SINGAPORE — The upcoming White House State Dinner for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be the fourth to be held in honour of a Singapore leader.

The first three were held for late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1973, 1975 and 1985. President Richard Nixon hosted the late Mr Lee in April 10, 1973 for the then-Singapore leader’s first State Dinner at the White House.

Raising a toast to Mr Lee, Mr Nixon memorably recounted how his staff had been telling him that “Singapore is the best run country in the world” before adding: “And here is the man who runs it.”

Mr Lee was hosted to another State Dinner in May 8 1975 with Mr Nixon’s successor, Mr Gerald Ford. The guests at the formal dinner included an elite cast of heavyweight political and business figures, as well as entertainers such as actor Alan Alda (of popular television series MASH), jewellery designer Elsa Peretti (of Tiffany & Co), golfer Arnold Palmer, and Mr Alan Ladd Jr, a senior Twentieth Century Fox executive who would later be credited for greenlighting the original Star Wars movie.

They dined on “filet of beef (with a) bouquet of vegetables”, a bibb lettuce salad and a dessert of “vanilla ice cream with strawberries flambe”, according to the menu listed on the website of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum.

During the toast, President Ford remarked about how Singapore had “compiled a tremendous reputation and record of accomplishment” in 10 years, blending Asian traditions “very successfully with modern technology to produce a prosperous and a very progressive society without sacrificing a distinctive cultural heritage”.

For his part, Mr Lee, spoke of the continued cooperation between Singapore and the US, as well as the ramifications of the Vietnam conflict, before offering his thanks for being invited. “I have been able to spend a delightful evening beside your wife, Mr President. I read of you, and it was as I found it — that you were open, direct, easy to get along with, but with decided views.”

Some 10 years later, Mr Lee was invited to his third State Dinner on Oct 8, 1985 by then-President Ronald Reagan. On the eclectic guest list were US vice-president George Bush; Professor S Jayakumar, minister of home affairs and second minister of law; actor Mr Sylvester Stallone, and businessman Warren Buffett.

According to The Washington Post, which reported on that event, the guests were treated to a performance by Ms Karen Akers, who stood in for singer Peggy Lee (who had double-bypass surgery earlier that week). On the dinner menu were “filet of veal with ginger sauce, mandarin sunflower salad and lime souffle with fresh figs”.

Mr Reagan touched on the ties that bound Singapore and the US, such as economic, educational and cultural exchanges, saying: “Our two peoples may, at first glance, seem worlds apart, both in geographic location and culture; but a closer look reveals that ... Singapore and the United States are ... both democratic nations committed to peace and to the preservation of human liberty.”

Mr Lee spoke on the political and economic climate of the time, and praised Mrs Nancy Reagan for seeing to so many details of the dinner in his honour. He mentioned her campaign against drug abuse and her high approval rating of 71 per cent, which was ahead of Mr Reagan.

“Mr President, your staff has to shape up,” Mr Lee added to much laughter.

The White House announced on Thursday (June 2) that President Barack Obama will host PM Lee for a State Dinner on August 2, as the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Details, such as the guests list and menu, have yet to be announced.