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.

In this photograph, taken by National Geographic photographer Joseph J. Scherschel on December 18, 1965, guests of a White House Christmas party attempt to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, framed in the door of the Blue Room. Luci Baines Johnson, youngest daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, hosted the party to brighten the holiday season for approximately 150 local children. The children gathered in the Blue Room to see the official White House Christmas Tree, which is traditionally placed at its center. In 1965, the tree was adorned with garlands made from nuts, popcorn, and cranberries, and 3000 ornaments including decorations made from gingerbread, straw stars, bunches of geraniums, and toy soldiers. During the party, the children also enjoyed sweet treats in the State Dining Room, watched a concert in the East Room by Estonian-Swedish pianist Käbi Larete, and were presented with toys including jack-in-the boxes and mechanical animals.

This photograph, taken by Paul Morse, shows President George W. Bush delivering an address to the nation from the Oval Office following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Bush delivered the live televised address that evening. Contributors to the speech included President Bush; speechwriters John McConnell, David Frum, Matthew Scully, and Michael J. Gerson; national security advisor Condoleezza Rice and her deputy assistant Stephen J. Hadley; and members of the White House communications team. In his remarks, Bush mourned the loss of American citizens yet asserted the strength of the nation, promised retribution for the perpetrators of the attacks and their supporters, and offered words of prayer.

In this photograph, taken by David Bohrer on September 18, 2001, President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney join White House staff to observe a moment of silence on the South Lawn honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The moment of silence ceremony has remained a tradition in the formal observation of September 11th at the White House. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service.

In this photograph, taken by Paul Morse on September 18, 2001, President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney join White House staff to observe a moment of silence on the South Lawn honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The moment of silence ceremony has remained a tradition in the formal observation of September 11th at the White House. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service.

In this photograph, taken by Kimberlee Hewitt on September 10, 2006, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the north reflecting pool at the former site of the World Trade Center in New York, New York. President and Mrs. Bush paid their respects at the site to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The National September 11 Memorial was later built on the site and dedicated on September 11, 2011. In May 2014, an adjacent museum was opened and dedicated by President Barack Obama.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush delivers a speech during the dedication ceremony for the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld can be seen seated behind the president. Designed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman, the memorial honors the 184 victims who perished when the hijacked aircraft American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon. The outdoor memorial identifies victims by name and age, and includes illuminated water features to represent each victim. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Welch Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, and Second Lady Lynne V. Cheney join White House staff for a moment of silence on the South Lawn in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, taken by Paul Morse on September 9, 2005, President George W. Bush delivers remarks on the South Lawn during the presentation ceremony for the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor. The medal was created to honor 442 public safety officers, including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, who died as a result of performing their duties in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. President Bush invited family members of the fallen officers to the South Lawn ceremony, where they were presented with the posthumous award.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Welch Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, and Second Lady Lynne V. Cheney join White House staff for a moment of silence on the South Lawn in commemoration of the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Welch Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, and Second Lady Lynne V. Cheney join victims' families for a moment of silence on the South Lawn in commemoration of the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush participate in a wreath-laying ceremony near the crash site for United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Flight 93 was one of four airplanes hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists on September 11, 2001. Believed to be targeting the United States Capitol Building, the flight crashed into a field after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft. Preliminary work for the Flight 93 National Memorial was completed on September 10, 2010, and the permanent memorial opened to the public on September 10, 2015. In 2002, President Bush designated September 11th as Patriot Day, a time that has been recognized through presidential proclamations as a national day of remembrance, prayer, and service. Presidents and first ladies typically commemorate the day through moment of silence observations on the White House South Lawn, and by attending remembrance ceremonies at sites affected by the terrorist attacks.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on September 11, 2002, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush light a candle at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., during a private service of prayer and remembrance honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This first anniversary of the attacks was also the first observation of Patriot Day, a day designated by President Bush for national participation in remembrance ceremonies. On September 11, 2002, President Bush also participated in a moment of silence at the White House and visited the location of the terrorist attacks in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the former site of the World Trade Center in New York city, and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

In this photograph, taken by Paul Morse on September 12, 2002, a group of firefighters unfurl a large American flag over the damaged Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The flag was displayed to encourage and inspire rescue workers as they searched the debris for survivors. On September 11, 2001, the hijacked aircraft American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon, resulting in 184 casualties. On September 11, 2008, President George W. Bush attended the dedication ceremony of the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, built to honor the victims of the attack.

