Tea with the First Ladies
by Laurie Nienhaus
Our founding fathers thought carefully about how to create a distinctive social style in civic and public life – one that reflected the values of our new nation and that was distinctly American but without the pomp and excess of European royalty. The most successful first ladies have embraced their role as hostess and have understood their influence and political impact under the guise of entertaining.
 Although Abigail Adams could only use the East Room to hang her laundry in 1800, it's now one of the most elegant rooms in the White House. |
Those who love theme teas will find A First Ladies Tea an exceptional event.
As hostess, you can keep it simple and supply only the tea fare. Or, you might choose to talk briefly about the role of the First Lady or the history of the White House China. What you must do, however, is assign each of your guests a first lady to “bring” with them.
While some ambitious ladies may attempt to impersonate a particular first lady, encourage your guests to simply learn interesting tidbits about their chosen first lady and the legacy she left behind.
And most importantly, she is to bring with her a food associated with her first lady, or, if this information proves too hard to come by, a food associated with the time in which she lived.
The only problem you’ll likely run across is that too many of your guests will want to "bring" either Dolly Madison or Eleanor Roosevelt.
 Dolly Madison's weekly "levees" were so popular they became known as "crushes". She served delighted guests ice cream in pastry shells. |
Dolly Madison’s abilities as a hostess are legendary. Her Wednesday drawing rooms were so well attended they became known as “Mrs. Madison’s Crush” and her “dove parties” for political spouses were key to establishing Washington’s crucial political and social networks.
Her refusal to leave the White House during the War of 1812, with British soldiers set on torching the home and taking her prisoner only miles away, has forever endeared her to the American people. She did finally calmly step into a carriage, but only after she had secured precious papers (including a copy of the Declaration of Independence) and had her exasperated steward cut George Washington’s portrait from the frame bolted to the wall.
 Eleanor Roosevelt would only allow women reporters at her press conferences. |
Eleanor Roosevelt was likely the most influential First Lady of all time. Her tireless political activism, her concern over civil and women’s rights and over the youth of our country truly represents a watershed in the role of First Lady. She was not only brilliant, but her public persona helped the American people believe the best about their leadership in one of the worst of times.
Yes, many of your guests will at first want to choose either of these two incredible women. Yet, almost without exception, all of our First Ladies have been interesting and influential women who’ve left their mark on the White House and on our culture. Your job is to excite your guests to explore these women. For instance:
- Lucy Webb Hayes (1877-1881: 19th Administration), dubbed Lemonade Lucy, was likely one of the most misunderstood First Ladies. It is thanks to her that there is an annual Easter egg hunt on the lawns of the White House.
- Julia Gardiner Tyler (1844-1845: 10th Administration) learned the latest dances, including the polka, while in Europe. Her dancing at the White House started a national dance craze.
- Frances Folsom Cleveland (1893-1897 & 1886-1889: 22nd & 24th Administration) was the first bride married in the White House. America fell in love with this young woman and her style. She was the first First Lady to hold Saturday afternoon receptions so working women could attend.
- Mary Todd Lincoln (1861-1865: 16th Administration) was one of the most complex - and unpopular - First Ladies. Tragedy, as well as the fact her son, Robert, had her committed to an insane asylum in 1875, colored her life and her legacy.
- Helen (Nellie) Taft (1909-1913: 27th Administration): loved ragtime and the Tafts celebrated their silver anniversary in one of the most spectacular evening lawn parties in the history of the White House. The 3000 cherry trees planted along Potomac Drive, creating West Potomac Park, is thanks to Nellie Taft.
- Florence Harding (1921-1923: 29th Administration) was famous for her garden parties, given for the veterans of the First World War - "her boys." She was also the first First Lady to take advantage of the photo-op. She routinely posed for photographs or newsreel shots with celebrities and entertainers, like singer Al Jolsen.
