The punch froze. So did the canaries. Brought in to sing for the guests, the poor creatures stiffened seemingly in mid-air, falling to their deaths onto the guests below. Luckily, supper began at 9 p.m. with hot coffee and hot oysters. And the people needed something hot to forget their blue noses and the sad … More All the President’s Tables: Ulysses S. Grant’s 1873 Inaugural Supper
January 20, 1953 In 1953, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) started the now-traditional ritual of hosting a luncheon for the incoming President and Vice President. General Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed tremendous public recognition because of his role as Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. Any man who could keep the troops … More All the Presidents’ Tables: Dwight D. Eisenhower’s First Inaugural Luncheon, 1953
Like Lyndon Johnson, Harry S. Truman first became president after the death of an incumbent president. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, Truman took the oath of office in a subdued and quiet ceremony in the White House. The 1949 inauguration, on the other hand, presented an entirely different story. To begin … More All the President’s Tables: Harry S. Truman’s 1949 Inaugural Luncheon
Reagan’s first inauguration boasted the honor of being the first inauguration celebrated on the west front of the U.S. Capitol. Held in Statuary Hall, Ronald Reagan’s 1981 luncheon featured a “California Cuisine” menu. The U.S. Air Force String Quartet and U.S. Army Strings performed for the 200 guests. Each guest received a series of frameable … More All the Presidents’ Tables: Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Lunch Menu 1981
According to an e-mail from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon looks like this. Note that recipes are also included; click for a .pdf file of the recipes. Around 200 guests will attend this exclusive luncheon in Statuary Hall. Design Cuisine, a top-flight caterer in Washington, designed the menu, which … More Inaugural Luncheon 2009: Menu and Details
According to the official Senate committee on the 2005 inaugural, The 2005 Inaugural Luncheon menu draws upon historic ties to the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1803-1806. In the early twentieth century, the preparation of a decadent layered scalloped course was a common style of menu presentation. Creamed seafood … More All the Presidents’ Table: George W. Bush’s Second Inaugural Menus
President-Elect George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton met for lunch in December 2000 in the Clinton White House to discuss the impending transition of power. This is what they ate: Squash soup Greek Salad Filet Mignon Upside-down Apple Tart w/ Maple Ice Cream* I think it’s interesting that there’s no quarter given to vegetarians … More All the Presidents’ Tables: Bill and George Tête à Tête
From a White House press release, January 7, 2009: PRESIDENT BUSH: I want to thank the President-elect for joining the ex-Presidents for lunch. And one message that I have and I think we all share is that we want you to succeed. Whether we’re Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country. And to … More All the Presidents’ Tables: Ex-Presidents Dine with President Obama