In this photograph by Pete Souza, First Lady Michelle Obama announces the Academy Award winner for Best Picture on February 24, 2013. Her appearance on the live televised Oscar ceremony was filmed in the Diplomatic Reception Room on the Ground Floor of the White House. The winner of Best Picture, "Argo", was a film about the rescue of six United States diplomats who sought safety at the home of the Canadian ambassador to Iran during the 1979 to 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis in Tehran.

This photograph of Jenna Bush, daughter of President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and her husband Henry Hager was taken by Eric Draper on June 21, 2008. The couple are captured cutting a wedding cake at their wedding reception in the Blue Room of the White House. Bush and Hager married the previous month, on May 10, 2008, at her family's Crawford, Texas ranch in front of 200 guests. The White House reception included 600 guests, a performance by the U.S. Marine Band, and a dance between the bride and her father.

In this photograph, taken September 13, 1978 by National Geographic photographer Steve Raymer, members of the NASCAR racing community enjoy a reception on the South Lawn of the White House. Though he was unable to attend the event as his presence was needed for peace negotiations at Camp David, the event was organized by President Jimmy Carter. A passionate NASCAR fan, Carter used to sell tickets at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Guests in attendance included Bill France, Sr. and Bill France, Jr., and country singer Willie Nelson performed.

In this photograph, taken September 13, 1978 by National Geographic photographer Steve Raymer, guests dine by torchlight during an evening reception on the South Lawn. The United States Marine Band can be seen performing on the South Portico in the background. This photograph was taken during an event held for the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) community, which included a dinner and entertainment by country singer Willie Nelson.

In this photograph, President Barack Obama is interviewed by American journalist Steve Kroft on September 26, 2014. Kroft spoke to President Obama for a segment on the television news magazine, "60 Minutes." The two spoke in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, and occurred ahead of the midterms elections and President Obama's final two years in office.

This photograph of the West Wing Reception Room by Bruce White was taken on June 9, 2021 during the Joseph R. Biden administration. The Reception Room is located in the West Wing and serves as a waiting room for visitors to the West Wing Offices. The room is furnished with modern Chippendale-style reproductions, an 18th-century English bookcase containing the published volumes of the Public Papers of the Presidents, and American paintings on the walls.

In this photograph taken by Susan Biddle, President Ronald Reagan meets with members of the 1988 United States Winter Olympic speed skating team in the East Room on March 8, 1988. Among the speed skaters to meet President Reagan for a photo opportunity were Bonnie Blair, Dan Jansen, Moira D'Andrea, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jeff Klaiber, Mary Docter, David Cruikshank, and John Backfield. The Olympians met President Reagan at the White House following the culmination of the 1988 games in Calgary the previous month.

In this photograph taken by Susan Biddle, President Ronald Reagan meets with members of the 1988 United States Winter Olympic speed skating team in the East Room on March 8, 1988. Among the speed skaters to meet President Reagan for a photo opportunity were Bonnie Blair, Dan Jansen, Moira D'Andrea, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jeff Klaiber, Mary Docter, David Cruikshank, and John Backfield. The Olympians met President Reagan at the White House following the culmination of the 1988 games in Calgary the previous month.

In this photograph taken by Susan Biddle, President Ronald Reagan meets with members of the 1988 United States Winter Olympic speed skating team in the East Room on March 8, 1988. Among the speed skaters to meet President Reagan for a photo opportunity were Bonnie Blair, Dan Jansen, Moira D'Andrea, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jeff Klaiber, Mary Docter, David Cruikshank, and John Backfield. The Olympians met President Reagan at the White House following the culmination of the 1988 games in Calgary the previous month.

In this image, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 14, 1969, Bob Hope and performers from the Bob Hope Christmas Show mingle in the Entrance Hall and Cross Hall. Pictured here with Hope are members of the song and dance troupe the Golddiggers. The official White House Christmas Tree is visible in the background. That day, the cast of Bob Hope's Christmas special dined with President and Mrs. Nixon in the State Dining Room, and put on a preview performance in the East Room. Bob Hope's USO-sponsored variety shows entertained American troops around the world for nearly 50 years, and his television specials were an annual tradition for American households for decades. Hope was a recurrent guest at the White House and entertained every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.

In this image, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 14, 1969, Bob Hope and performers from the Bob Hope Christmas Show mingle in the Entrance Hall and Cross Hall. Pictured here with Hope are members of the song and dance troupe the Golddiggers. The official White House Christmas Tree is visible in the background. That day, the cast of Bob Hope's Christmas special dined with President and Mrs. Nixon in the State Dining Room, and put on a preview performance in the East Room. Bob Hope's USO-sponsored variety shows entertained American troops around the world for nearly 50 years, and his television specials were an annual tradition for American households for decades. Hope was a recurrent guest at the White House and entertained every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.

This photograph of White House Residence staff preparing for a millennium reception in the East Room was taken by William Vasta on December 31, 1999. To mark the final day of the 20th century, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted a candlelit dinner in the East Room to recognize partner institutions who had supported the Clinton administration's goals of "honoring the past and supporting the future," by leading environmental and community programs over the previous two years. Attendees at the event included representatives from the office of Mayor Anthony Williams and the government of the District of Columbia, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the National Parks Foundation, and members of Congress.

In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter dance in the East Room during the Congressional Christmas Ball on December 11, 1979. For decades, first families have hosted annual balls for members of Congress during the holiday season.

This photograph of White House Residence staff preparing for a millennium reception in the East Room was taken by William Vasta on December 31, 1999. To mark the final day of the 20th century, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted a candlelit dinner in the East Room to recognize partner institutions who had supported the Clinton administration's goals of "honoring the past and supporting the future," by leading environmental and community programs over the previous two years. Attendees at the event included representatives from the office of Mayor Anthony Williams and the government of the District of Columbia, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the National Parks Foundation, and members of Congress.

