Bernard's first state dinner is with Germany in June!

Monday's political buzz may have centered around President Obama beginning his re-election bid, but for those with a close eye to the social calendar, the big news was the administration's announcement of a fourth state dinner, one scheduled for June 7 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. This will be the first big test for Jeremy Bernard, the White House's newest social secretary, who comes to the position as the first male and first openly gay party planner-in-chief, Reports Washington Examiner.

"That's going to be a very exciting dinner, not only because it will be his first, but I think the Germans have been a great ally and to entertain them would be terrific," gushed former White House Social Secretary Laurie Firestone, who had the gig the last time the White House entertained a German head of state, in April 1992 under President George H.W. Bush.