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Scholarship
Passover Celebrations in the White House
On December 9, 1805, President Thomas Jefferson hosted what is believed to be the first ifṭār dinner, breaking the Muslim fast of Ramadan precisely at sunset.1 President Jefferson’s guest of honor, Sultan Soliman Melimeli, was the Tunisian envoy to the United States, whose official visit had begun ten days earlier with the intent of improving the fate of American merchant vesse
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Scholarship
American Fashions for American First Ladies: How Ellen and Edith Wilson’s Time in the White House Led to the Expectation for First Ladies to “Buy American”
In 2011, American fashion designer Oscar de la Renta criticized First Lady Michelle Obama for wearing a British label, Alexander McQueen, to a State Dinner for President Hu Jintao of China at the White House.1 Although Mrs. Obama was known for wearing American designers, including more affordable options such as J.Crew, this criticism attracted press attention and is the kind
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Scholarship
The Carters at Camp David
When considering Jimmy Carter’s presidential legacy, many historians, scholars, and foreign policy experts often cite the Camp David Accords. President Carter used Camp David as a backdrop during thirteen days of negotiation between Israeli and Egyptian leaders, before signing the accords at the White House on September 17, 1978. Although Camp David played a critical role in one of Carter’s majo
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Scholarship
Architecture: 1790s-1840s
1790sThe Presidents House was a major feature of Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1791 plan for the city of Washington. He envisioned a vast palace for the President, a house five times the size of the house which would be built. It was planned and constructed under the personal supervision of President George Washington.
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Scholarship
A Transatlantic Journey
Sandham Symes (1807-1894) was an Irishman and architect by profession who was noted for the design of many well-known buildings in Ireland. He was also an accomplished artist and well-travelled man who held a variety of eclectic interests. One of Symes finest collections of drawings and paintings that form part of this legacy are those originating from the time he
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Scholarship
Architecture: 1850s-1890s
1850sJames Buchanan, at the urging of his niece and White House hostess Harriet Lane, added a wooden greenhouse on the roof of the west terrace in 1857, adjacent to the State Dining Room. One could enter a private world of plants and flowers grown for decorating the house. This simple structure burned in 1867 and was replaced by iron and wood structure
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Scholarship
Architecture: 1900s-1940s
1900sOne of Theodore Roosevelts earliest acts as President was to issue an order establishing the "White House" as the buildings official name. Previously, it had been called the "Presidents House" or the "Executive Mansion." This decision portended more serious discussion regarding the status of the house. In 1902, Mrs. Roosevelt asked the distinguished architect Charles McKim for his advice. His recommendations
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Architecture: 1950s-2000s
1950sSoon after moving into the White House in 1945, President Truman noticed large areas of cracking in the plaster throughout the house. A structural survey revealed major problems caused by stress from the 1902 floor-bearing steel beams and the weight of the third floor and roof, all pressing against the inner brick walls. In 1948 Truman appointed a Commission on the Renovation of
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Article
Unbuilt White Houses of the 19th Century
Throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century, several major proposals were made to alleviate crowding at the White House by erecting a new residence for the president and converting the old building to office and ceremonial use. A new mansion would also relieve concerns for the president's health. Tiber Creek had been walled and deepened early in the century,
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Article
An Artist Visits the White House Past
The fourteen paintings in this series were commissioned from Peter Waddell beginning in 2004 by the White House Historical Association. It was the associations wish that the artist create well-researched pictures representing different periods from the White House past that were not drawn, painted, or photographed definitively in their own times. Rather than attempting to capture great events, Waddell decided to
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Article
An Essay on "A Bird that Whistles" by Peter Waddell
President Thomas Jefferson took office on the then-Inauguration Day of March 4, 1801, following a party win in the contentious campaign of the previous autumn, and the bitter congressional balloting that followed in January and February to determine between Jefferson and Aaron Burr, who would be the president and who the vice president.From the beginning Jefferson had thought the President's House
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Article
An Essay on "A Favorable Day" by Peter Waddell
Dawn breaks over the White House stables on March 4, 1873. The grooms and coachmen are up early to prepare for President Ulysses S. Grant's second inaugural parade. Details have been taken by the artist from historic photographs. The carriage in the picture, which was a sporting vehicle made to accommodate hunting dogs, still exists.This stable was the fourth built at