Dinner is Served

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a State Dinner

<Alt text> Raisa Gorbacheva, Nancy Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan walking (© Scott Stewart/AP)

President Ronald Reagan escorts first lady Nancy Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, through the White House for a state dinner December 8, 1987. (© Scott Stewart/AP)

President Ronald Reagan escorts first lady Nancy Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, through the White House for a state dinner December 8, 1987. (© Scott Stewart/AP)

A black gown with flowered sleeves

Ronald and Nancy Reagan greeting Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa (© Ron Edmonds/AP)

The Reagans greet Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, outside the White House before a state dinner December 8, 1987. Earlier in the day, Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range missiles. (© Ron Edmonds/AP)

The Reagans greet Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, outside the White House before a state dinner December 8, 1987. Earlier in the day, Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range missiles. (© Ron Edmonds/AP)

You’ll dazzle! First lady Nancy Reagan donned this floor-length, black James Galanos gown at the 1987 state dinner that honored Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev and celebrated the signing of the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. (Gorbachev wore a three-piece, dark blue business suit.)