Official White House Portraits

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

This portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was painted by artist Frank O. Salisbury. Although the artist had difficulty finding time for the president to sit, Roosevelt eventually sat for this portrait in the Oval Office in 1934. This painting was originally for the Genealogical Society of New York, but Salisbury painted this copy which was added to the White House Collection in 1947 as a gift of Myron C. Taylor.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

Although she sat for several portraits as first lady, this oil on canvas portrait was painted by Douglas Granville Chandor after Eleanor Roosevelt’s time in the White House. In 1949, she sat for the portrait at her New York residence. It was commissioned by her son, Elliot. Upon its completion, the portrait remained in the artist’s collection, along with a matching portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 1965 the White House Historical Association gained the approval of the Roosevelt family to negotiate with Chandor’s widow and acquire the painting. It was successfully purchased for the White House Collection. On February 4, 1966, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson invited more than 250 guests to the White House for the presentation of Eleanor Roosevelt's official portrait. Prior to this, no portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt existed in the White House Collection. The matching portrait of Franklin Roosevelt went to the National Portrait Gallery in 1968.

Harry S. Truman

This oil on canvas portrait of President Harry S. Truman was painted by artist Greta Kempton in 1947 from five sittings in the White House Cabinet Room. She also painted a portrait of First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Truman. The portrait was the gift of anonymous donors and was added to the White House Collection in 1953.

Elizabeth (Bess) Wallace Truman

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace Truman was painted by Greta Kempton in 1967. This portrait is a copy of the 1952 original, also by Kempton. Sittings for that portrait were probably done at Blair House, as the White House was undergoing a major renovation between 1948 and 1952. In 1967, the White House Historical Association gifted a copy of the painting to the White House Collection.

Dwight David Eisenhower

This oil on panel portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower was completed in 1967 by artist James Anthony Wills. Wills painted several portraits of Eisenhower, later becoming his preferred portraitist after his presidency. This portrait was donated to the White House Collection by Harry Darby in 1967.

Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was completed in 1959 by artist Thomas Edgar Stephens. It was completed near the end of the Eisenhower administration from photographs and sittings. Although acquisition of the painting is undocumented, it was added to the White House Collection in 1961.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

This oil on canvas portrait of President John F. Kennedy was completed by artist Aaron Shikler in 1970, seven years after his assassination. The portrait was a composed from a combination of photographs of the president and his brother Edward “Ted” Kennedy, as well as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s commentary. The finished product is a “vague, imprecise portrait.” While there wasn’t an official ceremony to unveil the Kennedy portraits, President Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia Nixon hosted Jacqueline Kennedy and her children at the White House to see the portraits before they were publicly displayed. The portrait was later placed on display in the East Room on February 5, 1971. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was painted by Aaron Shikler in 1970. It was done from sittings at her New York apartment several years after the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. While there wasn’t an official ceremony to unveil the Kennedy portraits, President Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia Nixon hosted Jacqueline Kennedy and her children at the White House to see the portraits before they were publicly displayed. Her portrait was later placed on display in the East Room on February 5, 1971, alongside President Kennedy’s portrait. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Lyndon Baines Johnson

This oil on canvas portrait of President Lyndon Johnson was painted by Elizabeth Shoumatoff in 1968. While President Johnson admired this work, he was less enthusiastic about his first artistic rendering. President Johnson’s first presidential portrait was completed in 1967 by Peter Hurd, an artist best known for his western landscapes and portraits. When the portrait was presented, President Johnson was very unhappy with its appearance calling it “the ugliest thing I ever saw.” Johnson refused to have the painting represent him in the White House. The subsequent tension between the two men played out in the press with Hurd stating in The Washington Post, “He hasn’t the vaguest concept of how art works.” Hurd also defended his piece by noting that he had very little time with Johnson to adequately complete the portrait. He received twenty minutes of the president’s time at Johnson’s Texas ranch and thirty minutes at Camp David before finishing the portrait.

