In this photograph, maitre d'hotel John W. Ficklin surprises President Giuseppe Saragat of Italy with a birthday cake during a State Dinner held in his honor on September 19, 1967. The State Dinner was hosted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson on the Italian president's 69th birthday. Prominently displayed on the table is a gilded bronze plateau purchased for the White House during the James Monroe administration. After the dinner in the State Dining Room, guests transitioned to the East Room where they enjoyed selections from the musical "Man of La Mancha" by Richard Kiley, who originated the role of Don Quixote in the Broadway production.

This photo of the installation of a new marble mantel in the State Dining Room was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on June 25, 1962. In the photo, two men are installing the mantel as White House Matre d'Hotel John W. Ficklin and two unidentified White House residence staff members survey the work. The new mantel was installed as part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's restoration program and was a joint gift of the architecture firm Steinmann, Cain and White and the Marble Industry Board of New York. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for State or Official Dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

In this photograph, taken February 24, 1971, White House Chief Usher Rex Scouten presents Maitre d'hotel John W. Ficklin with an award certificate during a staff event honoring Ficklin's service. The event possibly was held to commemorate Ficklin's 30th anniversary as a member of the White House staff. Ficklin served as a member of the White House domestic staff for 43 years prior to his retirement in 1983. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987. Haller can be seen standing behind the table in the center of this photograph.

This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on November 17, 1978, during a party in the East Room to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The event was hosted by Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who invited local children with disabilities to the celebration. Here, Eugene C. Allen (left) and maître d'hotel John W. Ficklin (right) bring out a cake, as Amy Carter and Mickey Mouse look on. At right, Rosalynn Carter addresses the audience.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on December 14, 1981, First Lady Nancy Reagan joins her young guests for a Christmas party she hosted for the children of members of the Diplomatic Corps. Approximately 375 children between the ages of six and eleven attended the party, where they enjoyed cookies and punch, and entertainment by Christian the Magician. Here, Mrs. Reagan entertains her young guests in the State Dining Room. In the background, White House residence staff members including maître d'hôtel John W. Ficklin and butler Eugene C. Allen assist with the proceedings.

This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on November 17, 1978, during a party in the East Room to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The event was hosted by Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who invited local children with disabilities to the celebration. Here, butler Eugene C. Allen (left) and maître d'hotel John W. Ficklin (right) bring out a cake, while Amy Carter and Mickey Mouse look on. Behind them, musicians from the Disney World Combo perform "Happy Birthday."

This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on November 17, 1978, during a party in the East Room to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The event was hosted by Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who invited local children with disabilities to the celebration. Here, butler Eugene C. Allen (left) and maître d'hotel John W. Ficklin (right) bring out a cake, while Amy Carter and Mickey Mouse look on. Behind them, musicians from the Disney World Combo perform "Happy Birthday." First Lady Rosalynn Carter can be seen at right, addressing the audience.

This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on November 17, 1978, during a party in the East Room to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The event was hosted by Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who invited local children with disabilities to the celebration. Here, butler Eugene C. Allen (left) and maître d'hotel John W. Ficklin (right) bring out a cake, while Amy Carter and Mickey Mouse look on.

This photograph was taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph H. Bailey on November 17, 1978, during a party in the East Room to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The event was hosted by Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who invited local children with disabilities to the celebration. Here, Amy Carter receives a hug from Mickey Mouse as butler Eugene C. Allen (left) and maître d'hotel John W. Ficklin (right) bring out a cake.

This photograph was taken by Joseph J. Scherschel on June 17, 1965. It shows astronauts Lt. Col. James McDivitt and Lt. Col. Edward White, and Charles W. Mathews, manager of the Gemini Program Office Manned Spacecraft Center, and their families in the Blue Room. They were invited to the White House following the successful Gemini 4 mission to space. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson led the families on a tour of the White House, and President Lyndon B. Johnson presented McDivitt, White, and Mathews with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medals during a ceremony in the Rose Garden. The families spent the night at the White House, and departed the following day with Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey aboard SAM 26000 for the Paris Air Show at President Johnson's invitation.

This photograph was taken by Joseph J. Scherschel on June 17, 1965. It shows Matre d'Hotel John W. Ficklin serving astronaut astronaut Lt. Col. Edward White and his wife Patricia in the Blue Room. The families of Lt. Col. White, astronaut Lt. Col. James McDivitt and Charles W. Mathews, manager of the Gemini Program Office Manned Spacecraft Center, were invited to the White House following the successful Gemini 4 mission to space. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson led the families on a tour of the White House, and President Lyndon B. Johnson presented McDivitt, White, and Mathews with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medals during a ceremony in the Rose Garden. The families spent the night at the White House, and departed the following day with Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey aboard SAM 26000 for the Paris Air Show at President Johnson's invitation.

This photograph was taken by Joseph J. Scherschel on June 17, 1965. It shows astronauts Lt. Col. James McDivitt and Lt. Col. Edward White, and Charles W. Mathews, manager of the Gemini Program Office Manned Spacecraft Center, and their families in the Blue Room. They were invited to the White House following the successful Gemini 4 mission to space. The Gemini 4 mission spanned four days and 62 Earth orbits, and included the first American spacewalk. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson led the families on a tour of the White House, and President Lyndon B. Johnson presented McDivitt, White, and Mathews with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medals during a ceremony in the Rose Garden. The families spent the night at the White House, and departed the following day with Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey aboard SAM 26000 for the Paris Air Show at President Johnson's invitation.

This group photograph of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with White House staff was taken at the third birthday party for John F. Kennedy, Jr. on December 6, 1963. Among the staff members are White House butlers Eugene Allen, and John Ficklin, and White House Chef Rene Verdon.