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Dated August 30, 1791, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson penned this letter in response to Benjamin Banneker questioning his commitment to liberty. Jefferson--a slave owner--acknowledged the paradox and expressed his personal distaste for the institution, but did little else to directly address the issue.
Why did Woodrow Wilson oppose women’s voting rights? More than a century after he dominated American politics, Woodrow Wilson still fascinates. Christopher Cox’s Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn discusses Wilson’s life and legacy, unearthing a man superbly unsuited to the moment when he ascended to the presidency in 1912, as the struggle for women’s voting rights in America
A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official state visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this short video, learn the history
Learn about Theodore Roosevelt's time at the White House including stories about his rambunctious children. Featuring Dr. Matthew Costello, historian at the White House Historical Association and author of The Property of the Nation: George Washington’s Tomb, Mount Vernon, and the Memory of the First President.
The White House is perhaps the most iconic building in the United States. Since its completion in 1800, the “People’s House” has been the home of presidents and first families, a busy workplace, and the site of countless historic happenings and public events. There are many stories to be told about the White House, but few capture the imagination of genera
Learn about the role African American chefs have played in White House history with author Adrian Miller.
Learn about what it is like to work at the White House from Anita McBride, former Chief of Staff for First Lady Laura Bush.
Join the White House Historical Association for a brief look at the history of presidential inaugural ceremonies and how the events surrounding the swearing in of a new president have become bedrock traditions of the peaceful transfer of power.
