Sophmore Season

The State Dinner for President Calderón of Mexico got off to a slippery start for White House veteran and current State Department Chief of Protocol, Capricia Marshall. Both of the Obamas admonished the press NOT to print the picture of her falling in a lovely pink gown on the White House steps. That fall is nothing compared to Desiree Rogers freshman and final State Dinner featuring the security gaffe seen round the world. This is Take Two in the Obama Administration on many fronts. But there is one dessert that is making a first appearance: Goat Cheese Ice Cream. One thing that remains a trend for the Obamas is a guest Executive Chef that specializes with a particular type of cuisine. In this case a hometown fave of the president's and first lady, Chef Rick Bayless. He last tweeted about his sauces and mole earlier this morning before rushing off to the siren call of his pots and pans at the White House.

Another signature hallmark that is appearing from the first lady for her state dinners are bold color palettes for the table settings. This state dinner is half the scale of the November Dinner for Prime Minister Singh of India. Two hundred guests for dinner in the East Room with the historic paintings of George & Martha Washington overseeing the festivities from their gilt frames and then a fabulous switch to the outdoor entertainment tent/building which will see a glamorous Beyoncé. This dinner has a better weather forecast than the November diplomatic soirée that took place on one of DC's most rainy fall days. Prickly pear is making an appearance in the floral arrangements along with fuschia and delicate roses.

Photo courtesy of Getty

Another signature hallmark that is appearing from the first lady for her state dinners are bold color palettes for the table settings. A mix of rectangular and circular tables allow the room to squeeze in a couple hundred perfumed and tuxedoed guests. The gold rimmed table settings look like the Clinton china which will be filled with Wagyu beef in black mole sauce with grilled beans. This will be Juliana Smoot's first time out on managing a State dinner as the new Social Secretary with a much lower profile. This also a first for the Francophile, new White House Chief Florist, Laura Dowling who breached protocol by announcing her new high profile job on facebook before the first lady released a statement.

President Calderon, his wife Margarita Zavala with President & Michelle Obama in the North Portico of the White House.

First Lady Pat Nixon was the most active with dinners beating out all others since the first state dinner held on behalf of the King of the Solomon Islands which included the now state of Hawaii back in the days of Ulysses S Grant. The guest list includes a two-time appearance by Gayle King - accompanying avid tweeter and Newark's mayor, Corey Booker. Mayor Villaraigosa of Los Angeles was present as was the resplendent Eva Longoria Parker sans hubby. Another 100 people get in for the after dinner entertainment on the South Lawn.

More to come...
Confirmations: saw up close it IS the Clinton China.
This was the first State Dinner where the Obamas as First Couple descended the Grand Staircase for a State Dinner in public view. The Staircase was designed specifically by President Truman for formal entrances of the American Head of State

Modern Art Work & The Obamas

Every modern first lady shows interest in the arts with some being avid fans of a particular form or style.  Jackie Kennedy loved the ballet with an exquisite eye for centuries old antiques while beautiful photographs adorned her private space.  Lady Bird Johnson loved wildflowers, especially those indigenous to Texas, while kick-starting forerunners to environmental projects focusing along highways.   Michelle Obama has eclectic taste and is being ecumenical in her choices for the residence.  When a new first family moves in and during their tenure, the nation's museums are open for them to select what they want to display on the their private residence walls in addition to what is available from the White House Art Collection replete with 18th & 19th century artists.  Laura Bush was quite fond of the impressionist Claude Monet's tranquil water scene gifted to the White House by the family of JFK.  She chose to have it in the West Sitting Hall right across from the door to the Master Bedroom where she could look at it while reading or chatting on the phone.  Hillary worked hard to innovate with a sculpture garden with annual exhibits during her stay as first lady.  (Monet in White House private collection courtesy George W. Bush archives)

Alma Thomas (1891 -1971) an abstract artist who was the first African American to earn a 1971 solo exhibit at the prestigious Whitney museum Art of (Hard Edge), Watusi (completed in 1963) is one of the paintings the Obamas placed in the residence. The other abstract from this artist is named Skylight.

