• President Reagan and Prime Minister of Ireland in the Rose Garden
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    St. Patrick's Day
    head of state
    presidential gifts
    South Grounds
    Rose Garden
    This photograph of President Ronald Reagan and Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald of Ireland was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on March 17, 1986. During a ceremony in the Rose Garden, Taoiseach Fitzgerald, also known as a prime minister, presented a Waterford Crystal bowl of shamrocks to President Reagan. Secretary of State George P. Shultz is also pictured.
  • President Reagan Greeted by St. Patrick's Day Celebrants
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    West Wing
    Cabinet Room
    St. Patrick's Day
    In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Ronald Reagan is greeted by a group dressed in honor of St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 1986. The celebration took place in the Cabinet Room in the West Wing. The group interrupted President Reagan's Issues Briefing Luncheon.
  • Prime Minister of Ireland Puts a Pin on President Ford
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    head of state
    State Visit
    State Arrival Ceremony
    South Grounds
    St. Patrick's Day
    In this photograph taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on March 17, 1976, Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave of Ireland, puts a pin on President Gerald R. Ford's lapel. Also pictured in the photograph is chief of protocol Henry Catto, First Lady Betty Ford (with her back to the camera), and the taoiseach's wife, Vera Cosgrave. This moment occurred on the South Drive during the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the Taoiseach's, or prime minister's, official State Visit.
  • The Fords and Cosgraves Wave from the South Portico
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    head of state
    State Visit
    State Arrival Ceremony
    St. Patrick's Day
    In this photograph, President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave of Ireland, and his wife, Vera Cosgrave, wave from the South Portico. Bill Fitz-Patrick captured this moment during the State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of the taoiseach's, or prime minister's, official State Visit on March 17, 1976.
  • President and Mrs. Ford Welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the White House
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    State Visit
    Head of State
    State Arrival Ceremony
    In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford pose on the South Portico alongside Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on July 7, 1976. The group were captured at a State Arrival Ceremony held in honor of Queen Elizabeth's State Visit. The ceremony was held on the South Lawn of the White House and, after a day of events, was followed by a State Dinner that evening in the Rose Garden. 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.
  • Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Reagan Administration
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building
    Washington, D.C.
    This aerial photo of the exterior of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office building was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on June 23, 1981. During the Ronald Reagan presidency, the building was known as the Old Executive Office Building but was renamed the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with legislation signed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and with a rededication ceremony presided over by President George W. Bush in 2002. Commissioned by President Ulysses S. Grant and completed in 1888, the majestic building was designed by Alfred Mullet in the Second Empire style, which is characterized by a sloping mansard roof and grand embellishments. Originally known as the State, War, and Navy Building, the building houses the offices of much of the president’s staff.
  • President Ford Welcomes Pelé to the White House
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    White House Guests
    sports
    Rose Garden
    South Grounds
    In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford welcomes soccer superstar Pelé in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 28, 1975. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé visited the White House while in town with his team the New York Cosmos, who were scheduled to play against the Washington Diplomats in a North American Soccer League match that weekend. Pelé showed President Ford his juggling skills, seen here, before the president tried his hand at the soccer skill. Also attending the event were Joao Augusto de Araujo Castro, Brazilian ambassador to the United States; Joseph Danzansky, owner of the New York Cosmos; Clive Toye, general manager of the Cosmos; Steven Leipsner, general manager of the Washington Diplomats; and Julio Mazzei, Pelé’s adviser and longtime friend, who served as his interpreter.
  • President Ford Welcomes Pelé to the White House
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    White House Guests
    sports
    Rose Garden
    South Grounds
    In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford welcomes soccer superstar Pelé in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 28, 1975. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé visited the White House while in town with his team the New York Cosmos, who were scheduled to play against the Washington Diplomats in a North American Soccer League match that weekend. Pelé showed President Ford his juggling skills, seen here, before the president tried his hand at the soccer skill. Also attending the event were Joao Augusto de Araujo Castro, Brazilian ambassador to the United States; Joseph Danzansky, owner of the New York Cosmos; Clive Toye, general manager of the Cosmos; Steven Leipsner, general manager of the Washington Diplomats; and Julio Mazzei, Pelé’s adviser and longtime friend, who served as his interpreter.
  • President Ford Awards the Presidential Medial of Freedom to Lady Bird Johnson
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    ceremonies
    White House Guests
    State Floor
    Presidential Medal of Freedom
    East Room
    merits & awards
    In this photograph by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in a ceremony in the East Room on January 10, 1977. President Ford presented the award in the waning days of his presidency, honoring Mrs. Johnson alongside the likes of Georgia O'Keeffe, Irving Berlin, Joe DiMaggio, Nelson Rockefeller, and Norman Rockwell.
