Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States (1869-1877). Photo Wikimedia Commons
By Carl Sferrazza Anthony
There’s as much of the old sod in the White House as there is on its south lawn.
The backgrounds of America’s First Families are diverse: Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird Johnson have Spanish forebears; Herbert Hoover was Swiss and Canadian; Mamie Eisenhower was part Swedish while Ike was German; Martin Van Buren and the Roosevelts were Dutch; James Garfield had a royal strain of French; Eliza Johnson’s parents were immigrant Scottish sandal-makers; both Calvin Coolidge and Edith Wilson had American Indian blood–she being a direct descendant of Pocahantas.
After four long years, we finally have a new president and, more importantly, new presidential pets. Usually the thrill of pets arriving at the White House is tempered by the sting of old presidential pets leaving the White House, but this year is different: Donald Trump is the first president in more than 100 years not to have a pet of any kind, so we can say goodbye to his rotten administration without stray sympathy for any blameless dogs, cats, or possums getting evicted alongside their captors.
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This also means that the incoming presidential pets the Bidens have two German shepherds and a cat, the former two of which arrived to the White House this week to great fanfare won’t be able to rely on the outgoing presidential pets for advice or support during the transfer of power. So to help the new national mascots find their footing, Slate has decided to break what many regard as the most important commandment in journalism (“all presidential pets are equally goo
Kennedy Library Docent Manager Katherine Gilliland led the talk.
Images from Truman’s 1949 renovation of the White House.
The Red Room before and after Kennedy’s refurbishment in the American Empire style.
The Blue Room, before and after restoration.
A JFK campaign memo mentioning a large reception at the Silver Gull, a Mattapoisett inn at the time.
Everyone loves a good makeover especially if it involves an iconic building.
Nearly 60 residents and friends showed up to a virtual talk from the Mattapoisett Museum on Jan. 14 about Jacqueline Kennedy’s renovation of the White House during her tenure as First Lady.