President Obama, Malia & Michelle watch the video montage on the modern artists while in Paris at the  museum known as the Pompidou in June 2009.  Photo courtesy of the White House.

The President & Mrs. Obama made some modern choices for their walls.  Modern art is a theme shown over the past few months with a trip to the Pompidou Centre or the Centre Georges Pompidou during time in Paris.  The Kandinsky Exhibit was quite fun Mom & Dad, but for Sasha & Malia they got to try their hand at making art based on the Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976) exhibit.  It is part of the experience for all children visiting that section of the museum. Wonder what Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (1866 - 1944) would think.

Richard Diebenkorn (1922 -1993) painted Berkeley No.52 circa 1955.  The colorful abstract has a place of honor at the Obamas. 

Art is a theme throughout the young tenure of the Obama presidency.  Thursday starts the First Couples foray as hosts entertaining heads of state.  A philanthropist married to a United States senator will entertain the Obamas and their guest at her Rosemont Farm.  Teresa Heinz Kerry just missed being a first lady, but 2004 is where Barack Obama came into prominence with the American public.  The Farm will supply the vegetables and meets in a true locavore element that pleases Michelle Obama, though she will not be photographed (today) picking the greens and vegetables herself.  Gardens are a form of art to her. While the spouses negotiate, the first lady will host a tour for the  G-20 spouses (mostly wives) at the Andy Warhol Museum complete with a spectacular luncheon in Pittsburgh.  Prior, the tour will hear more art performed by students, Yo-Yo Ma (performed at the inaugural), Trisha Yearwood and Sarah Bareilles.  An interesting choice of Warhol (Andrew Warhola 1928 - 1987) given the need to treat the international honored guests to sophisticated Americana known as pop art and Warhol was born in Pittsburgh.  President Jimmy Carter feted Warhol in the White house in the 1970s where Warhol presented an art piece that was a rendering of the president.  Warhol has many pieces that explore erotica as well.  Its fraught with interest because the tour will have a climatic ending as one of Warhol's time capsules is due to be opened.  Ought to be quite the topic over lunch - even with all the translators.

Ed Ruscha (born 1937) titled this hip 1983 piece I Think I'll...  This pop art piece particularly underscores the modern element to the Obama's tastes.  Since 1964, Ruscha paints words into many of his paintings.  Sometimes they are satirical and often with touches of humor.

Upon their return to the White House, the splendor of the choices of the  Obamas own artwork will reign supreme.  Michelle will enjoy the serenity of the art for a few days before taking off to Copenhagen next week to champion Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.  Not one, but two paintings depicting Homage to the Square from Josef Albers (1888 - 1976) adorn the walls at the White House on loan from the Hirshorn Collection.  Albers was also a poet. The painting pictured left is Homage to the Square:  Midday and completed sometime between 1954 - 1957. The painting for the Homage series started in 1949.  Like abstract artist Alma Thomas shown above, Josef Albers was also a teacher.  Upon retirements, they both dedicated the remainder of their lives to their art works. (Photo courtesy The Independent)

A definite nod was given to winner of a 2005 Alphonse Fletcher Foundation Fellowship Glenn Ligon (1960 -) who painted Black Like Me #2  (1992) who is just a year younger than the president.  Again, continuity reaches through the Obama art pieces as Ligon like Albers uses words and paints in acrylic on canvas.  Ligon who is openly gay and an African American from New York has juxtaposed family albums with old school gay porn in one piece.  It is part of the art that many artists of vintage and antiquity along with their modern counterparts push the edges during their times. 

Glenn Ligon's piece on loan to the First Family.

It's fascinating to review a couple of the choices the Obamas have to look at during their home life.  For traditionalists, there is the Edgar Degas bronze figure of Dancer Putting on Her Stocking, a Cézanne (1839 - 1906), yet they mesh with Jaspers Johns lead relief of Numerals, 0-9. Michelle has a wide range of tastes and its reflected in the art selection and her personal style that is not totally dependent on the old masters.  Another voice in the selection of modern and abstract art pieces is the Obama interior designer, Michael Smith of Santa Monica who also worked with the White House curator William Allman.

