Ambassador Mary Mel French pens book on official White House etiquette

Source: NY Daily News (see below for a link)

Why is protocol - such as the "Order of Precedence" seating plan for diplomats and government officials, the strict arrangements for state ceremonies and flag etiquette - so important?

Ambassador Mary Mel:
The methods don't have to be old-fashioned and stuffy, and you can mess around with them a little. Every President wants to do things a little differently, but they get into trouble when they branch out too far and say: "I don't care about protocol."
Their staff are dealing with countries like Great Britain, Jordan and China, who have had protocol in their governments for hundreds of years. If you know how to correctly word an invitation, how to introduce someone or where they are supposed to sit in meetings, it just causes less confusion.

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