At things like artifacts, serial culture, paintings, fine arts, decorative arts, the white house has all of those things as well. If you are into politics, policy obviously, that is the big one people think about. Even in terms of pop culture, or political culture, understanding the white house is a symbol for american democracy. And how that symbol has changed and evolved over time. It says a lot about who we are, the american identity itself, and i think all of these different ways of studying the white house touches on all of these Different Things that you may not get in a traditional American History textbook. But if you dig deeper, there is an incredible history beneath the surface. Lindsay chervinsky, a white house historian and new in the role there, we will spend time with both of you learning about your work and about the association. I want to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association, how i got started and what its mission is . The association was founded by
And hugh hewitt, the president of the Nixon Foundation who youll hear from in a few moments. We have many distinguished guests here today. 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. 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 presidency. 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 nonpartisan private partner to the white house for conservation, preservation, restoration of those beautiful state homes in the white house for the acquisition of
American history textbook, but if you dig a little bit deeper, theres an incredible history just beneath the surface. Lindsay, also a White House Historical association historian and new in the role there. Were going to spend some time with both of you learning about your work and also about the association. So im going to ask you to give the elevator speech about the association itself, how it got started and what its mission is. Sure, so the association was founded by Jacqueline Kennedy to preserve and protect the history of the white house and then share that history with the American People more broadly. And since then, weve worked on that mission to try and cultivate the white house, the first floor especially, as sort of a museum for the people to tell the story of the white house and the story of the nation and to try and make it a little bit more accessible for visitors that come through. Why the first floor specifically . Sure. So the first floor is often referred to as the st
[ wind howls ] [ thunder rumbles ] [ bird caws ] im jamie colby. And today, im in kennebunkport, maine. Its renowned as the bush familys summer haven and also for its succulent lobster. But this story has a cast of characters that are up and down the atlantic seaboard. The heirs, they live here, a reclusive aunt from massachusetts and their gilded age ancestor once dubbed the father of greater new york. Im john green. And im lisa green buchanan. I think its fair to say that our aunt julie was a hoarder. And when she died in 2009, she left us a mountain of stuff to sort through. Oh, what a great house thank you welcome to kennebunkport i got a story. John and his sister lisa belong to a new england family whose history goes back to mayflower days but whose legacy had been largely forgotten. In 2005, that reclusive aunt i mentioned, julie green, is diagnosed with cancer, and john moves her from the boston area into a condo up here in maine, where the siblings can help care for her. Its a
Of the Nixon Foundation, his wife esther on the front row. And the president of the Nixon Foundation who you will hear from in a few moments. We have many distinguished guests, many former officials from the nixon and other administrations, and staff and friends of the foundation. We are honored to have you here tonight. This year marks the 50th inverse tree of tricia nixon becoming the first lady of the United States. Under her leadership white house collection added over 600 paintings and furnishing elements to the white house collection, which is the most of any presidency. 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 all of you know by first Lady Jacqueline kennedy to be the private, nonpartisan private partner to the white house for conservation, preservation, restoration of the beautiful staterooms in the white house, to the acquisitio