The White House Historical Association and the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project present this collaboration in an effort to open a window into the Roosevelt White House. From 1935 to 1962, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a syndicated column entitled "My Day." This project selects representative samples of those columns, focused on the White House years, to display Mrs. Roosevelt’s thoughts on a

Since the White House was first occupied by President John Adams in 1800, influential people and organizations—or those who hoped to have influence—have bought property and built homes and offices along the streets surrounding the White House. For more than two centuries, this neighborhood has been the setting for political decision-making and diplomacy, social gatherings and protests, wartime expediencies and

Two grand houses were under construction in the young Federal City in 1816: one the President’s House, reconstructed after it was burned by the British in 1814, and the other Tudor Place, an elegant mansion rising on the heights above Georgetown. The connection between these two houses is more than temporal, as they were connected through lineage and politics for generations. Th

Animals, whether pampered household pets, working livestock, birds, squirrels, or strays, have long been a major part of White House life. Some pets provided companionship to the president and his family. Others gained fame for a role in shaping the president's image. No matter what job was bestowed upon them, pets at the Executive Mansion did it well.This collection

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to office at the height of the Great Depression. He ushered in an environment of hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action for America. His wife, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, broke many precedents by holding press conferences, giving lectures and radio broadcasts, and traveling. The Roosevelts brought change and hope to the American people

President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s advocacy for the arts endures as a vital part of their White House legacy. From 1961 to 1963, the White House became a focal point for the arts and cultural engagement. The Kennedys hosted numerous concerts and performances and infused the Executive Mansion and the country with the same vitality, youth, and id

President Harry S. Truman was close to his friends and associates, had a grin for strangers, but could be less than tolerant of some critics. The famous sign placed on his desk in the Oval Office, “The Buck Stops Here,” made it clear that as president he was responsible for all that happened on his watch. He came to the pres

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the only army general elected president in the twentieth century. His achievements were many — he was an innovator and had strong executive ability and the gift of command. From his regular television appearances and use of helicopters to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Interstate Highway System, Eisenhower displayed leadership and a

Since the first cherry blossom planting in 1912 by First Lady Helen Herron Taft, Washingtonians have celebrated the scenic beauty and the coming of spring the cherry trees represent. Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place in early spring when the blossoms are in full bloom, has become a major event, drawing tourists and locals alike. First ladies have

While there has yet to be a female president, women have played an integral role in shaping the White House and its history. From first ladies and hostesses to demonstrators and enslaved workers, women have been intricately involved with the White House since its inception. In this collection, find a sampling of stories about women and their work in the