Giant blocks of cheese, prom, and party crashers: What it was like at 7 of the most iconic White House parties in US history
President Andrew Jackson opened the East Room of the White House to the public so the people could enjoy a 1,400 lb block of cheese he was gifted by a dairy farmer two years earlier. Mobs were said to have hung around for days and caused extensive damage.
President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Kennedy hosted a birthday party for daughter Caroline Kennedy and son John Jr. Kennedy on November 27, 1962. The part was full of colorful balloons.
Held in the President’s Dining Room in the White House residence, the president and first lady were among the party's approximately 30 attendees.
The first lady was on hand at the party to help usher her children's guests through the East Wing Corridor.
Source: JFK Library
The United States Marine Band were also at the party, and ended up near the discarded gifts and wrapping paper after the presents had been opened.
Source: JFK Library
The White House's Rose Garden was nearly unrecognizable after it got the bridal treatment for President Nixon's eldest daughter Patricia's June 12, 1971 wedding.
Source: The Nixon Foundation
The new couple enjoyed their wedding cake at their reception inside the East Room of the White House, surrounded by nearly 400 guests.
President Gerald Ford's daughter Susan held her senior prom at the White House in 1975 for about 75 students from Maryland's all-girls Holton Arms School.
Source: Vanity Fair
The senior class made the centerpieces and footed the $1300 total bill for the event, which was complete with Swedish meatballs, a rock band, and a yacht ride.
Source: Vanity Fair
First lady Nancy Reagan threw Ronald Reagan's surprise 70th birthday party at the White House on February 6, 1981, though reports doubted if the president was really caught off guard or not.
Source: The Washington Post
The White House hosted 100 guests for the party, including Frank Sinatra, who enjoyed lobster, birthday cake, and dancing.
The Reagans held several high-profile events during their time in the White House, including hosting Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales in November 1985.
Source: Business Insider
The star-studded attendee list included Clint Eastwood, among others.
Former President Barack Obama's first State Dinner to host Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur made headlines in November 2009.
Source: The Obama White House
The dinner included an opulent setup in a tent on the White House's South Lawn to host the Indian leaders and top members of the Obama administration.
Source: The Obama White House
However, the event went viral after reports emerged that society fixtures Michaele and Tareq Salahi had crashed the event.
Source: Washingtonian
The couple, who was formerly featured on the short-lived Bravo series Real Housewives of Washington, DC, faced a grand jury investigation for crashing.
Source: The New York Times
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