The White House 1600 Sessions

As President Gerald Ford's official photographer, David Hume Kennerly enjoyed a remarkable level of trust and access, capturing everything from sensitive conversations at the highest levels of government to unguarded family moments in the presidential residence. At just 27 years old, Kennerly was given extraordinary freedom to document the presidency from the inside, witnessing history as it unfolded and capturing moments that few others were privileged to see. In this episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer joins White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin to share the fascinating stories behind some of his most extraordinary photographs, taken over a career spanning six decades and 13 American presidents. He recalls the humanity and warmth of Gerald and Betty Ford, the emotion of Richard Nixon's final departure from the White House, and the unforgettable moment Betty Ford danced on the Cabinet Room table. From Queen Elizabeth II laughing at a White House state dinner to a tender embrace between Barack and Michelle Obama on inauguration night, Kennerly reveals the stories behind some of modern history's most recognizable figures. While the world saw what he captured in the frame of his camera, he tells us what was happening just out of focus that we would never get to see. Through his photographs and personal recollections, Kennerly offers a rare and intimate perspective on the American presidency, revealing a side of White House history the public seldom sees.

A Toast to the New Sites: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the Barack Obama Presidential Center Moderated by Stewart D. McLaurin, President, The White House Historical Association Edward O'Keefe, CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation Tina Tchen, Executive Vice President of Programs, The Obama Foundation The 2026 Presidential Sites Summit, hosted by the White House Historical Association in September 2026, brought together leaders and staff from presidential sites nationwide, including birthplaces, childhood homes, libraries, museums and alma maters—to reflect on the America 250 Semiquincentennial celebrations and accomplishments and look to the future. The program emphasized lessons learned, future collaborations, and strategies for sustaining relevance in a dynamic cultural landscape. Sessions blended keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities to foster actionable insights. Attendees explored how the 250th anniversary reshaped their operations and how to build on that momentum for long-term impact.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack. As President George W. Bush was hurried aboard Air Force One while on travel to Florida, the White House was evacuated amid fears that another hijacked aircraft could be heading toward the nation's capital, likely targeting the White House itself. Twenty-five years later, three people who experienced that fateful day from unique positions close to the president and the White House share their memories. In this special episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks with veteran ABC News correspondent Ann Compton, who traveled aboard Air Force One as President Bush was moved across the country; Gary Walters, the longtime White House chief usher who remained at the Executive Residence as the Pentagon burned in the distance; and Anita McBride, then a special assistant to the president, who fled the White House before helping establish an improvised operation nearby so that the work of the presidency could continue. Together, they recall the confusion and fear of those first hours, the evacuation of the White House, the extraordinary security surrounding Air Force One, and President Bush's return to Washington that evening. They also reflect on the leadership, humanity and national unity that emerged from one of the darkest days in American history. Their first-person accounts offer a rare look inside the White House on September 11 and preserve these important memories for a generation with no living recollection of that day. The White House 1600 Sessions, presented by the White House Historical Association, explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of America's most iconic residence and office. Through conversations with historians and eyewitnesses to history, the podcast opens the doors to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, because it is not only the President's House, but the People's House.

Start your engines for a special episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, recorded at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin sits down with A.J. Foyt Racing team principal Larry Foyt and IndyCar star Santino Ferrucci to explore the history, excitement, and distinctly American spirit of motor racing. They discuss A.J. Foyt's extraordinary legacy, Santino's journey from racing go-karts at five years old to becoming Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, and what makes the speedway one of the most iconic venues in American sport. Racing near the White House is not entirely new. In the early days of the nation, horse racing was one of America's most popular sports, and Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both avid followers. The Washington Jockey Club even established a racecourse just blocks from the White House, with part of the course running across Pennsylvania Avenue and through what is now Lafayette Park. Now, more than two centuries later, racing returns to the president's neighborhood. The conversation looks ahead to a remarkable moment in American racing history: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., bringing IndyCar racing to the streets of the nation's capital as America celebrates its 250th anniversary. They also pay tribute to the late Marlyne Sexton, a generous supporter of both A.J. Foyt Racing and the White House Historical Association, whose friendship and vision brought these two historic institutions together. From the roar of 350,000 fans at Indianapolis to the prospect of racing in the shadow of the White House, this episode celebrates speed, perseverance, patriotism, and the enduring American pursuit of the next frontier.

What does it really take to make a presidential event look effortless? In this fascinating episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin sits down with Jean Becker and Tom Collamore, authors of Don't Tell the President, to reveal the hidden world of White House advance teams - the people responsible for sweating the details of every presidential appearance, foreign trip, summit, speech, and state visit. From Ronald Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech and Bill Clinton's teleprompter mishap, to George H. W. Bush's meetings with Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II, the conversation explores the extraordinary pressure, split-second decision-making, and behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make the history books. It also reflects on darker moments, including September 11, and the immense responsibility carried by those working behind the scenes. Along the way, you'll hear remarkable stories about presidential campaigns, Secret Service coordination, international diplomacy, and the dedicated people who quietly ensure that every presidential event runs smoothly, even when everything appears to be falling apart.

