The President and Mrs.Kennedy

request the pleasure of your company.

A Family Guide

Jacqueline Kennedy Entertains: The Art of the White House Dinner

World Famous Pastry Chef. Try making a favorite cookie from the Kennedy White House with your family. Tuiles is the French word for tiles which these cookies will look like!

1. Preheat oven to 325*2. Make a pattern for your cookies by cutting a circle from a thin piece of cardboard or plastic (about 3 ½-inches in diameter).3. In a bowl, beat butter and sugar into a creamy mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed.4. Beat in the egg whites, one at a time.5. Beat in almond extract.6. Blend flour with cocoa.7. Add flour and cocoa mixture to butter mixture at low speed until just blended. Do not overmix it.8. Chill batter for at least 1 hr.

9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place your circle pattern on it.10. Using a small spatula, spread a small amount of batter evenly over the circle. Carefully lift off the circle.11. Bake only 4 to 6 Tuiles at a time for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are light brown.12. While the cookies are still warm, bend each one over a rolling pin or glass so that they resemble curved tiles.13. Let each cookie cool on the rolling pin for 1 to 2 minutes to harden.14. Remove and cool on a wire rack. 15. Serve to your honored guests!

Tuiles

Chocolate Almond Tuiles. (2 dozen cookies)½ cup butter (1 stick)1 cup powdered sugar4 egg whites½ tsp. almond extract½ cup cake flour½ cup cocoa

Young, Bev. Presidential Cookies. Sacramento, CA: Presidential Publishing, 2005.

Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125 617.514.1600 www.jfklibrary.org

Education Department

With generous support from:

Web Sites

Diplomacy ChallengeJimmy Carter Library & Museumwww.jimmycarterlibrary.org/youthspace/dchal01.html

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museumwww.jfklibrary.org

The White House:Commander in Chefwww.whitehouse.gov/chef/index.html(videos on Barney’s Dessert, State Dinners, Chef’s Hat and Cooking Disasters)

Tour the White Housewww.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour

Presidential Chinawww.whitehouse.gov/whtour/china

The History of State Visitswww.whitehouse.gov/statevisit/history.html

State Dinner Preparationswww.whitehouse.gov/presidents/statedinnerprep-mexico-200109/index.html

Books & Magazines

Cobblestone, Volume 28: Number 5, Spring 2007 (issue on the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy).

Debman, Betty. A Kid’s Guide to the White House. Washington, D.C.: The White House Historical Association, 1997. (Ages 8-12)

Post, Elizabeth L. and Joan M. Coles. Emily Post’s Teen Etiquette. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.

Young, Bev, Presidential Cookies, Sacramento, CA: Presidential Publishing, 2005.

Greta Garbo’s Gift If you said, “a whale’s tooth”, you’re right! President Kennedy gave actress Greta Garbo a “tooth” from his scrimshaw collection. It is decorated with a ship and looks like this:

Jacqueline Kennedy Entertains: The Art of the White House Dinner

When John F. Kennedy was president (1961-1963), he and Mrs.

Kennedy hosted 43 dinners, 113 luncheons and 34 receptions! Many

of these events honored heads of other countries who visited the

United States on diplomatic or state visits.

For each and every occasion, the Kennedys made their guests feel

welcome and at home in the President’s House.

Have you ever been to the White House?

Today you are invited to tour this exhibit as a “dinner guest”

of President and Mrs. Kennedy.

The Black Watch (the Royal Highland regiment) performs on the South Lawn of the White House.

What will you and your guest wear to the White House?

You are invited to join President and Mrs. Kennedy at a state dinner.

What a great story this will make for your local newspaper ~ your visit to the White House! As an ace reporter, you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears open and take notes so that you can share every detail with your readers back home.

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8. Remember this is a special occasion and you want to look your very best. Draw yourself and your guest here:

Jacqueline Kennedy Entertains:The Art of the White House Dinner

Ace reporter name5.

Use this map to help you explore the exhibit. You will find matching numbers in this booklet.

As an official ace reporter, you will need your press pass.

Exhibit Map

6.

Press

You arrived by limousine at the North Portico entrance of the White House. After freshening up, you are escorted to the East Room. A White House aide announces your name and your guest’s name, too, as you enter the room.

Are you nervous? Excited? A little bit of both?

Trumpets blare and the Marine Corps Band plays Hail to the Chief. A color guard marches in followed by President and Mrs. Kennedy. A White House aide announces, “The President and Mrs. Kennedy.” A hush comes over the crowded room.

