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The White House Historical Association's third lecture in our series "White House History with Ann Compton" featured a panel of speakers, including Betty Monkman, former White House Curator, and Patricia Matson, assistant press secretary for Mrs. Nixon, Anita McBride, Director of the First Lady Initiative at American University and former assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff
White House Historical Association Historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky visited the Eisenhower Presidential Library to present at their monthly Lunch & Learn series. She discussed President Dwight Eisenhower’s time in the White House, his legacy, and his support for innovation and technology, which is featured in this year’s Official 2019 White House Christmas Ornament. Video Courtesy of Dwight D. Eisenhower Pres
First Lady Barbara Bush was admired for her authenticity, as well as her advocacy on issues such as preserving the White House, family literacy, and diplomatic relations during the closing days of the Cold War. In this episode of The 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with USA Today Bureau Chief Susan Page about Barbara Bush’s le
In this special episode of The 1600 Sessions, we turn the tables on our podcast’s usual format. Financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein takes his turn asking more than 50 questions on White House history to White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin. They cover all the basics as well as some of the fun facts you probably didn't know, like which pr
When John Adams first occupied the President's House in 1800, the second floor was generally reserved for private and family use. President Adams kept a small office adjacent to his bedroom on the southwest corner of the house, but other early presidents chose to work in rooms on the state floor. About 1825, the two rooms that we now call the Lincoln
Benjamin H. Latrobe's 1803 drawing of the State Floor indicates that the Red Room served as "the President's Antichamber" for the Cabinet Room and President's Library next door. The Red Room traditionally has served as a parlor or sitting room; recent Presidents have had small dinner parties here.
The State Dining Room, which now 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 Andrew Jackson administration was it called the "State Dining Room," although previous Presidents had used it for formal dinners.
The white marble walls of the Ground Floor corridor complement the vaulted ceiling arching gracefully overhead. Architect James Hoban installed the groin vaulting around 1793. Its sturdy construction withstood the fire of 1814. The vaulted ceiling seen today is a copy of the original vaulting and was built during the Truman Renovation between 1948 and 1952. One of the house's finest architectural elements, this
