In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives receive guests in the Cross Hall for a worship service. The worship service was conducted in the East Room and attended by approximately 325 guests. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of president and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21, 1969.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 21, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon, First Lady Pat Nixon, astronauts from the Apollo 12 lunar exploration mission, and their wives greet members of the Boys Choir of the Washington National Cathedral in the Cross Hall. The choristers performed that day at a worship service in the East Room. The crew of Apollo 12 included the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon, on November 19-20, 1969. Cdr. Pete Conrad, his wife, Jane; lunar module pilot Alan Bean, his wife, Sue; and command module pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and his wife, Barbara were the overnight guests of president and Mrs. Nixon at the White House on December 20-21-1969.

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 dances with Mickey Mouse as musicians from the Disney World Combo perform.

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 dances with Mickey Mouse as musicians from the Disney World Combo perform.

This photograph is of guests chatting and admiring sculptures in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden during the White House Festival of the Arts on June 14, 1965. The sculpture "Helmet V" by Dimitri Hadzi is visible in the background. Over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

This photograph is of guests listening to a reading in the East Room during the White House Festival of the Arts. The program of prose and poetry readings in the East Room was introduced by Mark Van Doren and featured readings from several authors and poets including Saul Bellow, Catherine Drinker Bowen, John Hersey, and Phillis McGinley. On June 14, 1965 over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

This photograph is of guests enjoying themselves at a reception for presidential scholars. President Lyndon B. Johnson established the presidential scholars program in 1964 to honor distinguished graduating high school seniors on the basis of outstanding scholarship, service, leadership, and creativity. The White House Commission on U.S. Presidential Scholars and the US Department of Education administer the review process and have selected over 7000 recipients for this special distinction.

In this photograph, actors Pat Hingle and Piper Laurie perform a scene from Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" in the East Room during the White House Festival of the Arts on June 14, 1965. Actress Helen Hayes introduced selections from four contemporary plays that were performed in the East Room. Along with Laurie and Hingle, Maureen Stapleton and George Grizzard performed scenes from "The Glass Menagerie;" Jack Albertson, Martin Sheen, and Irene Dailey performed excerpts from Frank Gilroy's "The Subject was Roses;" Mildred Dunnock reprised her role from Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman;" and Tim Ligon, Moses Gunn, and other actors from Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. performed a scene from Millard Lampell's "Hard Travelin'." Over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

This photograph is of guests enjoying dinner on the South Lawn. Also pictured are members of the United States Marine Band. On June 14, 1965 over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

This photograph is of guests viewing "Royal Game I" by Louise Nevelson, which was installed in the East Colonnade for the White House Festival of the Arts. On June 14, 1965 over 300 guests attended the Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

This photograph is of coloratura soprano Roberta Peters talking with guests in the Cross Hall during the White House Festival of the Arts on June 14, 1965. Peters accompanied the Louisville Orchestra for an afternoon program of vocal and symphony music in the State Dining Room, introduced by African American contralto Marian Anderson. During the 40-minute program conducted by Robert Whitney, Peters sang "Glitter and Be Gay" from Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" and "Summertime" from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." Over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

In this photograph First Lady Lady Bird Johnson dines with actor Gene Kelly and photographer Edward Steichen at the dinner for the White House Festival of the Arts. On June 14, 1965 over 300 guests attended the White House Festival of the Arts to honor contemporary American artistic achievement. 65 works of art borrowed from 39 museums across the country were displayed in the East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The 14-hour event also featured a photography exhibition in the Vermeil Room, a film screening in the State Dining Room, and a variety of performances in the East Room, State Dining Room, and the South Lawn including Duke Ellington, the Robert Joffrey Ballet, and the Louisville Orchestra.

In this photograph, taken May 31, 1975, first daughter Susan Ford dances with date William Pifer and classmates from the Holton-Arms School at her senior prom. The prom for the 1975 graduating class of the Holton-Arms School of Bethesda, Maryland was held predominately in the East Room. It was the first prom held in the White House. Students covered the cost with funds they had raised since seventh grade. Students danced to music performed by The Outerspace Band, a five-member group consisting of former students from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and The Sandcastle, a seven-piece rock band based out of Richmond, Virginia.

This photograph is of President Lyndon B. Johnson delivering remarks in the Capitol Rotunda prior to the signing ceremony for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which took place on August 6, 1965. The bill was signed in the President's Room. The Voting Rights Act was designed to the "enforce the 15th amendment" and remove the barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The statue's provisions included: banning literacy tests, empowering the attorney general to investigate the unlawful use of poll taxes, and made the act of harassing, intimidating, threatening to prevent a lawfully registered voter from voting punishable by a fine of up $10,000, a five-year prison sentence or both. The legislation also allowed for the appointment of federal examiners with the ability to register qualified citizens to vote in jurisdictions where less than 50 percent of the voting age population was registered to vote. This legislation had a tremendous and immediate impact with over a quarter-million African Americans registered to vote by the end of 1965.

