The White House 1600 Sessions

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36 The Sweet World of White House Desserts Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

The White House is known for its creative confections and desserts, particularly during the holiday season. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to Chef Roland Mesnier about his experiences serving as White House Pastry Chef for five presidential administrations, detailed in his new book, Creating the Sweet World of White House Desserts: A Pastry Chef's Secrets, co-written with his former pastry assistant Mark Ramsdell.

35 Entertaining at the White House Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

From diplomatic dinners to holiday gatherings, the White House has always played a central role in the nation's official entertainment. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to historian and author Jennifer Pickens about her new book, Entertaining at the White House: Decades of Presidential Traditions, and the entertainment styles of recent Presidents and First Ladies.

34 The President's Helicopter Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

For more than 60 years, the President of the United States has flown in a helicopter for domestic and international travel. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to two former Marine One pilots, Colonel Steve Taylor and Colonel Kevin Wild, and the president of Sikorsky Dan Schultz about the role of Sikorsky helicopters in the history of presidential travel.

Learn more about the Official 2019 White House Christmas Ornament, honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower's commitment to innovation as the first sitting president to use regular helicopter transportation, here.

33 George Washington's Legacy Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

George Washington never lived in the White House, but played a major role in its design, as well as the design of the capital city that bears his name. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to Association Historian Dr Matthew R. Costello, author of "The Property of the Nation: George Washington's Tomb, Mount Vernon, and the Memory of the First President" about George Washington's legacy and the important precedents he set, including how the nation remembers and memorializes our presidents.

32 Blair House and the Chief of Protocol Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

When heads of state visit the United States and the White House, the United States Chief of Protocol is on point and the official President's guest residence, Blair House, may be where the head of state stays. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to three former Chiefs of Protocol - Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt, Lloyd Hand and Capricia Marshall - about their experiences in that role and the importance of Blair House in American diplomacy.

31 Back to Basics - White House History with David Rubenstein Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we turn the tables on the podcast's usual format. Financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin, posing more than fifty questions on White House trivia. It's the perfect way to brush up on White House knowledge, covering all the basics as well as little known facts about the Executive Mansion.

30 Life at Camp David Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Camp David has provided presidents and their families with a recreational retreat from the White House, as well as a place for presidential diplomacy since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin joins a panel discussion hosted at The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas to discuss recollections and stories of life at Camp David.

29 First Lady Barbara Bush Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

First Lady Barbara Bush was admired for her authenticity, as well as her advocacy on issues such as preserving the White House, family literacy, and diplomatic relations during the closing days of the Cold War. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with USA Today Bureau Chief Susan Page about Barbara Bush's legacy and her new book, The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty.

28 Life on Lafayette Square May 31, 2019

Show notes

For more than two hundred years, Lafayette Square has been home to a wide variety of historical figures, from diplomats and naval heroes to future presidents and even former First Ladies. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews author and historian William Seale about his new book, To Live on Lafayette Square: Society and Politics in the President's Neighborhood.

27 The White House Gardens Apr 30, 2019

Show notes

The White House includes 18 acres of historic grounds and gardens that have been cultivated for more than two hundred years by presidents and their gardeners. This spring, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Jonathan Pliska, author of A Garden for the President, and Linda Jane Holden, author of The Gardens of Bunny Mellon, about the evolution of the White House gardens.

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