White House Historical Association and the Washington Nationals Announce New Racing President
President Herbert “Herbie” Hoover Now One of the Racing PresidentsWashington, D.C. —
Today at Nationals Park, the White House Historical Association announced the addition of a new visiting racing president, Herbert Hoover known as “Herbie.”
The collaboration with the Nationals is in the second year of a multi-year partnership that will expand the association’s efforts to educate the public on the rich history of the White House and expand its mission of preserving White House history.
This announcement coincides with the association’s featuring of President Herbert Hoover with the 2016 Official White House Christmas Ornament. The ornament is a vintage fire truck design commemorating the 1929 Christmas Eve four-alarm fire of the West Wing. Montserrat College of Art student Kayla Whelan, the winner of the Association’s national art school design competition, created this year’s design.
“The partnership with the Washington Nationals has been exciting for us at the Association,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. “It’s important to us to share the history of the White House with fans of the Nationals and all baseball fans nationwide.”
“Our partnership with the White House Historical Association is one our best and most creative,” said Valerie Camillo, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer for the Washington Nationals. “They are using the platform of Nationals Park to make White House history fun and accessible, and building sales for their mission-funding annual holiday ornament.”
Supported entirely by private donations, the White House Historical Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational group established in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to assist in the preservation of the White House’s state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $42 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
The partnership between the White House Historical Association and the Nationals will include a variety of educational, community and marketing extensions, including:
- "White House At Bat: A Presidential History Challenge" a White House history curriculum in area high schools
- Herbie bobblehead giveaway
- Signage on the Nationals’ left field garage of the 2016 White House Christmas Ornament
- Sales of the ornament in Nationals team stores, supporting the WHHA’s primary fundraising efforts
- In-game White House History Challenge featuring Nationals fans answering trivia questions about the White House. Winners will receive a White House Christmas Ornament.
Media Contacts:
Washington Nationals
Elizabeth Alexander
Elizabeth.Alexander@nationals.com
About the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.