Photo Courtesy, WhiteHouse.gov
The White House Historical Association will convene the Presidential Sites and Libraries as well as participants from around the world for it’s latest Presidential Sites Summit. Held every two years, this edition will focus on the history of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and all things White House. The “Back to the White House” summit lasts from August 27-30 and will gather people who maintain and operate historic presidential sites and libraries as well as fans of American history and politics.
Among the featured speakers are former assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, Anita McBride, Presidential historian and author Jon Meacham, journalist Soledad O’Brien, USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, David Rubenstein, and Haddad Media CEO Tammy Haddad.
According to the White House Historical Association, the theme expands upon the commonalities between America’s leaders. “In addition to executive leadership, all presidents have in common the place associated with their legacies: the White House. From George Washington’s role in selecting the site of the President’s House and its architect to the modern day, the symbolic force of the White House resonates through time. All chief executives are shaped by their experiences at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In 2018, the White House Historical Association will convene the Presidential Sites and Libraries to reconnect with the domain that defined those presidencies — the White House.”
Participants will take exclusive tours of historic sites, attend sessions on fundraising, philanthropy, and digital engagement. Others can join in the fun by following @WhiteHouseHstry on Twitter and by using the #PresidentialSites hashtag.
You can learn more about the Presidential Sites Summit here.
The White House Historical Association has also recently partnered with American University to offer a class called Living History, which examines the history of the White House. Anita McBride, the executive-in-residence for AU’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at the School of Public Affairs, says that the White House is “a symbol of our democracy. And here at AU, we study public affairs, we study policy, we study the impact of these decisions on people’s lives. The White House is the place where decisions are made that are far-reaching and impactful.”
American University says the class will “cover the White House as a national landmark and living museum, its architectural transformations, the history of its occupants and staff, as well as the presidency itself. They’ll delve into various themes and feature guest speakers. McBride, former chief of staff to Laura Bush, will participate in several sessions and will be responsible for the section on first ladies.”
You can learn more about the partnership and the course here.
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