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President of the United States and Commander in Chief are titles that only 45 unique men over 46 presidencies have carried since the office was established in 1789. It is a role that is continually being shaped and reshaped through each decade, presidency, personality, and each of the character traits that have defined these men. Author, historian, and attorney, Talmage Boston, set out to see what made eight of these presidents a great leader - from George Washington to Ronald Reagan - in his new book “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.”
White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin sat down with Talmage to talk about the lessons outlined in the book, as well as how those lessons can be applied by people in all walks of life, and of all ages, who want to work on becoming a better leader, and perhaps, even a better citizen. They discuss examples of these presidents’ strengths and character, as well as some of their flaws and shortcomings. With dozens of leadership traits, you can learn how to inspire optimism like Ronald Reagan, learn from your mistakes like John F. Kennedy, manage teams like Dwight D. Eisenhower, and more.
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Theodore Roosevelt is often thought of as the Rough Rider and the man known for quoting the proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick….“ Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, met with Edward O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation and author of the new book called The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President to discuss another side of T.R.: the five extraordinary women without whom he may never have become the 26th President of the United States.
Join Stewart and Ed as they visit Theodore Roosevelt Island, the national memorial located in Washington, D.C.’s Potomac River, and reflect on the man born in New York City who some would call “the conservation president.” Roosevelt was an imperfect man of his time, one born to privilege but who advocated the strenuous life after struggling with ill-health and losing two of his greatest loves, his mother and his first wife, on the same day. We learn about his mother, Martha, a Southern belle with a keen wit, and Alice, his college sweetheart and first wife, who drew him away from science and into politics, including the support of women’s suffrage.
We meet T.R.’s older sister, Anna, who would become his trusted advisor and political strategist, and his younger sister, Corinne, would become one of his best promoters. Then we’re introduced to First Lady Edith Carow Roosevelt, Theodore’s childhood playmate and second wife, who would go on to leave her own mark on the White House both in the role of presidential spouse as well as with a major renovation of the Executive Mansion. Hear more about these five women, an update on the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library being built in North Dakota, and get a view of Theodore Roosevelt Island, in this episode of The White House 1600 Sessions.
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Washington National Cathedral sits atop the highest point in Washington, D.C. and is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. This splendid example of Gothic architecture is not only the home to an Episcopal congregation but a house of prayer for all people from around the United States and the world. When President George Washington commissioned Major Pierre L'Enfant in 1791 to create a plan for the new capital city, L'Enfant included in his design a great church for national purposes.
The idea never happened as L'Enfant envisioned, instead it would be more than 100 years before Congress granted a charter authorizing a cathedral dedicated to religion, education, and charity. Construction began in 1907 and the Washington National Cathedral took shape during two World Wars, the Great Depression and 16 presidencies - from President Theodore Roosevelt to President George H.W. Bush. We know it today as a sacred place which holds state funerals of presidents, memorial services of great Americans, as well as national prayer services. There’s even one president buried at the Cathedral.
White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin is joined by the Very Reverend Randolph Hollerith, the 11th Dean of Washington National Cathedral, and Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope, the Provost of Washington National Cathedral, to discuss the role the Cathedral has played in America’s history and the indelible link it has to those who hold the office of the President of the United States. We also go on a tour of the Cathedral and see where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his final Sunday sermon, where a stone taken from the White House during the Truman renovation is embedded into a wall of the Cathedral, and many more treasures.
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Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, sits down with White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin to discuss the depth of America’s Irish roots. The history between Ireland and the United States goes back to the founding of America and the Revolutionary War. Irish immigrants and their descendants helped build this country, including the Irish-born James Hoban, who emigrated to the U.S. and went on to design the White House. Millions of Americans claim their Irish heritage, including half of all U.S. presidents.
So, it's no surprise that the White House continues to mark the month of March with several St. Patrick’s Day traditions, from the gifting of shamrocks between a representative of Ireland’s leadership to the president to dyeing the water green in the White House fountains. But the relationship between Ireland and the United States extends beyond these celebrations, with diplomacy and investment driving a longstanding friendship built on a spirit of independence. In the words of President Joe Biden, "the fabric of modern America is woven through with the green of the Emerald Isle.”
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Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life,” talks with Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, about the remarkable journey of President Jimmy Carter from peanut farmer to Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Filmed at the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., the church home of the Carters while they lived in the White House, Stewart and Jonathan met with Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell, who showed them rare memorabilia, including the Carter family’s original membership cards, where Amy received baptism, and where the President taught adult Sunday school more than a dozen times during his presidency.
Born in Plains, Georgia on October 1, 1924, President Carter grew up without running water or electricity. Eager to leave home, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, married, and served in the U.S. Navy. He and his young wife and kids returned to Plains to help save the family farm after his father passed away. From there, he took an interest in politics, working his way up from county boards to the Georgia State Senate to the Governor’s Mansion. Then he and Mrs. Carter launched into national politics, winning the 1976 election and moving to Washington, D.C. with their youngest child and only daughter, Amy. Known for a life of faith and service, the 39th President of the United States became the longest-lived president and half of the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. history.
