In this photograph, taken August 8, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stands behind his desk in the Oval Office surrounded by members from the organization "Club des Chefs des Chefs," a prestigious international gastronomic society founded in 1977 recognizing chefs who serve heads of state and royalty. Representing the United States is White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (seventh from left), who had served every president since Lyndon B. Johnson. This was the first time the "Club des Chefs des Chefs" was invited to the White House. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as the White House Executive Chef from 1966-1987, during the presidencies of Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.

In this photograph, taken February 6, 1983, President Ronald Reagan cuts into his star-shaped birthday cake during a private party held in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor of the White House. This was Reagan's 72nd birthday, and third as president. Pictured on the right side is head butler John Johnson holding the cake for Reagan. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef from 1966-1987, catering to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken February 6, 1981, First Lady Nancy Reagan hosts a surprise birthday party for her husband, President Ronald Reagan, in the East Room of the White House. For his 70th birthday, and his first in the White House, President Reagan expected an intimate gathering of about 20 friends and family members. Little did he know the grand bash Mrs. Reagan had in store, with over 100 guests, including many celebrity friends from California, such as James Stewart and Frank Sinatra, lighting by interior designer Ted Graber, and over ten cakes created by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller and White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Maitre d'hotel John W. Ficklin can be seen over Mesnier's shoulder on the right side of the photograph. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987, catering to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken on August 7, 1987 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with chef Ronny Leenaert. Chef Leenaert represented Belgium in the prestigious international organization the Club des Chefs des Chefs, whose members cook for heads of state and royalty around the world. He was the head chef for the royal family of Belgium. Also pictured in the center of this photograph is Gilles Bragard, owner of the Bragard company, which specialized in fine chef's apparel. Bragard was also responsible for bringing together the Club des Chefs des Chefs in 1977. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller was a member of the Club des Chefs des Chefs, and served as the White House Executive Chef from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken on February 6, 1981, President Ronald Reagan raises a glass in the East Room as guests applaud during his 70th birthday party. The surprise party was organized by First Lady Nancy Reagan. Over 100 guests attended, including many celebrity friends of the Reagans, such as Frank Sinatra and James Stewart. In this photograph, President Reagan stands beside a table topped with over ten birthday cakes, created by White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier and Executive Chef Henry Haller. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken on August 7, 1987 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with chef Makoto Watanabe. Watanabe represented Japan in the prestigious international organization the Club des Chefs des Chefs, whose members cook for heads of state and royalty around the world. Chef Watanabe specialized in French cuisine, which he prepared for the Japanese Imperial Household Agency. Also pictured in the center of this photograph is Gilles Bragard, owner of the Bragard company, which specialized in fine chef's apparel. Bragard was also responsible for bringing together the Club des Chefs des Chefs in 1977. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller was a member of the Club des Chefs des Chefs, and served as the White House Executive Chef from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken February 12, 1985, President Ronald Reagan has breakfast in the private President's Dining Room on the Second Floor of the White House with King Fahd ibn ʻAbd al-ʻAzīz of Saudi Arabia. United States National Security Advisor Robert C. McFarlane, United States Secretary of State George Pratt Schultz, Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud al-Faisal, and Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar Bin Sultan complete the breakfast meeting party. In his diary, President Reagan reflected with satisfaction on the breakfast meeting, as a productive step in Middle East peace plan discussions. In the background, head butler John Johnson can be seen carrying in dishes of food. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, catering to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken on August 7, 1987 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with a representative from the prestigious international organization the Club des Chefs des Chefs, whose members cook for heads of state and royalty around the world. Also pictured in this photograph is Gilles Bragard, owner of the Bragard company, which specialized in fine chef's apparel. Bragard was also responsible for bringing together the Club des Chefs des Chefs in 1977. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller was a member of the Club des Chefs des Chefs, and served as the White House Executive Chef from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken August 7, 1987 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, President Ronald Reagan receives an honorary double-breasted chef's jacket from the Club des Chefs des Chefs, a prestigious international organization recognizing the chefs who cook for world leaders. The United States representative in the organization, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, is pictured on the far left side of this photograph. Gilles Bragard presented the jacket. In 1977, Bragard instigated a meeting of chefs of heads of state at chef that led to the creation of the Club des Chefs des Chefs. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller receives a turkey in the lobby of the West Wing. The turkey was presented by United States Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of Illinois (far right) and representatives from the poultry and farming industries on November 10, 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson was at his Texas ranch for Thanksgiving 1966, which fell on November 24th. While presidents have received turkeys for the holidays as far back as the 1870s, and President Abraham Lincoln did not slaughter a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son Tad's request in 1863, the formalized tradition of a turkey pardon did not start until the 1980s during the administration of Ronald Reagan. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Henry Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken September 28, 1967, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller raises a toast with guests in the White House Kitchen. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller developed recipes suiting the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests. During his tenure at the White House, he oversaw over 250 State Dinners, prepared meals for some of the largest gatherings ever held at the White House, and the catered White House wedding receptions for first daughters Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Tricia Nixon. This photograph is part of Chef Haller's personal collection.

This photograph shows White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (right) consulting with an unidentified man in the White House Kitchen. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller developed recipes suiting the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests. During his tenure, Haller oversaw over 250 State Dinners, prepared meals for some of the largest gatherings ever held at the White House, and catered the White House wedding receptions of first daughters Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Tricia Nixon. This photograph is part of Chef Haller's personal collection.

