Presented by the White House Historical Association
Presidential Portraits
- Host
- Stewart McLaurin
- Guest
- Betty Monkman, Former White House Curator, and William Kloss, Art Historian
- Date
- 2/23/17
- Duration
- 34 minutes
Portrait artists have captured the image and personality of our presidents throughout history, providing a record of their time in office and highlighting their accomplishments and leadership. It wasn’t always tradition to commission a portrait for the president, as it is today. Each one comes with a unique story, from the symbolism in the portrait to the artist who painted it. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to Former White House Curator Betty Monkman and Art Historian William Kloss to learn more about the history of these portraits, how the White House began to collect them, and the stories they tell.
Browse the Presidential Portraits and First Lady Portraits.
Episodes
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Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President
Featuring Jonathan Darman, author of “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President"
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Dinner with the President
Featuring Alex Prud’homme, bestselling author and great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child
-
Jacqueline Kennedy: Art in Cultural Diplomacy
Featuring His Excellency, Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France to the United States; Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of the World Monuments Fund; and Kaywin Feldman, Director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
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Jacqueline Kennedy: Restoring the White House
Featuring Elaine Rice Bachmann, curator of “Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House”
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David Rubenstein on Patriotic Philanthropy
Featuring David Rubenstein, Author and Patriotic Philanthropist
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Jon Meacham on Lincoln and the American Struggle
Featuring Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian
-
White House: Next-Gen Designers
Featuring Tham Kannalikham, White House Historical Association Board Member and former White House interior designer; Steven Spandle, architect of the White House tennis pavilion; and Emily Bedard, Next-Gen Leader and Creative Director for Foster Reeve & Associates
President of the White House Historical Association
As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader and storyteller. His first book, White House Miscellany was published this past year and he authors a quarterly column in the White House History Journal. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.