Good friends at the Richard Nixon foundation, i would like to welcome the chairman of the board of the Nixon Foundation. Right up here on the front row. And the president of than Nixon Foundation, we will hear from in a few moments, we have many distinguished guests, many formal officials from the administration and we are honored to have you here tonight. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon then becoming first lady, under her leadership the white house collection added over 600 paintings and furnishing elements to the white house collection, which is the most of any president. The significance of this will be in tonights program, but it was very important to us here in the White House Historical association, as a core part of our mission which, as most of you know by first Lady Catherine kennedy is the private nonpartisan partners to the white house, restoration for the state rooms in the white house. The acquisition of items for the Permanent Collection as well, and
Role of first lady over 44 administrations. Watch American History tv tonight and over the weekend. Good evening, everyone. To all of our friends here and those watching by cspan and on Facebook Live. My name is stewart mclaruin and im the president of the White House Historical association. Its my privilege to welcome you to Decatur House and to the White House Historical association. Tonights program is very exciting and we are honored to partner with our good friends at the Richard Nixon foundation. We would like to welcome dr. Jim cavanaugh of the Nixon Foundation and his wife ester in the front row. Hugh hewitt the president of the Nixon Foundation you will hear from in a few moments. We have many distinguished guests with us here, many former officials from the nixon and other administrations and staff and friends of the Nixon Foundation and were honored to have you here tonight. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Patricia Nixon becoming the first lady of the United States.
Esther, right up here in the front row. [ applause ] and hugh hewitt, the president of the Nixon Foundation who youll hear from in a few moments. We have many distinguished guests with us here, many former officials from the nixon and other administrations, and staff and friends of the nixon frustration and were honored to have you here tonight. This year marks the 50th anniversary pa tish s patricin become first lady of the united states. The significance of this will be discussed in tonights program, but its very important to us here at the White House Historical association as a core part of our mission which was inspired as most of you or all of you know by first Lady Jacqueline kennedy to be the private partner to the white house for conservation, preservation, restoration of those beautiful state rooms in the white house, for the acquisition of items for the Permanent Collection at the white house as well, and for our education programs, programs like this, where we teach and tel
The Nixon Library has presented first ladies exhibits before and offered lerk offered lectures topics but we havent offered a first ladies exhibit and luncheon and lecture series all combined. When planning and coordinating the concept we analyzed the needs and quickly noted the need for a specialized guest curator. Carl anthony is one of the nations foremost experts on president ial wives. Hes penned over a dozen of books and has the privilege of interviewing the clintons, laura bush, as well as the nixons and the fords. His accolades are vast and many. The staff have enjoyed a long friendship and professional relationship with carl. In many ways we consider you part of the family, carl. When we called him back in april to propose the idea of a first ladies exhibit, lecture and len luncheon series, his enthusiasm was contagious. Please join me in welcoming carl anthony. Thank you for all of you who are here today. Many of you here for all of the lectures. A special thanks also to chri
Following hughs remarks and a brief video presentation, our panelists will join us here for tonights program. Those of you on this side of the room, no worries. This podium is going to be removed, so you will have a clear shot of our panelists. And i cant end without a little bit of selfpromotion. Our shop is open until 8 30 tonight. Its right at the top of the ramp from the door where you came in. And everybody here will get a 10 discount on anything that you would like to take home with you tonight. You could finish your Christmas Shopping right here tonight. So, thank you very much. Hugh, welcome. [ applause ] thank you, stewart, and welcome to all of you on behalf of the nixon foundation, which i became the president of only in july. And what a great first event celebrating mrs. Nixon to be a part of. I want to get out of the way of the experts and get them up here in a hurry. We all know the definitive biography of mrs. Nixon was written by julie nixon eisenhower. I am pleased to