Please note that the following is a digitized version of a selected article from White House History Quarterly, Issue 67, originally released in print form in 2022. Single print copies of the full issue can be purchased online at Shop.WhiteHouseHistory.org No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All photographs contained in this journal unless otherwise noted are copyrighted by the White House Historical Association and may not be reproduced without permission. Requests for reprint permissions should be directed to rights@whha.org. Contact books@whha.org for more information. © 2022 White House Historical Association. All rights reserved under international copyright conventions.
REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS The TheWhite WhiteHouse House Belongs Belongs Title totothe theAmerican AmericanPeople People STEWART STEWART D.D. MM C LAURIN C LAURIND. M C LAURIN STEWART PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT, WHITE WHITE HOUSE HOUSE HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, WHITE ASSOCIATION HOUSE HISTORICAL
the thehistory historyofoftelevision televisionatatthe the White WhiteHouse, House,like likemany manytechnologies, technologies, has has early early and and close close ties ties toto the the occupants occupants ofof the the White White House. House. These These pages pages reflect reflect many manyofofthose thoseearly earlyconnections connectionsand and record record the the White White House House traditions traditions that that television television brought brought into into the the living living rooms rooms ofof millions millions ofof Americans. Americans. One One such such televised televised event event was was a fama familyily wedding. wedding. Tricia Tricia Nixon’s Nixon’s Rose Rose Garden Garden wedding wedding was was broadcast broadcast inin 1971, 1971, and and it it has hasnow nowbeen beenfifty-one fifty-oneyears yearssince sincea a member member ofof the the president’s president’s family family marmarried ried atat the the White White House. House. However, However, this this fall fallthe theWhite WhiteHouse Housewill willonce onceagain again see see a presidential a presidential family family wedding wedding when when the thepresident’s president’sgranddaughter granddaughterNaomi Naomi Biden Bidenweds wedsPeter PeterNeal. Neal.This Thisoccasion occasion reminds reminds usus that that the the White White House House is is not not only only anan office office forfor the the president president and and hishis staff staff but but the the home home ofof the the president president and and hishis family family and and a ceremonial a ceremonial stage stage upon upon which whichitsitsmost mostofficial officialand andpersonal personal events events take take place. place. There Thereis isnow nowa anew newgarden gardenininthe the President’s President’s Neighborhood. Neighborhood. This This fall fall the the Association Association honored honored our our founder, founder, First First Lady Lady Jacqueline Jacqueline Kennedy, Kennedy, with with the the deddedication icationofofa asmall smallgarden gardenononJackson Jackson Place, Place,ininfront frontofofour ouroffices officesand andthe the historic historicDecatur DecaturHouse. House.We Weunveiled unveiled a bronze a bronze bas bas relief relief medallion medallion with with her her image image and and her her words words that that continue continue toto inspire inspireusustoday: today:“The “TheWhite WhiteHouse House belongs belongstotothe theAmerican Americanpeople.” people.”InIn addition addition toto the the medallion, medallion, two two plinths plinths
were were dedicated, dedicated, one one replacing replacing a plinth a plinth originally originallyput putininplace placeininthe the1990s 1990s bybyour ourfriends friendsatatthe theNational NationalTrust Trust forforHistoric HistoricPreservation, Preservation,honoring honoring Mrs. Mrs. Kennedy’s Kennedy’s work work toto save save Lafayette Lafayette Park Parkininthe the1960s, 1960s,and andthe theother othera a new newplinth plinthhonoring honoringMrs. Mrs.Kennedy’s Kennedy’s achievements achievementsininhistoric historicpreservapreservation tionatatthe theWhite WhiteHouse Houseand andthe thecrecreation ationofofthe theWhite WhiteHouse HouseHistorical Historical Association. Association.The Themedallion medallionand andthe the plinths plinths and and this this beautiful beautiful new new garden garden will will remind remind allall who who pass pass byby ofof the the legacy legacy ofof Jacqueline Jacqueline Kennedy Kennedy and and the the work work ofof the the Association Association and and allall those those who who have have been been involved involved asas staff staff and and supporters. supporters. We We were were honored honored toto have have First First Lady Lady Jill Jill Biden Biden with with usus forfor this this occasion, occasion, asas well wellasasmany manyfriends friendsand andsupporters supporters ofof our our mission. mission. Dr. Dr. Biden Biden reflected reflected onon Mrs. Mrs. Kennedy’s Kennedy’s work work toto save save the the historic historic
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character characterofofLafayette LafayettePark Parkand andthe the President’s President’sNeighborhood Neighborhoodwhen whentall tall government governmentbuildings buildingsthreatened threatenedtoto replace replaceand andovershadow overshadowthe thehistoric historic structures structuresthat thatstill stillstand standaround aroundthe the park parktoday. today.Dr. Dr.Biden Bidenobserved observedthat that Mrs. Mrs. Kennedy Kennedy “knew “knew that that the the lives lives lived lived here here needed needed toto bebe remembered remembered because because weweallalldeserve deservetotoexperience experienceour ourrich rich history—the history—the full, full, complex, complex, and and beautibeautifulful story story ofof who who wewe are. are. She She knew knew that that when when wewe tell tell that that story story wewe stand stand stronstronger ger asas a nation. a nation. Today Today the the White White House House Historical Historical Association Association is is her her legacy, legacy, her her gift gift toto first first ladies ladies like like me.” me.” AsAs wewe now now enter enter our our sixty-third sixty-third year, year, our our mission mission is is more more important important than than ever, ever, and andyour yoursupport supportis isever everappreciated appreciated and andvalued. valued.The Theopportunities opportunitiesbefore before usus are are exciting exciting and and diverse. diverse.
ABOVE RIGHT: GETTY IMAGES ABOVE RIGHT: GETTY IMAGES
ASSOCIATION
Edward Finch Cox and Tricia Nixon, thethe Edward Finch Cox and Tricia Nixon, daughter of President and Mrs. Richard daughter of President and Mrs. Richard M.M. Nixon, cross through thethe White House Nixon, cross through White House Rose Garden (opposite) after exchanging Rose Garden (opposite) after exchanging their wedding vows, June 12,12, 1971. their wedding vows, June 1971. First Lady JillJill Biden (right) speaks at at First Lady Biden (right) speaks a ceremony in in front of the Association’s a ceremony front of the Association’s offices onon Jackson Place to dedicate thethe offices Jackson Place to dedicate First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, September 23,23, 2022. September 2022.
B TH HTOOTSO T SH TIHSI S PSRPERAEDA:DW : T NEY H POU WSEEL L TH E CHI O UISOENH I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I A T I O N AO LL P HPO HO IT H IFSOTRO R I CEA W L H A SI T SO AT
B O TH P H OT OS TH I S SP R E A D : T ON Y P O WE L L F O R TH E W H IT E H OUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
The new garden is marked byby a a The new garden is marked medallion (below), which features a a medallion (below), which features portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy sculpted byby artist Chas Fagan and sculpted artist Chaz Fagan and inscribed with Mrs. Kennedy’s inscribed with Mrs. Kennedy’s famous words, “The White House famous words, “The White House belongs to the American people.” belongs to the American people.”
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