Mr. Obama’s 300

If there were a Muckety honor roll, it would include the invitation list for a new president’s first state dinner.

The celebration on the White House south lawn was attended last night by the powerful (including the guest of honor, India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh), the political (Rahm Emanuel, Nancy Pelosi and even Bobby Jindal) and the beautiful (Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood).

It was also payback time for many of those who threw their support to Obama in the 2008 campaign. David Geffen sat at the Obamas’ table. Colin Powell, who bucked his party and endorsed the Democratic candidate, was invited. So were campaign fundraisers such as Ron Kirk and John W. Rogers Jr.

Barack Obama & Manmohan Singh toast at dinner

We print the full list, which connections to each guest, on our page about the dinner.

However, displaying the connections of all 320 invitees - who are distinctive in their connectedness - would be mayhem. So the map above is selective and best explored large screen.

Of course, true Muckety means getting an invitation and turning it down, without offending the host. One couple that sent regrets, then regretted it, was Wellington Wilson and Eleanor Wilson, who is godmother to Sasha and Malia Obama.

The Wilsons, reports the Chicago Tribune, opted out because of family Thanksgiving plans.

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