The National Cherry Blossom Queen Festival

Each year since 1948, 50 representatives from the U.S. states and territories come together to participate in the Cherry Blossom Queen Festival. 

Presidents and the First Families have participated in the celebration over the years, and it was not unusual for the Vice President or a Cabinet member to spin the “Wheel of Fortune” to randomly select the crown winner. 

Photos:  Tricia Nixon and 50 Cherry Blossom Queen Festival representatives at the White House. 4/9/70.

Lynda Bird Johnson in a motorcade of Cherry Blossom Festival Princesses in Washington, D.C. 4/7/62.

Mamie Eisenhower crowns the Cherry Blossom Queen, Janet K. Bailey at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. 4/11/53.

“Where is Mamie Eisenhower’s 1955 Chrysler limousine? I would like to see it again. I once installed some Secret Service equipment on it when Mrs. Eisenhower was using it after the presidency.” - Anonymous This week’s “Ask and Archivist” question at the Eisenhower Library comes from Washington State.  For the answer, read more here. PHOTO CAPTION: On November 14, 1955, President Eisenhower rode through Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the rear of a 1955 Chrysler Imperial limousine that was part of the White House fleet. -from the Eisenhower Library  
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“Where is Mamie Eisenhower’s 1955 Chrysler limousine? I would like to see it again. I once installed some Secret Service equipment on it when Mrs. Eisenhower was using it after the presidency.”

- Anonymous


This week’s “Ask and Archivist” question at the Eisenhower Library comes from Washington State.  For the answer, read more here.


PHOTO CAPTION: On November 14, 1955, President Eisenhower rode through Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the rear of a 1955 Chrysler Imperial limousine that was part of the White House fleet.

-from the Eisenhower Library

 

A Christmas gift for Mamie Eisenhower made by her 7 year old son.  The gift tag reads, “To mother dear, From John.”  1929.
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A Christmas gift for Mamie Eisenhower made by her 7 year old son.  The gift tag reads, “To mother dear, From John.”  1929.

Source: facebook.com

My Dad, POTUS In the spring of 1959, the Women’s National Press Club held a luncheon at the White House honoring children of U.S. Presidents.  Among the attendees were children of Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Photo: Mamie Eisenhower with a group of children of U.S Presidents at the White House.  L to R: front row— Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt; Mrs. Helen Taft Manning, daughter of William Howard Taft; Mrs. Marion Cleveland Amen, daughter of Grover Cleveland; Mamie Eisenhower.  Back row — John Eisenhower, son of Dwight Eisenhower; John Coolidge, son of Calvin Coolidge; James Roosevelt, son of Franklin D. Roosevelt; Mrs. Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, daughter of Woodrow Wilson; and Richard Folsom Cleveland, son of Grover Cleveland.  April 30, 1959. -from the Eisenhower Library
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My Dad, POTUS

In the spring of 1959, the Women’s National Press Club held a luncheon at the White House honoring children of U.S. Presidents. 

Among the attendees were children of Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Photo: Mamie Eisenhower with a group of children of U.S Presidents at the White House.  L to R: front row— Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt; Mrs. Helen Taft Manning, daughter of William Howard Taft; Mrs. Marion Cleveland Amen, daughter of Grover Cleveland; Mamie Eisenhower.  Back row — John Eisenhower, son of Dwight Eisenhower; John Coolidge, son of Calvin Coolidge; James Roosevelt, son of Franklin D. Roosevelt; Mrs. Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, daughter of Woodrow Wilson; and Richard Folsom Cleveland, son of Grover Cleveland.  April 30, 1959.

-from the Eisenhower Library

A White House Recipe for Thanksgiving - Mamie Eisenhower’s Deep Dish Apple Pie. -from the Eisenhower Library
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A White House Recipe for Thanksgiving - Mamie Eisenhower’s Deep Dish Apple Pie.

-from the Eisenhower Library

Source: facebook.com

First Lady Pink Did your grandmother’s house have a pink bathroom?  You might be able to blame Mamie Eisenhower, who made the color extremely popular when she became First Lady in 1953. During the next 8 years, Mamie would be listed among the “10 best-dressed women.”  Her favorite color was pink and she wore it often.  She also decorated her home in pink.  The color of this gown, which she wore to President Eisenhower’s Inaugural Ball, was officially called “First Lady Pink.” Mamie’s many years as an Army wife affected her feelings toward fashion.  Although she always looked put together in her dresses, hats, and gloves, she was very mindful of her budget and did not worry about looking trendy.  “Knowing what to look for and how to tell a lasting fashion from a temporary fad has always helped me to shop intelligently,” she wrote to editors at the 1954 Fashion Press Week. Mamie Geneva Doud was born on this day, November 14, 1896. More - timeline of Mamie’s life from the Eisenhower Library
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First Lady Pink

Did your grandmother’s house have a pink bathroom?  You might be able to blame Mamie Eisenhower, who made the color extremely popular when she became First Lady in 1953.

During the next 8 years, Mamie would be listed among the “10 best-dressed women.”  Her favorite color was pink and she wore it often.  She also decorated her home in pink.  The color of this gown, which she wore to President Eisenhower’s Inaugural Ball, was officially called “First Lady Pink.”

Mamie’s many years as an Army wife affected her feelings toward fashion.  Although she always looked put together in her dresses, hats, and gloves, she was very mindful of her budget and did not worry about looking trendy.  “Knowing what to look for and how to tell a lasting fashion from a temporary fad has always helped me to shop intelligently,” she wrote to editors at the 1954 Fashion Press Week.

Mamie Geneva Doud was born on this day, November 14, 1896.

More - timeline of Mamie’s life from the Eisenhower Library

Source: facebook.com

“Look Ahead, Neighbor!” Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower waving from campaign train, the Eisenhower Special. September 14, 1952. -from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
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“Look Ahead, Neighbor!”

Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower waving from campaign train, the Eisenhower Special.

September 14, 1952.

-from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library

Source: presidentialtimeline.org

On the Campaign Trail Bathrobe-clad Ike and Mamie wave from the back platform of the campaign train. Salisbury, North Carolina. September 27, 1952.
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On the Campaign Trail

Bathrobe-clad Ike and Mamie wave from the back platform of the campaign train. Salisbury, North Carolina. September 27, 1952.

Source: ikeandharry2012.org

First Grandmoms Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower at Camp David with their family From left to right: Susan Eisenhower, Dwight Eisenhower, Barbara Eisenhower (daughter-in-law of Eisenhower), Ann Eisenhower, Major John Eisenhower (son), David Eisenhower, and Mamie Eisenhower. Susan, Ann, and David are John and Barbara Eisenhower’s children.  8/1/54 -Happy Mother’s Day from the Eisenhower Library
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First Grandmoms

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower at Camp David with their family

From left to right: Susan Eisenhower, Dwight Eisenhower, Barbara Eisenhower (daughter-in-law of Eisenhower), Ann Eisenhower, Major John Eisenhower (son), David Eisenhower, and Mamie Eisenhower. Susan, Ann, and David are John and Barbara Eisenhower’s children.  8/1/54

-Happy Mother’s Day from the Eisenhower Library

Source: eisenhower.archives.gov

In the spring of 1915 Mamie Geneva Doud, shown here with an unidentified family friend, and her family took a vacation trip to Panama to see the newly opened Panama Canal. Later that year she met the young army officer, Dwight D. Eisenhower. -from the Eisenhower Library
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In the spring of 1915 Mamie Geneva Doud, shown here with an unidentified family friend, and her family took a vacation trip to Panama to see the newly opened Panama Canal. Later that year she met the young army officer, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

-from the Eisenhower Library