NEW DETAILS: Presidential Sites Summit

Jul 26, 2018 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association will host the Presidential Sites Summit August 27-30 at the Willard InterContinental. The 4-day national gathering, themed “Back to the White House,” will draw leaders from more than 100 presidential sites across the country – and from across the spectrum of the historical professions, along with a large gathering of presidential descendants– reconnecting them with the domain that defined every presidency: the White House.

Summit guest speakers and presidential descendants are available for interviews before and during the Presidential Sites Summit.

Members of the public may also register for the entire 4-day Summit or purchase a one-day Summit pass here.

The Summit will feature:

“A Monumental Celebration” Opening Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial, Monday, August 27, 7-8PM (A Free Public Event)

Welcoming remarks by National Parks Service Acting Director, P. Daniel Smith. Entertainment by the United States Navy Band; David Selby, a Lincoln actor and narrator who will perform Lincoln’s second inaugural address; the Washington Nationals Racing Presidents, and other entertainment. The Lincoln Library will also present remarks and a video.

The White House as Depicted in Movies and Television with the Motion Picture Association of America, Tuesday, August 28, 6:30-8:30PM at the John F. Kennedy Center

Philanthropist David Rubenstein will interview a special guest (soon to be announced) on a stage inspired by the White House Oval Office.

Exclusive Tours

Summit attendees will take exclusive tours of the White House, Library of Congress and the Washington National Cathedral.

More than 50 Notable Speakers and Presidential Descendants

Speakers will present general and breakout sessions on topics including: presidential history and memory, presidents and the press throughout history, digitization, inclusive presidential history, civics education and presidential sites, leadership through education technology, philanthropy, fundraising, and more. Learn more about all general and breakout sessions here.

Session speakers include:

• Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President and Mrs. Gerald Ford
• Leslie Bowman, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation
• Teresa Carlson, Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector for Amazon Web Services
• Clifton Truman Daniel, author and grandson of President Harry S. Truman
• David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States
• Olivier Knox, Chief Washington Correspondent, SiriusXM and President, White House Correspondents Association
• Anita McBride, former White House Chief of Staff to Laura Bush and assistant to George W. Bush
• Mike McCurry, former White House Press Secretary
• Massee McKinley, descendant of President Grover Cleveland and President William McKinley
• Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association
• Jon Meacham, presidential historian and author
• Chef Roland Mesnier, former White House Executive Pastry Chef and noted culinary writer
• Ron Nessen, former White House Press Secretary
• Soledad O’Brien, award-winning journalist, CEO of Starfish Media Group and Host of Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien
• Susan Page, USA Today Washington Bureau Chief
• Stacy Palmer, Editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson
• Cokie Roberts, Noted author and contributor to ABC News and NPR
• Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Association
• David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman, The Carlyle Group and philanthropist
• William Seale, American historian and author
• Ann Stock, former White House Social Secretary
• Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post Education journalist
• Susan Swain, Co-CEO and President, C-SPAN
• Mark K. Updegrove, President and CEO, LBJ Foundation, author and presidential historian
• Kenneth Walsh, White House correspondent, columnist for U.S. News & World Report and author
• Judy Woodruff, Anchor of PBS NewsHour
• Diane Zorich, Director of the Digitization Program Office at the Smithsonian Institution
  
  See a complete list of Summit speakers here.

WHERE: Summit sessions will be held at Willard InterContinental 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Learn more about the Presidential Sites Summit and see a complete schedule here.

Register for the 4-day Summit, or a single day here.

If you are interested in covering this event as a member of the press, you must contact Jessica Fredericks, Communications Director at Jfredericks@whha.org in order to reserve a space.