The White House 1600 Sessions

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 Columni...

Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1792, Freemasons have played an important role in the construction and the history of the White House, with members including Irish architect James Hoban and many presidents from George Washington to Gerald Ford. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Jason Van Dyke, Director of Communications of the Grand Lo...

James Hoban came from humble beginnings as a young carpenter and architect in Ireland, and went on to collaborate with George Washington on the design and construction of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews three contributors to the Association's new book, "James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the...

The first White House guidebook was published in 1962 as collaboration between First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, the new White House Historical Association, and the National Geographic Society. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to National Geographic Society's Senior Director of Library and Archives Renee Braden, who shares an oral history about the f...

In this first episode of 2021, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin introduces the Association's popular virtual program History Happy Hour, and shares conversations with historians, first family members, and other presidential staff about the lives of presidents and first ladies throughout American history.

In this final episode of 2020, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin has a conversation with presidential historian Michael Beschloss. They discuss the 220 years of White House history and the Association's work over the past 60 years to support conservation, preservation, and acquisitions and to make the White House accessible and relatable to Americans today.

Since the James Madison presidency, St. John's Church has been an important part of the life of Lafayette Square and of the nation at large. In this special Thanksgiving episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin interviews the Rector of St. John's Church, Rev. Rob Fisher, about the many historic ties that it shares with the White House, and how its congregation appr...

For the past four years, the monthly 1600 Sessions podcast has told the story of the White House through conversations with historians and eyewitnesses to the history at  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue . In this 50 th  episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin reflects back on some of his favorite moments from the first 49 episodes.

Wine has a long and important history in the White House, playing a unique role in entertaining, public ceremonies, and even global diplomacy. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin interviews Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., about his new book published with the Association, "Wine and the White House: A History," providing a comprehensive look at each president's...

The transfer of power from one administration to the next is a hallmark of American democracy, but it hasn't always been an orderly experience. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Dr. Martha Kumar, Director or the White House Transition Project, and Tina Tchen, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama and former Director of the White...

Every administration brings their own personality to the White House, particularly when it comes to the look and feel of the upstairs family quarters. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Michael S. Smith, the "Decorator-in-Chief" for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, about his new book, "Designing History, the Extraordinary...

Each year, the National History Day Contest encourages more than half a million students around the world to conduct historical research on a topic of their choice. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to student Jack Ghormley of Conway Junior High School in Arkansas, winner of the White House History award at the 2020 National History Day Contest,...

When you're cooking for the president and first family, your meals and recipes become a part of history. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Matthew Wendel about his book, "Recipes From the President's Ranch: Food People Like to Eat," a first-hand account of his time serving as personal chef for President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bus...

This year marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the culmination of the suffragists ' fight to secure the right to vote for women. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to authors and historians Rebecca Roberts, Elaine Weiss and Colleen Shogan about the longest social movement in American history, and the story of how suffragists lobbied presiden...

Every year, the White House Fellows program gives young, talented Americans the opportunity to work in the White House alongside White House staff, cabinet members and senior officials. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks with Elizabeth Pinkerton, Director of the President's Commission on White House Fellows, Stephanie Ferguson, President of the Wh...

In this special episode of The 1600 Sessions, financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin to discuss the work of the Association during the recent period of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests in Lafayette Square, and how the history of "The People's House" provides context to the challenges of the present day.

George Washington might not have become the Founding Father we know today if not for the influence of his mother. For Mother's Day, Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Craig Shirley, author of "Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of Washington's Mother," about how our first president's life and personality was shaped by the unique character of his mother.

Throughout our history, presidents have faced crises that have gripped both the nation and the world. In this episode, Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to Paul Sparrow, Director of the FDR Library and Museum, and Mark Updegrove, President & CEO of the LBJ Foundation, about the unique challenges these two presidents faced, and the leadership skills that helped them navigate these chall...

The White House is a symbol of freedom and democracy, but from its very conception it had a paradoxical relationship with the institution of slavery. In this episode, Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to Association historians Matthew Costello, Lindsay Chervinsky, and Lina Mann about their groundbreaking work researching and telling the stories of the enslaved individuals that built, w...

The institution of slavery and the stories of enslaved people have always been a part of the fabric of White House history. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin introduces a conversation between financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, about the history and legacy of slavery in...

After President John F. Kennedy's assassination, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wanted her husband to be remembered through a national cultural center that would serve as a living memorial. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to Deborah Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, about the origins of the Kennedy Center, i...

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 , c...

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 Ladi...

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 mor...

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...