The White House Historical Association presents The 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and office – The White House.
…
continue reading
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, sits down with White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin to discuss the depth of America’s Irish roots. The history between Ireland and the United States goes back to the founding of America and the Revolutionary War. Irish immigrants and their descendants helped…
…
continue reading
1
91. President Jimmy Carter: Faith, Family, and a Presidency
50:58
50:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:58
Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life,” talks with Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, about the remarkable journey of President Jimmy Carter from peanut farmer to Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Filmed at the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., the church hom…
…
continue reading
1
90. The History of Wine and the White House
37:21
37:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:21
From the hearty Madeira to the fine Château Margaux, wine has a long and important history for presidents’ palates and life in the White House. Even during times of Temperance and Prohibition, as well as the temporary hold on social events during Covid, the serving of wine and its use as a tool of protocol and persuasion managed to persevere. Stewa…
…
continue reading
1
89. Palace of State: The Eisenhower Executive Office Building
51:38
51:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:38
Just steps away from the White House stands the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, also known as the EEOB, and formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building. The EEOB has been called a masterpiece of French Second Empire style yet has had its share of critics as it looks much different than most government buildings in the nation…
…
continue reading
1
88. Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special
1:03:27
1:03:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:27
On November 22, 1963, the world changed forever when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated while campaigning in Dallas, Texas. The youngest man to have been elected president was now the youngest to die in office. That was sixty years ago, and for those who were alive at the time, it is a day they will never forget. In this anniversary…
…
continue reading
It was a homecoming decades in the making. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, had the unique opportunity to bring Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, back to the only place she called home before living in the White House. The Fords moved into the Alexandria, Virginia…
…
continue reading
1
86. U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies
50:14
50:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:14
Since the founding of America, spouses and relatives have served as White House hostess, public servant, and unofficial presidential adviser. Their role has come to be known as first lady but the accomplishments of many have gone unrecognized - until now. Anita McBride was an assistant to President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff to First Lady La…
…
continue reading
1
85. An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford
49:18
49:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:18
Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special town hall gathering to discuss his latest book “An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.” Ford was born in Nebraska and raised in Michigan, surviving a tumultuous sta…
…
continue reading
1
84. Bunny Mellon and the White House Rose Garden
35:29
35:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:29
Philanthropist, stylemaker, and renowned gardener Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon was not formally trained as a horticulturist or landscape designer. However, her natural curiosity, exquisite taste, and disciplined practice, made her much sought after by anyone who wanted a gorgeous garden much like the ones she created on her estates - including Pre…
…
continue reading
Richard Haass has been the President of the Council on Foreign Relations for almost twenty years. In that role as part of an independent, nonpartisan organization much like the White House Historical Association, he has traveled at home and abroad to help people around the world better understand foreign policy choices and their impact. As he moves…
…
continue reading
Former Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton has written a new memoir called “At the Helm: My Journey with Family, Faith, and Friends to Calm the Storms of Life.” Dalton is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served as a Navy submariner much like another USNA graduate, President Jimmy Carter. Dalton is also an emeritus member of the Wh…
…
continue reading
1
81. A Coronation Preview with the British Ambassador to the U.S.
28:53
28:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:53
Britain and the U.S. have long had what Prime Minister Winston Churchill called a “special relationship.” From adversaries to allies, the relationship between the two countries continues to evolve with each new government and administration. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, sat down with Dame Karen Pierce, the …
…
continue reading
1
80. 250 Years of American Political Leadership
34:25
34:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:25
The American experiment has long held the curiosity of people around the world, especially for Iain Dale, an award-winning British author, and radio and podcast host, who has edited a new book of essays called “The Presidents: 250 of American Political Leadership.” These essays, written by academics, historians, political journalists and others, br…
…
continue reading
1
79. Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President
36:19
36:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:19
In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president of the United States. It was in the depth of the Great Depression with a second world war on the horizon, and yet the man known as FDR. managed to bring hope in the most uncertain of times. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Associati…
…
continue reading
From hot dogs to haute cuisine, U.S. Presidents have communicated important messages through food. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses dining diplomacy with bestselling author Alex Prud’homme whose new book is called “Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White…
…
continue reading
1
77. Jacqueline Kennedy: Art in Cultural Diplomacy
19:25
19:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:25
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was the driving force behind a brilliant act of cultural diplomacy: bringing Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, Mona Lisa, to the American people. After convincing everyone from her husband, President John F. Kennedy and French President Charles De Gaulle, to the French Cultural Minister and the Director of the National …
…
continue reading
1
76. Jacqueline Kennedy: Restoring the White House
30:33
30:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:33
When First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took on the herculean task of restoring the interior of the White House, she appointed renowned collector Henry Francis du Pont of Delaware to lead the project. Winterthur, du Pont’s home which he turned into the first Museum of American Decorative Arts in 1951, served as inspiration for the renovation. White Hous…
…
continue reading
1
75. David Rubenstein on Patriotic Philanthropy
13:27
13:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:27
David Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chair of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm based in Washington, DC. He is the host of several interview programs and podcasts, as well as a best-selling author. Rubenstein’s latest book is called “How to Invest: Masters on the Craft.” Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Association, sat dow…
…
continue reading
1
74. Jon Meacham on Lincoln and the American Struggle
38:02
38:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:02
White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin hosted a town hall featuring Jon Meacham at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian, discussed his latest book And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle. It is at St. John’s where President Lincoln would sometimes atten…
…
continue reading
Following in the footsteps of the original White House designer and builder, James Hoban, in this episode of the White House 1600 Sessions we hear from the next generation of designers who have left their mark on the White House. Association president Stewart McLaurin speaks with Tham Kannalikham, White House Historical Association Board Member and…
…
continue reading
1
72. White House Builder James Hoban’s Irish Roots
23:35
23:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:35
Over 200 years ago, James Hoban left Ireland for America to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. Selected by President George Washington to design and build the President’s House, Hoban would go on to create one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world. What is now known as the White House started to come to life when its co…
…
continue reading
1
71. Obama White House Portraits: The Artists
33:13
33:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:13
The White House Historical Association commissions official portraits of the president and first lady. As is the custom, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama picked their portrait artists before leaving office. The artists’ names were kept confidential - until now. The official Obama portraits were unveiled at a White House ceremony…
…
continue reading
Bartlett Sher is a Tony Award-winning director who has brought thoughtful, powerful productions to theaters, opera houses, and film. He is the Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater and one of our greatest storytellers, using the stage to interpret and spotlight stories of American history. He has staged multiple productions at the Kennedy Cen…
…
continue reading
1
69. Jackie Kennedy's White House Guidebook 60th Anniversary
39:55
39:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:55
The first White House guidebook was published in 1962 as a collaboration between First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the new White House Historical Association, and the National Geographic Society. A special edition released on July 28th, 2022, Mrs. Kennedy’s birthday, marks the 60th anniversary of The White House: An Historic Guide. In this episode, we…
…
continue reading
Charleston holds hints and clues to the formative years of the ambitious young Irishman James Hoban and his dream to make his mark in the United States. Join Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association and architectural historian and preservationist Shea McEnerney as they explore the Southern seaport to uncover the influen…
…
continue reading