This photograph of President George W. Bush greeting firefighters, police, and rescue personnel was taken by Eric Draper on September 14, 2001 in New York City. President Bush visited the first responders to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, meeting the group at what was coined Ground Zero of the horrific events that occurred just days before. Bush toured Ground Zero and gave a speech offering support to the first responders.

In this photograph by Eric Draper, President George W. Bush stands with author Harper Lee in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 5, 2007. Lee was at the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush. Lee was best known for her classic American novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" and received her honor alongside Liberian politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins, and Benjamin Hooks, civil rights leader and former executive director of the NAACP, among others.

In this photograph by Eric Draper, President George W. Bush toasts Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain at a State dinner held in her honor on May 7, 2007. The toast followed President Bush's welcoming remarks at the dinner, which took place in the State Dining Room. The evening also included a performance by violinist Itzhak Perlman in the East Room.

This photograph was taken by Eric Draper on December 9, 2004, during a menorah lighting ceremony in the East Garden Room. Although previous administrations had observed Hanukkah, and menorah lighting ceremonies had been held in the Oval Office during the Bill Clinton administration, the first menorah lighting ceremony was held in the Executive Residence during the George W. Bush administration in 2001. Here, Menachem, Chaim, and Miriam Felzenberg, the three eldest children of Army Chaplain Shmuel Felzenberg, light the menorah as President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush look on. The menorah used in the ceremony was borrowed from the Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, Florida.

This photograph was taken by Eric Draper on December 10, 2001, during a menorah lighting ceremony in the East Garden Room. Although previous administrations had observed Hanukkah, and menorah lighting ceremonies had been held in the Oval Office during the Bill Clinton administration, this was the first year that a menorah lighting ceremony was held in the Executive Residence. Here, 8-year-old Talia Lefkowitz lights the second candle of Hanukkah, as President George W. Bush looks on. The silver menorah used in the ceremony was borrowed from the collection of the Jewish Museum in New York.

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, 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, President George W. Bush delivers remarks from Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city on the morning of September 11, 2001. The president was informed by his chief of staff Andy Card of the second strike on the towers while reading to children at the school. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. For the next several hours, President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush speaks on the telephone as senior staff convene in his office aboard Air Force Once following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city on September 11, 2001. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush speaks with White House press secretary Ari Fleischer (left), and senior advisor to the president Karl Rove (center) aboard Air Force One following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city on September 11, 2001. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft. This photograph was taken by White House photographer Eric Draper during the flight from Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska to Andrews Air Force Base near Prince George's County, Maryland.

This photograph was taken by White House photographer Eric Draper from aboard Air Force Once on September 11, 2001. Here, President George W. Bush looks out the window with members of his staff as F-16 Fighting Falcon military jets arrive to escort the presidential aircraft from above the Gulf Coast to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for refueling. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. Pictured here from left: chief of staff Andy Card; press secretary Ari Fleischer; personal aide to the president Blake Gottesman; senior advisor Karl Rove; Situation Room director Deborah Loewer, and Dan Bartlett, deputy assistant to the president.

This photograph shows President George W. Bush departing from Air Force One upon his arrival at at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska on September 11, 2001. The president went to an underground bunker at the military base to attend a videoconference meeting with Vice President Richard B. Cheney and national security advisors working from the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) at the White House. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001, while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. For the next several hours, President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft. Prior to arriving at Andrews Air Force Base for the president's return to the White House, Air Force One stopped at military bases in Louisiana and Nebraska for refueling and security purposes.

In this photograph, President George W. Bush participates in a reading demonstration with second grade teacher Sandra Kay Daniels at Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida on the morning of September 11, 2001. The president participated in the reading demonstration to raise support for his "No Child Left Behind" nationwide educational initiative. During the demonstration, President Bush was informed by chief of staff Andy Card of the second strike on the World Trade Center in New York City. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. For the next several hours, President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft.

This photograph, taken by Eric Draper from aboard Air Force One on September 11, 2001, shows an F-16 Fighting Falcon military jet flying alongside Air Force One to escort the presidential aircraft from Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska to Andrews Air Force Base near Prince George's County, Maryland. Multiple F-16 fighter jets accompanied Air Force One to protect President George W. Bush following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. Bush received news of the suspected terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York city while visiting Emma E. Brooker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, to take part in a reading demonstration. After delivering brief remarks at the school, Bush boarded Air Force One for his own protection, accompanied by roughly 65 advisors, security agents, and staff members. For the hours that followed, President Bush worked from his office aboard Air Force One, where he monitored the crisis using the secure phone lines and televisions installed in the aircraft.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on January 21, 2001, White House Curator Betty Monkman leads a tour in the Green Room of the White House. The tour was held the day after George W. Bush was sworn-in as the 43rd President of the United States. Betty Monkman joined the White House Office of the Curator in 1967, and served there until her retirement in 2002. She became the sixth White House Curator upon the retirement of Rex Scouten in 1997. A regular contributor to the White House Historical Association's award-winning journal “White House History Quarterly,” Betty Monkman is also the author of the White House Historical Association publications “The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families,” and “The Living White House.”

