by. follow that 8 p.m. by another debate live on c-span2, louisiana help -- republican vitter. tter

and live on c-span thursday evening at seven, candidates and ohio's senate race made for another debate. republican senator rob portman strickland. ted on the c-span networks, c-span.org and on the c-span radio app. c-span, where history unfolds daily. >> watching c-span's live coverage of the third debate between hillary clinton and donald trump on wednesday night. the live debate preview from the university of nevada, las vegas starts at 7:30 p.m. eastern and the briefing for the audience is at 8:30 p.m. eastern and the 90 minute debate is at 9 p.m. eastern. stay with us following the debate for viewer reaction including your calls, tweets,

and facebook postings. watch the debate live or on-demand using your desktop, phone, or tablet at c-span.org. listen to live coverage of the debate on your phone with the free c-span radio app, downloaded from the app store, or google play. at the white house the guests have begin to arrive for president obama's funds a different. the guest of honor is italy's prime minister matteo renzi. the washington post described him as the justin trudeau of its league. the president and first lady are expect to two great a prime minister and his wife this evening around 6:45 at the very front door of the white house. they will return inside the white house for a brief visit before descending the stairs to greet their gas and give those

traditional state dinner toast. coverage of all of that this evening. while we overrate for the arrival of the prime minister we will go back to the east garden room to watch the guests arrive.

>> guests are arriving for

tonight's final state dinner in the white house. minister matteo renzi will be arriving shortly. josh earnest from the white house along with many of the members of the president's cabinet, along with business leaders, members of congress, nancy pelosi will be there. people of the media, rachel ray, chuck todd and others. jerry seinfeld and glenn stephani will be there. with blake there shelton. these are people who got the coveted in -- invitation. there are an expected 400 guests that will be arriving. earlier wetime, talked with the ambassador to the united states from italy about preparations for tonight's

state dinner, and also who the prime minister is. take a look. ambassador, how did the state visit, about with the italian prime minister? event that important shows the special relationship between as lee and the united states. and the relationship between president obama and the prime minister. did we get selected for the presidents last state partners and are allies and have very strong community in the united states. share the same view of many international topics. they do consider that democracies have to stand together, and both the united

states and italy have special responsibilities. >> why now? why now for italy? will be aext year member of the united basin -- june 8 -- united nations security council here. it is important that instantly, the prominent member of the eu considers border integration. frameworkean broader are the priorities of discussions between the president and the prime minister. >> drive -- describe the u.s. italian relationship? military, we are standing side by side in many the others. we share responsibility and our common endeavor to fight

terrorism. we want to tackle the global issues ranking from climate change to migration. these are issues where countries have a great tradition like actually, and it shares the same interest and am wrote -- approach. >> what is going on this week at the embassy as you print or for the a dinner? >> there is a great sense of its site meant -- excitement. we have many things to care about, but the thing that myself and my staff we are very happy to >> what kind of a leader is the prime minister? >> he is a young, talented leader, very dynamic. the youngest prime minister ever in its late. he brings this sense of enthusiasm, a sense of italian

personality. --m sure that the american will come to know and love a young guy, the way he will be here with his spouse. hereericans will see him with his wife, americans will see the pageantry that goes into the type of visit like this. what is the core nation like between the prime minister's office, the embassy and our government? >> we acted co-op ration with .ur colleagues in france the secret service, there are so many things to take care of. celebration, we are happy that we can share it with our friends and colleagues at this moment. protocol for the italian prime minister? >> it is conflicted when it

comes to a state visit. we will try to follow the different procedures. what really matters is that we consider this as a celebration it isendship, but also important for us to draw a common agenda. >> what is the future agenda looking like? you talk about the military, but what arrow -- but what else? may draw a line between the different topics and issues. both president obama and the prime minister share the same approach, we do consider that globalization requires on the part of leaders care, we have to honor this process. there are many opportunities ahead of us. does the prime minister have

any concerns that he will talk to the president when he has his meeting sign close stores? >> they know each other very well and have had very many meetings on different national --. they work together area well. what the prime minister will , a deep understanding that in order to tackle these challenges, our countries and democracies have two build .ridges and stay connected integration is the only way to harness this process. italiando you think the people are hoping to get out of this visit for their country? will they be watching? >> italians are excited.

i think they will all be seen together at the white house, i think this will be a great image . they will give the sign of a --.ng >> thank you for your time. we appreciate it. the italian ambassador to the united states. we spoke with him last night dinneronight 13th state for the obamas. that will be the last for them. hes -- the president said saved the best for last. senator jack reed came in, and more are starting to make their for the the white house reception. they will be able to shake the hand of the prime minister and the president and first lady. there has been a tent erected for tonight's state dinner.

there are 400 state guests. southill be going to the lawn for their dinner tonight. we will continue to watch year the arrival of the guests. live coverage here on c-span. >> mr. john rogers junior and ms. marion brooks. >> mr. stephen hightower.