Another young talented but terribly depressed artist met an untimely death by suicide.  In fifteen years Nicolas de Staël (1914 -1955) produced over a thousand paintings including many abstract landscapes. This painting is entitled Nice completed in 1954.

Social Secretary: The Iron Butterfly

Weddings between centuries old protocol and the technicolor of modern life can embrace or clash in the White House. Work of or through the Office of the Social Secretary keeps evolving as presidential terms today require public and private events coordination with efficiency and effectiveness on everything from a private coffee clutch for the first lady to events with tens of thousands of excited citizens or the president meeting a head of state or his cabinet. Its a tough job and no two people bring the same skills or approach. In the future, certain White House gender roles have yet to reach cosmopolitan cross-pollination, but the future holds promise for the first female Chief Usher, male Social Secretary (A Deputy is male) or a couple with the first female President and First Gentleman. Sterling events shape the tenor of White House. (Floating toy sharks going into the South Lawn Fountain for the June 2009 Congressional picnic that was an Obama Ohana Luau. Photo courtesy AP)

Desiree Rogers day of the Congressional picnic as she checks last minute details on her blackberry.

Amiability and ability to get along and communicate with multiple departments and constituencies for each and every White House moment with scheduling changes at the last moment make it seem like juggling revving chainsaws, grisly if you miss, and any near misses or straight out flops are seen by everyone. Who can forget Queen Elizabeth being greeted at the White House for a state visit in the early 1990's with her voice heard from the podium, but only her magnificent hat could be seen as there were no steps for the rather tiny Queen of the British Empire to stand upon. The Social Secretary is responsible for ensuring that those sorts of details are clear. Gerald & Betty Ford had their own fun social gaffe when the president asked the Queen to dance and the Marine Corps band went straight into their repertoire of music from Rodgers & Hart, The Lady is a Tramp. Catchy.

White House Social Secretary is a central component of a fully pledged East Wing Operation. Most of the Social Secretary's of the past came with experience at cotillions, collegiate network and a Rolodex in Washington that made things sparkle behind the scenes. Some were absolute nightmares because of their ties to the first lady while others could soothe troubled waters with smooth as silk words. No Social Secretary will be successful in a modern White House without paying homage to the person who is responsible for every direct White House hire, event and procurement, the Chief Usher. During the Camelot era, Letitia Baldridge brought a state department background a social pedigree to the Kennedys as she served both as Social Secretary & the first lady's chief of staff. Ann Stock was the Clinton social secretary from 1994 until 1997. The position also opens doors to other opportunities as Capricia Marshall was the Clinton Administration's Social Secretary with a current nomination to be President Obama's Chief of Protocol that the White House Social Secretary office must work and with daily.(Letitia Baldrige 1961 - 1963 upper left, Capricia Marshall 1997-2001 courtesy of The Washington Post)

Laura Bush's Social Secretary, Lea Berman, ran a tight shop that sat few state dinners but smaller versions of them, but she did one large mega event for the Queen of England in 2007. Lea succeeded Cathy Fenton after the 2004 election, hired straight from being Lynne Cheney's Chief of staff. She cleaned house, exiting the Executive Chef like it was a TV reality series and with the urgent need to find a pastry chef that could live up to Roland Mesnier one of a kind pastry & gingerbread house standards. At that time, the East Wing had everyone in an intense state of roiling stomach acid there was so much turbulence and turf protection. (Lea Berman, Social Secretary for Laura Bush 2005 - 2007 walks along the East Colonnade towards the residence Photo courtesy the Washington Post)

