White House Historical Association’s Post

President of the United States and Commander in Chief are titles that only 45 unique men over 46 presidencies have carried since the office was established in 1789. It is a role that is continually being shaped and reshaped through each decade, presidency, personality, and each of the character traits that have defined these men. Author, historian, and attorney, Talmage Boston, set out to see what made eight of these presidents a great leader - from George Washington to Ronald Reagan - in his new book “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.” In this episode of the White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin sat down with Talmage to talk about the lessons outlined in the book, as well as how those lessons can be applied by people in all walks of life, and of all ages, who want to work on becoming a better leader, and perhaps, even a better citizen. They discuss examples of these presidents’ strengths and character, as well as some of their flaws and shortcomings.  https://lnkd.in/g8G9B6Zp

Theodore Roosevelt is often thought of as the Rough Rider and the man known for quoting the proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick….” Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, met with Edward O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation and author of the new book called “The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President” to discuss another side of T.R.: the five extraordinary women without whom he may never have become the 26th President of the United States. Join Stewart and Ed as they visit Theodore Roosevelt Island, the national memorial located in Washington, D.C.’s Potomac River, and reflect on the man born in New York City who would become “the conservation president.” Hear more about the five women who shaped T.R., an update on the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library being built in North Dakota, and get a view of Theodore Roosevelt Island, in this latest episode of The White House 1600 Sessions. https://lnkd.in/grukPUbh

Washington National Cathedral sits atop the highest point in Washington, D.C. and is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. This splendid example of Gothic architecture is not only the home to an Episcopal congregation but a house of prayer for all people from around the United States and the world. Construction began in 1907 and the Washington National Cathedral took shape during two World Wars, the Great Depression and 16 presidencies - from President Theodore Roosevelt to President George H.W. Bush. We know it today as a sacred place which holds state funerals of presidents, memorial services of great Americans, as well as national prayer services. In this Episode of the White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association president Stewart D. McLaurin is joined by the Very Reverend Randolph Hollerith, the 11th Dean of Washington National Cathedral, and Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope, the Provost of Washington National Cathedral, to discuss the role the Cathedral has played in America’s history and the indelible link it has to those who hold the office of the President of the United States. We also go on a tour of the Cathedral and see where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his final Sunday sermon, where a stone taken from the White House during the Truman renovation is embedded into a wall of the Cathedral, and many more treasures. https://lnkd.in/ghsM4XJM

In partnership with iCivics, we created a new educational game that allows students to interview characters from history to understand challenges, engage with people from different perspectives, and make evidence-based decisions during three different presidencies. In Brief the Chief, students engage their historical thinking skills to learn more about impactful moments across the Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Lyndon B. Johnson presidencies. Some historic characters in the game include Haitian leader Jean Jacques Dessalines, Former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, First Lady Mary Lincoln’s dressmaker Elizabeth Keckly, civil rights leader Amelia Boynton, and the Johnsons’ personal cook Zephyr Wright. Brief the Chief continues a growing partnership between iCivics and the Association. In 2023, iCivics and the Association released a Spanish-language version of Executive Command, one of iCivics’ most popular games that teaches students how the Executive Branch functions. Both games are available online and for mobile devices for free. Play Brief the Chief at https://lnkd.in/eeKzyW66

In this episode of the White House 1600 Sessions, Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, sits down with White House Historical Association president Stewart D. McLaurin to discuss the depth of America’s Irish roots. The history between Ireland and the United States goes back as far as the founding of America and the Revolutionary War. Irish immigrants and their descendants helped build this country, including the Irish born James Hoban who emigrated to the U.S. and went on to design the White House. Millions of Americans claim their Irish heritage, including half of all U.S. presidents. So it's no surprise that the White House continues to mark the month of March with a number of St. Patrick’s Day traditions, from the gifting of shamrocks between a representative of Ireland’s leadership to the president, to dyeing the water green in the White House fountains. But the relationship between Ireland and the United States extends beyond these celebrations, with diplomacy and investment driving a longstanding friendship built on a spirit of independence. In the words of President Joe Biden, "the fabric of modern America is woven through with the green of the Emerald Isle.” https://lnkd.in/g-s9HqvW

Jimmy Carter was the first president to designate a week honoring women’s history. In 1980, President Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 to be Women’s History Week. Eight years later, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, which established March as Women’s History Month. In honor of International Women’s Day, the White House Historical Association celebrates the achievements of the women leaders on our governing board of directors. Thank you to these dedicated members whose leadership continues the legacy of our founder, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, in preserving the White House and its unique history. Learn more about our governing board members on our website: https://lnkd.in/gqjN5Wby

In this episode of the White House 1600 Sessions, Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life,” talks with Stewart D. McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, about the remarkable journey of President Jimmy Carter from peanut farmer to Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Filmed at the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., the church home of the Carters while they lived in the White House, Stewart and Jonathan met with Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell who showed them rare memorabilia including the Carter family’s original membership cards, where Amy received baptism, and where the President taught adult Sunday school more than a dozen times during his presidency. Born in Plains, Georgia on October 1, 1924, President Carter grew up without running water or electricity. Eager to leave home, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy, married, and served in the U.S. Navy. He and his young wife and kids returned to Plains to help save the family farm after his father passed away. From there he took an interest in politics, working his way up from county boards to the Georgia State Senate to the Governor’s Mansion. Then he and Mrs. Carter launched into national politics, winning the 1976 election and moving to Washington, D.C. with their youngest child and only daughter, Amy. Known for a life of faith and service, the 39th President of the United States became the longest-lived president and half of the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. history. Stewart and Jonathan talk about the Carters’ time in the White House and the decades-long post-presidency they spent creating The Carter Center which works to alleviate human suffering around the world, and among many other things, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and raising awareness about mental health and caregiving. https://lnkd.in/gjb8A-bR