The Resolute Desk is arguably the most famous desk in the world. It is certainly the most iconic of the six desks that have been used by sitting presidents in the Oval Office. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, traveled to England in order to learn more about the history of the desk which was gifted in 1880 to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom as a sign of goodwill between the two nations. Though it was used throughout the White House since President Hayes, the desk was first used in the Oval Office by President John F. Kennedy. It has also been used by Presidents Carter, Reagan, and every president since George W. Bush. The episode begins at The Historic Dockyard Chatham where the British ship HMS Resolute was docked before it was decommissioned, broken apart, and its timbers turned into various items - including a desk for the U.S. President. Almost 30 years earlier, the HMS Resolute had been part of an Arctic rescue expedition in search of a British explorer who went missing on the hunt for the Northwest Passage to Asia. The rescue expedition got stuck in the ice, and after a few seasons, the crew abandoned the ships. It was an American vessel that eventually found the Resolute which had broken free of the ice. The U.S. Congress appropriated the funds to refit the ship and return it to England's Queen Victoria.  Stewart and Paul Barnard, Deputy Chief Executive at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, tour the dockyard and climb aboard a Victorian naval sloop called the HMS Gannet, a similar ship that was introduced into service around the time the Resolute was decommissioned. As we'll learn, the Gannet also has its own tie-in to White House history. Then they visit the space that was once the shop where the Resolute Desk was built. Stewart and Paul are joined by Paul Wright, Interpretation Officer at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, who talks about the skills and craftsmanship of the people who once worked in the yard.  Then Stewart heads to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London and meets with Senior Curator, Dr. Claire Warrior, for a special look at several items not on public display, including an actual piece of wood from the HMS Resolute, as well as proposed designs for the famous desk. During his State Visit in April 2026, King Charles III gifted President Donald Trump a framed, high-quality reproduction of these same plans.  Join us for this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the most recognizable desk in the world.  

The Resolute Desk is arguably the most famous desk in the world. It is certainly the most iconic of the six desks that have been used by sitting presidents in the Oval Office. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, traveled to England in order to learn more about the history of the desk which was gifted in 1880 to President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom as a sign of goodwill between the two nations. Though it was used throughout the White House since President Hayes, the desk was first used in the Oval Office by President John F. Kennedy. It has also been used by Presidents Carter, Reagan, and every president since George W. Bush. The episode begins at The Historic Dockyard Chatham where the British ship HMS Resolute was docked before it was decommissioned, broken apart, and its timbers turned into various items - including a desk for the U.S. President. Almost 30 years earlier, the HMS Resolute had been part of an Arctic rescue expedition in search of a British explorer who went missing on the hunt for the Northwest Passage to Asia. The rescue expedition got stuck in the ice, and after a few seasons, the crew abandoned the ships. It was an American vessel that eventually found the Resolute which had broken free of the ice. The U.S. Congress appropriated the funds to refit the ship and return it to England's Queen Victoria.  Stewart and Paul Barnard, Deputy Chief Executive at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, tour the dockyard and climb aboard a Victorian naval sloop called the HMS Gannet, a similar ship that was introduced into service around the time the Resolute was decommissioned. As we'll learn, the Gannet also has its own tie-in to White House history. Then they visit the space that was once the shop where the Resolute Desk was built. Stewart and Paul are joined by Paul Wright, Interpretation Officer at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, who talks about the skills and craftsmanship of the people who once worked in the yard.  Then Stewart heads to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London and meets with Senior Curator, Dr. Claire Warrior, for a special look at several items not on public display, including an actual piece of wood from the HMS Resolute, as well as proposed designs for the famous desk. During his State Visit in April 2026, King Charles III gifted President Donald Trump a framed, high-quality reproduction of these same plans.  Join us for this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the most recognizable desk in the world.  

In this episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin reflects on the Association's 2026 Faith, Freedom, and Democracy Symposium, held in partnership with Westminster Abbey Institute. Through commentary and highlights from the day's conversations, Stewart explores how faith shaped the early American republic, the founding of Washington, D.C., and the presidency itself. The Symposium brought together scholars, clergy, historians, and diplomats to examine the relationship between faith and public life, religious liberty in Revolutionary America, and the enduring connections between the United States and the United Kingdom. Drawing from panel discussions, reflections, and musical performances, this episode offers a deeper look at the ideas, history, and transatlantic partnerships explored throughout the Symposium.

In this episode of The White House 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin reflects on the Association's 2026 Faith, Freedom, and Democracy Symposium, held in partnership with Westminster Abbey Institute. Through commentary and highlights from the day's conversations, Stewart explores how faith shaped the early American republic, the founding of Washington, D.C., and the presidency itself. The Symposium brought together scholars, clergy, historians, and diplomats to examine the relationship between faith and public life, religious liberty in Revolutionary America, and the enduring connections between the United States and the United Kingdom. Drawing from panel discussions, reflections, and musical performances, this episode offers a deeper look at the ideas, history, and transatlantic partnerships explored throughout the Symposium.

While presidential portraits are the most notable pieces in the White House Collection of fine and decorative arts, there are more than 65,000 works in the museum-accredited collection. This grew over time with items such as paintings, photographs, sculptures, and furniture, having either been commissioned, donated, or acquired for use at the White House. The role of the White House Curator was established during the Kennedy presidency and the White House Historical Association has worked closely with them for decades to preserve and create a collection of mostly American-made art with historical and cultural significance.  The Royal Collection Trust is charged with a similar mission, overseeing more than a million objects including paintings, jewelry, textiles, and more, that have been collected by British Royalty for hundreds of years. Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, traveled to Windsor Castle to speak with Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection. Located about 25 miles outside of London, England, Windsor Castle has been home to 40 monarchs since it was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Only five sitting U.S. presidents have been welcomed to Windsor Castle. To mark America's semiquincentennial, Stewart and Tim sat in the White Drawing Room to discuss several American-born artists favored by King George III in the late 18th century around the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. These include the painters Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, and John Taylor, who were all born in the colonies and later moved to England to pursue their careers. Watch to learn more about the works of these artists including rare landscapes, and famous portraits of King George, Queen Charlotte, and their children. Stewart and Tim also walked to St. George's Hall, the site of several state banquets at Windsor Castle for U.S. presidents, to get a closer look at a portrait by Gainsborough Dupont, a British-born artist with works in both the Royal Collection and the White House Collection.