Fifty years ago today, on February 3, 1971, former First Lady and widow of President John F. Kennedy, by then remarried, made her first and only visit back to the White House. After the trauma of her first husband’s assassination… Read More ›
The Nixons
The Nixon Family’s White House Halloween Parties of the Seventies: Pumpkin Pictures
In the post-World War II era of consumerism that marked the 1950s, American children began heading out to trick-or-treat on Halloween by the hundreds of thousands, redefining ancient Celtic rituals marking All Hallow’s Eve that were first brought to the… Read More ›
Debbie Reynolds, Nixon, Nostalgic Politics & Recalcitrant Carrie
Last week’s news of the sudden death by heart attack of actress and writer Carrie Fischer, followed a day later by her beloved mother and Hollywood actress and legend Debbie Reynolds by stroke, provoked numerous recollections of their individual and… Read More ›
Private Pools of the Presidents: A Photo Essay
Not every President has a private estate where they beat the heat of Washington by taking a running jump into a cool pool. But they do have the White House and Camp David. Both the primary presidential residence and the… Read More ›
The Presidents, Swimsuit Edition: Trunks to Tees to Plain Naked
Roosevelt wore one with a tanktop. Kennedy, Reagan, LBJ, Nixon and Obama sported the more familiar trunk suits. Truman slipped into what almost looks like a 1940s Speedo. John Quincy Adams, among others, wore nothing at all. In most parts… Read More ›
St. Patrick’s Day & The Presidents: Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and Some Visits to the Old Sod
Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, various, individual Presidents have chosen to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day. For much of the 19th century and early 2oth century, it was a matter intended less to honor Irish-Americans and more to seek the… Read More ›
First Ladies You Mightn’t Know Were Irish, from Jackie Kennedy to Dolley Madison
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so the saying goes. The leaves of presidential family trees certainly prove this, especially when the definition is widened to include those popularly known as “Scotch-Irish,” a general term which usually (but not… Read More ›
White House Superbowl Lunch: LBJ Chili, Reagan Guac, Obama Cobbler & More: From the Archives
“Old Dogs” and “Jackie Kennedy” are the story topics, according to this website statistics, which draw the most readers but one which rises dramatically at this time of year is a previous article with ten favorite recipes of Presidents and… Read More ›
Mamie, Jackie, Lady Bird & Pat: Thanksgiving & Four First Ladies of the Mid-Century
From Thursday, November 20 until Sunday November 23, 2014, the National First Ladies Library Blog is running a four-part series pegged to the upcoming holiday, “Thanksgiving and Mid-Century Modern First Ladies.” Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Pat… Read More ›
First Ladies in China: Jackie Onassis Kidnapped, Pat Nixon’s Coat, Lou Hoover’s Pistol & Other Tales
On March 19, First Lady Michelle Obama became the fifteenth American First Lady who journeyed to China, six of whom went as incumbent First Ladies. She will be there until March 26. In telling the stories of her fourteen predecessors… Read More ›
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