
Presented by the White House Historical Association
The Decorator-In-Chief
- Host
- Stewart McLaurin
- Guest
- Michael S. Smith, Interior Designer for the Obama White House
- Date
- 9/9/20
- Duration
- 52 minutes
Every administration brings their own personality to the White House, particularly when it comes to the look and feel of the upstairs family quarters. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Michael S. Smith, the “Decorator-in-Chief” for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, about his new book, “Designing History, the Extraordinary Art and Style of the Obama White House.” Buy the Book.
Episodes
-
Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special
Featuring Luci Baines Johnson, Daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson; John Dalton, Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy; Robert McGee, member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council on White House History
-
Home Again with Susan Ford Bales
Featuring Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford
-
U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies
Featuring Anita McBride, founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education and co-author of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies
-
An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford
Featuring Richard Norton Smith, historian and author of "An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford"
-
Bunny Mellon and the White House Rose Garden
Featuring Thomas Lloyd, co-author of “Garden Secrets of Bunny Mellon” and member of the White House Historical Association’s National Council
-
The Ten Habits of Good Citizens
Featuring Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations
-
At the Helm with John H. Dalton
Featuring John H. Dalton, Former Secretary of the Navy and emeritus member of the White House Historical Association's Board of Directors

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.