>> mr. and mrs. solo. >> we are going over to the north portico, the color guard are standing at attention waiting for the arrival of the time it is. let's listen now. -- waiting for the arrival of the run minister. prime minister.

mr. thomas shannon junior.

harman andrable jane mr. robert dickey. >> miss colleen mccain nelson

and mr. john nelson. this. john turturro and

catherine --.

there are a lot of italian-americans that are part of american politics. do you have any thoughts on the election? >> definitely. >> what are they? >> these are complicated questions.

mixed group. the closeness within the family. >> mr. mark smith and ms. nina smith.

>> mrs. kathy burns and mr. kenneth burns. >> mr. henry goldberg and mrs. goldberg. >> mrs. gail mcgovern and mr. donald mcgovern.

steve benjamine and mrs. benjamin. >> mr. wilson powell.

>> mr. chuck todd and mrs. tristan todd. -- kristen todd.

>> miss rachel ray and mr. john cusumano. >> i think i should only come .ere in sneakers

think larry think -- -fink.

andr. michael christopher

mrs. sola christopher. mr. eric and mr. chuck --. mrs. kristen and

pac --peck. >> mr. josh letterman and mrs. amy letterman.

>> ms. christina lewis and ms.

lloyd to --loita lewis. carlos -- and mr. bart

dumas. the honorable jennifer -- and

miss eileen --. you look lovely.

♪ >> i think we are all super

excited to see them. >> mr. george stephanopoulos and miss alexandra wentworth. i am so glad i am here.

i love the obamas. been in the white house correspondents dinner. this is a big milestone for me. my first day dinner. and fake diamond earrings and a real wedding band. what are you wearing? baby gap probably.

he wants me to leave. kelly devil and mr. andrew dibble and and andrew dibble. mr. greg heard and mrs. greg heard. >> miss mackenzie smith and mrs. pam smith.

>> the honorable sarah lewis and tyler lichtenberg. >> mr. jerry sign held and mrs.

jessica fine held. -- jessica seinfeld. >> i have a couple of cannoli one-liners. >> we spend a lot of time traveling in italy and we are most exclusively love italian . it is hard not to be

overwhelmed by all of this. a history that is here. the food. had his food many times. we are happy to have it again. >> thank you. >> the honorable andrew cuomo and ms. sandra lee.

>> what are you looking forward to the most tonight? >> just a special treat to be here. i have the good fortune to be here during the clinton administration. i have not been back in a long time. there is a special symbolism in the last date dinner -- state dinner. it is great to be here was sandra. -- with sandra. we are very excited about mario bertelli's menu. mario but talley's menu.

miss savannah guthrie and mr. michael feldman. >> mr. evan williams and mrs. sarah williams. and mrs. anddoerr

door. door. >> mr. giorgio monie -- armani.

>> ambassador david soren and

-- ambassadorn thorn.horn and mrs. rose mr. mario andretti and mrs. barbara andretti --. >> tell us what you are most looking forward to? just looking forward --

this is the first time i have .een the obamas are [inaudible] [inaudible]

ms. constant milstein and mr.ian khan.

andhe honorable tony -- miss evan ryan.

miss gayle king and ms. kirby bumpass. the honorable tony keenan and --s kristen bartow loney bartoloni.

>> ms. rachel godwin and the honorable julius --. >> ashley biden.

>> ms. casey only -- a lens and mr. christopher costello. the honorable and richard and

mr. william davis. ms. -- and mr. colin omara.

>> mr. john byner and miss emily byner. >> mr. rick stengel and mrs. .ary stangl the honorable jonathan winer and ms. libby lewis.

the honorable bill padudo and mr. frank padudo. mr. carl ray. mr. johnny wright.

>> the first one, i am so excited. i am glad to be here. oh god, i don't know. --ould probably have to say that was a lot of fun. >> what is the next step for you? >> i don't know. i probably will do more beauty and fashion. it is all out there. thank you. what they say.

[applause] -- [indiscernible] jarvis and mr. sean west. mr. doug mills. .rs. catherine mills

dr. paul boskin. mr. rutherford seidel and ms. laura seidel. mr. john schulman. schulman.on

the honorable melissa winter. mr. john surma -- joshua okun. the honorable julia frye field. kula.annon

mr. thomas brown. mr. mill plant. mrs. robin smith.

mr. fabbricio frera. mrs. angela kennedy. mr. henry kennedy junior.

mr. mark lander. ms. angela tomb. sundar puchai.

mr. charles ward. mr. michael lombardo. mr. james taylor. mrs. kim taylor. >> we performed at a dinner for

chancellor angela merkel. >> familiar. ->> what are you looking forward to? >> it is exciting to be here. >> thank you. ms. cynthia friedman. mr. bill bone.

mr. jim chanos. ms. cristal connors. mr. michael pulls key. olski. mrs. tonya ploski. the honorable josh earnest.

