This White House photograph of President John F. Kennedy meeting with Ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan of Ireland was taken by Cecil Stoughton on March 17, 1961 in the Oval Office. Ambassador Kiernan presented President Kennedy with an arrangement of shamrocks and a scroll displaying the Kennedy family coat of arms and signed by the chief herald of Ireland, Gerard Slevin.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy meeting with Ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan of Ireland was taken by Abbie Rowe on March 17, 1961 in the Oval Office. Ambassador Kiernan is captured presenting President Kennedy with a scroll displaying the Kennedy family coat of arms and signed by the chief herald of Ireland, Gerard Slevin. Kiernan also gave Kennedy an arrangement of shamrocks.

In this photograph by Abbie Rowe taken on January 20, 1961, newly-inaugurated President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrive at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C. for the Inaugural Ball. Earlier in the day, President Kennedy was sworn in at the 35th President of the United States. Mrs. Kennedy wore a sleeveless, off-white gown with a silk sheer top covering a strapless bodice encrusted with “brilliants” and embroidered with silver thread by Ethel Frankau. Mrs. Kennedy collaborated with Frankau in the creation of the gown by offering suggestions on the sketches. Mrs. Kennedy’s look was finished off with a matching cape that closed at the neck and elbow-length gloves.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy talking with guests during a meeting on the National Cultural Center was taken by Cecil Stoughton in the East Room on October 8, 1963. The National Cultural Center would later become later known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as a memorial to President Kennedy. The East Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. The room is the largest room in the White House and is often used as a ceremonial space. The room is painted white and has 18th-century French and English-inspired ornate walls and ceiling. To make way for temporary furniture for ceremonies and holiday decorations, the East Room is usually sparsely furnished.

This photograph is of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy admiring their copies of the first edition of "The White House: A Historic Guide." The publication serves as a companion book for tours of the White House, providing history of the rooms, architecture, and furniture. The presentation of the first edition took place in the Fish Room, now known as the Roosevelt Room and was photographed by Cecil Stoughton on June 28, 1962.

This photograph, taken by Robert L. Knudsen, shows President John F. Kennedy and his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, near the foot of the Grand Staircase with King Ẓāhir Shāh of Afghanistan and his wife, Humaira Begum, during a State Dinner held in his honor on September 5, 1963. Originally planned for the Rose Garden, the dinner took place in the State Dining Room due to the possibility of inclement weather.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the recently restored Green Room was taken by Cecil Stoughton on February 12, 1963 during a reception to mark the centennial year of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, and granted freedom to enslaved people residing in Confederate states. The Green Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. It was the first room named after the color of its textiles and has Federal-style furnishings. The elegant but relaxed parlor is used for small gatherings, interviews, and teas.

This photograph by Cecil Stoughton shows President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attending the White House staff Christmas reception. The reception took place on December 12, 1962, in the Entrance Hall of the White House. The official White House Christmas tree was in the Entrance Hall that year due to work being done in the Blue Room, where the tree traditionally resides. This would be their last Christmas celebration in the White House.

In this photograph, taken by Cecil Stoughton on May 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy entertain astronauts Maj. L. Gordon Cooper, Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard, Maj. Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Lt. Cmdr. M. Scott Carpenter, Maj, Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, Cmdr. Walter M. Schirra and their spouses in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House. Earlier that day, President Kennedy presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Maj. Cooper for his success with the Project Mercury orbital mission. Maj. Cooper flew the Mercury-Atlas 9 ("Faith 7"), which was the final Mercury flight. He flew just over 34 hours and orbited the earth 22 times before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. The other astronauts were also participants of Project Mercury and took part in early United States spaceflight missions. This photograph shows the president, first lady, and their guests relaxing in the Yellow Oval Room shortly after it was restored into a formal drawing room by Mrs. Kennedy.