The blowback in the current administrations Social Office has been minimal so far. Desirée Rogers has handled many thing really well by virtue of her executive experience, education and foremost her relationship with the first lady. Innovation in White House entertainment is part of the Obama Charm with the Easter Egg Roll, picnic and the Governor's Ball. Desirée has had a jaw-dropping gaping hole in her judgment by even considering having herself photographed in Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden wearing an Oscar de la Renta ball gown and needed a veto from the West Wing before the idea was fully dropped. As previously fretted about, Desirée Rogers penchant for publicity is a two-edged sword as the role is not at all about her - yet her self-stylized branding is about her being a cultural liaison (do the Obamas need a translator) before she has even put on a full state visit. The ramifications of even thinking of a state dinner in this economic climate would be as loopy as even dreaming of having your picture taken wearing a high-end designer trench coat by Viktor & Rolf and Cartier earrings in the East Room and your not even the first lady.

The recent contretemps in the East Wing With the 4 month on the Job Chief of Staff, Jackie Norris, leaving for a lower profile job with a volunteer organization has some genesis in the friction between her & Rogers. Susan Sher, Norris's replacement, is a great friend of Rogers and senior West Wing official Valerie Jarrett and a former boss of the first lady. A noticeable detail is how much the Social Secretary is photographed with the first lady or the family at events. The Secret Service are probably the best at being omnipresent and positioning themselves out of the frame of certain shots.(Photos courtesy Wall Street Journal)

One of the toughest jobs for a Social Secretary had to be during the Carter presidency. Gretchen Householder Poston was the WH Social Secretary at an an intense time that saw a reduction in lavish entertainment by Mrs. Carter during a recession and a scaling back due to the Iran Hostage crisis. There was also an intense negotiation to get the Camp David Accords and the resulting event at the White House is now world history.

Each one has had challenges, intrigues and time will tell how this works out for the Obama presidency. Most do not stay the full tenure of a president & first lady as the job is a tough, time consuming one that encompasses the needs of the West Wing with the changing demands of the East Wing. Hats off to all who have had the opportunity to serve in this capacity!

Happy Birthday Mom! From both of us, NanaRh.

White House Christmas Starts in July

First ladies get a bit of a throbbing lump in the stomach around this time of year. The rest of the East Wing Staff in the first year look at each other askance as they discuss Holiday Greeting Card themes, who gets a card, then start looking at the Holiday Party Schedule on top of their day to day activities. A theme ties all of the decor together and it has to be chosen early. President & Rosalynn Carter sent out over 60,000 cards and the numbers have only increased since the 1970's.The Obamas choice is a closely guarded secret. For Laura Bush's last year she chose a Red, White & Blue holiday theme. Sometimes events inspire the cards, as the tragic circumstances of 9/11 had Laura Bush select a scene for her first card featuring a Psalm and the hall from the residence in the White House. Laura Bush's choice of a deeply Christian message in the 2007 card caused some controversy. (2001 Christmas Card from the George & Laura Bush)

Many of the most magical scenes and beautiful times at America's First House begin right after the president pardons a huge turkey in the Rose Garden. The first lady dresses up, not too much, after our national day of giving thanks and stands in the driveway to receive a Christmas or Holiday tree that goes into the Blue Room because its the official one. Next, the family scampers off for a couple of days while hordes of pre-screened festive volunteers turn into White House elves with direction from the Ushers office and decorate more than a dozen trees, the State Rooms, the Truman Balcony placing garland, ribbons and bells everywhere. Pat Nixon resuscitated the use of wreaths as decorations for the Holidays.

Bo's curiosity is going to be quite hard to control. It's almost a sure bet that when President Obama lights the National Christmas tree, which is seen from The Washington Monument and the Truman Balcony, that it will be Sasha pushing the button.

(The stately tree arrives trussed up on a holiday style sleigh ususally led by horses, I think Clydesdales.)

