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This special edition of White House History Live is a Town Hall with White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin and Pete Souza, author of the book The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency. Only a handful of people witness the everyday workings of the White House and its longstanding traditions, as well as the most
State Visits are a key part of presidential diplomacy helping to develop and maintain relationships with other countries. These visits involve a rigorous schedule, including an Arrival Ceremony, diplomatic talks, a State Dinner, and entertainment in the East Room.
From First Lady Dolley Madison's sister Lucy Payne Washington's wedding in 1812 to the nuptials of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's granddaughter Naomi Biden on the South Lawn in November 2022, the White House has long been the site of wedding ceremonies and receptions. In over two hundred years, there have been eighteen documented weddings and four receptions hosted
Focusing on first ladies' fashion of the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first century, this issue features articles on the style of the Lady Bird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Jacqueline Kennedy within the context of their life’s work and official roles. Also featured is a look at the work of celebrity hairstylist Jean Louis Mazéas and a beh
Since the first documented White House wedding occurred in 1812, the public has been fascinated by all aspects of these events, from decor to fashion to cuisine! Bethanee Bemis, a museum specialist within the Division of Political and Military History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, discusses the public’s interest in White House weddings throughout history, with a sp
Writer Alex Prud’homme discusses the newly issued White House Family Cookbook, by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller with Virginia Aaronson; Foreword by Alex Prud’homme, and reflects on the historical role food and cuisine has played in the Executive Mansion. Mr. Prud’homme also talks about his great aunt Julia Child and her work with White House Executive Chef H
Recorded Live on July 26, 2022 at the White House Historical Association in Washington D.C. The Decatur House Advisory Council includes Nancy Syphax descendent and historian Stephen E. Hammond, curator at Henry Clay’s Ashland estate Eric Brooks, and historical archaeologist Julianna Jackson. This conversation is moderated by Dr. Colleen Shogan, Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Na
On September 23, 2022, the White House Historical Association dedicated a newly installed garden and medallion in honor of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who played a historic role in preserving Lafayette Square during the Kennedy presidency. First Lady Jill Biden underscored the importance of Mrs. Kennedy’s legacy in a ceremony that took place in front of the historic Decatur House. Th
To celebrate the presentation of the official White House portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, the White House Historical Association hosted a special evening at the National Museum of American History on September 7, 2022. Speakers included the Association's President Stewart McLaurin; Chairman of the Association's Board of Directors John F. W. Rogers; the Association's Board of Director