  • President Ford with the 1976 Men's NCAA Champions
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    Rose Garden
    sports
    South Grounds
    White House Guests
    This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford with members of Indiana University men's basketball team was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on April 20, 1976. President Ford welcomed the Hoosiers to the Rose Garden following their victory over the University of Michigan at the NCAA Division I Men's Championship that March. Bobby Knight, the Hoosier's legendary coach, joined the team for the visit.
  • Christmas Decorations in the East Colonnade, 1985
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    winter holidays
    decorations
    East Wing
    East Colonnade
    Christmas
    This photograph of the East Colonnade decorated for the holiday season was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on December 13, 1985. Wreaths adorned with green ribbons hang in front of windows that look out into the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, while hand-crafted teakwood candlesticks and potted white poinsettia plants line the corridor. The candlesticks were crafted by White House carpenters using what is believed to be part of the ten tons of teakwood gifted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from the Burmese government. The candlesticks were a staple of the evening candlelight tours from their establishment during the Richard M. Nixon administration through the Bill Clinton administration. Also visible in this photograph at the end of the East Colonnade is a poinsettia "tree" in the East Garden Room, assembled from arranged potted flowers.
  • Holiday Decoration Press Preview, 1985
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    winter holidays
    staff
    pets
    gingerbread
    food & drink
    decorations
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Residence staff
    Christmas
    This photograph was taken on December 9, 1985, during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations hosted by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Here, Mrs. Reagan holds her dog Rex and laughs during the presentation of the official White House Gingerbread House. The display was made by Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert and included figures based on the Hansel and Gretel fairytale and a pathway made of jelly beans, President Ronald Reagan's favorite treat. Raffert's A-frame style gingerbread houses were a traditional part of the White House holiday decorations from 1969-1991. Also pictured at the far left of this photograph is actor Larry Hagman, who accompanied Mrs. Reagan for the press preview dressed as Santa Claus.
  • Amy Carter Admires the 1977 White House Gingerbread House
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    winter holidays
    gingerbread
    food & drink
    decorations
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Christmas
    This photograph of Amy Carter admiring a gingerbread house in the State Dining Room was taken on December 28, 1977 by Bill Fitz-Patrick. The gingerbread house was created by Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert. Raffert's German A-frame style gingerbread houses were a traditional part of the White House holiday decorations from 1969-1991. For the 1977 gingerbread, Raffert embellished it with candy canes, gingerbread men, cookies, frosting, and reindeer.
  • President Reagan Greets Ray Mercer
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    White House Guests
    West Wing
    Oval Office
    receptions
    In this photograph, President Ronald Reagan greets Olympic champion boxer Ray Mercer in the Oval Office. Mercer, along with his teammates from the 1988 U.S. Summer Olympics team, visited the White House on October 24, 1988, following the games held in Seoul, South Korea. Mercer won the gold medal in heavyweight boxing.
  • President Reagan and Florence Griffith Joyner
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    White House Guests
    West Wing
    Oval Office
    receptions
    In this photograph, President Ronald Reagan greets track and field star Florence Griffith Joyner in the Oval Office. Joyner, along with her teammates from the 1988 U.S. Summer Olympics team, visited the White House on October 24, 1988, following the games held in Seoul, South Korea. Joyner won three gold medals at the games, including the 100 meter and 200 meter sprints.
  • President Reagan Visits U.S. Olympic Training Facility
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    Presidential Visit
    Colorado
    travel
    In this photograph, President Ronald Reagan lifts weights at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 29, 1984. President Reagan visited the facility, trying out the computerized strength measurement machine, ahead of the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles, California.
  • President Ford Greets Rafer Johnson in the Cabinet Room
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    West Wing
    Cabinet Room
    meetings
    In this photograph, taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick, President Gerald R. Ford greets former Olympic champion Rafer Johnson in the Cabinet Room. Johnson was visiting the White House for the first meeting of the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports (PCOS) on September 9, 1975. President Ford created the commission in response to continuing conflicts among U.S. amateur sports organizations and declining performance by the U.S. in the Olympic games and other international competitions. Johnson won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. He previously won the silver in the event at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Johnson had an illustrious and varying career that included acting and involvement with the Special Olympics.
  • President Ford Speaks at Farewell Ceremony for 1976 Olympic Team
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    New York
    travel
    Presidential Visit
    sports
    This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on July 10, 1976. President Ford was visiting Plattsburgh, New York to speak at a farewell ceremony for the U.S. Summer Olympics team ahead of their departure for the games to be held in Montreal, Canada.