Stewart and Jonathan talk about the Carters’ time in the White House and the decades-long post-presidency they spent creating The Carter Center, which works to alleviate human suffering around the world, and among many other things, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and raising awareness about mental health and caregiving.
The Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament features a unique design inspired by the life and presidency of Jimmy Carter. You can purchase an ornament at this link.
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From the hearty Madeira to the fine Château Margaux, wine has a long and important history for presidents’ palates and life in the White House. Even during times of Temperance and Prohibition, as well as the temporary hold on social events during Covid, the serving of wine and its use as a tool of protocol and persuasion managed to persevere.
Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, interviews Frederick J. Ryan about the new edition of his book published with the Association, “Wine and the White House: A History.” Sitting in the wine cellar at The Jefferson, a hotel located just blocks from the White House, Stewart and Fred talk about the unique role wine plays in presidential entertaining and social diplomacy.
This episode showcases the features of the new edition which has chapters on all the presidents from Washington to Biden, explores several of the favorite vintages served at the White House, highlights the art of giving a toast, and pages of menus from historic White House gatherings.
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Just steps away from the White House stands the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, also known as the EEOB, and formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building.
The EEOB has been called a masterpiece of French Second Empire style yet has had its share of critics as it looks much different than most government buildings in the nation’s capital. The granite, slate and cast-iron exterior has stood for more than 150 years, and originally housed the departments of State, War, and the Navy. Today this building contains the office of the vice president, most senior presidential staff members, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the National Security Council staff, among others. Though it was threatened with alteration or demolition several times throughout its existence, and even survived a couple of fires, the EEOB was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969. One reason this building remains in working condition is thanks to the preservation efforts of John F.W. Rogers who started the renovation process while serving as an assistant to President Ronald Reagan. White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin spoke with John about his passion for preservation and education, a role John continues as the Association’s chairman of the board. Learn about the EEOB’s rich architecture and legacy, and follow along as they take you on a rare tour of the incredible spaces and hallowed halls which have borne witness to history.
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On November 22, 1963, the world changed forever when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated while campaigning in Dallas, Texas. The youngest man to have been elected president was now the youngest to die in office. That was sixty years ago, and for those who were alive at the time, it is a day they will never forget.
In this anniversary episode, White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin hears the personal experiences of several people with not only a front row seat to history, but who were a part of it: Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was in a high school class when she heard the president had been shot; former secretary of the Navy, John Dalton, marched as a midshipman with the United States Naval Academy in President Kennedy’s funeral procession; and Robert McGee, the son of a United States senator who was a friend of the president, witnessed First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and daughter Caroline pay their respects to their husband and father as he lain in state at the Capitol rotunda.
This special episode reflects how the 35th president of the United States, who served barely 1000 days of his term, inspired an entire generation to reach for a new frontier - and whose death, and promise, continues to reverberate around the world.
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It was a homecoming decades in the making. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, had the unique opportunity to bring Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, back to the only place she called home before living in the White House. The Fords moved into the Alexandria, Virginia home in the 1950’s while he served as a U.S. Congressman from Michigan. It was in this home that Susan and her three older brothers grew up, celebrating birthdays and Christmases, swimming in the backyard, and eating family dinners. It was also here that Susan answered the phone when President Richard Nixon called to offer her father the job of Vice President. Little did they know that this home would also essentially be the White House until the Nixon family vacated the other one after the president resigned. It was an emotional trip down memory lane for Susan who had not returned to the landmarked home in years. While it is a private residence, the current owners were kind enough to welcome Stewart and Susan for a very special episode in which Susan shares personal stories of her time in the White House and her role in carrying on her parents’ legacy.
The Association’s Official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament features decorations inspired by the handcrafted decorations used in the White House during the Ford administration. You can purchase an ornament at this link.
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Since the founding of America, spouses and relatives have served as White House hostess, public servant, and unofficial presidential adviser. Their role has come to be known as first lady but the accomplishments of many have gone unrecognized - until now. Anita McBride was an assistant to President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and is the current director of American University’s First Ladies Initiative. She is also a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) alongside Diana Carlin and Nancy Kegan Smith. These three have co-authored a new college textbook called “U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies.” The textbook is the first of its kind, and includes a foreword by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. There will also be a trade book released called "Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women." Association president and host Stewart McLaurin sat down with Anita at the Dolley Madison House in Washington, DC for an insightful interview that reveals a fascinating history of how first ladies have influenced American society, public policy, diplomacy, and life in the White House.
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Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special town hall gathering to discuss his latest book “An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.” Ford was born in Nebraska and raised in Michigan, surviving a tumultuous start in life while being raised by a strong, single mother. He was a star player for University of Michigan football, and went to Yale Law School while coaching their football and boxing teams. Ford served in the navy during World War II, and returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan to practice law where he decided to enter politics. He married Elizabeth Bloomer and won a congressional seat in 1948. Ford served 25 years in Congress, rising to the position of House Minority Leader, before being tapped by President Richard Nixon to become his VP. When Ford became the nation’s first “unelected” president after Nixon resigned, he acknowledged that he was taking the oath “under extraordinary circumstances.” Richard shares many insights he discovered while writing his biography of Gerald R. Ford, including how the former president believed his wife’s historical contributions would outweigh his.