The selection of the tree is political. From which state does it originate (can't have one state furnish the tree year after year complete with much care to ensure it is not an old-growth tree. Like a sports team, the trees are scouted for height (usually 20 feet tall), color suitability and the density of its branches to take the weight of lights and many handcrafted and heirloom ornaments sent to the White House for just this holiday. Mamie Eisenhower decorated 27 trees in 1958. Jackie Kennedy introduced the idea of theming the decorations. For the Carters last year in 1980, it was a Victorian Christmas. In 1994, Hillary Clinton had great fun with the Twelve Days of Christmas. A catalog of each of the ornaments must be made. But the incredible dinners, bountiful buffets and cookies need planning as well. The tremendous amount of floral work need careful scheduling as the refrigerated room to keep blooms fresh is rather small. Add to the fact that the Chief Floral Designer, Nancy Clarke, retired her pruning shears in May, brings more tension to this first Holiday. If asked, many retirees with special skills return to help out during this time.

The Cross Hall glammed up for the 2008 Red White & Blue theme. The door with the seal above it is the blue room where the majesty of the official tree reigns. Photo courtesy the White House

For under $17, excluding shipping, the official 2009 ornament will be sold exclusively via the White House Historical Association. Grover Cleveland is the object of this years version. President & Mrs. Frances Cleveland had toddlers in the White House for his second term. Snow capped rolling lawn with frosted trees gazing at the majestic South portico is the view on the ornament from an eastern angle. Margaret Huddy is the watercolor painter chosen to render the images. This is the second ornament to feature the nineteenth century during the Clevelands terms in office. President & Mrs. Reagan did a modest engraved gold angel blowing a trumpet in 1981. That marked the first time ornaments were offered to support the WHHA. The ornament selected is always featured on the tree in the Blue Room.

Christmas parties are traditional for staff, Congress, the press and family among meeting diplomats and other soirées. Tours go up as the rooms are filled with elaborate gingerbread houses and holiday treats. As this year will be the first for the Obamas in the grand old house, planning the first one is a full time event. There is no question that it will get lavish press attention and television time as well. Sasha & Malia have already put sleds to good use on the South Lawn, but this year will see their imprint on the decorating. It's all in the planning and the volunteer elf army.

Update: Michelle's First White House Christmas Tree - it explains the selection process and shows other First Lady's Christmas trees.

First Ladies In Paris

Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, at Versailles with Charles de Gaulle

No first lady will be the recipient of the wild adoration that enveloped Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy when she landed in France in 1961 as the spouse of a head of state. For her in a sense, it was going home, back to a beloved city where she received her junior year of education on the Left Bank at the prestigious La Sorbonne. The 31 year-old was there for a European state visit with all the pomp trimmings and managed to charm the irascible President Charles de Gaulle with her Française, élan and savoir faire. She ably served as the interpreter between the French and American presidents. The French state dinner was a feast in the Hall of Mirrors at the palace of Versailles followed by a Jackie Kennedy favorite performance art, the ballet, as Rendezvous pirouetted in the Louis XV Theater.

A video in the black and white cinematic features of the 1960's showing highlights of the three day state visit against the backdrop of President Kennedy's speech. Mrs. Kennedy's ensemble was Oleg Cassini in a pale yellow with a triple strand of pearl.
On June 8, 1994 another First Lady stood in Paris in the shadow of Jackie and embraced her. Mrs. Onassis had recently passed away and it was a sad opportunity for Hillary Rodham Clinton to pay tribute to her. Five years later, Hillary was in Paris again to present an award at the Sorbonne. By that time Parisians embraced her and what she represented as a woman with grace weathering through triumph and tragedy in the White House. It is remarkable how many modern First Ladies travel to Paris in June. First lady Laura Bush in Paris, France June 11, 2008, for a cultural evening with the American Ambassador to France, Charles Stapleton on the evening before the International Support Conference for Afghanistan. Mrs. Bush Photo courtsey Sheelah Craighead, White House.