After Johnson’s first portrait was rejected from the White House, it was instead displayed in the National Portrait Gallery. President Johnson chose to have a second portrait done by Elizabeth Shoumatoff. Shoumatoff had previously completed a portrait of Franklin Roosevelt. Shoumatoff was initially brought to the White House in 1968 to paint First Lady Lady Bird Johnson’s portrait. During Lady Bird’s last sitting, Shoumatoff brought in President Johnson to offer his opinion. He was quite impressed with the portrait and called back over his shoulder as he exited the room, “tell her she can sign up to start painting me right away."

Shoumatoff began work on the president’s second portrait in April 1968 and completed it in late July. This time around, President Johnson participated in more sittings than he had done for Peter Hurd, posing seven times in the Lincoln Sitting Room. The result was an oil portrait with Johnson in the foreground and the Capitol dome in the background to represent his time in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is the official portrait of President Johnson in the White House Collection. It was commissioned by the White House Historical Association.

Claudia (Lady Bird) Taylor Johnson

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson was painted by Elizabeth Shoumatoff in 1968. According to historian William Seale, her portrait “is one of the best likenesses of any in the White House” because it captures Lady Bird well even though she was not always photogenic. Lady Bird began sitting for this portrait on November 1, 1967, in the Lincoln sitting room. Over the course of five months, she sat a total of five times. At one of her later sittings, President Johnson was so impressed by the portrait that he agreed to have Shoumatoff complete his portrait as well. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Richard Milhous Nixon

This oil on canvas portrait was painted by James Anthony Wills in 1984, ten years after Nixon resigned from office. It was commissioned and paid for by Richard Nixon himself. The former president donated it to the White House Collection in 1984, replacing the Alexander Clayton portrait as Nixon’s official presidential portrait. Both remain in the White House Collection today.

This portrait by Alexander Clayton was completed in 1981 following sittings with former President Richard Nixon at his New York residence. He poses at this desk with the Oval Office in the background. While there was no official ceremony, it was first displayed on the White House State Floor on November 20, 1981. It was donated by the White House Historical Association. It was later replaced as Nixon’s official portrait with a 1984 portrait by James Anthony Wills. Both remain in the White House Collection today.

Thelma (Patricia) Ryan Nixon

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Pat Nixon was painted by Henriette Wyeth in 1978. It was completed four years after she left the White House. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association and became part of the White House Collection in 1981.

Gerald Rudolph Ford

This oil on canvas portrait of President Gerald Ford was painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler in 1977. President Ford sat for this painting in Vail, Colorado. The tradition of inviting former presidents and first ladies back to the White House to unveil their portrait began with this ceremony. On May 24, 1978, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter unveiled the White House portraits of former President Gerald R. Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford in the East Room of the White House. The Fords were in attendance. Introducing his predecessor, President Carter remarked: “It's with a great deal of pride that I come this afternoon to welcome back to the White House one of my good friends, advisers, counselors, and helpers in the difficult decisions that I as President have to make.” Ford spoke proudly of the White House portraits, telling those in the East Room that “our portraits will be here in the President's house and will reflect our great love and affection for this place and all that it means to the American people.” This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer Ford

This oil on canvas portrait was painted by Felix de Cossio in 1977 after First Lady Betty Ford’s time in the White House. Mrs. Ford sat for this painting in Vail, Colorado. On May 24, 1978, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter unveiled the White House portraits of former President Gerald R. Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford in the East Room of the White House. The Fords were in attendance, starting the tradition of inviting former Presidents and First Ladies back to unveil their portraits. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

James (Jimmy) Earl Carter, Jr.

This oil on canvas painting was completed by renowned American portraitist Herbert Abrams in 1982 after Jimmy Carter's presidency. The painting became Carter's official presidential portrait. This portrait was hung on a wall in the State Floor of the White House on March 17, 1983. President Carter requested that there be no ceremony. Despite Carter’s lack of an unveiling ceremony, the tradition picked up again with President Ronald Reagan’s portrait ceremony.

