February 14: A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy (1962)
Prayer Idea
Pray for people who benefit current and future generations through their work in the historic preservation of buildings and artifacts.
History Note
On February 14, 1962, millions of Americans tuned in to watch A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy on their televisions. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy led viewers through the White House as she described various decorations and furnishings.
The television broadcast was part of a major effort by the first lady to preserve the White House as an historical treasure. Mrs. Kennedy had helped to organize a committee to raise funds and to find historic objects that had once been in the White House. Congress passed a law declaring the White House as an official museum. Life magazine published an article about the effort. The White House Historical Association was formed to publish guidebooks and oversee educational programs.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (seated center) hosted a tea in December 1961 for members of the Committee for White House Paintings. Photo by Robert Knudsen, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
Learn More
Watch this short video about Jackie Kennedy’s work on the White House.
Visit Homeschool History for more resources, including a link to footage from the 1962 tour broadcast and a more modern tour of the White House.
