• Dr. Biden On Stage with Jon Batiste at France State Dinner
    Matthew D'Agostino
    State Visit
    State Dinner
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    In this photograph First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stands on stage with singer-songwriter Jon Batiste at a State Dinner held in honor of President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022. The State Dinner was part of Macron's official State Visit with President Joseph R. Biden, and was preceded earlier in the day by a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn and a joint press conference with Biden and Macron in the East Room of the White House. The State Dinner took place under a tent on the South Lawn and included decor in red, white, and blue - the common colors on the flags of the United States and France. Batiste performed for the honored guest. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.
  • President Biden Holds Joint Press Conference with President Macron
    Matthew D'Agostino
    press
    State Visit
    State Floor
    Head of State
    East Room
    In this photograph President Joseph R. Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic hold a joint press conference on December 1, 2022 in the East Room of the White House. The press conference was preceded by a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn where President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed Macron and Brigette Macron, spouse of the French president, for an official State Visit. The State Visit culminated in a State Dinner later that evening. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph is by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.
  • President Biden Speaks at State Arrival Ceremony
    Matthew D'Agostino
    State Visit
    State Arrival Ceremony
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Head of State
    In this photograph, President Joseph R. Biden speaks at the State Arrival Ceremony held for President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on December 1, 2022. Macron can be seen on stage beside President Biden. The arrival ceremony, the first part of Macron's official State Visit, took place on the South Lawn and was followed by a press conference with President Biden and Macron and, later that evening, a State Dinner. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Brigette Macron, spouse to the president of France, were in attendance at the arrival ceremony and at the day's other events. This was Biden's first State Visit as president. This photograph was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association.
  • Arrival Ceremony in Honor of Queen Elizabeth II
    Joseph H. Bailey
    State Visit
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Head of State
    State Arrival Ceremony
    This photograph of President George H. W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on the reviewing stand during an Arrival Ceremony held in her honor was taken by Joseph H. Bailey on May 14, 1991. The ceremony was held on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds. On the right side of the reviewing stand are Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and First Lady Barbara Bush. The Bushes also honored Queen Elizabeth's visit with a State Dinner in the evening. Her visit was the start of a13 day tour of the United States.
  • President Reagan Signs the Reparations Bill for Japanese-Americans
    Pete Souza
    signing
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building
    bills
    In this photograph by Pete Souza, President Ronald Reagan signs the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 on August 10, 1988 in room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building, now called the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided redress for the Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. Present at the signing were Senator Pete Wilson of California, Senator Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawaii, Representative Norman Yoshio Mineta of California, Representative Bill Lowery of California, and Representative Robert T. Matsui of California, among others.
  • President Obama Meets with Japanese-American World War II Veterans
    Pete Souza
    ceremonies
    West Wing
    Oval Office
    military
    In this photograph by Pete Souza, President Barack Obama returns the salute of Tommie Okabayashi in the Oval Office on February 18, 2014. Okabayashi was one of seven surviving Japanese American World War II veterans President Obama met with that day at the White House. In 2010, President Obama signed into law the legislation passed by Congress to reward the Congressional Gold Medal to the 33,000 second-generation Japanese American soldiers who fought in World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is among the highest civilian awards given by the United States government.
  • 2024 North Portico Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    north view
    North Portico
    Christmas
    decorations
    winter holidays
    This photograph of the North Portico decorations was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. A large wreath was placed atop the pediment of the North Portico—an addition to the exterior holiday decorations that Dr. Biden oversaw for the first time in 2021—alongside smaller wreaths in the windows.
  • 2024 State Dining Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Christmas
    decorations
    winter holidays
    This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. The décor in the State Dining Room was dedicated to Dr. Biden’s work with the Joining Forces initiative in support of military families, and featured paper chains constructed by the families of the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords, which Dr. Biden served as a sponsor of. The trees in the State Dining Room featured self-portraits made by school children from across the country. The traditional White House Gingerbread House was also in display in the State Dining Room.
  • 2024 East Colonnade Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    East Wing
    East Colonnade
    Christmas
    decorations
    winter holidays
    This photograph of the East Colonnade was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Down the long length of the East Colonnade were bells to represent the peaceful sounds of the holiday season. The bells included brass bells suspended from the ceiling and small sleigh bells adorning the archways.
  • 2024 Green Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    State Floor
    Green Room
    Christmas
    decorations
    winter holidays
    This photograph of the Green Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. Colorful and glittery glass ornaments and prisms were on display in the Green Room, decorating a large Christmas tree in the middle of the room, draping garlands on the mantel, and wreaths in the windows.
  • 2024 East Entrance Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    East Wing
    East Entrance
    Christmas
    decorations
    winter holidays
    This photograph of the East Entrance to the White House was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the People’s House. At the East Entrance, which is the entrance to the East Wing, visitors were welcomed to the White House with a large, golden starburst, trees decorated with gold lights, and wreaths full of gold baubles.
  • 2024 Diplomatic Reception Holiday Room Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    Christmas
    Diplomatic Reception Room
    Ground Floor
    decorations
    ornament
    winter holidays
    This close-up photograph of the Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament in the Diplomatic Reception Room was taken by David Wiegold on December 2, 2024 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "A Season of Peace and Light" as the 2024 holiday theme. For President and Dr. Biden’s final winter holiday season at the White House, the décor was inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House. For the first time, the Diplomatic Reception Room was open to the public in 2024 through efforts made by Dr. Biden. In recognition of this addition to the White House tour, the trees in the Diplomatic Reception Room were decorated with fruit and flowers as symbols of hospitality in diplomacy, alongside the 2024 ornament which honored the presidency of Jimmy Carter.