This photograph is of Dr. Melville Bell Grosvenor, president and editor of the National Geographic Society, handing First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy a copy of the first edition 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. The presentation of the first edition took place in the Fish Room, now known as the Roosevelt, and was photographed by Cecil Stoughton on June 28, 1962. Behind them are President John F. Kennedy; David E. Finley, chairman of the board of directors of the White House Historical Association; Lorraine Waxman Pearce, curator of the White House; Dr. Leonard Carmichael, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and member of the board of directors of the White House Historical Association; Melvin M. Payne, executive vice president and secretary of the National Geographic Society; (partially visible) Nash Castro, assistant regional director of the National Park Service and administrative officer of the White House Historical Association.

This photograph was taken by Cecil Stoughton on July 2, 1962, during the dedication ceremony for a new marble mantle in the State Dining Room. The mantel was a joint gift of the architecture firm Steinmann, Cain and White and the Marble Industry Board of New York. Pictured between President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in front of the mantel is Alice Roosevelt Longworth, eldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. The mantel was a modified reproduction of an earlier mantel created by McKim, Mead & White for President Roosevelt's White House renovations in 1902.

In this photograph, taken by Robert L. Knudsen on August 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addresses a group of Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program participants in the Rose Garden of the White House. From 1946-2013, the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program supported international professional development by offering primary and secondary teachers the opportunity to exchange teaching positions for a semester with colleagues from another country. At the Rose Garden ceremony, President Kennedy spoke with teachers from across the world who came to take part in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in the United States.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy receiving guests in the Cross Hall during a reception to mark the centennial year of the Emancipation Proclamation was taken by Cecil Stoughton on February 12, 1963. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, and granted freedom to enslaved people residing in Confederate states. Located on the State Floor of the White House, the Cross Hall runs the length of the Executive Mansion and offers views of the East, Red, Green, and Blue Rooms.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy receiving guests in the recently restored Blue Room during a reception to mark the centennial year of the Emancipation Proclamation was taken by Cecil Stoughton on February 12, 1963. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, and granted freedom to enslaved people residing in Confederate states. The Blue Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion and is famous for its oval shape, central location, and views of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial through its South Portico windows.

This photograph is of President John F. Kennedy delivering remarks at the presentation of the first edition 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. The event took place in the Fish Room, now known as the Roosevelt, and was photographed by Abbie Rowe on June 28, 1962. Behind him are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Dr. Melville Bell Grosvenor, president and editor of the National Geographic Society. Both the President and Mrs. Kennedy are standing with others. From left to right: David E. Finley, chairman of the board of directors of the White House Historical Association; Lorraine W. Pearce, curator of the White House; Dr. Leonard Carmichael, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and member of the board of directors of the White House Historical Association; Melvin M. Payne, executive vice-president and secretary of the National Geographic Society; Nash Castro, assistant regional director of the National Park Service and administrative officer of the White House Historical Association; T. Sutton Jett, regional director of the National Park Service and executive secretary of the White House Historical Association; and Robert L. Breeden, assistant illustrations editor of the National Geographic Society.

This photograph of Garnett D. Horner, reporter for the Washington Star and out-going president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, presenting two silver lanterns to President John F. Kennedy at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner was taken by Abbie Rowe on February 25, 1961. The lanterns are replicas of those hung in the Old North Church of Boston on April 18, 1775, that would signal the patriots of Paul Revere’s ride to warn Lexington and Concord. The lanterns were electrified and installed as wall-mounted sconces in the Oval Office.

In this photograph taken by Abbie Rowe, President John F. Kennedy stands in front of the Yellow Oval Room mantelpiece with Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda of Japan on June 23, 1961. Placed in front of the mantel is a scale mock-up of the green and white mantelpiece brought to the attention of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy by Jayne Wrightsman and purchased for the Yellow Oval Room by Mr. and Mrs. John Loeb. After consideration, the mantel was deemed too small for the room and it was eventually incorporated into the redecoration of the Family Dining Room on the State Floor.

