This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche, seen here. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche, seen here. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

In this photograph, the East Room of the White House is elegantly decorated for the wedding of Alice Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth, which took place on February 17, 1906. Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and Alice Lee Roosevelt, married Longworth, a member of the House of Representatives from the state of Ohio, before an estimated one thousand guests in attendance. The dais, pictured here, was set up along the large window on the east side of the room. Astilbe japonicas, palm fronds, Easter lilies, greenhouse smilax, asparagus vines, bride roses, and rhododendrons filled the room and white satin ribbons covered the ropes that created the aisle amongst all of the invited guests.

In this photograph, the East Room of the White House is decorated for the wedding of Jessie Woodrow Wilson, daughter of President Woodrow Wilson and First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, to Francis Bowes Sayre on November 25, 1913. The ceremony took place at an altar constructed in the East Room surrounded by palms, maidenhair ferns, and annunciation lilies, which complemented Jessie’s bouquet.

In this photograph by Robert L. Knudsen, Lynda Bird Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, stands at the altar alongside her groom, Marine Corps Capt. Charles S. Robb, on their wedding day, December 9, 1967. The Johnson-Robb wedding took place in the East Room of the White House. Lynda's younger sister, Luci Baines Johnson, in red at right, served as maid of honor while Reverend Canon Gerald N.McAllister, far right, performed the wedding ceremony. Lynda wore a white silk satin-paneled wedding gown designed by Geoffrey Beene featuring embellished vertical lines of silk floss, embroidered flowers, and delicate seed pearls. Her wedding ensemble was topped with a 15-yard-long tulle veil.

In this photograph by Michael Geissinger, newlyweds Lynda Bird Johnson and Charles S. Robb lead a recessional following their wedding ceremony on December 9, 1967. Lynda, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, married Robb, a Marine Corps captain, in the East Room of the White House. Lynda's wedding gown was designed by Geoffrey Beene and featured a high-necked, long sleeve narrow A-line type dress, made full by a center pleat down the back. The gown was made of pearl white Abraham silk satin in an internationally distinguished Swiss mill.

In this photograph by Yoichi R. Okamoto, Lynda Bird Johnson and Marine Corps Capt. Charles S. Robb use a saber to cut their wedding cake while her parents, President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, look on. Johnson and Robb were married in the East Room of the White House, where they also cut their cake, on December 9, 1967. Per Marine Corps tradition, the couple uses a saber to cut through the five-layer cake, as they became the 15th couple to be married in the White House. Immediately following the cake-cutting ceremony, the couple performed their first dance.

In this photograph by Oliver F. Atkins, Tricia Nixon, the daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, dances with Edward Cox at their wedding reception on June 12, 1971. The newlywed couple danced to "Somewhere, My Love" from the movie Doctor Zhivago for their first dance. The wedding reception took place in the East Room of the White House following a ceremony outside in the Rose Garden. Tricia Nixon's wedding ensemble was designed by Priscilla Kidder with the bride's input and featured a juliet cap and illusion silk veil.

In this photograph by Oliver F. Atkins, Tricia Nixon, the daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, dances with Edward Cox at their wedding reception on June 12, 1971. The newlywed couple danced to "Somewhere, My Love" from the movie Doctor Zhivago for their first dance. The wedding reception took place in the East Room of the White House following a ceremony outside in the Rose Garden. Tricia Nixon's wedding ensemble was designed by Priscilla Kidder with the bride's input and featured a juliet cap and illusion silk veil.

In this photograph by Oliver F. Atkins, Tricia Nixon, the daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon, dances with Edward Cox at their wedding reception on June 12, 1971. The newlywed couple danced to "Somewhere, My Love" from the movie Doctor Zhivago for their first dance. The wedding reception took place in the East Room of the White House following a ceremony outside in the Rose Garden. Tricia Nixon's wedding ensemble was designed by Priscilla Kidder with the bride's input and featured a juliet cap and illusion silk veil.

In this photograph by Karl Schumacher, comedian Bob Hope performs in the East Room on July 7, 1976. Hope performed a monologue during the entertainment portion of a State Dinner held in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The State Dinner, which was held in the Rose Garden, followed a day of activities with President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, Queen Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, including a State Arrival Ceremony that morning. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited the United States from July 6 to 11 in celebration of the American Bicentennial. Hope, a British-born actor and comedian, was a recurrent guest at the White House and, during his career, entertained every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.

In this photograph by Karl Schumacher, husband and wife singing duo Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille) perform in the East Room on July 7, 1976. The duo performed during the entertainment portion of a State Dinner held in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The State Dinner, which was held in the Rose Garden, followed a day of activities with President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, Queen Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, including a State Arrival Ceremony that morning. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited the United States from July 6 to 11 in celebration of the American Bicentennial. Performing with Captain & Tennille were bassist Jack Conrad, drummer Michael Mathis, and singers Andy Boettner, Melissa Tennille, Louisa Tennille, and Jubilant Sykes.

In this photograph by Ricardo Thomas, First Lady Betty Ford dances with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in the East Room on July 7, 1976. Prince Philip visited the White House for an official State Visit in honor of his wife, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The State Visit included a State Dinner in the Rose Garden that evening, followed by music performances and dancing in the East Room. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited the United States from July 6 to 11 in celebration of the American Bicentennial. During their six day trip, they visited eight American cities, starting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This photograph of President Barack Obama delivering a statement on the death of Osama bin Laden was taken by Pete Souza on May 1, 2011. President Obama spoke live on television from the East Room late on May 1. Bin Laden was the leader of the terrorist group al Qaeda, who were responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. His death was carried out through a military mission led by members of the United States Navy SEALs.

This photograph is of Gerald R. Ford being sworn in as the 38th president of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in the White House East Room on August 9, 1974. Ford had been confirmed as vice president in 1973 following Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's resignation. Ford would ascend to the presidency after President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during the press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. Decorations in the East Room highlighted nature and recreation in the United States. Snow-dusted trees occupied the corners of the East Room and the mantels featured displays recognizing four renowned U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Shenandoah National Park.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during the press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. Decorations in the East Room highlighted nature and recreation in the United States. Snow-dusted trees occupied the corners of the East Room and the mantels featured displays recognizing four renowned U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Shenandoah National Park. The historic Neapolitan crèche was displayed in its traditional spot in the center of the East Room. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during the press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. Decorations in the East Room highlighted nature and recreation in the United States. Snow-dusted trees occupied the corners of the East Room and the mantels featured displays recognizing four renowned U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Shenandoah National Park. The historic Neapolitan crèche was displayed in its traditional spot in the center of the East Room. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the historic Neapolitan crèche in the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during the press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. Decorations in the East Room highlighted nature and recreation in the United States. Snow-dusted trees occupied the corners of the East Room and the mantels featured displays recognizing four renowned U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Shenandoah National Park.

This photograph of the historic Neapolitan crèche in the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the historic Neapolitan crèche in the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.

This photograph of the historic Neapolitan crèche in the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 28, 2022 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "We the People" as the 2022 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by Americans' shared values, unity, and community. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.