The White House 1600 Sessions

Latest Episodes:

66. The Next Generation: What the White House Means to Me Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

From reflections to a historical lightning round, Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, catches up with the Association's Next-Gen Leaders at the recent Presidential Sites Summit in Dallas. These advocates of White House history and all it represents, share their own experiences with Presidential history and even put Stewart on the spot.

65. The White House Recording Library: The Forgotten Collection Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was comprised of 2,000 LPs, and overseen by a committee of scholars, journalists, and musicians. The library was then stored away and forgotten. John Chuldenko, the grandson of President Jimmy Carter, recalls hearing stories of the collection and began his search to uncover the lost music. He shares his quest and discovery with White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin.

64. Abraham Lincoln, Robert Burns, and the Scottish Connection Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

There is a long history of Scottish influence on the White House, dating back to the Scottish stonemasons that contributed to the construction of the Executive Mansion. Perhaps one of the most unique Scottish connections is through President Abraham Lincoln and famed poet Robert Burns. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with Professor Murray Pittock, Burns historian and professor of literature at the University of Glasgow, and Mr. Ian Houston, President of the Scottish Business Network Americas, about President Abraham Lincoln and his fondness of Robert Burns and Scottish culture throughout his life.

63. The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments Dec 09, 2021

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Since 1981, the White House Historical Association has created the Official White House Christmas Ornament. Collecting and gifting these unique ornaments has become a holiday tradition for millions of Americans, and all ornament sales support the mission of the Association. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with the individual who came up with the idea to begin the ornament initiative, Richard Rovsek. After that conversation, Stewart talks with Dave Marquis and Kim Fyfe from ChemArt, the exclusive manufacturer of the ornament since 1981.

62. Voices from a Night at the Met Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

Since November 3, 1961, the White House Historical Association has served as the private partner to the White House to enrich, enhance, and promote the history of the Executive Mansion. The Association hosted a gala at The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in November 2021 to celebrate our 60 year history. In this episode, White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin reflects on moments from the Association's 60th Anniversary Gala with segments from the evening's program.

61. A Discussion with the Voices of Lafayette Park Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Thousands of people traverse historic Lafayette Park every day to get a glimpse of the White House. The park, right in the heart of the President's Neighborhood, has a long and storied history that is largely unknown to visitors of this historic space. In this episode of the 1600 Sessions podcast, Stewart McLaurin is joined by Hilary West and Royce L. Dickerson, the narrators of the newly installed wayside exhibit markers created by the White House Historical Association in partnership with the National Park Service. West is the Executive Director for Federal Government Relations at JPMorgan Chase and Dickerson is an MBA Candidate at the University of Alabama's Manderson Graduate School of Business.

60. U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

The White House is a ceremonial stage upon which our nation welcomes our most important visitors, including foreign heads of state. These State Visits often begin with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, and the US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps is a staple of those ceremonies. In this episode, Stewart McLaurin talks SGM J. Mark Reilly, Senior Enlisted Band Leader, and SGM(R) Billy White, Former Operations Sergeant Major, about the history and global work of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

59. Designing Camelot Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

On February 23, 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy launched the most historic and celebrated redesign of the White House in its history. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews the authors of "Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and its Legacy," James Archer Abbott and Elaine Rice Bachmann about the legacy and making of one of the most influential interior design projects in American history.

58 Gigi at the White House Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Although visitors from around the world have the opportunity to visit the White House every year, few kids have the opportunity to have the experience of their parents working in the White House. Children of White House staff get a special look at the inner workings of the Executive Mansion and some even get to know the President and First Family on a personal level. In this episode, Stewart McLaurin interviews author Giovanna McBride about her new book published by the White House Historical Association titled Gigi at the White House.

57 The Triumph of Nancy Reagan May 20, 2021

Show notes

Nancy Reagan was an iconic First Lady who helped shape the legacy of one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century. She was known for the tremendous grace, intelligence, and style that she brought to her role as First Lady and as President Reagan's most steadfast supporter and admirer. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks with Washington Post Columnist Karen Tumulty about Nancy Reagan's legacy and her new book The Triumph of Nancy Reagan.

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