Collection The Ford White House 1974 - 1977
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to...
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Abraham Lincoln could neither sing nor read music, but he loved music with a passion. He attended the opera at least thirty times while he was president, and when once criticized for these diversions during the turbulent Civil War years, he said frankly, "I must have a change or I will die." Inside the White House, music reflected America’s eclectic tastes in music: the nine-year-old piano prodigy, Tereas Carreno; the singing dwarf, Commodore Nutt; and the American Indian songstress, Larooqua, all performed on various occasions. Outside the White House, far into the night, masses sang George F. Root’s immortal "Battle Cry of Freedom," Dan Emmett’s "Dixie" and other tunes that revealed the soul of a people, who knew the powers of both tragedy and joy, defeat and victory. After the war, when Andrew Johnson took office in 1865, the tone of musical expression in the mansion changed through the lighthearted interests of the Johnson children and grandchildren. Described by some as "an old-fashioned, hospitable, home-like farm house," the White House under Andrew Johnson rang with children’s voices, games, good spirits, music, and especially dancing.
Landmark Era Performances, 1861-1865:
War songs and patriotic music often were performed at the Lincoln White
House. President Lincoln was especially fond of the Marine Band
performances in the White House and weekly concerts on the grounds.
President Lincoln reviews New York volunteer troops on Independence Day, 1861, before the White House.
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to...
There is a long history of Scottish influence on the White House, dating back to the Scottish stonemasons that contributed...
Bartlett Sher is a Tony Award-winning director who has brought thoughtful, powerful productions to theaters, opera houses, and film. He...
A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was...
White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin hosted a town hall featuring Jon Meacham at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Me...
The White House Historical Association has been preserving and sharing White House history since its founding by First Lady Jacqueline...
The White House Historical Association presents The White House 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal...
From your family to the First Family, the winter holidays are a special time of year. Stewart McLaurin explores the...
Music is often called the universal language. It has been known to break down barriers and shape historic events in...
The White House Historical Association is making history come alive in new and interesting ways. Stewart McLaurin hosts a roundtable...
Americans are familiar with the ceremonies of Inauguration Day, when a new President takes the oath of office at the...
Portrait artists have captured the image and personality of our presidents throughout history, providing a record of their time in...