Awakening the Spirit of America

Author Paul Sparrow, former director of the FDR Presidential Library, will join to discuss his new book, Awakening the Spirit of America, and more.

Credit: White House Historical Association

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White House History Live
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The Nixon White House 1969 - 1974

On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the thirty-seventh president of the United States. During his time in the White House (1969–74), President Nixon sought to unite a divided nation after the social, political, and cultural turbulence of the 1960s. Before becoming president, Nixon served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as
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State Dinners

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 collection, explore the history of
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Weddings and the White House

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 nineteen documented weddings and four receptions hosted
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Video from Lectures and Events
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Inauguration 2021 Virtual Events
Scholarship
Additional Resources for Slavery in the President's Neighborhood

For Teachers Classroom Resource Packet: Slavery, Freedom, and the White HouseJames Madison's Montpelier: Fate in the BalanceThe Enslaved Household of Thomas JeffersonElizabeth Keckly: From Slavery to the White HouseWHTTI Session with the Decatur House Advisory CouncilThe Burning of the White House (Makematic)White House Valets (Makematic)Student Plays
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White House History Live: President Garfield, From Radical to Unifier

Join us in learning more about White House History right from your own home. Our Facebook Live series, White House History Live, delves into the stories that make up the history of the Executive Mansion. Bestselling author and historian C.W. Goodyear will discuss his new biography of James A. Garfield. This work offers fresh insight and nuance to the
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Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy

Dr. Stephen Knott discusses his latest book, Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy. Knott examines the Kennedy presidency through the lens of five critical issues: his interpretation of presidential power, his approach to civil rights, and his foreign policies. Knott also explores the evolving interpretations of his presidency and legacy.
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President Garfield, From Radical to Unifier

Bestselling author and historian C.W. Goodyear discusses his new biography of President James A. Garfield. This work offers fresh insight and nuance to the life and times of the 20th President of the United States of America, as well as his remarkable ascent in American politics.
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Behind the Scenes with David Hume Kennerly

This program features Pulitzer Prize-winner David Hume Kennerly, who was President Gerald R. Ford’s chief photographer. Kennerly details his experience working in the White House, the stories behind his iconic photographs, and shows images that reveal the character of the Ford family.
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The Washingtons, The Custises, and the Making of America

This program explores the history of the nation's first "first family," tracing George Washington's stepgrandchildren, the Custises, from childhood celebrities to carriers of the Washington legacy in nineteenth century America. Author Cassandra Good discusses her book, First Family, sharing behind-the-scenes insights on reconstructing the story of this once-famous family.