Eleanor Rosalynn Carter

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Rosalynn Carter was painted by American artist George Augusta in 1984, a few years after the end of Jimmy Carter's presidency. Rosalynn Carter returned to Washington to sit for this portrait at Blair House. At President Carter’s request, there was no portrait unveiling ceremony. This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Ronald Wilson Reagan

This oil on canvas portrait of President Ronald Reagan was painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler in 1991. Kinstler also painted portraits of Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Jimmy Carter, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. His portraits of Reagan and Gerald R. Ford are official presidential portraits. This portrait was painted after Reagan left office. Although there was a portrait unveiling ceremony on November 15, 1989, this was not the portrait displayed. President Reagan did not like his initial portrait done by Aaron Shikler. Everett Raymond Kinstler was commissioned to create this replacement.

This portrait of President Ronald Reagan was painted in 1989 by Aaron Shikler, a portraitist known for his paintings of prominent American politicians and celebrities. In addition to Reagan, who posed for this portrait at the end of his presidency, Shikler painted portraits of President John F. Kennedy and first ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Nancy Reagan. Despite the success of Shikler’s earlier Kennedy portrait, this portrait was widely panned. Reagan sat for this portrait several times and Shikler took photographs during the sittings. Shikler’s first effort at painting Reagan was so dissatisfactory to Nancy Reagan that he destroyed it and started again. The second attempt was commissioned by the White House Historical Association.

On November 15, 1989, this portrait was officially unveiled at the White House in a ceremony attended by the Reagans, members of the White House Historical Association, and members of Reagan's White House Staff. During this ceremony President Bush remarked, “They are donated jointly to the White House for its permanent art collection by the Petrie Foundation and the White House Historical Association.” Bush also noted that the portrait reflected “the qualities that make him so special: kindness, gallantry, decency, and humor.” President Reagan responded with a speech where he stated, “To live in this great house, this unique American symbol of freedom and democracy, is a special privilege and a sacred trust. To work here, too, is an opportunity which few have; but for those who do, we're forever linked in the great adventure known as history.”

Nancy Davis Reagan

This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Nancy Reagan was painted by Aaron Shikler in 1987. Nancy Reagan only sat for Shikler in New York, although he did take photos of her at the White House in 1985. This portrait was officially unveiled at the White House on November 15, 1989, alongside a portrait, also by Shikler, of President Ronald Reagan. During the ceremony President Bush said of Mrs. Reagan’s portrait, “It will hang in the Ground Floor Corridor with those of the most recent former First Ladies. Here stands a person who refurbished the White House with grace and with elegance, who helped millions of Americans say no to drugs and started what has become a real crusade across our country -- thank God -- no to drugs and yes to life." This painting was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

George Herbert Walker Bush

This portrait of President George H.W. Bush was painted by artist Herbert E. Abrams in 1994. It was officially unveiled at the White House on July 17, 1995. The Bush family and many members of the Bush administration staff returned to the White House to attend the ceremony. It was a light-hearted ceremony honoring former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. President Bill Clinton remarked, “President Bush's portrait will hang out here in the Grand Foyer, across from the portrait of President Franklin Roosevelt, the Commander in Chief he served in World War II. It will stand as a reminder of George Bush's basic integrity and decency and of his entire adult lifetime devoted to public service. Most of all, it will stand as a testimony to a leader who helped Americans move forward toward common ground on many fronts. We see this clearly in the causes George Bush led us in as President, causes that aimed at improving the lives not just of Republicans but of all Americans.” The portrait was a gift of Robert E. Krueger and Elizabeth W. Kreuger.

Barbara Pierce Bush

This portrait of First Lady Barbara Bush was done by Charles Fagan in 2005. This was not the portrait presented at the ceremony unveiling the official portrait of President George H.W. Bush on July 17, 1995. Mrs. Bush did not like her first portrait by Herbert E. Abrams and had this second painting completed ten years after the original portrait was unveiled. Millie, the family’s English springer spaniel who lived with the Bushes and gave birth to a litter of puppies at the White House, can be seen at the bottom left. This painting was a gift of Britt and Kaye Rice and was added to the White House Collection in 2005.