President and Mrs. Kennedy are dressed in formal attire, he in a tuxedo and she in a gown like the one you see here on display. (#1 on your map) They greet you and other guests in a receiving line.

Mrs. Kennedy says, “It’s nice to see you.” What will you say to her?

To the President?

How will you describe what it was like to meet the President and Mrs. Kennedy?

Floorplan of the White House

Can you find Mrs. Kennedy in the large photograph on the wall? In this picture, Pablo Casals performs for the President and Mrs. Kennedy, and their guests, Governor and Mrs. Luis Mu ̃noz-Marín of Puerto Rico. What instrument is Pablo Casals playing?

Welcome to The White House

State Dining Room

Blue Room

North Portico

East Room

Courtesy of the White House Historical Association.

Before dinner, take a peek at the special gifts President and Mrs. Kennedy presented to visiting heads of state. You might find something here to report on for your newspaper.

Look for them in the glass cases along this corridor. (#2 on your map)

The Kennedys favored giving gifts that reflected American history and culture.

President Kennedy honored Prime Minister Sean Lemass of Ireland and another U.S. president with this “sharp” present. What is it?

Giving Gifts at the White House

Find the real gift.

What is it made of?

Who was it given to?

How might it be used?

Why might she have given this present?

Jacqueline Kennedy sketched out this idea for a state gift. She came up with the idea after visiting the Smithsonian Institution’s mineral exhibitions.

Can you finish drawing this object?

The President also gave Prime Minister Lemass a set of golf clubs!

This is the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg with President Kennedy. What gift did the Kennedys present to her?

This animal’s tusk tells a story.

These animals could be worn as jewelry.

This animal wears a crown.

You can draw it here. Don’t forget to autograph it!

The Kennedys also received gifts from visiting heads of state. Your readers are sure to be interested in these presents for a President and First Lady! Each gift represents the giver’s nation.

Three gifts feature animals. Can you identify the gifts and match them to the head of state?

Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (gift)

Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria (gift)

Prime Minister El Ferik Ibrahim Abboud of the Sudan (gift)

You make a note of the fact that all three nations are located on the continent of .

If you were a head of state, what might you present to the President and Mrs. Kennedy?

Perhaps like Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, you’d like to give them a portrait of yourself .

Clues:

Emperor Haile Selassie and President Kennedy

Please Be Seated. Dinner is Served.Another guest mentions that film actress Greta Garbo received a very unusual present from the President when she attended a dinner at the White House.

Something about a tooth! Can you believe your ears?

As an ace reporter, you need to do some detective work.

Find her thank you letter in the gallery to the right of the corridor. (#3 on your map)

What did she mean by “the President’s tooth”?

What did President Kennedy give to her?

Turn to the back page to see a picture of this unusual gift.

With the tooth mystery solved, you’re now ready for dinner!

At your place is a special name card and souvenir menu. You can write your name in the box.

After you’ve unfolded your napkin with the presidential eagle on it and placed it across your lap, you’re ready to begin a four-course meal.

Please do not tuck the napkin under your chin!

Find the case on the left side of the corridor with a table setting. (#4 on your map)

Take your seat at a small table like the one pictured in the case. You and other guests will dine by candlelight in the State Dining Room or in the Blue Room. If you are very lucky, you might be seated at the President’s or Mrs. Kennedy’s table.

Notice the decoration on the china. President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln had this china service

made when they lived in the White House.

Jacqueline Kennedy and the new White House chef, French-born René Verdon, planned this dinner especially for this evening’s guests including you!

Mrs. Kennedy liked to feature not only American recipes, but also cuisine -- food dishes -- from around the world.

Look at the menu. What country do you think this dessert comes from?

Which utensils will you use first?

Which ones will you use last?

There is much pleasant conversation. As you reach for your glass…Oops! You drop your salad fork.

What do you do?

a. leave it on the floor (unless someone will slip on it) b. ask for another one c. eat your salad with a spoon

Oh no! In dropping your fork, you spilled food on the table. You should:a. brush it onto the floor with your hand b. scoop it up with a spoon or knife and place it on the edge of your plate c. dab it with a wet napkin

Fortunately, a kind waiter helps you and no one notices. You especially enjoy the dessert! (Check your answers to dining etiquette at the back of this booklet.)

President Kennedy rises and clinks his glass with a spoon. He makes a toast to his guests. He ends by saying, “I am very glad to welcome here some of our most distinguished artists. This is becoming a sort of eating place for artists... But, they never ask us out!”

Everyone laughs! You make a note that the President has a good sense of humor!