This photograph is of President Lyndon B. Johnson delivering remarks in the Capitol Rotunda prior to the signing ceremony for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which took place on August 6, 1965. The bill was signed in the President's Room. The Voting Rights Act was designed to the "enforce the 15th amendment" and remove the barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The statue's provisions included: banning literacy tests, empowering the attorney general to investigate the unlawful use of poll taxes, and made the act of harassing, intimidating, threatening to prevent a lawfully registered voter from voting punishable by a fine of up $10,000, a five-year prison sentence or both. The legislation also allowed for the appointment of federal examiners with the ability to register qualified citizens to vote in jurisdictions where less than 50 percent of the voting age population was registered to vote. This legislation had a tremendous and immediate impact with over a quarter-million African Americans registered to vote by the end of 1965.

This photograph is of President Lyndon B. Johnson delivering remarks in the Capitol Rotunda prior to the signing ceremony for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which took place on August 6, 1965. The bill was signed in the President's Room. The Voting Rights Act was designed to the "enforce the 15th amendment" and remove the barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The statue's provisions included: banning literacy tests, empowering the attorney general to investigate the unlawful use of poll taxes, and made the act of harassing, intimidating, threatening to prevent a lawfully registered voter from voting punishable by a fine of up $10,000, a five-year prison sentence or both. The legislation also allowed for the appointment of federal examiners with the ability to register qualified citizens to vote in jurisdictions where less than 50 percent of the voting age population was registered to vote. This legislation had a tremendous and immediate impact with over a quarter-million African Americans registered to vote by the end of 1965.

This photograph of handwritten grocery lists written by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on February 11, 2020. Wendel was the cooked and entertained for President George W. Bush and his family. For efficiency, Wendel based the lists on the store's layout, and he also divided the items into categories so when they were bagged they could quickly be put away at the Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

This photograph is of a signed dinner menu from the personal collection of chef Matthew Wendel. The dinner was held in honor of Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark and his wife, Anne-Mette, at President George W. Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch on February 29, 2008. The prime minister and his wife, along with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, signed this dinner menu for the chef as a token of their appreciation. The meal included mixed organic greens and citrus salad, pecan-smoked beef tenderloin, green chili-cheese grits soufflé, and roasted asparagus. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

In this photograph, taken in December 1969 by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel, women cross an intersection in Washington, D.C, possibly en route to a demonstration against the Vietnam War, held in front of the north gate of the White House.

This photograph of White House curator William G. Allman in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D’Agostino on April 27, 2015, during the Barack Obama administration. At a press preview ahead of the State Dinner held in honor of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan, Allman discussed the Obama’s recently revealed state china service. The Japan State Dinner would be the first official occasion where the Obama state service was used. The service included 11 pieces per setting and was designed with a modern aesthetic that was compatible and interchangeable with other historic services in the White House Collection. In a nod toward President Obama’s upbringing in Hawaii, several pieces in the service are complimented with bands of “Kailua blue”. Allman served as curator from 2002-2017.

This photograph was taken at a ceremony bestowing former British prime minister Winston Churchill with honorary United States citizenship. The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden on April 9, 1963, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Here, the United States Marine Band performs near the Rose Garden on the South Grounds. Churchill was the first individual to have honorary citizenship granted by the president and recognized by Congress. The elderly politician could not attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son Randolph S. Churchill and his grandson, Winston S. Churchill. Among the other attendees of the event were W. Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, Bernard M. Baruch, and three sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This photograph is of guests attending a ceremony bestowing former British prime minister Winston Churchill with honorary United States citizenship. The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden on April 9, 1963, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Churchill was the first individual to have honorary citizenship granted by the president and recognized by Congress. The elderly politician could not attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son Randolph S. Churchill and his grandson, Winston S. Churchill. Among the other attendees of the event were W. Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, Bernard M. Baruch, and three sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This photograph is of guests attending a ceremony bestowing former British prime minister Winston Churchill with honorary United States citizenship. The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden on April 9, 1963, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Churchill was the first individual to have honorary citizenship granted by the president and recognized by Congress. The elderly politician could not attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son Randolph S. Churchill and his grandson, Winston S. Churchill. Among the other attendees of the event were W. Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, Bernard M. Baruch, and three sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This photograph was taken at a ceremony bestowing former British prime minister Winston Churchill with honorary United States citizenship. The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden on April 9, 1963, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Churchill was the first individual to have honorary citizenship granted by the president and recognized by Congress. The elderly politician could not attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son Randolph S. Churchill and his grandson, Winston S. Churchill. Among the other attendees of the event were W. Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, Bernard M. Baruch, and three sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This photograph was taken at a ceremony bestowing former British prime minister Winston Churchill with honorary United States citizenship. The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden on April 9, 1963, during the John F. Kennedy administration. Here, President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy are captured arriving at the ceremony. Churchill was the first individual to have honorary citizenship granted by the president and recognized by Congress. The elderly politician could not attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son Randolph S. Churchill and his grandson, Winston S. Churchill. Among the other attendees of the event were W. Averell Harriman, Dean Acheson, Bernard M. Baruch, and three sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.