mrs. natalie ernest. ms. burglary -- maria --

the honorable catherine russell. the honorable thomas donovan. the honorable samantha power. the honorable cass son unstein. >> not a transnational threat.

it is nice to celebrate that partnership. thank you. >> mr. david bradley. mrs. catherine bradley. mrs. janet keller. ms. leslie ray.

ambassador earth or in cousin -- ambassador cousin. sejas.ador paul

mr. khan and mrs. khan. >> is the best thing in the world. thet of all, besides being first lady. -- think the best

about it. she pushes the american designers. [indiscernible] >> amazing. she is classy. classic fashion. fashionmade american top. something you would like to see her where that she could not wear as a first lady? super has not been glamorous or casual. she is talents. she should be just the way she is. what is the pressure like to design for her? >> you are nervous.

easy, i know so the body. the colors. fox what are you looking forward to tonight? >> having fun with my friends. >> mr. conrad tribble. mrs. christina tribble.

chance the wrapper. -- rapper. mr. ken bennett. >> were you most looking forward to? >> i hope there is dancing. some music played. i am very high -- i'm a great dancer. seriously.ery >> did you ever see a self at a state dinner? >> no, not at all. >> how do you feel? >> amazing.

[indiscernible] this is ralph lauren. yeah, this is ralph lauren. >> do think you're treating donald trump fairly? no. [indiscernible] -- plays up his strengths. thank you guys. i appreciate it. >> the honorable jeh johnson, secretary of homeland security. and dr. susan dimarco.

mr. frank ocean. >> first time at a state dinner? >> first time doing it. probably because my first time here. >> what was the thinking?

[indiscernible] >> what are you looking forward to tonight? fundking obama if he had these last eight years. congratulating him also. >> did you ever see yourself at a state dinner? >> no, i didn't. >> a lot of your musicians are putting support behind hillary clinton. do you see yourself doing that? >> concerts, probably not. concerts, probably not. >> other ways? >> maybe, i don't know. we are running out of time, i think. >> thanks so much.

rurant.acqueline to ms. carutz. >> hello, i am the last one.

>> some 400 guests arriving for dinner.s state 's statet obama 13'th dinner, the last. some of the guest making their way through the east garden room of the white house. are going to spend the remaining coverage talking about the dinner. also taking a look back at the eight years of the obama administration and their approach to the state dinner. porticothe north arrival of the prime minister welcomed at the front door. they have gone inside for a visit with the prime minister.

upper executives of the administration. they will becoming down the grand staircase in a little bit. we will show you that before they greet their guests. then they will go to the south lawn where a tent has been set up. we are going to bring you coverage of that. before we get to that, we want to get about tonight. here is giuliana, a former social secretary. from 2010-2011. we saw the guests coming in. how do you get an invitation? excitings the most thing. there is a lot of planning that guest listutting the together.

it is a building wide endeavor. you work with the west wing. nsc. different departments. and then some outside. other parts of the administration. you come up with a list. and then you have meetings upon meetings. people, fighting for their need to have somebody in. thes a fun thing to put list together. not fit in thed house. the state dining room, 200. 200 people plus their guests. >> when and how did he invites go out? >> there are calligraphers in the white house.

master calligraphers. they get the list with addresses. they find the address for them. goes right, they go out about six weeks ahead of time. >> what is required of you? >> rsv. rsvp. friend invites you to a state dinner. i would say, if you are invited to a state dinner, do everything you can to get there. ask to many people say they cannot make it? >> not very many. >> are they told to keep it a secret? not come outt did until an hour before the dinner. >> we didn't tell people to keep it a secret, but it is kind of

braggartly. you probably do keep it under raps a little bit. but you know a few months out to the country is going to be. to befriend we are going honoring. we will talk about some of the notable faces we saw coming through the east garden room. to show thet viewers what happened moments thewhen the president and prime minister of italy and their spouses dissented the grand -- descended the grand staircase. ♪

♪ ♪ >> the prime minister and president of the united states coming down the grand staircase. they will go off to receive their guests, one by one, and shake their hands. it was noted on twitter when the

first lady came out, she is ersace. for such a. -- v one view were, she is watching just to see flotus's dress. we will see that as we talk about the state dinner and the last eight years of the obama administration. i want to show you how the first statennounced tonight's dinner. she did it via snapchat. let me show you as she put out this video. stefaniphani -- gwen who is the entertainment put out this video via twitter. the first lady did it with a bunch of notepads.

notes. talking about the date. she went on to announce it would be at the white house with a ali.t chef, mario but this is how this was announced to the world. joining us is the former social secretary for the administration. the fondness for social media, announcing it that way. >> it is the great. i did two state dinners, mexico and china. we did it traditionally. snapchat is a great way to do it. i love it. firstresident is the president to have a blackberry. i think he still has one, i don't know. you can reach so many more people. it is a great way to mitigate -- with -- to communicate with everyone. >>