The White House 1600 Sessions

By The White House Historical Association

What's The White House 1600 Sessions about?

The White House Historical Association presents The 1600 Sessions, a podcast that explores the history, untold stories and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and office – The White House.

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The White House 1600 Sessions episodes:

03.15.2024
92. America's Irish Roots
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, sits down with White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin to discuss the depth of America’s Irish roots. The history between Ireland and the United States goes back to the...
02.28.2024
91. President Jimmy Carter: Faith, Family, and a Presidency
Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life,” talks with Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, about the remarkable journey of President Jimmy Carter from peanut farmer to Nobel Peace Prize recipient....
01.30.2024
90. The History of Wine and the White House
From the hearty Madeira to the fine Château Margaux, wine has a long and important history for presidents’ palates and life in the White House. Even during times of Temperance and Prohibition, as well as the temporary hold on social...
12.13.2023
89. Palace of State: The Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Just steps away from the White House stands the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, also known as the EEOB, and formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building. The EEOB has been called a masterpiece of French Second Empire...
11.21.2023
88. Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special
On November 22, 1963, the world changed forever when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated while campaigning in Dallas, Texas. The youngest man to have been elected president was now the youngest to die in office. That was sixty years...
10.19.2023
87. Home Again with Susan Ford Bales
It was a homecoming decades in the making. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, had the unique opportunity to bring Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, back to the...
09.28.2023
86. U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies
Since the founding of America, spouses and relatives have served as White House hostess, public servant, and unofficial presidential adviser. Their role has come to be known as first lady but the accomplishments of many have gone unrecognized - until...
08.09.2023
85. An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford
Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special town hall gathering to discuss his latest book “An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R....
07.24.2023
84. Bunny Mellon and the White House Rose Garden
Philanthropist, stylemaker, and renowned gardener Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon was not formally trained as a horticulturist or landscape designer. However, her natural curiosity, exquisite taste, and disciplined practice, made her much sought after by anyone who wanted a gorgeous garden...
06.15.2023
83. The Ten Habits of Good Citizens
Richard Haass has been the President of the Council on Foreign Relations for almost twenty years. In that role as part of an independent, nonpartisan organization much like the White House Historical Association, he has traveled at home and abroad...
05.26.2023
82. At the Helm with John H. Dalton
Former Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton has written a new memoir called “At the Helm: My Journey with Family, Faith, and Friends to Calm the Storms of Life.” Dalton is a graduate of the...
05.03.2023
81. A Coronation Preview with the British Ambassador to the U.S.
Britain and the U.S. have long had what Prime Minister Winston Churchill called a “special relationship.” From adversaries to allies, the relationship between the two countries continues to evolve with each new government and administration. Stewart McLaurin, President of...
04.19.2023
80. 250 Years of American Political Leadership
The American experiment has long held the curiosity of people around the world, especially for Iain Dale, an award-winning British author, and radio and podcast host, who has edited a new book of essays called “The Presidents: 250 of American...
03.22.2023
79. Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President
In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in for the first of his four terms as president of the United States. It was in the depth of the Great Depression with a second world war on the horizon, and yet...
02.28.2023
78. Dinner with the President
From hot dogs to haute cuisine, U.S. Presidents have communicated important messages through food. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses dining diplomacy with bestselling author Alex Prud’homme whose new book is called “Dinner with the President:...
01.09.2023
77. Jacqueline Kennedy: Art in Cultural Diplomacy
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was the driving force behind a brilliant act of cultural diplomacy: bringing Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, Mona Lisa, to the American people. After convincing everyone from her husband, President John F. Kennedy and French President Charles...
12.06.2022
76. Jacqueline Kennedy: Restoring the White House
When First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took on the herculean task of restoring the interior of the White House, she appointed renowned collector Henry Francis du Pont of Delaware to lead the project. Winterthur, du Pont’s home which he turned into...
11.29.2022
75. David Rubenstein on Patriotic Philanthropy
David Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chair of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm based in Washington, DC. He is the host of several interview programs and podcasts, as well as a best-selling author. Rubenstein’s latest book is called “How...
11.14.2022
74. Jon Meacham on Lincoln and the American Struggle
White House Historical Association president Stewart McLaurin hosted a town hall featuring Jon Meacham at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian, discussed his latest book And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American...
10.25.2022
73. White House: Next-Gen Designers
Following in the footsteps of the original White House designer and builder, James Hoban, in this episode of the White House 1600 Sessions we hear from the next generation of designers who have left their mark on the White House....
10.11.2022
72. White House Builder James Hoban’s Irish Roots
Over 200 years ago, James Hoban left Ireland for America to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. Selected by President George Washington to design and build the President’s House, Hoban would go on to create one of the most...
09.07.2022
71. Obama White House Portraits: The Artists
The White House Historical Association commissions official portraits of the president and first lady. As is the custom, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama picked their portrait artists before leaving office. The artists’ names were kept confidential -...
08.17.2022
70. American Storyteller Bartlett Sher
Bartlett Sher is a Tony Award-winning director who has brought thoughtful, powerful productions to theaters, opera houses, and film. He is the Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater and one of our greatest storytellers, using the stage to interpret and...
07.29.2022
69. Jackie Kennedy's White House Guidebook 60th Anniversary
The first White House guidebook was published in 1962 as a collaboration between First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the new White House Historical Association, and the National Geographic Society. A special edition released on July 28th, 2022, Mrs. Kennedy’s birthday, marks...
05.27.2022
68. James Hoban: The Charleston Years
