2004 White House Staff Reunion Committee Newsletter
The Second White House Staff Reunion was held at the Williamsburg Lodge on November 5-7, 2004 in Williamsburg, VA. The Reunion was attended by 150-175 former and current White House Staff. It was a wonderful event and exceeded all of our expectations.
A reception was held on Friday night, November 5, at the Gallery on Market Square, owned by Jan & Jim Allmon. Hosting the affairs was Florence & Bob Gantt, Wilma & Ron Hall, Jacque & Warren Hill, Kay & Terry Zerwick and Jan & Jim Allmon. Art has sometimes been referred to as the “silent poetry.” This was certainly the feeling at the Gallery on Friday night. Beautiful art pieces and sculptures enthralled all who attended the event.
A special exhibit of reproduction White House furnishings were on display and interpreted by Dr. Jim Fisgus of the Elmood Company. Set Momjian graciously brought several pieces of presidential china which were on display in our hospitality area. Books written about the White House and the Presidents were also on display. The White House Federal Credit Union attended and had a table display in the hospitality area. Anyone who has been employed at the White House or the Executive Office of the President and not currently a member of the Credit Union were invited to join. The White House Secret Service Uniformed Division Benefit Fund set up a table for those of us who wanted to take gifts home to family and friends. A Silent Auction was held in which everyone was very generous with their donations. Everyone enjoyed touring or shopping in the historic area during the day on Saturday.
The Reunion was honored to receive a letter from President Bush as well as one from Lady Bird Johnson. Mrs. Johnson wrote “I can’t say enough good and kind words about the White House Staff during Lyndon’s time, whether it be by the phone operators, butlers, secretaries, gardeners or the myriad of others who kept the house – and us – up and running. So many of them became close friends and remain dear to my heart.”
Dinner was held on Saturday, November 6. It is hard to say what the highlights. There were so many. The things that stand out for me were: (1) the Fife and Drum Corp leading us into dinner; (2) the special DVD (the White House years) prepared and presented by Dan Guzman (Bush 43); (3) the “open mike” session where everyone was invited to address the attendees about their individual experiences at the White House; the most wonderful highlight for me was the comradery that still exists between the former White House staffers.
The Gallery on Market Square has a quote on the walls that reads “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” There were so many moments at the White House that took our breath away, moments like: Christmas 1960 when President Eisenhower and Mrs. Eisenhower invited family and friends to join them for their last holiday meal at the White House. How many of us were there and remember President Kennedy sitting in his now famous “rocking chair.” Who witnessed the signing of the Civil Rights Act in July 1964 by President Johnson? I remember when Elvis visited President Johnson on December21, 1970. I know we remember how sad things were when President Nixon gave his resignation speech and then departed the White House by helicopter. Another special memory was when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visiting President Ford. Another was the presence of four President’s at the White House at the same time in October 1981 (Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush 41). Who of us was on the White House lawn when President Carter, Egyptian President Muhammad Anwar al-Sadut, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the historic Camp David Peace Accord? Our breath was certainly taken away when we witnessed President Carter welcoming Pope John Paul II to the White House. Do you remember when Princess Diane danced with John Travolta at one of the many celebrity parties that have been hosted at the White House. Another breath taking moment was when Mother Theresa was honored on the South Portico by President Reagan in 1985. We witnessed the White House weddings of Lynda B. Johnson, Tricia Nixon, and First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton’s brother Tony. How many of us has sat on the South Lawn during the 4th of July celebrations and witnessed the breath taking fireworks?
There are so many special moments that took our breath away that these memories are precious to us. As I stated in my first newsletter, we share a unique experience that very few people in this world share.
We had such a wonderful response from the 2004 Reunion, that we are doing it again. We wish to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the 2004 White House Staff Reunion. The next Reunion will be held at the Williamsburg Lodge on November 10-12, 2006, in Williamsburg, Va. Please save the date.