  • President Ford Receives Final Report of the President's Commission on Olympic Sports
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    In this photograph, taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on January 4, 1977, President Gerald R. Ford receives the final report of the President's Commission on Olympic Sports (PCOS) in the Oval Office. President Ford created the commission in response to continuing conflicts among U.S. amateur sports organizations and declining performance by the U.S. in the Olympic games and other international competitions. Pictured with the president in this photograph are Gerald B. Zornow, PCOS chairman and chairman of the board of the Eastman Kodak Company, and Michael T. Harrigan, executive director of the PCOS.
  • President Reagan Plays Hockey with Washington Capitals and Olympic Athletes
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    South Grounds
    Rose Garden
    White House Guests
    In this photograph, taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on September 29, 1983, President Ronald Reagan hits a hockey puck in the Rose Garden during an event honoring the Washington Capitals and the 1984 United States men's Olympic hockey team. The following day, the two teams competed at the Capital Centre, the home arena of the Washington Capitals in Landover, Maryland. During the Rose Garden ceremony, President Reagan was presented with commemorative jerseys, a hockey puck, and a trophy-shaped jelly bean jar. In this photograph, Vice President George H. W. Bush watches with members of the hockey teams from behind the podium with the Presidential Seal.
  • President Reagan Welcomes 1988 Summer Olympic Team to the White House
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    sports
    South Portico
    South Grounds
    receptions
    In this photograph, President Ronald Reagan welcomes members of the U.S. Summer Olympic team to the White House South Portico on October 24, 1988. The team’s visit followed competition in Seoul, South Korea earlier in the month. Surrounding President Reagan were some of the stand-out athletes from that Olympiad: kayaker Greg Barton, swimmer Matt Biondi (speaking at right), swimmer Janet Evans, track and field star Florence Griffith Joyner, and boxer Andrew Maynard.
  • First Meeting of President's Commission on Olympic Sports
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    Cabinet Room
    West Wing
    sports
    Congress
    meetings
    In this photograph, taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on September 9, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford attends the first meeting of the President's Commission on Olympic Sports (PCOS) in the Cabinet Room. President Ford created the commission in response to continuing conflicts among U.S. amateur sports organizations and declining performance by the U.S. in the Olympic games and other international competitions. Among those in attendance were President Ford; Forrest David Mathews, United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; Gerald B. Zornow, PCOS chairman and Chairman of the Board of the Eastman Kodak Company; Donna De Varona, former Olympic swimmer who earned two gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics; Michael W. Elliott, former three-time Olympic cross-country skier; Barbara Ellen Forker, Director of Physical Education at Iowa State University; Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football League, Major League Soccer, and co-founder of World Championship Tennis; Rafer Johnson, actor and 1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist; Micki King, former Olympic gold medal diver and United States Air Force Captain and physical education instructor; Howard K. Smith, ABC television commentator; Ernest M. Vandeweghe, member of the United States Olympic Committee on Basketball; Willye B. White, five-time former Olympic track-and-field athlete; Bud Wilkinson, former football coach, University of Oklahoma and Special Consultant on physical fitness for presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon; James A. McCain, Commissioner of Labor, Kansas State University; Bill Toomey, 1968 Olympic decathlon gold medalist; senators John C. Culver, Ted Stevens, Richard Stone; representatives Jack Kemp, Ralph H. Metcalfe (and former member of the 1932 and 1936 U.S. Olympic team); and Robert H. Michel.
  • Chef Henry Haller in the State Dining Room
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    staff
    event
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    food & drink
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller stands with butlers Alfred Saenz (left) and Wilson Jerman (center), waiting for guests to enjoy a buffet spread in the State Dining Room. The refreshments, which included fresh fruit and shrimp with cocktail sauce, were likely served during a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps and their spouses, held on July 1, 1986 during the Ronald Reagan administration. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.
  • Group Photo of White House Staff, Reagan Administration
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    staff
    State Dining Room
    State Floor
    This group photograph of the White House residence staff was taken in the State Dining Room on January 6, 1982, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The staff photographed worked primarily in the Executive Mansion and include kitchen staff, butlers, and the White House Curator's Office. The photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, pictured standing in the second row in his chef's hat. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.
  • President Reagan Shares a Toast at his 70th Birthday Party
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    celebration
    White House Guests
    State Floor
    East Room
    food & drink
    In this photograph, taken on February 6, 1981, President Ronald Reagan raises a glass in the East Room as guests applaud during his 70th birthday party. The surprise party was organized by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Over 100 guests attended, including many celebrity friends of the Reagans, such as Frank Sinatra and James Stewart. In this photograph, President Reagan stands beside a table topped with over ten birthday cakes, created by White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier and Executive Chef Henry Haller. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.