The White House 1600 Sessions

The White House Historical Association
The White House 1600 Sessions

The White House Historical Association presents The 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and office – The White House.

  1. 2D AGO

    Painting White House History

    There's an old saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” By that count, artist Peter Waddell is a masterful storyteller. Beginning in 2004, the White House Historical Association commissioned the artist to create well-researched paintings to represent different periods from White House history that were not drawn, painted, or photographed definitively in their own times. The result is a collection of over a dozen pieces of artwork that capture lesser known moments of presidential life at the White House. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, spoke with Peter about how these moments were chosen, the meticulous research that went into these paintings, and how Peter is able to create works that transport viewers and students to another time and another place in American history. Stewart and Peter discuss three of his extraordinary paintings that are part of the White House Historical Association’s collection:  A Vision Takes Form, 1796 about the construction of the White House; Tiber Creek: The Bathers which depicts a moment when President John Quincy Adams escaped a leaking boat; and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at Malmaison, 1961 which shows Mrs. Kennedy visiting the home of Empress Josephine of France. The Empress’s silk draped bed chamber appears to have inspired the redesign and decoration of the Blue Room at the White House during the Kennedy administration. You can view Peter Waddell’s paintings for the White House Historical Association here.

    39 min

  2. FEB 11

    The History of State Funerals

    The State Funeral has come to be known as the traditional and ceremonial way to mourn a President of the United States. While throughout the nation’s history not every Commander in Chief has opted for such a tribute, in the modern era, it has become common practice. In fact, discussions about a president’s preferences as to how they will be honored after their death take place almost as soon as they take office.  Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, sat down with two individuals who had a hand in the planning and performance of these national events: Michael Wagner, the former Chief of National Event Planning for Joint Task Force - National Capital Region, and Retired Major General Galen B. Jackman, former Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington.  Maj. Gen. Jackman became a familiar face as he personally escorted former First Lady Nancy Reagan through the events of President Ronald Reagan’s State Funeral. President Reagan's funeral set the standard for what we expect to see today, with ceremonies held at a former president’s place of residence, events in Washington, D.C., and then the final burial…all taking place in a span of 7 to 10 days. We were privileged to see that take place again in January 2025 for former President Jimmy Carter, the longest-living president in history.  Those who serve in the JTF-NCR and Military District of Washington help keep the nation’s capital safe, honor each presidency from Inauguration to their final passing, as well as perform other ceremonial duties across the country and around the world. This is a rare opportunity to hear the personal stories of two people who served their nation with the utmost professionalism and patriotism.

    55 min

  3. JAN 17

    Inauguration Day Preview

    Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, sets the stage for what traditionally takes place on Inauguration Day, and previews the next season of The White House 1600 Sessions.

    4 min

  4. 12/09/2024

    The People’s House: A White House Experience

    First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy founded the White House Historical Association over 60 years ago, famously saying “The White House belongs to the American people.” The Association’s mission has been clear since day one: preserving, protecting, and providing public access to White House History. That mission continues through The People’s House: A White House Experience at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue - a block away from the White House - in Washington, D.C. In this episode, Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, describes how The People’s House evolved from concept to concrete slabs to cutting-edge technology. He shares what visitors can expect when they arrive: immersive galleries and exhibits where history comes alive with the flick of a hand; a full-scale replica of the Oval Office where you can sit behind the iconic Resolute Desk; become a guest at a State Dinner and listen to a Cabinet meeting, and so much more. The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, and no taxpayer dollars were used to build The People’s House, it was funded completely through generous private donations. So please listen and watch to learn more about The People’s House: A White House Experience, and then reserve your free pass to see it yourself next time you’re in the nation’s capital. Plan your visit today at: http://thepeopleshouse.org    Find all our podcasts at: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-white-house-1600-sessions

    15 min

  5. 11/13/2024

    Cooking at the White House

    The White House showcases the very best of American culinary arts, whether it's providing the president some much needed nourishment after a long day or using a meal as a diplomatic tool between two nations. White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford spent almost 30 years working in the White House kitchens before retiring in July 2024. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, spoke with Chef Comerford about growing up in the Philippines, falling in love with cooking, and becoming a U.S. citizen who never dreamed one day she would cook at the most famous address in America.  Chef Comerford started as an assistant chef in 1995 during the Clinton presidency, and just 10 years later was named Executive Chef by First Lady Laura Bush. Chef Comerford was the first woman and first person of color named to the top position in the White House kitchen. She cooked for five presidents and their families, dozens of dignitaries, and literally thousands of guests from all around the world - overseeing more than 50 state dinners along the way.  The key to cooking at the White House? Chef Comerford says it’s being able to listen and read the room properly because at the end of the day “...this is not your restaurant. This is not about you, it’s about the president or the family who are living in that White House at the moment.” Hear about what it takes to put on a state dinner, which president has his own chili recipe, and much more about cooking at the White House.