In this photograph, taken by Karl Schumacher on December 9, 1976, First Lady Betty Ford shows a Christmas ornament to an unidentified guest in the Red Room at a reception following the press preview for the 1976 White House holiday decorations. Notably, on a guéridon table behind Mrs. Ford is a cranberry tree. Mrs. Ford initiated the tradition of displaying a cranberry tree in the Red Room in 1975, and it has remained a traditional part of the White House seasonal decorations ever since. In 1976, First Lady Betty Ford selected the theme "Love that is the Spirit of Christmas" for her holiday theme. Coinciding with the year of the American bicentennial, the decorations included patriotic dioramas and ornaments on the Blue Room Christmas Tree representing the state flowers from each of the fifty states.

This photograph was taken by Karl Schumacher on December 15, 1975, during a reception hosted by First Lady Betty Ford in appreciation of the volunteers who assisted with creating the White House holiday decorations. That year, holiday decorations at the White House celebrated traditional handmade handicrafts. First Lady Betty Ford and her daughter, Susan, also contributed to the decorations, and visitors to the White House that season were presented with instructions for how they could recreate the White House decorations at home. Here, Mrs. Ford kneels by a table at right, as 10-year-old Jerry Carr demonstrates making a handcrafted ornament. Members of the press including stenographers and photographers are visible in the background.

In this photograph, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart through the doors of the Diplomatic Reception Room to join White House staff on the South Lawn to observe a moment of silence in commemoration of the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In 2002, President George W. Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden return to the White House through the doors of the Diplomatic Reception Room after joining White House staff on the South Lawn to observe a moment of silence in commemoration of the twelfth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In 2002, President George W. Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

This black-and-white photograph shows doorkeeper Patrick "Pat" E. McKenna stationed at his desk outside the president's office in the West Wing in January 1935. McKenna served seven administrations as doorkeeper to the president from 1903-1940. In his role, McKenna interacted daily with politicians, diplomats, and White House staffers and determined which visitors received an audience with the president. He passed away following an illness on July 1, 1940.

This set of documents is part of a collection of social files maintained by the White House Social Entertainment Office. The items in this file pertain to a luncheon hosted by President Lyndon B. Johnson for Olympic medal winners. President Johnson hosted the luncheon and reception to congratulate approximately 100 U.S. Olympic medalists for their achievements at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. At the 1964 Tokyo Games, the American team took home 90 medals, including 36 gold medals. This folder includes invitation telegrams; drafts of the luncheon menu; a booklet by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce about Olympic athlete Don Schollander; a booklet by the American Diary Association and United States Olympic Committee including maps, schedules, rules, former champions, athlete rosters, and administrative selecting committees at the 1964 Olympic Games; guest list drafts and correspondence; and press releases including remarks by the president to be delivered during the luncheon.

This set of documents is part of a collection of White House social files maintained by White House Social Secretary Bess Abell. The documents in this file pertain to a luncheon hosted by President Lyndon B. Johnson for Olympic medal winners. President Johnson hosted the luncheon and reception to congratulate approximately 100 U.S. Olympic medalists for their achievements at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. At the 1964 Tokyo Games, the American team took home 90 medals, including 36 gold medals. This folder includes the copies of the guest list for the luncheon, a memo regarding the luncheon approved by President Johnson, as well as correspondence from Eric F. Goldman, special advisor to the president, directed to United States Olympic Committee President Kenneth L. Wilson regarding the congratulations of Olympic athletes.

In this photograph, taken by Robert L. Knudsen, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is escorted through the State Dining Room by Naval Aide Commander Tazwell T. Shepard, Jr. following President John F. Kennedy's State Funeral on November 25, 1963. Following his assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, Kennedy's body lay in state in the East Room of the White House and the United States Capitol Building prior to burial at Arlington Cemetery three days later. The funeral service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. This photograph was taken during the post-funeral reception at the White House.

This photograph, taken by Robert L. Knudsen on November 25, 1963, shows the table in the Family Dining Room set with refreshments for a reception that followed President John F. Kennedy's State Funeral. Following his assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, Kennedy's body lay in state in the East Room of the White House and the United States Capitol Building prior to burial at Arlington Cemetery three days later. The funeral service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The design of the room reflects its appearance after First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy repurposed the space into a dining room for small functions and a staging area for state dinners. The redecoration of the room followed a vibrant yellow color scheme, featuring a gold lattice and pink rose rug personally selected for the room by interior designer Sister Parish. Other additions to the room included yellow silk curtains, a French white and dark green marble mantel, a New York convex mirror, and an 1859 portrait of Virginia planter Brig. Gen. John Hartwell Cocke by artist Edward Troye.

This photograph, taken by Robert L. Knudsen on November 25, 1963, shows the table in the Family Dining Room set with refreshments for a reception that followed President John F. Kennedy's State Funeral. Following his assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, Kennedy's body lay in state in the East Room of the White House and the United States Capitol Building prior to burial at Arlington Cemetery three days later. The funeral service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The design of the room reflects its appearance after First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy repurposed the space into a dining room for small functions and a staging area for state dinners. The redecoration of the room followed a vibrant yellow color scheme, featuring a gold lattice and pink rose rug personally selected for the room by interior designer Sister Parish. Other additions to the room included yellow silk curtains, a French white and dark green marble mantel, a New York convex mirror, and an 1859 portrait of Virginia planter Brig. Gen. John Hartwell Cocke by artist Edward Troye.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the recently restored Green Room was taken by Cecil Stoughton on February 12, 1963 during a reception to mark the centennial year of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, and granted freedom to enslaved people residing in Confederate states. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal-style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.