
Presented by the White House Historical Association
The Decorator-In-Chief
- Host
- Stewart McLaurin
- Guest
- Michael S. Smith, Interior Designer for the Obama White House
- Date
- 9/9/20
- Duration
- 52 minutes
Every administration brings their own personality to the White House, particularly when it comes to the look and feel of the upstairs family quarters. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Michael S. Smith, the “Decorator-in-Chief” for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, about his new book, “Designing History, the Extraordinary Art and Style of the Obama White House.” Buy the Book.
Episodes
-
Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency
Featuring Mark K. Updegrove, author and President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation
-
The Next Generation: What the White House Means to Me
Featuring Next-Gen Leaders: Emily Bedard, Genevieve Bellaire, Royce Dickerson, Giacomo Ferragamo, Lindsay Moynihan, Dean Vu, Sean Sandrock, Tyler Burkhardt
-
The White House Recording Library: The Forgotten Collection
Featuring John Chuldenko, writer, director, and grandson of President Jimmy Carter
-
Abraham Lincoln, Robert Burns, and the Scottish Connection
Featuring Professor Murray Pittock, Burns historian and professor of literature at the University of Glasgow; Mr. Ian Houston, President of the Scottish Business Network Americas
-
The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments
Featuring Richard Rovsek, Board Trustee at Spirit of Liberty Foundation; Dave Marquis, President of ChemArt, Kim Fyfe, Graphics Manager at ChemArt
-
Voices from a Night at the Met
Featuring First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, David M Rubenstein, Al Roker, Fred Ryan, NYU Steinhardt School Chamber Orchestra

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.