A noble 65th D-Day anniversary is the cause for Michelle Obama to join the president in Colleville-sur-mer, France. As it was collective visits for heads of state and the crown prince of England, a state dinner is not possible on this trip as it was not a state visit. Hence, very little official pomp and circumstance for this particular trip though the French line the streets to the Notre Dame cathedral. Minus one daughter who had other plans, the adult Obamas dined at a hundred year old restaurant in the 7th arrondissement, La Fontaine de Mars on Rue St. Domonique after visiting the cathedral. The girls will have to wait (who knows, maybe they will get this treat) for the evening bateau moche ride where Paris is beautifully lit and travel the River Seine to the Île de la Cité, the island that hosts Notre Dame de Paris in all its 12th century French Gothic glory.

In their apartments, delighted Parisians take digital images as the Obamas exit their motorcade for the restaurant.

Awaiting the Obamas motorcade, Parisiens line the streets to get a glimpse as they tour Notre Dame. Sasha & Malia obliged by waving from the highest parapets. 2009

The Obamas got up early to see some world class modern art at the Pompidou Center or Site du Centre Pompidou completed in 1977. There is an exhibition in the Children's Gallery as well as Alexander Calder's, Les Années Parisiennes 1926-1933. There are over 60,000 works, including Vassili Kandinsky, in that museum alone. The building is quite colorful amidst all the steel and glassand here are the Obamas at one of the highest points with a heart stopping view of Paris. Personally, I like the view from Sacre Couer and the Petit Palace. No mention of the Obamas getting a private tour at the Louvre, with President François Mitterand and I.M. Pei no less, as the Clintons did on their state visit.

Obamas at Pompidou Center

Photo, exterior · Centre Pompidou · Paris, France

This was a second trip to France by the Obamas. Neither occasion was a full state visit. The French government needs to issue an invitation to France, as China has for September, and the full diplomatic response would kick into high gear and a response to hold a state dinner in return at the White House. Even in England the Obama trip was not a state visit, but it was a highly formal visit with introductions to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The Browns had a formal dinner for everyone. Only if the Queen issues the invite and held a state function with a full white tie dinner, would it be a full state visit. The Obamas have to be exceedingly careful about state dinners as America is in financial dire straits and the dinners would be seen as extravagant. The French wanted so badly to see the full Obama glamor against the backdrop that is the timeless elegance of Paris.

Enchanting Red Room

Two hundred years ago, Dolley Madison had the chamber painted yellow for the rollicking gossipy Wednesday night parties she threw next to the president's formal room.  Her famous Gilbert Stuart portrait hangs on the bright twill satin draped walls.  On the first floor of the Executive Mansion closest to the State Dining Room on the West side next to Michelle Obama's favorite Room is the vivid reception room now known as the Red Room. 

Jackie Kennedy gave it panache when she refurbished the room back into the French empire style of the Madison age sans the yellow. It was the last of the rooms touched up during the Clinton presidency in 2000. Laura Bush made use of the room for an intimate Valentine's Dinner with special friends.  First ladies have found a way to make the room regal and a place for entertainment with the style of furnishings and floral arrangements chosen for the room. (President Barack Obama teases his wife in the Red Room.  Photo courtesy Pete Souza WH)

The 1962 Kennedy Restoration

Nancy Reagan in the Red Room

Napoleonic influence in French design spurred the Madison purchases in the room, especially the empire sofa with the gold medallion accented upholstery.  The chandelier has 36 lights in the carved and gilded confection handcrafted in 1805.  In 1997 Hillary Clinton had the rug done as a reproduction of a Savonnerie carpet in the style of the early 19th century. 

The entire effect is pretty inspiring with Angelica Van Buren's portrait as the official hostess and daughter-in-law of the president gains a place of honor in the Red Room showing the bust of the president in her portrait with the actual bust still residing in the Red Room too.  Angelica's portrait over the mantle and Dolley above across from the famous oval painting of Niagara Falls in a gilt frame.

The colors of the room inspired the 2004 Bush White House Christmas card.  The mantle in the room was original to the State Dining Room and now resides in the Red Room.  A superlative American textile manufacturer, Scalamandre Silks provided the silks for the walls and seating pieces and matching straight Napoleonic drapes. The stunning room has uses for quiet reflection or a gateway to larger receptions.