The Association’s Official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament features decorations inspired by the handcrafted decorations used in the White House during the Ford administration. You can purchase an ornament at this link.
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Philanthropist, stylemaker, and renowned gardener Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon was not formally trained as a horticulturist or landscape designer. However, her natural curiosity, exquisite taste, and disciplined practice, made her much sought after by anyone who wanted a gorgeous garden much like the ones she created on her estates - including President John F. Kennedy. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, traveled to Mrs. Mellon’s beloved home in Upperville, Virginia which she turned into a place for scholars to study her vast collection of books and manuscripts on plants, gardens, and landscapes, called the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. It was at Oak Spring that Stewart interviewed Thomas Lloyd about his grandmother’s most famous design: the refurbishing of the White House Rose Garden during the Kennedy administration. Lloyd is a co author of several books including “Garden Secrets of Bunny Mellon” and is a member of the Association’s National Council. They walked through Mrs. Mellon’s gardens to see what helped inspire her design of the Rose Garden, and got a rare look at the memory book handcrafted by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as a gift for her close friend Mrs. Mellon to commemorate the White House project.
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Richard Haass has been the President of the Council on Foreign Relations for almost twenty years. In that role as part of an independent, nonpartisan organization much like the White House Historical Association, he has traveled at home and abroad to help people around the world better understand foreign policy choices and their impact. As he moves on from that role, he continues to educate with his new book “The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens.” Haass and Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, had a lively and informative discussion about what the American people can do - both individually and collectively - to ensure the White House continues to be a symbol to the world of American freedom and democracy and for that American democracy to not only survive, but thrive.
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Former Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton has written a new memoir called “At the Helm: My Journey with Family, Faith, and Friends to Calm the Storms of Life.” Dalton is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served as a Navy submariner much like another USNA graduate, President Jimmy Carter. Dalton is also an emeritus member of the White House Historical Association's Board of Directors. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, spoke with Dalton about working for the Carter administration and his family’s longtime friendship with the Carters, what is was like to be asked by the Clinton administration to serve as the 70th Secretary of the Navy, and how his faith and close relationships got him through the ebb and flow of life.
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Britain and the U.S. have long had what Prime Minister Winston Churchill called a “special relationship.” From adversaries to allies, the relationship between the two countries continues to evolve with each new government and administration. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, sat down with Dame Karen Pierce, the British Ambassador to the United States, to discuss this special relationship, the coronation of King Charles III, and the remarkable journey Dame Pierce has had to becoming the first woman to serve in the role of British Ambassador to the U.S.
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The American experiment has long held the curiosity of people around the world, especially for Iain Dale, an award-winning British author, and radio and podcast host, who has edited a new book of essays called “The Presidents: 250 of American Political Leadership.” These essays, written by academics, historians, political journalists and others, bring a fresh angle to each of the men who have served as President of the United States. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, talks with Dale about the challenges and influences of the presidents, from George Washington to Joe Biden; the similarities and differences between the British and US forms of government; and which of the presidents are believed to have been Queen Elizabeth II’s favorites.
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In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president of the United States. It was in the depth of the Great Depression with a second world war on the horizon, and yet the man known as FDR. managed to bring hope in the most uncertain of times. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses how polio shaped the future president with author Jonathan Darman whose new book is called “Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President.” Struck with polio at the age of 39, FDR drew strength from his illness and used those hard-fought lessons to lead the American people out of desperate times and into a New Deal, inspiring future presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan along the way.
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From hot dogs to haute cuisine, U.S. Presidents have communicated important messages through food. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses dining diplomacy with bestselling author Alex Prud’homme whose new book is called “Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House.” Prud’homme is the great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child and discusses how she made history by filming a State Dinner for the first time for a TV special in the 1960s. There is a full menu of stories to hear, from President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams hosting the first party at the President’s House, to the grilling techniques of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was the driving force behind a brilliant act of cultural diplomacy: bringing Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, Mona Lisa, to the American people. After convincing everyone from her husband, President John F. Kennedy and French President Charles De Gaulle, to the French Cultural Minister and the Director of the National Gallery of Art, Mona Lisa was brought to the United States in January 1963. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, spoke with a distinguished panel about the 60th anniversary of this extraordinary exchange, which drew nearly two million visitors. Episode guests include: 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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When First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took on the herculean task of restoring the interior of the White House, she appointed renowned collector Henry Francis du Pont of Delaware to lead the project. Winterthur, du Pont’s home which he turned into the first Museum of American Decorative Arts in 1951, served as inspiration for the renovation. White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin visited Winterthur and spoke with Elaine Rice Bachmann, curator of an exhibition based on the mentoring relationship between the reserved octogenarian and Mrs. Kennedy. “Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House” uses artifacts and images to go behind-the-scenes of this collaboration which culminated in the First Lady giving a televised tour of the renovated White House in 1962. The exhibition will be on view at the 175-room museum of American antiques and interiors outside Wilmington, DE, through January 8, 2023.
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