This photograph was taken by Ricardo Thomas on September 7, 1975, during the housewarming party for the vice president's residence at the United States Naval Observatory. Here, Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller invites President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, and their daughter Susan Ford to tour the master bedroom of the vice president's residence. The bed features a distinctive wood and brass headboard and footboard designed by German surrealist artist Max Ernst. Though Rockefeller did not live at the house and only used it for entertaining, he donated the elaborate $35,000 bedframe to the master bedroom to support artistic innovation. The first vice president to live in the Naval Observatory was Walter F. Mondale, who moved into the house with his family in 1977.

This photograph was taken by Ricardo Thomas on September 7, 1975, during the housewarming party for the vice president's residence at the United States Naval Observatory. Here, Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller and Second Lady Happy Rockefeller invite President Gerald R. Ford, First Lady Betty Ford, and their daughter Susan Ford to tour the dining room of the vice president's residence. Located at Number One Observatory Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C., the house was originally built for the superintendent of the United State Naval Observatory in 1893, but became the residence of the chief of naval operations in 1923. In 1974, the house was selected by Congress to be refurbished for use as the residence of the Vice President of the United States. Although Vice President and Mrs. Rockefeller hosted housewarming parties after renovations of the house were complete in 1975, the Rockefellers did not live in the house and only used it for entertaining. The first vice president to live in the Naval Observatory was Walter F. Mondale, who moved into the house with his family in 1977.

This photograph was taken after executive office staff evacuated the White House following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. Anita McBride, assistant to President George W. Bush, led a group of senior staff to continue operations from the DaimlerChrysler office building, where her husband Tim McBride, former aide to President George H. W. Bush, worked as director of government affairs. This photograph shows Ken Mehlman, deputy assistant to the president for political affairs (left), and Brad Blakeman, deputy assistant to the president for appointments and scheduling (third from left), at work at their temporary "command post" in the DaimlerChrysler offices with Israel Hernandez, deputy assistant to the president (second from left), and Joel D. Kaplan, special assistant to the president in the office of the chief of staff (right).

This photograph was taken after executive office staff evacuated the White House following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. Anita McBride, assistant to President George W. Bush (pictured here at right), led a group of senior staff to continue operations from the DaimlerChrysler office building, where her husband Tim McBride, former aide to President George H. W. Bush, worked as director of government affairs. Also pictured in this photograph: Helen Mobley, director of presidential scheduling for correspondence and invitations (seated at left of Mrs. McBride), Josh Deckard, intern for the office of the White House chief of staff (standing behind at left), and Ashley Davis, deputy director of management and administration (standing behind at right).

This photograph was taken after executive office staff evacuated the White House following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. Anita McBride, assistant to President George W. Bush, led a group of senior staff to continue operations from the DaimlerChrysler office building, where her husband Tim McBride, former aide to President George H. W. Bush, worked as director of government affairs. Here, Scott Stanzel, spokesperson for the White House Office of Media Affairs (far right), meets with communication staff in a DaimlerChrysler conference room. Pictured listening to Stanzel from left to right: Ken Lisaius, Wendy Nipper, and Jimmy Orr.

This photograph was taken from the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. during the evacuation of executive office staff following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. The evacuation notice applied to approximately 1,800 staff members who worked in the East and West Wings of the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (later rededicated as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building. Here, Anita McBride, assistant to President George W. Bush (center) confers with Mary Matalin, counselor to Vice President Richard B. Cheney. Shortly after this photograph was taken, Matalin joined Vice President Cheney in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) beneath the White House, and McBride and other senior White House transitioned into the DaimlerChrysler office building to continue their work for the day.

In this photograph taken on September 12, 2001, First Lady Laura Welch Bush listens to her East Wing staff members share what they experienced during the evacuation of the White House on September 11, 2001. Mrs. Bush learned of the suspected terrorist attacks during a visit to the United States Capitol Building the previous day, where she had intended to brief the the United States Senate Committee on Education on the White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development she had hosted that July.

In this photograph, White House staffers run toward the iron gates on West Executive Avenue following an evacuation order issued by the United States Secret Service after the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. In response to the threat of additional attacks, approximately 1,800 executive office employees were evacuated from the East and West Wings of the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (later rededicated as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building.

In this photograph, First Lady Laura Welch Bush speaks at the United States Capitol Building following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, New York on the morning of September 11, 2001. Mrs. Bush had planned on visiting the Capitol that day to brief the United States Senate Committee on Education on the White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development she had hosted that July. Here, Mrs. Bush is pictured standing between senators Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.