• Chef Henry Haller in the State Dining Room
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    staff
    event
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    food & drink
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller stands with butlers Alfred Saenz (left) and Wilson Jerman (center), waiting for guests to enjoy a buffet spread in the State Dining Room. The refreshments, which included fresh fruit and shrimp with cocktail sauce, were likely served during a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps and their spouses, held on July 1, 1986 during the Ronald Reagan administration. 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.
  • White House Kitchen Staff, Reagan Administration
    Unknown
    staff
    Ground Floor
    Kitchen
    This photograph of the White House Kitchen staff was taken in October 1983. White House Executive Chef Henry Haller stands in the center of the group with a visitor, likely his wife, Carole. Also pictured in this photograph is an unidentified member of the kitchen staff (far left), Frank Ruta (second from left), an unidentified chef (third from left), assistant pastry chef Franette McCulloch (third from right), pastry chef Roland Mesnier, and sous chef Hans Raffert (far right). This photograph is part of Henry Haller's personal collection. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.
  • Group Photo of White House Staff, Reagan Administration
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    staff
    State Dining Room
    State Floor
    This group photograph of the White House residence staff was taken in the State Dining Room on January 6, 1982, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The staff photographed worked primarily in the Executive Mansion and include kitchen staff, butlers, and the White House Curator's Office. The photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, pictured standing in the second row in his chef's hat. Haller served as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.
  • President Reagan with Chef Haller in the Oval Office
    Pete Souza
    staff
    West Wing
    Oval Office
    This photograph, taken by White House photographer Pete Souza on September 30, 1987, shows President Ronald Reagan with White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Reagan invited Haller to the Oval Office to bid the chef farewell upon his retirement. Haller had served as executive chef at the White House since 1966, during the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller.
  • President Reagan with Club des Chefs des Chef
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    staff
    White House Guests
    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.
  • Chef Henry Haller and Head Butler Eugene Allen
    Unknown
    staff
    President's Dining Room
    Second Floor
    This photograph of maitre d'hotel Eugene Allen and White House Executive Chef Henry Haller was taken in July 1982, during the Ronald Reagan administration, in the President's Dining Room on the Second Floor of the White House. Allen worked from 1952 to 1986 as a pantryman, butler, and maître d’hotel. Haller served as executive chef from 1966-1987. This photograph is part of Chef Haller's personal collection.
  • President Reagan Celebrates 72nd Birthday
    Michael Evans
    staff
    celebration
    White House Guests
    Second Floor
    President's Dining Room
    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.
  • Mrs. Reagan Speaks at President Reagan's Birthday Party
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    staff
    celebration
    White House Guests
    State Floor
    East Room
    military
    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.
  • Food Preparations in the White House Kitchen
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    staff
    Kitchen
    Ground Floor
    food & drink
    This photograph, taken by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman on March 3, 1987, shows the White House Kitchen staff hard at work, likely preparing an entree for a dinner hosted by President Reagan in the State Dining Room to honor new members of Congress. From left to right are: White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, pastry chef Roland Mesnier, sous-chef Hans Raffert, an unknown Kitchen staff member, and chef Frank Ruta. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as White House Executive Chef from 1966-1987.
  • White House Kitchen Staff on South Lawn, Reagan Administration
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    staff
    South Lawn
    South Portico
    This photograph, taken by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman on September 29, 1987, shows members of the White House Kitchen staff, including the dishwasher and navy stewards, on the South Lawn in front of the South Portico. In the center of the photograph stands White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, who was soon to retire from the position, which he had held since 1966. Haller's successor, Jon Hill, stands to the immediate left of Haller. On October 1, 1987, Hill became the first American-born chef to hold the title of White House executive chef, though he resigned in January 1988. White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert, pictured in this photograph to the immediate right of Haller, stepped up to the position of executive chef, which he held until 1992. Raffert was the first White House Kitchen staff member to be promoted to the position of executive chef. Also included in this photograph is White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier (far left), assistant pastry chef Franette McCulloch (third from left), and kitchen steward Adam Collick (second from right). This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Included on the bottom of this photograph is a note from former White House Executive Chef Jon Hill, dated October 5, 1987, thanking him for his support and training during the transition.
  • President Reagan Enjoys Breakfast with King of Saudi Arabia
    Unknown
    Head of State
    Cabinet
    Second Floor
    President's Dining Room
    White House Guests
    staff
    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.
  • Food Preparations in the White House Kitchen
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    staff
    Kitchen
    Ground Floor
    food & drink
    This photograph, taken by White House photographer Mary Anne Fackelman on March 3, 1987, shows the White House Kitchen staff hard at work, possibly preparing an entree for a dinner hosted by President Ronald Reagan in the State Dining Room to honor new Members of Congress. White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier (left) plates the entree, while White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (right) transitions tied cuts of meat onto a cutting board. 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.
  • Chefs Display Desserts for Senate Ladies' Luncheon
    Bill Fitz-Patrick
    staff
    State Floor
    Blue Room
    food & drink
    In this photograph, taken by White House photographer Bill Fitz-Patrick on June 12, 1984, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller and chef Frank Ruta proudly display a dessert basket created for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Nancy Reagan for the wives of senators. In the background, sous chef Hans Raffert carefully carries a second dessert plate. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller catered to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.
  • Woman in the White House Kitchen
    Unknown
    Kitchen
    Ground Floor
    staff
    This photograph of an unidentified woman was taken in July 1982 in the White House Kitchen. She is possibly a member of the White House residence staff. 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.
