The White House
North Portico
September 24, 2011
Photo by John White
TRIP TO WASHINGTON: THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) What would a visit to Washington, D.C. be without a visit to the White House?
Unfortunately, it is not as simple a task as it was back in 1962 when I 1st visited.
Today, you must book reservations 6 months in advance through your congressman's office. Since our recent trip was planned just a couple of weeks in advance, we were unable to do that.
On our 1st night in Washington, we walked from our hotel down 10th Street past Ford's Theater & turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue.
When we reached the Treasury Building, we walked up to make the turn back on Pennsylvania (now closed to vehicular traffic) but were directed by guards to continue walking to H Street.
At the entrance to Lafayette Square there was only a single walkway open with guards blocking other entrances.
Only then, were we able to reach the sidewalk opposite the North grounds of the White House.
We took a few pictures & headed on our way.
Jennifer at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Photo by John White (2011)
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, has been the home of every President of the United States except George Washington, who laid the cornerstone in 1792.
White House from Lafayette Square
July 14, 2003
Photo by John White
John Adams, the 2nd President & 1st to live in the White House, wrote these words:
"I Pray Heaven to Bestow the Best Blessings on this house & on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. Let none but honest & wise men ever rule under this roof."*
*This quotation is carved into the mantle of the White House Dining Room.
1st Photo of the White House
by John Plumbe (1846)
October 6, 1961
JFK SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD BUILD FALLOUT SHELTERS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A letter from President John F. Kennedy was read today at a meeting of state civil defense directors here in the Nation's Capital.
In the letter, JFK calls upon federal & state governments, along with private industry, to provide "fallout protection for every American as rapidly as possible."
The President also wrote:
"Radioactive fallout.....could account for the major part of the casualties which might result from a thermonuclear attack on an unprotected population."
Model of a Fallout Shelter
October 6, 1962
JFK ATTENDS "BEAN FEED" IN MINNESOTA
JFK Speaking at the "Bean Feed"
St. Paul, Minnesota
October 6, 1962
Photo by Jerome Liebling
St. Paul, Minnesota (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota today to attend the annual Democratic Farmer Labor Party's "Bean Feed".
JFK was accompanied by Minnesota Democrats Hubert H. Humphrey & Eugene McCarthy.*
*On October 1, 1960, Senator Kennedy had appeared at the Bean Feed & said:
"This week I had the opportunity to debate with Mr. Nixon. I feel that I should reveal that I had a great advantage in that Mr. Nixon had just debated Mr. Khrushchev & I had debated with Hubert Humphrey & that gave me an edge."
October 6, 1973
YOM KIPPUR WAR BEGINS
Middle East (JFK+50) Egyptian & Syrian forces launched a combined attack on Israel today on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.
Forces of Egypt Cross Suez Canal
October 7, 1973
October 6, 1981
ANWAR SADAT OF EGYPT ASSASSINATED
Anwar Sadat
3rd President of Egypt
(1970-1981)
Cairo, Egypt (JFK+50) President Anwar Sadat of Egypt was assassinated today as he was reviewing Egyptian troops during a celebration of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War.
Sadat, who was shot 4 times, died 2 hours after the attack.
His Vice-President, Hosni Mubarak, who was sitting next to Sadat, was wounded but is expected to survive.
The assassination was the work of Takfin Wal-Hajira terrorists.
