Main Content

Host
Stewart McLaurin
Guest
Alex Prud’homme, bestselling author and great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child
Date
2/28/23
Duration
34 minutes

From hot dogs to haute cuisine, U.S. Presidents have communicated important messages through food. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, discusses dining diplomacy with bestselling author Alex Prud’homme whose new book is called “Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House.” Prud’homme is the great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child and discusses how she made history by filming a State Dinner for the first time for a TV special in the 1960s. There is a full menu of stories to hear, from President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams hosting the first party at the President’s House, to the grilling techniques of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Stewart McLaurinhost

Stewart McLaurin, host

President of the White House Historical Association

As President of the White House Historical Association Stewart McLaurin leads the nonpartisan, nonprofit in its mission to preserve, protect, and provide access to White House history. As a lifelong student of history, Stewart is an avid reader and storyteller. His first book, White House Miscellany was published this past year and he authors a quarterly column in the White House History Journal. Drawing on his own experiences, relationships, and knowledge he provides listeners with a front row seat to history at the White House.