Charleston holds hints and clues to the formative years of the ambitious young Irishman James Hoban and his dream to make his mark in the United States. Join Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association and architectural historian...
04.26.2022
67. Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency
Mark K. Updegrove shares new historical perspectives on the Kennedy presidency from his recent book, Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency. The author, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, and White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin explore the relationship...
03.31.2022
66. The Next Generation: What the White House Means to Me
From reflections to a historical lightning round, Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, catches up with the Association's Next-Gen Leaders at the recent Presidential Sites Summit in Dallas. These advocates of White House history and all it...
02.28.2022
65. The White House Recording Library: The Forgotten Collection
A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was comprised of 2,000 LPs, and overseen by a committee of scholars, journalists, and musicians. The library was then stored away...
01.25.2022
64. Abraham Lincoln, Robert Burns, and the Scottish Connection
There is a long history of Scottish influence on the White House, dating back to the Scottish stonemasons that contributed to the construction of the Executive Mansion. Perhaps one of the most unique Scottish connections is through President Abraham Lincoln...
12.09.2021
63. The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments
Since 1981, the White House Historical Association has created the Official White House Christmas Ornament. Collecting and gifting these unique ornaments has become a holiday tradition for millions of Americans, and all ornament sales support the mission of the Association....
11.23.2021
62. Voices from a Night at the Met
Since November 3, 1961, the White House Historical Association has served as the private partner to the White House to enrich, enhance, and promote the history of the Executive Mansion. The Association hosted a gala at The Temple of Dendur...
10.07.2021
61. A Discussion with the Voices of Lafayette Park
Thousands of people traverse historic Lafayette Park every day to get a glimpse of the White House. The park, right in the heart of the President’s Neighborhood, has a long and storied history that is largely unknown to visitors of...
09.23.2021
60. U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
The White House is a ceremonial stage upon which our nation welcomes our most important visitors, including foreign heads of state. These State Visits often begin with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, and the...
08.05.2021
59. Designing Camelot
On February 23, 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy launched the most historic and celebrated redesign of the White House in its history. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews the authors of “Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House...
06.10.2021
58 Gigi at the White House
Although visitors from around the world have the opportunity to visit the White House every year, few kids have the opportunity to have the experience of their parents working in the White House. Children of White House staff get a...
05.20.2021
57 The Triumph of Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan was an iconic First Lady who helped shape the legacy of one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century. She was known for the tremendous grace, intelligence, and style that she brought to her role as First...
04.28.2021
56 Freemasons and the White House
Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1792, Freemasons have played an important role in the construction and the history of the White House, with members including Irish architect James Hoban and many presidents from George Washington to Gerald Ford....
03.18.2021
55 James Hoban, Designer and Builder of the White House
James Hoban came from humble beginnings as a young carpenter and architect in Ireland, and went on to collaborate with George Washington on the design and construction of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. In this episode,...
03.11.2021
54 The First White House Guidebook: Mrs. Kennedy, National Geographic, and the White House Historical Association
The first White House guidebook was published in 1962 as collaboration between First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, the new White House Historical Association, and the National Geographic Society. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to National...
01.29.2021
53 Conversations from White House History Happy Hour
In this first episode of 2021, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin introduces the Association’s popular virtual program History Happy Hour, and shares conversations with historians, first family members, and other presidential staff about the lives of presidents...
12.17.2020
52 A Tour of White House History with Michael Beschloss
In this final episode of 2020, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin has a conversation with presidential historian Michael Beschloss. They discuss the 220 years of White House history and the Association’s work over the past 60 years...
11.25.2020
51 St. John’s, the Church of the Presidents
Since the James Madison presidency, St. John’s Church has been an important part of the life of Lafayette Square and of the nation at large. In this special Thanksgiving episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin interviews the...
11.12.2020
50 Special Episode: Reflections on the First 49 Episodes
For the past four years, the monthly 1600 Sessions podcast has told the story of the White House through conversations with historians and eyewitnesses to the history at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In this 50th episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin...
10.05.2020
49 Wine and the White House
Wine has a long and important history in the White House, playing a unique role in entertaining, public ceremonies, and even global diplomacy. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin interviews Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., about...
09.25.2020
48 White House Transitions
The transfer of power from one administration to the next is a hallmark of American democracy, but it hasn’t always been an orderly experience. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Dr. Martha Kumar, Director or the White...
09.09.2020
47 The Decorator-In-Chief
Every administration brings their own personality to the White House, particularly when it comes to the look and feel of the upstairs family quarters. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Michael S. Smith, the “Decorator-in-Chief”...
08.26.2020
46 Saluting Our National History Day Award Winner
Each year, the National History Day Contest encourages more than half a million students around the world to conduct historical research on a topic of their choice. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks to student...
08.12.2020
45 Recipes from the President’s Ranch
When you’re cooking for the president and first family, your meals and recipes become a part of history. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Matthew Wendel about his book, “Recipes From the President's Ranch: Food...
07.23.2020
44 Women’s Suffrage and the White House
This year marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the culmination of the suffragists' fight to secure the right to vote for women. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin talks to authors and historians Rebecca Roberts,...
06.25.2020
43 White House Fellows
Every year, the White House Fellows program gives young, talented Americans the opportunity to work in the White House alongside White House staff, cabinet members and senior officials. In this episode, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin speaks with...

