President Barack Obama isn’t the only powerful man in Washington who was once confused for a waiter when wearing his evening best. So was a top general in the U.S. Army — by Valerie Jarrett!

As The Daily Caller first reported back in 2011, Obama’s top adviser mistook a four-star general for a waiter during a fancy dinner hosted by the Alfalfa Club. According to a Daily Caller source, as the general walked by Jarrett’s table, she signaled to him that she wanted more libation.

“I’d like another glass of wine,” she reportedly said.

Like a gentleman, the career military man didn’t make a fuss of the matter, according to the source.

“The guy dutifully went up and got her a glass of wine, and then came back and gave it to her and took a seat at the table,” the source said. “Everyone is in tuxedos and gowns at this thing, but the military people are in full dress uniform.”

According to a corroborating report by CNN, the military man in question was then-Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Peter Chiarelli.

Discussing times they’ve been subjected to racist insults during a recent interview with People magazine, the Obamas mentioned how President Obama was also once mistaken for a waiter during a fancy dinner party in the days before he became the most powerful man in the world.

“He was wearing a tuxedo at a black-tie dinner, and somebody asked him to get coffee,” Mrs. Obama explained.

No word whether the Obamas think Jarrett’s slight against the general was spurred by racial animus — or just an honest mistake.

Follow Jamie on Twitter