Presented by the White House Historical Association
Presidential Portraits
- Host
- Stewart McLaurin
- Guest
- Betty Monkman, Former White House Curator, and William Kloss, Art Historian
- Date
- 2/23/17
- Duration
- 34 minutes
Portrait artists have captured the image and personality of our presidents throughout history, providing a record of their time in office and highlighting their accomplishments and leadership. It wasn’t always tradition to commission a portrait for the president, as it is today. Each one comes with a unique story, from the symbolism in the portrait to the artist who painted it. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to Former White House Curator Betty Monkman and Art Historian William Kloss to learn more about the history of these portraits, how the White House began to collect them, and the stories they tell.
Browse the Presidential Portraits and First Lady Portraits.
Episodes
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Back in the Blue Room: Restoring the Bellangé Suite
Featuring Lydia Tederick, Curator of the White House, and Melissa Naulin, Assistant Curator of the White House
-
Beyond the Textbook: Teaching White House History
Featuring Janet Tran, Associate Director of Education, Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute; Monica Logothetis, Co-founder and CEO, DreamWakers; Julie Teer, Chief Development and Public Affairs Officer, Boys Girls Clubs of America
-
Preserving Presidential History
Featuring David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States
-
America’s Pastime and the Presidency
Featuring Former White House speechwriter and author Curt Smith, former sports reporter and author Fred Frommer, and sports lawyer and former PA announcer Phil Hochberg
-
Decatur House, the President’s Neighbor
Featuring Katherine Malone-France, Vice President for Historic Sites at National Trust for Historic Preservation and Osborne Mackie, author and antiques & fine arts expert
-
The Irish Architect and the Scottish Stonemasons
Featuring Historian Dr. Ed Lengel, Architect and Author Merlo Kelly, and Scottish Stonemason Charles Jones
President of the White House Historical Association
As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader and storyteller. His first book, White House Miscellany was published this past year and he authors a quarterly column in the White House History Journal. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.