What's The White House 1600 Sessions about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The White House 1600 Sessions episodes:

92. America's Irish Roots

91. President Jimmy Carter: Faith, Family, and a Presidency

90. The History of Wine and the White House

89. Palace of State: The Eisenhower Executive Office Building

88. Remembering President John F. Kennedy: A 60th Anniversary Special

87. Home Again with Susan Ford Bales

86. U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies

85. An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford

84. Bunny Mellon and the White House Rose Garden

83. The Ten Habits of Good Citizens

82. At the Helm with John H. Dalton

81. A Coronation Preview with the British Ambassador to the U.S.

80. 250 Years of American Political Leadership

79. Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President

78. Dinner with the President

77. Jacqueline Kennedy: Art in Cultural Diplomacy

76. Jacqueline Kennedy: Restoring the White House

75. David Rubenstein on Patriotic Philanthropy

74. Jon Meacham on Lincoln and the American Struggle

73. White House: Next-Gen Designers

72. White House Builder James Hoban’s Irish Roots

71. Obama White House Portraits: The Artists

70. American Storyteller Bartlett Sher

69. Jackie Kennedy's White House Guidebook 60th Anniversary

68. James Hoban: The Charleston Years

67. Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency

66. The Next Generation: What the White House Means to Me

65. The White House Recording Library: The Forgotten Collection

64. Abraham Lincoln, Robert Burns, and the Scottish Connection

63. The History and Making of the Official White House Christmas Ornaments

62. Voices from a Night at the Met

61. A Discussion with the Voices of Lafayette Park

60. U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

59. Designing Camelot

58 Gigi at the White House

57 The Triumph of Nancy Reagan

56 Freemasons and the White House

55 James Hoban, Designer and Builder of the White House

54 The First White House Guidebook: Mrs. Kennedy, National Geographic, and the White House Historical Association

53 Conversations from White House History Happy Hour

52 A Tour of White House History with Michael Beschloss

51 St. John’s, the Church of the Presidents

50 Special Episode: Reflections on the First 49 Episodes

49 Wine and the White House

48 White House Transitions

47 The Decorator-In-Chief

46 Saluting Our National History Day Award Winner

45 Recipes from the President’s Ranch

44 Women’s Suffrage and the White House

43 White House Fellows