Omar Bennett
The White House has been the location of many parties, from kids' parties and proms to dinners and celebrity-filled bashes. The East Room, for example, has hosted parties for First Ladies, presidents, and their families, including a joint birthday party for Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. and a party where Frank Sinatra danced with First Lady Nancy Reagan. The White House has also hosted state dinners, such as the Obamas' first official one in 2009, and the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, which is preceded by a series of parties in Washington.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Locations | East Room, East Wing Corridor, Rose Garden, North Portico, South Lawn |
| Attendees | Presidents, First Ladies, A-list celebrities, private citizens, high school students, interns, members of the media |
| Food and Drink | Cheese, canapés, cocktails |
| Entertainment | United States Marine Band, dancing |
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What You'll Learn
State dinners
The first state dinner was held in 1874 when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted King Kalākaua, the last king of Hawai'i. Since then, there have been more than 300 state dinners, with President Ronald Reagan hosting the most during his presidency—a total of 59 dinners.
The dinners are typically accompanied by performances from American artists, reflecting the musical tastes of the first families or their guests. The Marine Band has been a constant presence at the President's House since it first played for President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams in 1801.
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Parties with celebrities
The White House has been host to many celebrity-filled parties over the years, with the most notable being the White House Correspondents' Dinner. This annual event, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association, brings together celebrities, political figures, government officials, and journalists to celebrate the First Amendment right to a free press. It is considered one of the most elite parties of the year, attracting A-listers from various fields.
In recent years, the guest list has included prominent names in TV and journalism, such as Natalie Winters, a MAGA influencer and White House correspondent, and Walton Goggins. The event is usually held on the last Saturday in April and has a history spanning over 100 years. While the dinner is meant to be a festive occasion, the mood can vary depending on the political climate and the relationship between the administration and the press.
Another notable celebrity-filled event at the White House was a party hosted by President Ronald Reagan in the East Room. The guest list included singer Frank Sinatra, who danced with First Lady Nancy Reagan, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales famously danced with actor John Travolta at this event, and it has gone down in history as one of the White House's most iconic parties.
The East Room has been the site of several other significant events, including a joint birthday party for Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and a senior prom for Holten-Arms School in 1975. The room has undergone various renovations over the years, including new furnishings and changes to the lighting and flooring.
While the White House Correspondents' Dinner and state dinners are the most well-known celebrity parties at the White House, there are also alternative events hosted by media organizations and influencers. These events often coincide with the Correspondents' Dinner weekend and attract a mix of traditional media personalities and emerging influencers.
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Kids' parties
If you are interested in hosting a kids' party at the White House, you would need to follow the same procedure as any other tour group. Tours are scheduled for groups of ten or more people, and requests must be submitted at least a month in advance, with a maximum of six months in advance. Requests must be submitted through your Congressional representative, and security information, including the names and dates of birth of all attendees, must be provided no later than five business days before the tour date.
To make the tour engaging for children, you can prepare them beforehand by sharing books and pictures of the White House and its exterior and interior details. You can also create a scavenger hunt checklist of items for them to find during the tour, such as furniture details, presidential portraits, paintings, and architectural elements. It is important to set expectations for appropriate behaviour and conversation during the visit.
Additionally, it is worth noting that tours can be cancelled at any time for various reasons, and it is recommended to arrive at the Presidential Park at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled tour.
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High school proms
The White House has been the venue for many important events and social functions, including high school proms. The most notable high school prom to be held at the White House was for the Holton-Arms School senior class of 1975. Susan Ford, daughter of then-President Gerald Ford, was on the prom planning committee and offered the White House as the venue. The prom took place on May 31, 1975, and was the first and only high school prom to be held at the White House.
The Holton-Arms School senior class had been saving for the event since seventh grade, holding various fundraisers such as bake sales, an Easter egg party, a dance, a school fair, and a raffle. They raised a total of $1,300 for their planning budget. Using the White House as the venue saved them money on rental space, but they still had to pay for food, flowers, event staff, and musical entertainment. Attendees also paid $14 for tickets.
Susan Ford assisted the prom committee with the arrangements and even helped to chaperone the event, as her parents, President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, were in Europe for a NATO summit meeting at the time. Susan's aunt, Janet Ford, who was staying at the White House during her parents' trip, also served as a chaperone. The prom began with dinner aboard the presidential yacht, Sequoia, after which the guests and their dates entered the White House through the Diplomatic Reception Room for the black-tie event.
Dancing took place in the East Room, with music provided by the bands Sandcastle and The Outerspace. The prom committee had initially hoped to secure the Beach Boys as performers but could not afford the band's fee. White House staff served food and drinks to the guests, who danced the night away until the event ended at 1 a.m. The press was also allowed twenty minutes to speak to guests that evening, making this high school prom truly one for the history books.
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Skinny-dipping in the White House pool
The White House has been host to many parties and social functions, which have been considered an important part of overall policy. These events have seen A-list celebrities and private citizens alike entertained inside America's most famous house.
One of the most famous stories of White House parties involves skinny-dipping in the White House pool. The White House has had two different pools since the 1930s. The first was an indoor pool installed in 1933 for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used swimming as a form of therapy for his polio, which had permanently paralyzed his legs. This pool was located between the White House and the West Wing.
Lyndon B. Johnson, who was a frequent user of FDR's pool, is known to have skinny-dipped in the White House pool. He once invited the famous evangelical minister Billy Graham to join him. John F. Kennedy, who often swam to soothe his ailing back, also invited others to join him in the pool, including some women who were not his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy.
While the tradition of skinny-dipping in the White House pool may have started with Johnson, it is unclear if other presidents have continued this practice in the outdoor pool installed by Gerald Ford, which is still used by the First Families today.
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