Getting It Right
On March 4, 1809, at Washington’s first inaugural ball, one keen local observer recorded that the new first lady, Dolley Payne To...
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The White House Social Secretary: Job Description and Work Culture
What are the responsibilities of the social secretary? The social secretary works with the first lady in the overall planning,...
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The Life and Presidency of Warren G. Harding
The son of a farmer-doctor, Warren Gamaliel Harding was born in 1865 in Corsica (now Blooming Grove), Ohio. As a boy...
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The West Wing: 1950-1974
1953: President Truman's last speech as president.
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Keeping Cool in the White House
During the 19th century Washington’s infamous summer heat and humidity presented challenges to presidents and their families. In that pr...
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Our 2015 Ornament Design Inspiration
The Coolidges celebrated their first Christmas in the White House in 1923 quietly with their sons, Calvin Jr. and John, who...
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A Coolidge Christmas
In 1923 holiday anticipation grew among Washington residents, especially among the First Family. President Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge awaited...
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The Fireside Chats: Roosevelt's Radio Talks
“The president wants to come into your home and sit at your fireside for a little fireside chat,” announced Robert Trou...
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The Locomotive Tea Set
The Statue of Liberty that stands in New York Harbor is surely the largest gift from France to this country....
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The Chandeliers of the East Room
After ascending the staircase from the Ground Floor to the State Floor, the first room that visitors on a tour...
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The Diplomatic Reception Room's Historic Wallpaper
After the destruction of the White House by the British in 1814, the Executive Mansion was reconstructed with a servants’ hall di...
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Lou Hoover: Charity in the White House
Following her death in 1944, one newspaper remarked that “Lou Henry Hoover’s life was a full, rich one, which has left...