In this photograph by Oliver F. Atkins, President Richard M. Nixon speaks to Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin. The phone call was live on national television as the two astronauts were on the moon and President was in the Oval Office. The phone call was called "the longest-distance phone call ever".

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives receive guests in the Cross Hall for a worship service. The worship service was conducted in the East Room and attended by approximately 325 guests. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of president and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21, 1969.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives greet members of the Boys Choir of the Washington National Cathedral in the Cross Hall. The choristers performed that day at a worship service in the East Room. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of president and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21-1969.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives converse in the Cross Hall. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of President and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21, 1969. In this photograph, the Nixons, the astronauts, and their spouses wait to receive visitors for a worship service in the East Room, which was attended by 325 guests on on December 21, 1969.

In this photograph, taken on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon mingles with guests in the Cross Hall. This photograph was taken following a Sunday morning worship service, conducted in the East Room. The service was attended by approximately 325 guests. Here, the president is accompanied by astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission and their wives. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane, lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue, and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of President and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21, 1969.

In this photograph, taken by Cecil Stoughton on May 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy entertain astronauts Maj. L. Gordon Cooper, Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard, Maj. Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Lt. Cmdr. M. Scott Carpenter, Maj, Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, Cmdr. Walter M. Schirra and their spouses in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House. Earlier that day, President Kennedy presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Maj. Cooper for his success with the Project Mercury orbital mission. Maj. Cooper flew the Mercury-Atlas 9 ("Faith 7"), which was the final Mercury flight. He flew just over 34 hours and orbited the earth 22 times before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The other astronauts were also participants of Project Mercury and took part in early United States spaceflight missions. This photograph shows the president, first lady, and their guests relaxing in the Yellow Oval Room shortly after it was restored into a formal drawing room by Mrs. Kennedy.

This photograph of a reception in the Green Room of the White House was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on May 8, 1961, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The reception followed a presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard, Jr. In the photo, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy speaks with Renza Emerson Shepard, mother of Cmdr. Shepard. The photograph also shows the Green Room in the early stages of Mrs. Kennedy's restoration project.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives receive guests in the Cross Hall for a worship service. The worship service was conducted in the East Room and attended by approximately 325 guests. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of president and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21, 1969.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president is posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.

This photograph by Joseph J. Scherschel shows scenes from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit to NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the visit was a speech to honor the crew of the Gemini 4 mission and the nomination of astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White for promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. Here, the president and first lady are posing for photographs with the astronauts. The Manned Spaceflight Center was established in 1961 where it served the Mission Control Center for NASA’s spaceflight program and led the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. In 1973, it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in honor of the former president whose home state is Texas. Today, the center continues to serve as Mission Control and leads NASA’s International Space Station operations.