This photograph of the entrance to the Blue Room as seen from the Cross Hall was taken by Cecil Stoughton on November 24, 1963. The Presidential Seal hangs above the entryway, which has been draped in black mourning crepe for the State Funeral of President John F. Kennedy. 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 National Cemetery. This photograph was taken on the day the president's body departed from the White House to lie in state at the Capitol. By the flags on either side of the door are a gilded bronze light standards created by McKim, Mead & White for the 1902 White House renovations. The candle arms of the light standards were extended during First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's redecoration of the White House.

This is one of a pair of circa 1830-1837 gilded bronze torchères in the White House Collection. They were placed with the Blue Room mantel in the mid-19th century and may have been a gift to President Andrew Jackson by a political supporter. Bates Littlehales photographed the torchere in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.