---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A White House dinner is the American…"
description: "\"A White House dinner is the American family assembled, from labor leaders to billionaires, actors, architects, academicians and athletes.\" — Hugh Sidey"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png"
---

#  A White House dinner is the American family assembled…

![“A White House dinner is the American family assembled, from labor leaders to billionaires, actors, architects, academicians and athletes.” quote by Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png)

> “A White House dinner is the American family assembled, from labor leaders to billionaires, actors, architects, academicians and athletes.”

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The dinner gathers a microcosm of American society, uniting diverse elite from all sectors under one roof.

**In simple terms:** A dinner unites America’s elite.

Key Takeaway

Recognize shared humanity across status.

Themes

society diversity politics

Mood

observational critical

Type

journalistic analytical

When to use this quote

- state dinners
- media coverage
- policy discussions

Key Concepts

sociology elitism national identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this unity affect public perception?
- What voices are missing at these events?

A Different Perspective

Such gatherings can mask underlying inequalities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [American family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-family/) [Architect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architect/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Billionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billionaire/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/)

## Related quotes

> [“Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank You for this place in which we dwell, for the love accorded us this day, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/lord-behold-our-family-here-assembled-we-thank-you-for-this-place-in/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [American families cannot compete with billionaires. Our involvement in government should not be dependent on our bank account balances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/american-families-cannot-compete-with-billionaires-our-involvement-in/)

[Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/)

> [When people come over to my house for dinner, I always have a vegetarian option. They can make do, or they can \*\*\*\* off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/when-people-come-over-to-my-house-for-dinner-i-always-have-a/)

[Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/)

> [Jesus would have gone to Ellen Degeneres' house for dinner and had a good time. What would we be saying about him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-messerli/jesus-would-have-gone-to-ellen-degeneres-house-for-dinner-and-had-a/)

[Mike Messerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-messerli/)

> [Anyone who thinks they're too grown up or too sophisticated to eat caramel corn, is not invited to my house for dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/anyone-who-thinks-they-re-too-grown-up-or-too-sophisticated-to-eat/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [Word to the wise, if you're going to invite the president of the United States to your house for dinner, you really should tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/word-to-the-wise-if-you-re-going-to-invite-the-president-of-the/)

[Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/)

> [In our house, dinner is synonymous with family time. Recently, it has felt like the best chance for all of us to really connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-gaines/in-our-house-dinner-is-synonymous-with-family-time-recently-it-has/)

[Joanna Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-gaines/)

> [He's perfect for anything. I would hire Hugh Jackman to come to my house and have dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/he-s-perfect-for-anything-i-would-hire-hugh-jackman-to-come-to-my/)

[Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/)

> [There's nothing better than going to a friend's house for dinner or drinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/there-s-nothing-better-than-going-to-a-friend-s-house-for-dinner-or/)

[Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/)

> [“Today we went over to your mother’s friend’s house for dinner. We’d asked you to be polite, so you said, “No more, please, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khong/today-we-went-over-to-your-mother-s-friend-s-house-for-dinner-we-d/)

[Rachel Khong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khong/)

> [“We are taken through the pursuit of the American dream, the establishment of the American family, and a smattering of suspense and intrigue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-allgire/we-are-taken-through-the-pursuit-of-the-american-dream-the/)

Nikita Allgire

> [To my way of thinking, the American family started to decline when parents began to communicate with their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-american-family-started-to-decline-when/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [“At the very same time that we witnessed the explosion of white celebrity moms, and the outpouring of advice to a surveillance of middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-douglas/at-the-very-same-time-that-we-witnessed-the-explosion-of-white/)

[Susan J. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-douglas/)

> [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

## More by Hugh Sidey

> [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [In this era of world leadership, the metal detector is the altar and the minicam may be god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/in-this-era-of-world-leadership-the-metal-detector-is-the-altar-and/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [In just 20 years terrorism, communications, the jet plane and the increase of wealth and knowledge have forced, to varying degrees, world leaders into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/in-just-20-years-terrorism-communications-the-jet-plane-and-the/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [When people travel here from across the country, they shed jealousies and politics and prejudices. The mighty climb down. The humble are elevated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/when-people-travel-here-from-across-the-country-they-shed-jealousies/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [“Above all else: go out with a sense of humor. It is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/above-all-else-go-out-with-a-sense-of-humor-it-is-needed-armor-joy-in/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [He is television's sultan of splutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/he-is-television-s-sultan-of-splutter/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [A sense of humor is needed armor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-sense-of-humor-is-needed-armor/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [They can see the brave silhouette from almost anywhere in the District of Columbia and use it as a compass to locate other monuments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/they-can-see-the-brave-silhouette-from-almost-anywhere-in-the/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [China's Premier Zhao Ziyang, for all of his billion constituents, seemed in the evening's lovely flow like a favorite uncle, smiling a little too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/china-s-premier-zhao-ziyang-for-all-of-his-billion-constituents/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [The prime minister found something hopeful in the man's eyes and manner. The 30 or so people who run this world analyze one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/the-prime-minister-found-something-hopeful-in-the-man-s-eyes-and/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [Reagan "has conducted an arms race on earth," boomed Mondale. A race generally implies two parties. The Soviets contributed a little bit to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/reagan-has-conducted-an-arms-race-on-earth-boomed-mondale-a-race/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [We love the blather and boast, the charge and counter-charge of campaigning. Governing is a tougher deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-love-the-blather-and-boast-the-charge-and-counter-charge-of/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-sense-of-humor-is-needed-armor-joy-in-one-s-heart-and-some-laughter/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [Carry laughter with you wherever you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/carry-laughter-with-you-wherever-you-go/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

> [The problems seem so easy out there on the stump. Deficits shrink with a rhetorical flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/the-problems-seem-so-easy-out-there-on-the-stump-deficits-shrink-with/)

[Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

[Explore all 18 Hugh Sidey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A White House dinner is the American family assembled, from labor leaders to billionaires, actors, architects, academicians and athletes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hugh Sidey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-family-assembled-from-labor/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-family-assembled-from-labor/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/hugh-sidey-29563_actors_a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-fam_3170500.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A White House dinner is the American family assembled, from labor leaders to billionaires, actors…” — Hugh Sidey",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Hugh Sidey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A White House dinner is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-family-assembled-from-labor/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/a-white-house-dinner-is-the-american-family-assembled-from-labor/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
