WASHINGTON — President Obama made at least three wardrobe changes Sunday night in his attempt to balance a national, televised address on terrorism with a previously scheduled Kennedy Center Honors celebration.
At a 5:15 p.m. reception in the East Room earlier Sunday evening, a tuxedo-clad Obama honored singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress and Broadway performer Cicely Tyson. (The Eagles were also supposed to be honored, but backed out because of singer Glenn Frey’s poor health.)
“Tonight, we honor five artists who helped tell the story of the first American century through music, theater, and film -– and by doing so, helped to shape it, helped to inspire it, helped to fortify our best instincts about ourselves,” Obama said in introducing the honorees to a star-studded audience that also included director Steven Spielberg, comedian Stephen Colbert, actor Tyler Perry, actress Julie Andrews, actress Kerry Washington, playwright Lin Manuel Miranda, director Martin Scorsese, musician Herbie Hancock, singer Janelle Monae, actress Rosie Perez and singer Usher.
After the reception, Obama had two hours to make changes to his address to the nation of the threat of terrorism, and to change into a dark business suit. He entered the Oval Office precisely at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, took a sip of water, and began speaking exactly 90 seconds later.
The cameras turned off following the 13-minute speech, “Clear? All right. OK. Thank you guys,” Obama said, and quickly exited the Oval Office for the change back into his tuxedo. A four-minute motorcade ride took him to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, just a mile away from the White House.
When the White House first announced his prime-time speech Saturday night, it took the 7:15 p.m. Kennedy Center appearance off the schedule. But it was reinstated on Sunday, and Obama arrived at the performance during an intermission, 22 minutes after finishing the speech. The president was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, who was wearing a blue-and-black gown by designer Oscar de la Renta.
By tradition, the Kennedy Center honorees sit with the President and the First Lady to enjoy a performance in their honor. The 38th annual event event is one of the highlights of the Washington social calendar, and will be broadcast on the CBS Network on Dec. 29.
The Obamas returned to the White House at 10:31 p.m.
And on Monday, it’s more of the same. Obama will have meetings in the Oval Office — including a national security briefing at 10 a.m. — before hosting the Congressional Ball at the White House.