President Obama reads notes before press conference on the silk covered Monroe sofa.

Beautifully illustrating the state floor plan with the open door showing Red Room opens to the State Dining room. Photos courtesy WH, P. Souza
The White House Red Room won the EWR favorite Room poll.

First Ladies, Gowns & The Smithsonian Exhibit

First Ladies formal wear, part of the presidential inaugural festivities, extend their natural lives mounted behind glass at the National Museum of American History as part of the Smithsonian for visitors too ooh and ah over or recoil in fashion terror. Almost one hundred years ago, before women had the right to vote, the first donation for curating for an exhibition, "Collection of Period Costumes" focused on women, arrived from First Lady Helen Taft's 1909 inaugural debut. Better known as Nellie to intimates, she was a big social drinker - even during Prohibition and staunch guardian angel of her husband's political ambitions. Mrs. Taft rocked the nation by riding next to him in the inaugural parade. Her gift of gown aided the evolution of what is now known as the "First Ladies Collection" of which the gowns displayed are a mainstay, augmented with more relics, from White house china to bumper stickers, from a first lady's time in the White House. (Nellie Taft's White House portrait)
Lisa Kathleen Graddy is the current curator of the Smithsonian's First Ladies Exhibit, now entitled - after a December 2008 reopening in its third iteration - First Ladies at the Smithsonian. There were a flurry of anxious calls to the Smithsonian after the Obama inauguration to ascertain the exact date Michelle's dress would make its debut. Certainly the Smithsonian has written a formal request to the first lady for a particular list of items. At least two of the potential items are still in use by Michelle Obama, the Kelly green Jimmy Choo's and the cardigan she wore under the Isabel Toledo's lemon grass ensemble for the swearing in and walk along the parade route.

The now famous Jason Wu white gown will take a year or more before it is ready. Little/big/Oh My details have to be worked out. For one, the mannequins in the display cases feature custom made forms that are more white for featuring the dress. What do you do with Mrs. Obama's form - even if it is headless?

Meanwhile the Smithsonian is on a quest for something related to the Obama Inaugural. So far, the Queen of Soul has not yet felt a convincing argument to release the bow-tie crystal-encrusted wonder into the annals of hat history at the famed institution.

Aretha Franklin singing My Country Tis of Thee, Photo courtesy AP

The exhibition of First Lady doo dads and duds is arguably one of the most visited. What is fascinating is what happens during conservation of the gowns and other accouterments. Fans fluttered by some first ladies are rather ornate. Jewelry ranging from Jackie Kennedy's pearls to handbags and matching shoes have a place inside the display cases. Photos or letters describing the gowns or what happened to them are checked and verified in minute detail. Even the detail that Rosalynn Carter took austerity measures and wore a gown she unearthed from when her husband was sworn-in as Georgia's governor - twice before - shall not go unremarked.

Rosalynn Carter (1977) Hillary Clinton (1993)

Through the ages, many first lady gowns went to family members who repurposed them for wedding dresses or day wear. Mary Todd Lincoln's vertical striped dress with little purple flowers was updated for day wear by a family member and the lace collar removed compared to photographic evidence. Frances Cleveland's second inaugural dress became the family wedding dress and Martha Washington's silk frock had some fiddling done to the collar section. Practical Eleanor Roosevelt went synthetic with Arnold Constable designing the rayon crepe in a pinkish rose color. There may be something instructional here as Mrs. Obama's section is thought out because Eleanor Roosevelt height needed an adjustment to be made to her form to give it the right statuesque proportions to showcase the ensemble properly. Of course, Mamie Eisenhower wore her signature color - pink - in 1953 (pictured left). I must confess the only dress I remembered was the violet Susan Philip's gown Hillary Clinton wore because I liked it. (Photos courtesy of National Museum of American History)

In Elizabeth Mayo's curation for first lady gowns, the mannequin's featured heads. Because of the beaded lace work on some of the gowns many feature arms, but but not hands in the most recent edition on display. There are 14 gowns on display at any given time due to the need to preserve some of the more fragile ones that are unavailable for featuring permanently. Another interesting factoid is the gown the Smithsonian wants most is the one from the first inaugural. Should the president get re-elected the second gown is usually found at their presidential library for more modern presidents.

