President of the United States

“The President’s Walk” Was Almost Reagan’s Last

This is a guest post by Angela Harrison Eng The Washington Hilton Hotel is located at 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, near DuPont Circle. At a glance, the hotel is one of many in a sea of...
Aerial view of U.S. Capitol and crowd on the grounds of the east front of the U.S. Capitol, during the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, March 4, 1933

Aerial View of Franklin Roosevelt’s First Inauguration

Check out this amazing old photo of FDR’s inauguration and then compare it to this one of Eisenhower and this of Obama. Source: dullshick
Ulysses S. Grant, full-length portrait, facing left, standing alongside his war horse, "Cincinnati"

Which President Got a Speeding Ticket on a Horse?

Ulysses Grant was arrested for directing by William West, an African-American metropolitan policeman. This is a great historical story.
President McKinley in Oakland (1901)

1901 Film of President McKinley and Parade Going to Capitol

What a cool video! This was a find on the Library of Congress website. Below is the description from the site. “This most excellent picture was secured at the junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street....

Federal Agencies Shutdown; Workers Go Home … in 1995

Welcome to Groundhog Day! We’ve been through this before and it didn’t work out well for one of the sides. Plus, they even based an episode of the West Wing on what happened. Who plays Ted...
Abraham Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Abraham Lincoln was sworn in for his second term as president and delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. There are a couple interesting things we picked out of this photo. First, when you...
The Mayflower Hotel

Three Stories From the Mayflower Hotel in D.C.

Source: Library of Congress The “Grande Dame of Washington” has seen so much history that it’s difficult to do a post listing just three bit of trivia. Nevertheless, the building that has seen guests like Queen...
letter from Bill Clinton to Ronald Reagan on December 27th, 1988

Christmas Letter From Governor Clinton to President Reagan

This is an interesting image of a letter that we dug up at the National Archives. Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas at the time it was sent around Christmas, 1988. Source: U.S. National Archives
Print shows a large campaign banner for Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln and running mate Hannibal Hamlin. Lincoln's first name is given here as "Abram." The banner consists of a thirty-three star American flag pattern printed on cloth. In one corner, a bust portrait of Lincoln, without beard, encircled by stars, appears on a blue field.

For President, Abram Lincoln. For Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin

Now this is an amazing piece of American history. This is a large campaign banner for Lincoln in 1860. Source: Library of Congress
William Jefferson Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton play catch in the Rose Garden. They are practicing for upcoming opening pitch ceremonies that both of them will participate in. 4/3/94.

The Clintons Practice Throwing the First Pitch

What an awesome candid shot of Bill and Hillary Clinton throwing a baseball in the Rose Garden on April 3rd, 1994. They’re practicing for the Opening Day ceremonies they were going to participate in that year....
Francis H. Robinson (December 27th, 1919)

White House Chauffeur Francis H. Robinson

This is a great personal story of a behind-the-scenes man. Francis H. Robinson was a long-time chauffeur for the White House, having arrived in Washington back in 1910. Robinson was originally from Massachusetts, born around 1876,...
President Taft at the baseball game in 1912

President Taft at Washington Baseball Games

Here is a nice series of photos of our newest racing president, William Howard Taft.
Walter Johnson in 1939

An Older Walter Johnson Reminisces …

Here is a very different photo of the “Big Train” in April 1939. He is looking at a box of baseballs, autographed by six presidents. These are baseballs that were thrown out as the first pitch...
Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite administering the oath of office to Rutherford B. Hayes on a flag-draped inaugural stand on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol

Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877

Not exactly the most revered or most remembered president, poor Rutherford B. Hayes was zinged by our current president. We’d like to shine a little light on poor Rutherford, even if he didn’t think the telephone...
President Roosevelt in carriage en route to Capitol

Amazing Photographs of Teddy Roosevelt’s Inauguration in 1905

Here are two amazing photographs from Teddy Roosevelt‘s Inauguration in 1905. Thanks again to the Library of Congress.

What To Wear To Inaugural Events (in 1969)

Plenty of Washingtonians will spend inaugural weekend re-learning how to tie a bow tie or remembering to stash comfortable shoes for late-night post-Ball hijinks.  What to wear?  It’s always a question — for those shelling out big bucks...
The Washington Herald on January 17th, 1913

January 17th, 1913: President-Elect Wilson Bans Inaugural Ball

Going to an Inaugural Ball this weekend? The austerity of Obama’s second mirrors the desires articulated by newly elected President Woodrow Wilson. Take a look at the front page of the Washington Herald on Friday, January...

James Brown Said It Loud At Nixon’s Inauguration

James Brown performed “Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud” at Richard Nixon’s 1969 inauguration.  Wait.  What?  Believe it.  The Godfather of Soul chose that particular song to celebrate the Republican president’s transition to power. Confusingly,...
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