    42 min

  6. 10/17/2024

    Queen Elizabeth II and America’s Presidents

    Given how things started almost 250 years ago between the United States and King George III, the history of diplomacy and friendship between the White House and Queen Elizabeth II is quite remarkable. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, talked about this history with David Charter, the assistant editor (US) of The Times and author of Royal Audience: 70 years, 13 presidents--One Queen's Special Relationship with America.  Queen Elizabeth II reigned over the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms for seven decades until her death in 2022 - the longest-serving British monarch of all time. She first visited the United States as a princess when she and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in Washington, D.C. on October 31, 1951. She stayed at Blair House with President Harry Truman and his family, as the White House was under major renovation. Several months later she would ascend the throne after the passing of her father, King George VI.  It would be years before her first visit to the United States as Queen, when she and her husband arrived on October 17, 1957 and stayed with President Dwight Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower at the White House. The Queen had a fondness for Eisenhower having met him during World War II. Queen Elizabeth would go on to meet every sitting president through Joe Biden, except for Lyndon Johnson, and you’ll learn why in this episode. You’ll also find out with which president she shared her scone recipe, the president who most shared her love of horses, and the presidential family that reminded her a great deal of her own.

    50 min

  7. 09/25/2024

    Conversations on the American Presidency

    In his latest book “The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency,” David Rubenstein, renowned financier, philanthropist, and host of PBS’s History with David Rubenstein, takes a fresh look at what it means to hold the office of President of the United States. It is a role that has been shaped and defined by only 45 individuals, and one that contains a great deal of history while also sparking a number of myths.  Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, talked with Rubenstein at the Association’s new immersive space at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. called “The People’s House: A White House Experience” in front of an audience of the Association’s Next-Gen Leaders. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, as well as a patriotic philanthropist who has helped restore and preserve American treasures like the Washington Monument and the Emancipation Proclamation. He is also a generous supporter of the Association’s mission of research and education, including the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History. Having gotten his start as a domestic policy adviser under President Jimmy Carter, Rubenstein was a firsthand witness to what it takes to be a public servant and work in the Oval Office.  This conversation focuses on the importance of civics, the attributes that make a successful leader, and much more as they delve into Rubenstein’s new book that includes interviews with historians, journalists, and most of the living U.S. presidents.

    38 min

  8. 08/20/2024

    Making the Presidential Seal

    From podium plaques and flags to the doors of the presidential limo and Air Force One, it is always present: fifty stars encircling an eagle whose talons hold bundles of olive branches and arrows, and around that circle of stars, a band with the words “Seal of the President of the United States.” If you’ve ever wondered where that design came from and how those symbols are made, join Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, on a special tour of The Institute of Heraldry at Fort Belvoir, a U.S. Army installation in Northern Virginia. The art of heraldry goes back centuries and is usually associated with military groups and nobility. Colors and symbols created a design used as a form of identification. America's Founding Fathers were very cautious about adopting anything closely related to monarchy and the nobility, so there was no standard design based on traditional heraldry representing the Office of the President until the 1940s. Near the end of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt asked heraldry experts and military personnel to create an official design for the presidential flag, seal, and coat of arms. Unfortunately, President Roosevelt died before the project was completed. Still, President Harry Truman saw it through and, in October 1945, signed an executive order establishing for the very first time a legal definition of the president's coat of arms and seal as used by the president. In 1948, President Truman did the same with designs for the Office of the Vice President. Those designs, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, decorations, badges, flags, and other insignia for the U.S. military services and departments throughout the federal government, are created with the assistance of The Institute of Heraldry. And those plaques you see affixed to the podiums behind which the president and vice president speak? Unbelievably, all of those are crafted and painted by hand at the Institute and nowhere else.  In this episode you will hear from Charles Mugno, Director of The Institute of Heraldry; Thomas Casciaro, Chief of the Technical and Production Division at The Institute of Heraldry; as well as Michael Craghead, Exhibit Specialist at The Institute of Heraldry, who has been painting plaques for the president and vice president for over twenty years. We hope you enjoy this special look behind the scenes of the making of the presidential seal.  Find all our podcasts at: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-white-house-1600-sessions

    50 min
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About

The White House Historical Association presents The 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and office – The White House.

Information

  • Creator
    The White House Historical Association
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 769335
  • Show Website
    The White House 1600 Sessions

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