NEW Episode: The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “Dinner with the President”
White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin Discusses Dining Diplomacy at the White House with Bestselling Author Alex Prud’homme
Feb 28, 2023 Washington, D.C. —
The White House Historical Association released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast today: “Dinner with the President.” In this episode, Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, discusses dining diplomacy with bestselling author Alex Prud’homme in a conversation about his new book “Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House.”
“It's hard not to overstate just how many important decisions and relationships have been made over a meal, especially in diplomatic circles,” said McLaurin. “Food really brings people together and can have great meaning from hotdogs at the ballpark to State Dinners at the White House.”
Prud’homme is the great-nephew of cooking legend Julia Child. In this episode, Prud’homme discusses how Child made history by filming a State Dinner for the first time for a TV special in the 1960s, along with a full menu of stories ranging 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.
“Whether it is a luncheon for the Cabinet, Congressional picnic on the lawn, simple sandwich in the President's private dining room or a fabulous State Dinner, there's something food wise going on with the White House almost every day, and each one carries a message with it. It’s not simply having a meal,” said Prud’homme.
Watch the full video of this podcast episode on the Association’s YouTube channel here.
Prud’homme also wrote the Foreword to the reissue of The White House Family Cookbook by White House Executive Chef Henry Haller can be purchased at shop.whitehousehistory.org.
The White House 1600 Sessions is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
For more information, please contact press@whha.org.
The White House 1600 Sessions
White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin. McLaurin is the host of “The White House 1600 Sessions,” the Association’s official audio and video podcast devoted to exploring the history, cultural impact, untold stories, and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and highest office.
P.D.F. Resources
Download the PDFAbout the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $100 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.