  • President Reagan with Club des Chefs des Chefs
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    staff
    White House Guests
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    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.
  • Former Executive Chef Haller Visits White House Kitchen
    Unknown
    Ground Floor
    Kitchen
    staff
    In this photograph, taken May 27, 2008, former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller returns to the Ground Floor Kitchen to visit current White House Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford and her culinary team. Swiss-American chef Haller held the position from 1966-1987, serving five first families and their distinguished guests. Filipino-American chef Comerford began working as White House executive chef in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration. She was the first woman as well as the first person of color to serve in the role since it was created in 1961. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller.
  • Presentation of Thanksgiving Turkey
    Unknown
    staff
    White House Guests
    West Wing
    Thanksgiving
    Congress
    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.
  • Staff Party in the Family Dining Room
    Unknown
    staff
    State Floor
    Family Dining Room
    celebration
    This photograph of a staff party in the Family Dining Room was taken on June 15, 1987, during the Ronald Reagan administration. In the foreground of the photograph are five members of the White House Kitchen staff. From left: White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, kitchen steward Adam Collick, assistant pastry chef Franette McCulloch, chef Frank Ruta, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. As executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller catered to the tastes of five first families and their distinguished guests.
  • Chef Haller Consults with Eugene Allen at Formal Dinner
    Unknown
    Family Dining Room
    State Floor
    staff
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller consults with Maître d'hôtel Eugene Allen, head butler John Johnson, and the team of butlers in the Family Dining Room. The table is lined with trays of lobster, waiting to be served. Both Haller and Allen were long-time employees at the White House. Haller served five first families as White House executive chef from 1966-1987. Allen began working at the White House in 1952, as a pantry man during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. He was promoted to the position of maître d'hôtel during the administration of Ronald Reagan. This photograph is part of Chef Haller's personal collection.
  • Chef Henry Haller in the White House Kitchen
    Unknown
    Ground Floor
    Kitchen
    staff
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller adds wine to a dish in the White House Kitchen. During his tenure as executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller cooked for five first families and their distinguished guests. The Swiss-American chef managed over 250 State Dinners, oversaw meal preparation for some of the largest dinner parties ever held at the White House, and catered the wedding receptions for first daughters Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Tricia Nixon. Haller's recipes varied to suit the tastes of the families he served, emphasizing steak for the Johnsons, international dishes for the Nixons, healthy unpretentious dishes for the Fords, Southern comfort foods for the Carters, and variety for the Reagans. This photograph is part of Haller's personal collection.
  • Chef Henry Haller in the Family Kitchen
    Unknown
    Second Floor
    staff
    Family Kitchen
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller finalizes preparations on a dish in the Family Kitchen on the Second Floor of the White House. During his tenure as executive chef from 1966-1987, Haller cooked for five first families and their distinguished guests. The Swiss-American chef managed over 250 State Dinners, oversaw meal preparation for some of the largest dinner parties ever held at the White House, and catered the wedding receptions of first daughters Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Tricia Nixon. Haller's recipes varied to suit the tastes of the families he served, emphasizing steak for the Johnsons, international dishes for the Nixons, healthy unpretentious dishes for the Fords, Southern comfort foods for the Carters, and variety for the Reagans. This photograph is part of Haller's personal collection.
  • Food Preparations in White House Kitchen
    Unknown
    staff
    Kitchen
    Ground Floor
    food & drink
    This photograph shows White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (left) working alongside his team in the White House Kitchen. It was taken in 1966 or 1967, during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. 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, catering to five first families and their distinguished guests.
  • Chef Henry Haller in the White House Kitchen
    Unknown
    Ground Floor
    staff
    Kitchen
    In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Henry Haller pours drinks for colleagues in the White House Kitchen, including White House food coordinator Mary Kaltman, at center. Chef Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987. During his tenure, he oversaw food preparations for over 250 State Dinners and the White House wedding receptions for three first daughters: Luci Baines Johnson, Lynda Bird Johnson, and Tricia Nixon. This photograph was taken during the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson. This photograph is part of chef Haller's personal collection.
  • Lynda Bird Johnson's Wedding Cake
    Unknown
    wedding
    staff
    State Floor
    East Room
    food & drink
    This cake was created for the wedding of first daughter Lynda Bird Johnson and Capt. Charles S. Robb on December 9, 1967. They were the 15th couple known to be married at the White House. The cake is pictured on display in the East Room. White House Executive Chef Henry Haller (far left) oversaw the catering for the wedding reception, which, like the ceremony itself, was held in the East Room of the White House. The cake was designed by pastry chef Clement Maggia of the Greenbriar Hotel, and decorated by pastry chef Eric Crane of the Greenbriar Hotel on the day of the wedding. 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.
  • White House Staff Wish President Reagan a Speedy Recovery
    Unknown
    Eishenhower Executive Office Building
    staff
    This photograph, taken April 7, 1981, shows White House staff members outside of the Old Executive Office Building. They are gathered under an enormous banner that reads "Get Well Soon! Mr. President, Jim, Tim, and Tom." This photograph was taken following an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. President Reagan, White House press secretary James S. Brady, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, and police officer Thomas Delahanty suffered gunshot wounds during an assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, who served five presidents and their families from 1966-1987. Haller can be seen in the upper right side of this photograph. Other members of the White House Kitchen staff present in this group photograph include pastry chef Roland Mesnier, chef Frank Ruta, and Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert. A copy of this photograph was presented to President Reagan as he recovered from his gunshot wound at George Washington University Hospital in April 1981.