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on August 8, 2008, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush stand and wave flags during the entrance of the United States Olympic Team into China's National Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. President Bush also attended the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In this photograph, taken on March 23, 2005, President George W. Bush hosts a summit luncheon with world leaders from Canada and Mexico at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, his home near Crawford, Texas. Among those in attendance were President Vicente Fox Quesada of Mexico, Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, and National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley.

This photograph, taken on November 27, 2008, shows First Lady Laura Bush and guests lining up at a table for a Thanksgiving Day buffet at Camp David. The seasonal spread was prepared by chef Matthew Wendel and included turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn bread dressing. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush hosted the holiday celebration for friends and family. Among the guests pictured in this photograph is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

This photograph, taken by Eric Draper on November 9, 2007, shows a table set for a social dinner hosted by President George W. Bush in honor of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and her husband, Joachim Sauer. The dinner was held at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, the president's home near Crawford, Texas. This photograph shows the president's place setting at the table. At the dinner, guests dined on citrus and arugula salad, pecan-smoked beef tenderloin, a green chili-cheese grits soufflé, and Prairie Chapel pecan pie served with Blue Bell ice cream. Food preparations were overseen by chef Matthew Wendel. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working as a waiter-caterer at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to serve the first family during visits to Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch. Wendel's duties included cooking meals for the family, and ensuring the homes were ready for the arrival of the first family or their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on November 24, 2005, first daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush present fresh-roasted pumpkin pies as President George W. Bush looks on with approval during a Thanksgiving Day pumpkin pie cook-off at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, the Bush family home near Crawford, Texas. Jenna Bush suggested the idea of a pumpkin pie challenge to chef Matthew Wendel, a friend of the family who cooked and assisted in household maintenance at Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch. Also pictured seated in this photograph is Henry Hager, Jenna Bush's boyfriend. Bush and Hager were married at the Prairie Chapel Ranch in a private ceremony on May 10, 2008.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on November 24, 2005, President George W. Bush enjoys Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, his residence near Crawford, Texas. Here, the president, his mother and former First Lady Barbara Bush, his daughter Jenna Bush, Jenna's boyfriend Henry Hager, and other friends and family members applaud as chef Matthew Wendel and other staff members bring out a second serving of turkey and side dishes. Thanksgiving dinner at the Prairie Chapel Ranch was served family-style, and often featured traditional dishes with a modern twist such as turkey covered with peppered bacon, sweet and spicy mashed potatoes, and corn bread dressing.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on November 24, 2005, chef Matthew Wendel plates a bowl of green beans for a Thanksgiving Day dinner at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, the residence of President George W. Bush near Crawford, Texas. On Thanksgiving Day in 2005, President Bush enjoyed a private meal at the ranch with family and friends. Green beans was one of several side dishes served at the family-style dinner; also visible in this photograph is a bowl containing a stuffing side dish.

This photograph, taken by Eric Draper on November 9, 2007, shows a table set for a social dinner hosted by President George W. Bush in honor of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and her husband, Joachim Sauer. The dinner was held at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, the president's home near Crawford, Texas. At the dinner, guests dined on citrus and arugula salad, pecan-smoked beef tenderloin, a green chili-cheese grits soufflé, and Prairie Chapel pecan pie served with Blue Bell ice cream. Food preparations were overseen by chef Matthew Wendel. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working as a waiter-caterer at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to serve the first family during visits to Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch. Wendel's duties included cooking meals for the family, and ensuring the homes were ready for the arrival of the first family or their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on May 21, 2007, President George W. Bush hosts a luncheon at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, his home near Crawford, Texas, for Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and his wife, Jeannine de Hoop Scheffer-van Oorschot. President Bush invited the secretary general to the ranch to discuss international security challenges, and NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. At the lunch, guests were served cheddar cheeseburgers, potato salad, Texas farm cheeses, fruit, brownies, and Blue Bell ice cream. Also present at luncheon were First Lady Laura Bush, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, United States permanent representative to NATO Victoria Nuland, special assistant and senior director for European Affairs for the National Security Council Judith A. Ansley, ambassador Henne Shuwer, NATO spokesman James Appathurai, and military assistant to the Secretary general, Lt. Col. Paul van der Heijden.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on August 9, 2006, chef Matthew Wendel prepares lunch at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, President George W. Bush's home near Crawford, Texas. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working as a waiter-caterer at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to prepare meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and visits home to Texas. Here, Wendel prepares a favorite dish of the family: fresh guacamole and quesadillas.