White House Butler Preston Bruce in the East Room
This photograph is of a White House doorman, Preston Bruce, standing near a mantel in the East Room of the White House. As part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's restoration of White House rooms, the mantels were repainted to resemble white marble. The image was taken on August 14, 1961, by a National Geographic staff photographer for the White Historical Association's 1962 publication of "The White House: A Historic Guide". The publication serves as a companion book for tours of the White House, providing a history of the rooms, architecture, and furniture.