This portrait of First Lady Barbara Bush was completed by Herbert E. Abrams in 1994. It was officially unveiled at the White House on July 17, 1995. First Lady Barbara Bush attended the ceremony with President George H.W. Bush and many former members of their staff. During the ceremony both of them had an Abrams portrait unveiled. During President Clinton’s remarks he noted, “Mrs. Bush's portrait will hang adjacent to the Vermeil Room on the ground floor corridor, taking her place in history in the line of America's First Ladies. One role of the First Lady is to open the doors to the White House. Mrs. Bush will be in the hearts of Americans forever for the gracious way in which she opened so many doors, not just to this house but to a world of endless possibility through reading.” She would later have a second portrait completed in 2005 by Charles A. Fagan to replace this one as her official White House portrait.

William Jefferson Clinton

This portrait of President Bill Clinton was painted by renowned artist Simmie Knox in 2002 after Clinton left office. Knox, who also painted a portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton, became the first African American selected to complete an official White House portrait. Both portraits of the Clintons by Knox debuted in the East Room of the White House on June 14, 2004. During the ceremony President George W. Bush gave a warm speech praising former President Bill Clinton. He stated, “Over 8 years, it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the Presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy. He's a man of enthusiasm and warmth, who could make a compelling case and effectively advance the causes that drew him to public service.” This portrait was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

This portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton was painted by renowned artist Simmie Knox in 2002 after Bill Clinton left office. Knox, who also painted a portrait of President Clinton, became the first African American selected to complete an official White House portrait. Both portraits of the Clintons by Knox debuted in the East Room of the White House on June 14, 2004. During the ceremony President Bush stated, “It takes an extraordinary person to campaign and win the United States Senate. She has proven herself more equal to the challenge, and she takes an interesting spot on American history today, for she is the only sitting Senator whose portrait hangs in the White House.” On the table stands a dinner plate of the china service donated to the White House in commemoration of its 200^th anniversary. This service was also given to the White House by the White House Historical Association.

George Walker Bush

This portrait of President George Bush was completed by artist John Howard Sanden in 2011. It was officially unveiled at the White House on May 31, 2012. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, and former First Lady Laura Bush all made statements about the paintings during this light-hearted bipartisan event in the East Room. Former President George H.W. and former First Lady Barbara Bush also attended the ceremony. At the ceremony Laura Bush quipped, “It was really gracious of you to invite us back to the White House to hang a few family pictures. Nothing makes a house a home like having portraits of its former occupants staring down at you from the walls.” The background is the Oval Office, and behind President Bush is W.H.D. Koerner’s “A Charge to Keep,” one of his favorite paintings. The painting was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Laura Lane Welch Bush

This portrait of First Lady Laura Bush was completed in 2011 by artist John Howard Sanden. It was officially unveiled at the White House on May 31, 2012. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, and former First Lady Laura Bush all made statements about the paintings during this light-hearted event in the East Room. Former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush also attended the ceremony. At the ceremony Laura Bush quipped, “It was really gracious of you to invite us back to the White House to hang a few family pictures. Nothing makes a house a home like having portraits of its former occupants staring down at you from the walls.” The background is the Green Room, which underwent refurbishing during Mrs. Bush’s time in the White House. The painting was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Barack Obama

This portrait of President Barack Obama was completed in 2018 by artist Robert McCurdy. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in the White House East Room to unveil their official portraits on September 7, 2022. President Obama’s portrait marks a departure from previous presidential portraiture. He is depicted against a stark white background. The painting was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Michelle Obama

This portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama was completed in 2018 by artist Sharon Sprung. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in the White House East Room to unveil their official portraits on September 7, 2022. In the portrait, Michelle Obama is depicted in the Red Room. The painting was a gift of the White House Historical Association.

Please credit The White House Historical Association by its full name when using this as background material. Specific sources consulted available upon request.