Dinner turns out to be not at a horseshoe table,

but many little tables, seating about ten people apiece,

fires roaring in all the fireplaces …it’s all like having dinner

with friends.~ Leonard Bernstein,

conductor

Everybody at the table is having fun.

Diana Trilling, author/writer

White House Chef René Verdon

Look for the slideshow on the far side of the gallery. (#6 on your map) Listen.

Do you hear music playing?

Isaac Stern performs for you and other honored guests.

What instrument is he playing?

Can you hear it?

Who else is in the audience this evening?

That’s André Malraux, the Minister of Culture of France, and Mrs. Malraux in the front row.

This evening’s dinner honors them.

He and Mrs. Malraux gave the President the ship model, La Flore, on display in the case nearby. He knew President Kennedy loved boats and the sea.

Your readers will be excited to find out who else attended this dinner.

Someone mentions that the famous aviator “Lucky Lindy” -- Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 -- is here, too.

You overhear someone say, “Tonight’s entertainment is very special, but quite different from the outdoor event the Kennedys had for the King and Queen of Afghanistan.”

What could these guests be talking about?

Walk towards the gown on display in the large case at the end of the corridor. Along the way, notice the photographs of other special evenings at the White House. (#5 on your map)

How did President and Mrs. Kennedy honor King Zahir and Queen Homaira of Afghanistan?

Hint: This was a “spectacular” tradition of welcome for important visitors to Afghanistan.

After Dinner EntertainmentPerhaps you’ll mention this event in your article, too! You can make a sketch here so you’ll remember all of the details.

Let the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings serenade you as you return to the East Room for the evening’s entertainment. Mrs. Kennedy took great care in planning tonight’s program. She and the President hope you and your guest enjoy it!

I’ll never forget... the Marine Band was playing waltzes... people were kicking up their heels... just so delighted to be there...finally recognized as honored artists of the Republic. You know, I’ve never seen so many happy artists in my life.

~ Leonard Bernstein, Conductor

As an ace reporter, you can check the large seating charts on the wall to either side of the slideshow.

Is his name here?

Do you or your guest recognize others at this dinner? What might you say to them?

After the performance, everyone dances. No one seems to be dancing the latest dance craze, the Twist! You hear that at some less formal evenings, even Mrs. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara danced the Twist. Do you know how to dance the Twist? Does your guest?

You may need to ask an older person to show you how.

• Which utensils will you use first? Which ones will you use last?Use the silverware farthest from the plate first. With each new course, use the next piece working inward from the far side towards the plate. The last piece you might use ~ your dessertspoon ~ may be placed above the plate.

• If you drop your salad fork, you should (a) leave it on the floorunless someone will slip on it, and (b) ask for another fork.

• If you spill food on the table, you should (b) scoop it up with a knife or fork and place it on the side of your plate.

Check Your Dining Etiquette!

Ace Reporter. Now you can write your story. How will you describe your visit to the White House? Who was there? What did you do? What did you notice about other guests? Did people have fun? Will you include drawings or photographs to help tell your story?

World’s Best Events Planner. Choose a president from history or the future. Create a state dinner for him or her and his or her guests. Who will you invite? What dishes will you serve? Who will entertain your guests? Perhaps you’d like to be President for a Day. Who would you like to invite to the White House from another country?

Top Diplomatic Gift Designer. Create a gift for the leader of another nation. What natural or manmade materials will you use? How will this gift represent the U.S.?

Chief Designer for White House China. Create your own design for a White House dinner plate. What symbols and decorations will you use? You can begin with a heavy duty paper plate, glue, ribbons, stamps and other materials. Be sure to check first with a parent or adult for help in collecting the materials for your plate.

Activities to do at home:

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to capture the spirit of the evening with a memento. In the case around the corner, find the book she titled Nobel dinner. (#7 on your map) At a dinner honoring Nobel Prize winners ~ international achievers in science, medicine, and literature, and contributors to world peace ~ she invited guests to sign this blank book that became an autograph book.

She and guests at her table also exchanged autographs on their name cards.Do you recognize anyone’s name on Mrs. Kennedy’s card?

Hint: A famous astronaut dined at her table. You can see an authentic replica of his spacesuit in the space gallery. (#8 on your map)Would you like to add your name to her collection? You can sign it here.

Here are name cards for you with the President’s and Mrs. Kennedy’s autographs. Maybe your guest would like to sign them, too, as a souvenir of your visit.

Your host and hostess bid you goodbye and safe travels. What might you say to them?

As an ace reporter, your day is not over yet! You scoot back to your hotel to write your story!

A Souvenir for this Evening

Mrs. Kennedy’s name card