Tea with the First Ladies of our country - it’s an easy event to hostess with a patriotic theme for decor and the song “Hail to the Chief” playing softly in the background as your guests arrive. It might also prove to be a delicious and delightfully informative afternoon – even for the young women in our lives.
Martha Washington's Crab Soup
"The greater part of our happiness or misery
depends upon our dispositions, and not
upon our circumstances."
(1789-1797, 1st Administration)
1 tablespoon butter
1.5 tablespoons flour
3 hard boiled eggs, mashed
rind of 1 lemon, grated
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup sherry
dash Worcestershire
Boil enough crabs in salted water to make 1/2 pound (or use 1 cup canned or frozen crabmeat). Combine butter, flour, mashed eggs, lemon rind, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Bring 4 cups milk to boil and pour slowly into the egg mixture. Add the crabmeat to the milk-egg mixture, return to saucepan and cook gently for five minutes. Add cream. Remove from the heat before it reaches a full boil. Add sherry and a dash of Worcestershire Sauce. Serve piping hot. Makes 6 servings.
From Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts. ©2004
Abigail Adams' Corn Pudding
“I've always felt that a person's intelligence
is directly reflected by the number of conflicting
points of view he can entertain simultaneously
on the same topic.”
(1797-1801: 2nd Administration)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 water
Preheat the oven to 350°. Mix the milk, eggs, flour, baking powder, and sugar. Add corn and pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes. Combine butter, sugar, water, and flour. Cook until clear. Once the corn mixture is cooked, remove from the oven and pour butter and sugar mixture on top. Cut into small squares and serve warm or cool.
Note: In an effort to be thrifty, Abigail Adams was known to serve corn pudding before roast to save on meat.
Mary Todd Lincoln's Favorite Cake
"My evil genius Procrastination has whispered to
me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."
(1861-1865: 16th Administration)
1.5 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2.75 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1.33 cup milk
1 cup finely chopped almonds
6 egg whites, stiffly beaten1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
dash salt
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 375°. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Sift together cake flour and baking powder 3 times. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and stir in almonds. Gently fold in the egg whites. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 x 11/2 inch round baking pans. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool before removing from the pan. For frosting, bring sugar, water, cream of tartar and salt to a boil. Boil until sugar dissolves. Put egg whites in mixing bowl. Start beater and while egg whites are beating, slowly add hot syrup. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla for 1 more minute.
Bess Truman's Ozark Pudding
“A woman's place in public is to sit beside her
husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight.”
(1945-1953: 33rd Administration)
1.25 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream whipped
1/4 cup rum
Preheat oven to 325° and grease a 1-quart baking dish. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In mixing bowl, beat egg and sugar until lemon-colored. Add flour mixture and blend well. Fold in apples, walnuts, and vanilla. Pour into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Whip cream and lightly fold in rum to serve with pudding. Serves 4-6.
Note: This was President Truman's favorite dessert.
Mamie Eisenhower's Million Dollar Fudge
"I let Ike run the country and I ran the home."
(1953-1961, 34th Administration)
2 tablespoons butter
1 pinch of salt
1 can evaporated milk
12 ounces semisweet chocolate bits
12 ounces German sweet chocolate
1 pint marshmallow cream
2 cups chopped nuts
Heat the sugar, butter, salt, and evaporated milk over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil for 6 minutes. Put chocolate bits, German chocolate, marshmallow cream, and nutmeats in a bowl. Pour the boiling syrup over the ingredients. Beat until the chocolate is all melted, then pour in a pan. Let stand for a few hours before cutting. It is better the second day. Store in a tin box.
Note: "Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge" was a favorite of American housewives after her recipe was printed in publications all over the country. It became a staple at the conclusion of formal White House meals.
Lastly, did you know: The White House possesses numerous china services. For a 1935 state dinner, one of the largest affairs ever held at the White House, Lenox created a 1,722 piece china service at the request of President Roosevelt and his First Lady, Edith. For the first time in the history of the White House, every guest dined from a single service – from the first course oysters to after-dinner coffee.