Want to see more? The Presidential Pets exhibit is open at the JFK Presidential Library & Museum in Boston extended through April 26, 2026.

Discover the stories and artifacts of the animals that called the White House home: jfklibrary.org/exhibits/presidential-pets

Our new Digital Library Exhibit, "Suited to Lead," explores how fashion shaped and reflected identity throughout the lifetimes of six American presidents. Explore the collection at www.whitehousehistory.org/digital-libr....

Visit the collection in the Digital Library to learn about even more incredible people and moments: library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb

In the Haller Collection, you’ll discover State Dinner ephemera like programs, place cards, and menus, there are also recipes, letters from presidents and first ladies, invitations, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

During their visit, on August 4, 1981, they surprised White House Executive Chef Henry Haller and Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert in the White House Kitchen.

Haller worked as the White House Executive Chef for five administrations over the course of twenty-one years.

Ron Howard played the show's lead character, Richie Cunningham, and Anson Williams played Richie’s friend Warren "Potsie" Weber.

Abigail Fillmore was an intelligent and well-read first lady. Stay tuned as each month we examine a different first lady and their profound impact on the Executive Mansion and beyond.

She passed away on March 30, 1853, at the Willard Hotel, two blocks east of the White House.

Out of respect to the former first lady, President Pierce cancelled the day’s cabinet meetings, Congress adjourned, and public offices were closed.

Unfortunately, the weather that day was cold, snowy, and wet, and Mrs. Fillmore likely caught a cold from sitting outside during the Inauguration ceremonies, which developed into pneumonia in the following weeks.

Abigail Fillmore was an intelligent and well-read first lady. Stay tuned as each month we examine a different first lady and their profound impact on the Executive Mansion and beyond.

Her greatest triumph came on Feb 24, 1853, when she and President Fillmore entertained 2 of her favorite literary stars for dinner: English author William Makepeace Thackeray, then on a lecture tour of the United States, and American writer Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”