Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day - a time set aside to honor fallen soldiers of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. The first Decoration Day was observed on May 30, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. On that day, the largest known ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, across the river from Washington D.C. Read More
This Memorial Day weekend, we honor and thank all of the men and women who have served our country.
Source: whitehouse.gov
Irving Berlin and other stars at the White House
Richard Nixon is joined by First Lady Pat Nixon and several celebrities in the singing of “God Bless America.” (Left to Right) Phyllis Diller, Mary Ann Mobley, Joey Heatherton, President Nixon, Irving Berlin, Sammy Davis Jr., Pat Nixon, and Bob Hope. The event was a White House Dinner for POW’s held on May 24, 1973.
Jazz legend Duke Ellington died on this day, May 24, 1974
On April 24, 1969, Ellington celebrated his 70th birthday at the White House where he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The medal was presented by President Richard Nixon, who himself had played the piano since childhood. From the President’s remarks:
“When we think of freedom, we think of many things. But Duke Ellington is one who has carried the message of freedom to all the nations of the world through music, through understanding, understanding that reaches over all national boundaries and over all boundaries of prejudice and over all boundaries of language..
In the royalty of American music, no man swings more or stands higher than the Duke.”
Afterwards, the President played “Happy Birthday” on the piano for the Duke while guests at the White House sang along.
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington
April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974
Source: research.archives.gov
Buddy the dog swimming in the fountain at the White House
If you need more adorable pet pictures for your Tuesday, check out our Flickr stream where the William J. Clinton Presidential Library has just added lots of great Buddy pictures to the First Family’s Pets collection.
Who is your favorite White House pet?
Source: clintonlibrary.gov
Oh Socks, you ham. Here are some fun facts courtesy of Dear Socks, Dear Buddy; Kids’ Letters to The First Pets by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Socks Stats
Type of Cat: Domestic Short Hair
Date of Birth: Unknown
Member of the Clinton Family since: March 1991
Height (Head to Paw): 14.5 inches
Weight: 9 pounds in 1998
Favorite Activity: Taking a Catnap
Favorite Bug to Catch: Spiders
Favorite Hideout in the White House: In a chair outside the Oval Office
Want more photos of Socks? - Meow!
-from the Clinton Library
(via discoverynews)
Source: thedorseyshawexperience
Mr. Civil Rights
Thurgood Marshall convinced the Supreme Court that school segregation was unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education.
As legal counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Marshall represented civil rights plaintiffs all over the south and argued more than 30 such cases before the Supreme Court. He won all but five and earned the nickname, Mr. Civil Rights.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy named him to the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the Second District. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Marshall U.S. Solicitor General, the third highest post in the Department of Justice.
Two years later, on June 13, 1967, LBJ nominated Marshall to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court where he served for 24 years.
Thurgood Marshall’s nomination by LBJ made him the first African American Supreme Court Justice, but it also followed a long and distinguished career as a civil rights lawyer who successfully fought inequality and discrimination.
Pictured here are Marshall and LBJ outside of the White House. 7/9/65
-from the LBJ Library
Source: archives.gov
First Mom and Daughter in the Oval Office
Betty and Susan Ford share the President’s chair in the Oval Office. 12/8/74
Source: fordlibrarymuseum.gov
“I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music.”
-Pele
President Nixon meeting with Edson “Pele” Arantes do Nacimento, professional Brazilian soccer player and Director of the International Soccer Program. 05/08/1973
Pele is the only soccer player to hold three World Cup championships. He has been honored by the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, and has served as an ambassador for sports in Brazil, for ecology to the United Nations, for UNESCO, and UNICEF.
It’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This May, we’re featuring fitness and athletes at the White House, Camp David, and more.
Source: research.archives.gov
President Clinton gets batting tips from St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer, Stan Musial. Oval Office, 5/6/93
It’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This May, we’ll be featuring fitness and athletes at the White House, Camp David, and more.
-from the Clinton Library
Even a President needs a break-
President Gerald R. Ford practices golf on the White House lawn, 5/9/75
It’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This May, we’ll be featuring fitness and athletes at the White House, Camp David, and more.
Source: fordlibrarymuseum.gov
