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This postcard photograph shows the first West Wing Oval Office. It is decorated with green carpeting, green walls, and white woodwork. Once Taft began working in the Oval Office, there was a shift in the role of the White House. It no longer served as the place where the President worked, that function was given to the Executive Office Building later known as the West Wing.
Featuring Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to national attention in 1973, when President Richard Nixon nominated him as vice president. Less than a year later, Ford became president, following President Nixon's resignation from office. The Fords made and celebrated history during their time in the White House, fr
Featuring Jonathan Darman, author of “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President"
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament. These unique collectibles — honoring individual presidents or specific White House anniversaries — have become part of the holiday tradition for millions of American families. In this collection, explore the history behind our 2023 design & learn more about President Gerald R. Ford. Buy
Featuring Iain Dale, award-winning British author and radio and podcast host
In the 1960s, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy oversaw the task of restoring the White House interiors and thus founded the White House Historical Association to enhance the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. As a part of our mission, the Association provides financial support for acquisitions, refurbishing projects, and preservation initiatives of the White House, which involves collaboration
Featuring The Honorable Capricia Marshall, Ambassador Stuart Holliday, and Matthew Wendel
Featuring Alex Prud’homme, bestselling author and great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child
Featuring Frederick J. Ryan, author of “Wine and the White House: A History" and member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council on White House History
In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room, and laundry; while the second floor contained four rooms designated as living quarters. By 1827, the service wing was being used as an urban slave quarters. Henry Clay brought enslaved individuals to Decatur House, starting a trend that was solidified by
On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the thirty-seventh president of the United States. During his time in the White House (1969–74), President Nixon sought to unite a divided nation after the social, political, and cultural turbulence of the 1960s. Before becoming president, Nixon served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as
