Remembering Warmer Weather: The White House Congressional Picnic, 2000
Now that I’m dreaming of the return of warm weather, I remember an unusual picnic Joe and I attended during the Clinton administration. Every summer the President holds a picnic on the grounds of the White House for members of Congress and their families. In 2009 President Obama and Mrs. Obama used a Hawaiian theme in honor of his home state. Tiki torches, leis, tropical plants, and hula hoops elaborated on that theme. A famous Hawaiian chef served the guests a traditional luau with roast pig, a salad of salmon and fresh tomatoes, and other goodies. The Washington Post’s story included photos of the Obamas boogying to the music. You can see more photos when you Google “White House Congressional picnic”. I know everybody in 2009 had as much fun as Joe and I did when we attended one hosted by President and Mrs. Clinton.
During the Clinton years we had made friends with the president’s interior designer, Kaki Hockersmith of Little Rock, Arkansas. We’d heard of Kaki when we started our business in nearby Memphis, Tennessee, and had met other Southern women christened Catherine but nicknamed Kaki. When the Clintons followed us up to the Washington area, we welcomed them in the abstract and their designer in person. Kaki kindly selected some Niermann Weeks furniture for the White House, and she included us in events at the White House. For instance, on the morning of July 27, 2000, Kaki called us at work to invite us that afternoon to a picnic on the White House grounds. Good grief! We hurried home to make ourselves presentable, and Joe re-dosed his summer cold. Around 2:30 we passed through security. Kaki then took us on a lightning tour of the state rooms she was currently re-doing in the first major refurbishment of the presidential residence since Mrs. Kennedy’s over 30 years before. The tour was fascinating, but before the era of digital cameras, so I have no photos to share with you.
However, I can share photos of the picnic which began at 4 pm and ran on Clinton time, i.e. – was over hours later, when it was over. The pictures you’ll look at weren’t processed very well at the time, so be charitable about their quality. What you’re really seeing at is the metamorphosis of stodgy Washington, DC into a carnival wonderland. As a native Washingtonian, I marveled at this unexpected transformation.
Joe and Kaki posed in the “back yard” for my camera. I’m sure the grounds were crawling with security, but the place felt like a county fair grounds with loud music and lights and not-too-healthy foods. You can see Congressional types still in their suits lining up for dinner at the picnic tables. Kaki had warned us to dress casually, but in context I don’t know if our clothes looked more out of context than the suits did. The weather gods had ‘favored’ us with an extremely humid, hot evening, so our casual clothing was the more appropriate. In fact, the evening was so uncomfortable, that subsequent Clinton congressional picnics happened in September.
Joe Niermann and Kaki Hockersmith at the White House
The President took the mike at a temporary band shell to thank the congressional folks for all their hard work. This man made the simple giving of thanks into an eloquent, heart-felt speech. Even hearts from the other political party softened at his words. After all, this was an evening of fun and frivolity, a welcome break from the typical business of running the federal government.
President Clinton speaks at the White House Congressional Picnic in 2000
As darkness descended, I saw the Washington Monument in a new perspective, with garish carnival lights glowing in the foreground.
A view of the Washington Monument from the White House grounds
The person on this balloon ride got an even better view of the Mall and monuments.
A balloon descends over the White House grounds
The tilt-a-whirl provided a more gaudy experience that we followed with sticky cotton candy.
A tilt-a-whirl at the White House
In the almost darkness Kaki walked us beyond the picnic crowd to capture Joe and me in front of a fountain and the Washington Monument. This image has become ratty from poor processing and the passage of time. No matter, the memory of that unique evening is one that I’ll always remember and am happy to share with you.
Joe and Eleanor at the White House Congressional Picnic in 2000
You can get more information from:
* Mrs. Clinton’s book, An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History (Simon & Shuster, 2000) features six pages of text and great photos of their picnics on the grounds.
* The website www.kakihockersmith.com, soon to be updated, will inform you of the full range of Kaki’s abilities in interior design.
* www.clintonlibrary.gov leads you to the comprehensive source on the Clinton presidency.