In this photograph, President Richard M. Nixon congratulates his daughter Tricia and her new husband Edward Cox during their wedding reception in the Entrance Hall of the White House on June 12, 1971. Tricia's wedding cake, which stood at approximately seven-feet high, was designed by New York pastry chef Maurice Bonté. In this photograph, maitre d'hotel John W. Ficklin stands beside the president. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, and oversaw the food preparations for the White House wedding receptions of three first daughters: Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Nixon.

In this photograph, taken June 12, 1971, newly married Tricia Nixon cuts into her wedding cake with the assistance of her husband, Edward Cox. The Nixon-Cox wedding ceremony was conducted in the Rose Garden of the White House, while the reception was held in the Entrance Hall. The six-layer, roughly seven-foot tall cake was designed by New York pastry chef Maurice Bonté, who in 1966 designed the wedding cake for first daughter Luci Baines Johnson. Nixon was the daughter of President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, and also oversaw the food preparations for the White House wedding reception of Lynda Bird Johnson.

In this official White House photograph, taken on July 1, 1975 by Karl Schumacher, President Gerald R. Ford returns to the West Wing following a swim in the new pool on the South Grounds. The windows to the Oval Office can be seen on the left. During the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, an indoor pool was installed in the West Wing, but this converted into the Press Room during the Richard M. Nixon administration in 1970. An avid swimmer, President Ford oversaw the installation of an outdoor pool in 1975. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller discusses meal preparation, probably for noisettes of lamb, with celebrity chef Julia Child. Child spoke with Haller as part of a documentary produced for WGBH Boston, that explored the work behind State Dinners at the White House. For her documentary, Child interviewed Haller and U.S. Chief of Protocol James W. Symington, and attended a State Dinner held for Prime Minister Eisaku Satō of Japan on November 14, 1967. Child's film crew worked in the State Dining Room during the State Dinner. The documentary, titled "The White House Red Carpet," aired in April 1968. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman was taken on February 6, 1981 during President Ronald Reagan's 70th birthday party. Over 100 guests, including friends and family from California, attended the surprise party, organized by First Lady Nancy Reagan. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, catering to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken February 6, 1981, guests of President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan dine in the East Room to celebrate President Reagan's 70th birthday. For his first birthday in the White House, President Reagan expected an intimate gathering of about 20 friends and family members. Little did he know the grand bash Mrs. Reagan had in store, with over 100 guests, including many celebrity friends from California, such as James Stewart and Frank Sinatra, lighting by interior designer Ted Graber, and over ten cakes created by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller and White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken by White House photographer Michael Evans on February 6, 1983, President Ronald Reagan celebrates his 72nd birthday with a private party in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor of the White House. First Lady Nancy Reagan sits across from her husband. Also present is Attorney General William French Smith and his wife, Jean; Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada and his wife, Carol; and United States Information Agency director Charles Z. Wick and his wife, Mary Jane. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph was taken during a State Dinner held on the South Lawn on March 26, 1979. President Jimmy Carter held the dinner to honor President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel, who were at the White House to sign a historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. With 1,340 guests, at the time it was the largest sit-down dinner ever recorded in White House history. The dinner featured a seafood mousse, strip sirloin with spring vegetables, and a rich hazelnut-chocolate mousse for dessert. In addition, 110 kosher meals were delivered by a local caterer. On less hectic occasions where kosher food is required, a rabbi visits the White House Kitchen to ensure food preparation areas meet kosher standards. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Henry Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, during the presidencies of Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.

In this photograph, taken December 8, 1981 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, First Lady Nancy Reagan meets with Executive Chef Henry Haller in the White House Kitchen. Accompanying Mrs. Reagan is her chief of staff Peter McCoy. This visit to the White House Kitchen was conducted as part of a photo session for Newsweek magazine. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, catering to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.

In this photograph, taken by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman on August 4, 1981, actors Ron Howard and Anson Williams from the television show "Happy Days" visit White House Executive Chef Henry Haller in the White House Kitchen. Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert is also pictured, standing behind Ron Howard in this photograph. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken on August 7, 1987 by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman, President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with chef Sun Yingwu. Chef Sun Yingwu represented China in the prestigious international organization the Club des Chefs des Chefs, whose members cook for heads of state around the world. He was the head chef of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Also pictured in the center of this photograph is Gilles Bragard, owner of the Bragard company, which specialized in fine chef's apparel. Bragard established the Club des Chefs des Chefs in 1977. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller was a member of the Club des Chefs des Chefs, and served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

This photograph shows Secretary of Agriculture Earl L. Butz (far right) posing with guests Mr. and Mrs. Tamura and members of the White House Kitchen staff. In August 1972, Butz and the Tamuras toured the Kitchen on the Ground Floor of the White House, and sampled desserts prepared by White House Pastry Chef Heinz Bender (second from right) and his staff. Also pictured in this photograph is White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (center) and White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert (far left). Butz served as secretary of agriculture from 1971-1976, during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. Butz presented this photograph to Haller as "a great and loyal co-worker on the Richard Nixon team." Butz also sent a letter to Haller dated August 7, 1972, thanking him for guiding the Tamuras on the Kitchen tour, though he admitted he is glad he does not have access to the "absolutely delicious" dessert samples everyday, stating "or my weight would balloon for sure." This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

In this photograph, taken April 14, 1980, kitchen staff members and religious leaders work together to kosher the White House kitchen in preparation for a State Dinner the following day hosted by President Jimmy Carter in honor of Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel. As part of the process of making the White House Kitchen kosher-friendly, cooking utensils are heated with a blow torch to eliminate potential food residue. This photograph is part of the personal collection of former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller coordinated with rabbis to kosher the Kitchen when necessary.