This is the inside back cover of an event program for a formal dinner hosted by President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter in honor of state governors and their spouses attending the winter meeting of the National Governors' Association. The event was held on February 26, 1980. Following the dinner, guests traveled to the Eisenhower Theatre at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to attend a performance of the play "The Elephant Man." This page of the program shows the playbill cover, and also lists the refreshments served during intermission at the play. To view the complete program, see 1127239.
This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller oversaw the menus for many formal dinners at the White House.
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.