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Chefs prepare the cake for the wedding of Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox on June 11, 1971 From left to right: Heinz Bender, Hans Raffert, Maurice Bonte, and Henry Haller. Later, Haller recalled, “It was six or eight tiers. You see, the cake had to be really big because the East Room has a very high ceiling; so if you put a small cake in there, it looks like nothing. You don’t worry about a little bit of overproduction here; you make a big cake.”
Library of Congress
Clinton family poses with White House residence staff under North Portico, 2004. When Bill and Hillary Clinton returned to the White House for the official unveiling of their portraits in June 2004, they and their daughter, Chelsea, recalled some of the memorable times they had shared with members of the staff.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
First Lady Patricia Nixon's birthday party, 1972. On the occasion of First Lady Pat Nixon’s 60th birthday, White House staff members wished her a “Happy 39th” in the spirit of comedian Jack Benny’s longstanding joke that he perpetually remained 39 years old.
Courtesy of Henry & Carole Haller and FamilyAbout this Gallery
The memories of White House workers include not only times of grief, war, and political tension, but also charming moments with the first children, joy, humor, excitement, and satisfaction with a job well done.
For more than one hundred years, White House Social Secretaries have demonstrated a profound knowledge of protocol and society in Washington, D.C. The position had its beginnings in the Theodore Roosevelt administration when First Lady Edith Roosevelt hired an executive clerk. From the intricacies of ceremony planning to routine office work, the social secretary must possess unfailing tact in
For more than two centuries, the White House has been the home of American presidents. A powerful symbol of the nation, it is a uniquely private and public space. Since John and Abigail Adams first moved into the “President’s House” in November 1800, hundreds of individuals have worked behind the scenes to help the White House fulfill its roles as a seat
The White House Military Social Aides have played an important role in many different White House events and functions. They have assisted the President with diplomatic protocol at State events, at annual meetings with the leaders of Congress and the Federal Judiciary, and at other significant social events. Military Social Aides play the role of assistant hosts at the White
While the presidency is often in the eye of the public, those who ensure operations at the White House run smoothly on a day-to-day basis often carry out their work behind the scenes. Furthermore, some of the president's most intimate relationships play out behind the walls of the Executive Mansion. In this collection, pull back the curtain on some of
