This photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on October 28, 2019, shows the South Portico of the White House decorated for a Halloween celebration hosted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for local schoolchildren and military families. The Halloween decorations, planned by the first lady and social secretary Anna Cristina "Rickie" Niceta Lloyd, featured silhouettes of forest trees against the columns of the South Portico and cascading pumpkins down the South Portico's East and West staircases. In this photograph, members of the United States Air Force Strolling Strings can be seen behind a sign for the event on the South Portico.
Photographer
Matthew D'Agostino
Date of Work
October 28, 2019
Type
Photograph
Credit
Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association
Families taking up residence at the White House since the Theodore Roosevelt administration have encountered the public's insatiable appetite for stories of everyday life in the Executive Mansion. With the common reproduction of photographs in newspapers and magazines by the early 20th century, presidential pets had to accept the same scrutiny as their distinguished masters. Whether providing companionship or humanizing
Since the beginning of the American presidency, dogs have often shared a presence in both the first family and the White House. In fact, 30 out of the 44 presidents have had a dog at some point during their respective presidencies. These dogs were not only important in the lives of the presidents and their families, but also to the American public.