This photograph showing a luncheon for New Jersey publishers was taken by Abbie Rowe on October 6, 1961. The luncheon took place in the State Dining Room amid a renovation during the John F. Kennedy administration. Seen here are the recently regilded chandelier and repositioned sconces. President Kennedy and press secretary Pierre Salinger were in attendance. The State Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. The room is often the setting for state or official dinners and is the second largest room in the White House.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy attending a luncheon for newspaper editors and publishers from Idaho was taken by Abbie Rowe on June 15, 1962 in the Old Family Dining Room. Clockwise from left: President Kennedy; editor of the Moscow Idahonian, Louis A. Boas; publisher of the St. Maries Gazette Record, Robert M. Hammes; publisher of the Parma Review, Theron M. Gough; president and publisher of the Lewiston-Clarkson Tribune, A. L. “Bud” Alford; press secretary Pierre Salinger; president and publisher of the Blackfoot News, Drury R. Brown; publisher of the Pocatello State Journal, Hugh A. Wagnon; publisher of the Twin Falls Times-News, John J. “Jack” Mullowney; publisher of the Burley Herald. The recently redecorated room included historic objects from the White House Collection including an early 19th-century French mantel clock with a figure of George Washington and two 19th-century still life paintings by German émigré artist Severin Roesen. From 1825 to 1962, presidents and their families traditionally dined in the Old Family Dining Room. In 1962 with the addition of a new private family dining room on the Second Floor of the White House, the room was repurposed for small official dinners, working lunches, and also serves as a staging area for state dinners. Located on the State Floor of the White House, the room features architectural details such as elegant plasterwork and vaulted ceilings. During the Barack Obama administration, the room was opened to public tours for the first time.

This photograph is of President Kennedy presenting the Presidential “Citation of Merit” to diplomat Florence Jaffray Hurst Harriman, in recognition of her distinguished service to the United States. The ceremony took place in the completed Blue Room, part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's restoration program, and was photographed by Abbie Rowe on April 18, 1963. The Blue Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion and is famous for its oval shape, central location, and views of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial through its South Portico windows.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy mingling with diplomatic guests in the East Room of the White House was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on May 2, 1962. The East Room is located on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. The room is the largest room in the White House and is often used as a ceremonial space. The room is painted white and has 18th-century French and English-inspired ornate walls and ceiling. To make way for temporary furniture for ceremonies and holiday decorations, the East Room is usually sparsely furnished.

In this photograph taken by Robert L. Knudsen, President John F. Kennedy views a newly acquired painting, Dressing Down the Gully by Jack Lorimer Gray, in the Cabinet Room on July 6, 1962. Gray was a Canadian artist known for his maritime paintings. The Cabinet Room is located in the West Wing.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy meeting with Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani of Italy in the West Sitting Hall was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on June 12, 1961. The curtains are the multicolored printed cotton originally chosen by Sister Parish who designed the room in the early stages of the Kennedy restoration project in 1961. Sister Parish was a socialite and interior designer who worked with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the early stages of her restoration project.

This photograph of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on July 11, 1961. President and Mrs. Kennedy are photographed in front of Mount Vernon alongside President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan and his daughter, Begum Nasir Akhtar Aurangzeb. Mount Vernon provided the location and backdrop for a State Dinner held in President Khan’s honor and was the first of its kind held outside the White House. Mrs. Kennedy wore a dress designed for her by Oleg Cassini, which she requested be columnar in shape to echo Mount Vernon’s historic facade. Mount Vernon was the estate of President George Washington.

This photograph, taken by Cecil Stoughton on October 11, 1963, shows President John F. Kennedy preparing to deliver filmed remarks in the Rose Garden. President Kennedy stands on the steps leading up to the Oval Office behind a man with a clapperboard; as photographers prepare in the foreground. On that day, President Kennedy delivered remarks for the National Meeting of the Association of the United States Army, and in support of fundraising efforts to send American athletes to the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.