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Something Old, Something New: Tricia Nixon
Tricia Nixon, elder daughter of President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, married Edward “Ed” Finch Cox, a Harvard law student, on June 12, 1971.
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2023 Presidents' Day Wreath Laying Ceremonies
For Presidents’ Day 2023, the White House Historical Association partnered with US Embassies around the world for an international wreath laying ceremony at presidential statues and monuments. This collaboration honors the history of American presidents globally and brings attention to the meaningful leadership that each of these statues represent. The tradition began in 2022 when WHHA partnered with the US Consulate in Ed
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The Johnson White House: 1963-1969
On November 22, 1963, about two hours after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Banes Johnson took the Oath of Office, becoming the thirty-sixth president of the United States. As president, LBJ immediately set out to heal a mourning nation while advancing legislation to bolster Kennedy’s legacy. On July 2, 1964, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in th
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The White House is Falling Down
"The damned place is haunted, sure as shootin. . . . You and Margie had better come back and protect me before some of these ghosts carry me off." Harry Truman, in a letter to his wife Bess, September 9, 1946Shortly after moving into the White House, President Truman noticed the telltale signs of a building under serious physical stress. He frequently complained of
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The Return of the Chief
On the evening of March 27, 1952, in a small ceremony at the entrance door, President Truman received a gold key to the newly renovated White House. After spending more than three years living in the smaller quarters of the Blair House across the street, the first family returned to the mansion for their first night back in residence. It was both
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Reports from White House Easter Egg Rolls Past
The annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House has been a regular public event since 1878 and a subject of interest to Americans across the country. To learn more about the White House Easter Egg Roll, click here.
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Turkey Traditions at the White House
While the official turkey pardon was not adopted as an event until the late twentieth century, the custom of giving of a turkey (or two) to the First Family goes back to the late-nineteenth century. The 1920s saw an abundance of the birds sent to the Executive Mansion through the generosity of the American people. In the mid-twentieth century, the
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New Year's Day Receptions
On January 1, 1801, the first public reception was held in the President's House, and a democratic social custom began. From 1801 until its end in 1932, the New Year's Reception at the White House was a tradition met with anticipation by diplomats, government officials, military officers, and the public alike. Everyone from the common citizen to the highest-ranking diplomat was welcomed. By the
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Fourth of July
For most of the nineteenth century, the annual Fourth of July reception was a great day for public celebration at the White House. Although a reception is no longer held, presidents and their families continued to host garden events, picnics, and parties on and around the American holiday.
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The State Dining Room
The State Dining Room, which seats as many as 140 guests, was originally much smaller and served at various times as a drawing room, office, and Cabinet Room. Not until the middle of the nineteenth century was it referred to as the “State Dining Room,” although previous presidents had used it for formal dinners. Today’s State Dining Room incorporates the space
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The Family Dining Room
The Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the White House today is used primarily for smaller formal dinners and working lunches. First families have traditionally dined in the Family Dining Room since about 1825 when President John Quincy Adams and First Lady Louisa Catherine Adams began to take their meals there. Designated the “small dining room” or “private dining room,”
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The White House Historical Association Christmas Ornament Collection
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament. This gallery showcases every ornament we've created, including our new 2024 design, which you can purchase for your own collection in our online shop.