The White House 1600 Sessions

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86. U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

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.

85. An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

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.

84. Bunny Mellon and the White House Rose Garden Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

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.

83. The Ten Habits of Good Citizens Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

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.

82. At the Helm with John H. Dalton May 26, 2023

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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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81. A Coronation Preview with the British Ambassador to the U.S. May 03, 2023

Show notes

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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80. 250 Years of American Political Leadership Apr 19, 2023

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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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79. Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

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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78. Dinner with the President Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

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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77. Jacqueline Kennedy: Art in Cultural Diplomacy Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

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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