Will Bo Get White House Holiday Treatment?

First ladies love their pets.  According to her Thursday speech at the Hilton before 2000 spouses of congress members, Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries and other family and friends, Michelle Obama made it clear she was doing the o'dark thirty Bo walking. Her kids are getting good grades and hitting the snooze alarm as Mrs. Obama learns a new parenting/puppy lesson. Another first lady who loved her dog Millie enough to take dictation, translating dog bark into a book and bequeathing one of the 1989 puppies to her son W, liked the immortalized and sculpture technique proudly displayed in the Bush White House beneath her ground floor portrait. One way to pay pet tributes is during the Holidays, but the East Wing Staff needs a lot of prep time to execute the theme flawlessly.  (White House photos courtesy Tina Hager)

Historic pet motifs arise out of past incidents, mischief or a loving theme to make interesting displays during the White House holiday season. Famed Pastry chef, Roland Mesnier created Socks, the cat, peeking from one of the White House windows in one of his exclusive gingerbread architectural wonders for a Clinton Christmas to showcase the White House.  There is Nelson, George Washington's beloved Revolutionary War steed prancing above a Christmas garland bedecked mantle in the East Room.  Calvin Coolidge of the Teapot Dome fiasco had a presidential pooch, Rob Roy with a proud lineage of sheep herding that turned into a quivering mass of NO when it came to riding the White House family elevator.  But the most famous of their pets were Rebecca and Reuben, the family raccoons.

Now is the time 2009 Christmas plans are drawn in further fine detail in the East Wing.  During the transition, First lady-to-be Michelle Obama received a thorough briefing of the traditions of the White House; Easter Egg Roll, Spring (April) & Fall (October) Garden Tours, the upcoming holiday season Thanksgiving through January 1, 2010. The themes are chosen well in advance for the holidays to allow artisans enough time to craft and get their work to the White House.  In 2003, Laura Bush chose to pay holiday homage to White House Pets, past and present.  Even though Mrs. Obama may choose another theme, somewhere Bo will show up either in a pastry or as a holiday ornament and maybe just maybe on the first official Obama White House greeting card.

Rob Roy on Ground Floor display. Woodrow Wilson's sheep depicted in East Room

Lafayette's gift of an alligator lived in the bathroom of John Quincy Adams East Room.  Liberty was famous for being President's Ford's favorite golden lounge lizard in the Oval Office. In the mid 1970's Liberty gave birth to presidential puppies. Theodore Roosevelt son's pony Algonquin was more fearless than Coolidge's Rob Roy by getting squashed into the elevator by another sibling undetected by White house staff to visit Archie.  The Roosevelts also had a colorful macaw.  In 1944, Cousin Franklin, was a wee bit absentminded and left Fala behind on some Aleutian island and you bet the president sent a Navy destroyer to go fetch his dog.  Him and Her, I am not sure whether to pity them or just admire their longevity alongside Yuki - a Texas gas station find by his daughter Luci.  When President Johnson lifted his pet Beagle, Him, up by the ears, America was horrified. 

President Warren Harding's dog, Laddie Boy held court in his own chair at cabinet meetings.  Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Vicki gave Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog to the Obama family following a great White House tradition.  Checkers was a gift to Vice President Richard & Pat Nixon while Pushinka (Russian = fluffy) came to Caroline Kennedy courtesy of pound the kitchen table shoe guy and Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev.  Bo's antics will cause the White House's chefs to come up with something uniquely his for the holiday season.  The key is where will his icing and cake plaster likeness show up in a place of honor, Ground Floor, East Room or greeting guests for the holidays at the East Gate? 

(Photo Pete Souza/White House) White House Deputy Mosteller tries to save his latest shoeshine in Cabinet Room.