"U.S. Presidency and Political Hospitality 1776-1976"

The U.S. Presidency and Political Hospitality

1776 to 1976

A new presidential exhibit, which will be unveiled in St. Petersburg, Florida, will center on this grand tale of our nation's political hospitality. The exhibit includes artifacts from the Presidents of the Continental Congress, the United States in Congress Assembled (Constitution of 1777) and United States (Constitution of 1787). Their wives, including Lady Christina who in 1788 incorporated “royal hospitality traditions” that greatly influenced our nation’s founding First Ladies, will also be featured in this exhibit.

A primary focus of the exhibit will be dedicated to Mary Edith Wilroy's papers who retired to St. Petersburg in 1975. Mrs. Wilroy was the manager of the Blair House, the President's Guest House, for 15 years and entertained some 225 heads of state. Mary Edith Wilroy began her profession as Blair House Manager on March 2, 1961 only 40 days after John F. Kennedy took the Presidential oath of office. Mrs. Wilroy served her nation in this capacity for 15 years ending her career on July 19, 1975 shortly after hosting Walter Scheel, the President of West Germany.

Mary Edith Wilroy's Autographed Book

Mrs. Wilroy's entertaining of notable American citizens, foreign diplomats, and distant dignitaries was the end result of U.S. hospitality evolution that began under John Hancock who was the 1776 President of the Continental Congress of the United States of America. Upon retirement, Mrs. Wilroy wisely preserved her private papers that include voluminous correspondence, photos, announcements, and invitations on presidential hospitality from 1961 to 1976.

President John F. Kennedy Papers

On this site you will find a small sampling of Mrs. Wilroy’s papers from the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford Administrations that will be the primary focus of the new "U.S. Presidency and Political Hospitality 1776-1976." The Wilroy papers will highlight 20^th Century “American hospitality and elegance” from 1961 to 1975. Currently, our staff is contacting dignitaries, from all over the world, requesting letters, videos and/or recordings to clarify and add to the Blair House historical record preserved by Mary Edith Wilroy.

First Lady Betty Ford and Mary Edith Wilroy

The Forgotten Founders, Inc. is a Florida non-profit corporation dedicated to establishing a Presidential Library honoring the 14 Presidents of the Continental Congress (1774-1781) and United States in Congress Assembled (1781-1789) who founded the United States in the 18^th Century.

President John F. Kennedy Administration

President Lyndon B. Johnson Administration

President Richard M. Nixon Administration

Apollo 11 Launch

President Gerald R. Ford Administration

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