Topic: Ep. 224: George Washington and the Constitution
When: Tuesday 8/13/2024 at 2:00 pm ET
Constitutional Chats are hosted by Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, student ambassadors, and experts who join us weekly to discuss hot-topic issues! The audience is not on camera, but you may ask questions!
Meet the Guest: Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association
Stewart D. McLaurin serves as president of the White House Historical Association, founded by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 to share and preserve the rich history of the White House, a symbol of freedom and democracy to billions of people around the world. A private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Association continues to fulfill Mrs. Kennedy’s vision through its mission to enhance the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion.
In his nine years as president, he has expanded the Association’s cultural and educational programming through award-winning books, popular video series, and virtual and in-person events. Embracing cutting-edge and creative ways to convey rich content to expanding audiences, Stewart has worked to ensure that White House history will be preserved for future generations.
Stewart is the host of The White House 1600 Sessions, the Association’s official audio and video podcast devoted to exploring the history, cultural impact, untold stories, and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and highest office. He is a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors and writes a monthly column about the history of the White House and our nation’s presidents and first ladies.
He is the author of the 2023 children’s book, The White House, Designed by James Hoban Built by Many Hands!, as well as the 2021 anthology James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House, which presents the life and work of the little-known Irish-American architect who was handpicked by George Washington to design the President’s House. His first book, White House Miscellany, features interesting anecdotes about life in the White House, as well as facts and figures about the building itself.
For more than 35 years, Stewart has held leadership roles with national nonprofit and higher education organizations, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the Motion Picture Association of America, Georgetown University, and the American Red Cross.
While serving as the executive director of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, he was responsible for the yearlong program of national and international events and initiatives for the Ronald Reagan Centennial earning the PRWeek Award for Non-Profit National Campaign of the Year.
Stewart serves on the board of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation; the Metropolitan Club Preservation Foundation; and the National Trust of Scotland USA Foundation. He is also a senior advisor for Concordia, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to actively fostering, elevating, and sustaining cross-sector partnerships for social impact. Stewart also serves on the Purdue University Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy Advisory Council and is a member of the Charleston Symposium Advisory Board.
Additional affiliations include: Friends of the Blair House, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Society of Architectural Historians; The Decorative Arts Trust; Preservation Society of Charleston; Massachusetts Historical Society; Sigma Chi Fraternity: the Metropolitan Club of Washington, DC; the Arts Club of Washington, DC; and National Presbyterian Church.
Stewart studied history at the University of Alabama and resides in Arlington, Virginia and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Meet the Hosts
Janine Turner
Actress Janine Turner is famous for her role as Maggie O’Connell in television’s Northern Exposure. She is the Founder of Constituting America which launched in 2010. She is still acting but is also actively teaching kids about the U.S. Constitution and has given over 540 speeches to classrooms across the country.
Cathy Gillespie
Cathy Gillespie is the Chair of Constituting America, a former Congressional Chief of Staff and former Commissioner of the White House Fellows Commission. She is currently serving as one of 16 private citizens serving on the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, helping organize the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday in 2026!
Tova Love Kaplan
Tova Love Kaplan is a student at Harvard University. She currently serves as the National Youth Director for Constituting America and runs the National Youth Advisory Council. She is a three-time winner of the “We The Future” Contest and is passionate about educating and empowering young people to use their constitutional rights!
Jorne Gilbert
Jorne Gilbert is a recent graduate of Moravian University where he designed a major entitled Dramatic Production and Musical Performance. He used what he learned to further develop the charitable organization Sing For America which he co-founded to produce musicals portraying the art of Truth and Light.
Jewel Gilbert
Jewel Gilbert is Executive Producer of Sing for America, a charity founded by him and his family. Sing for America reveals the Art of Truth and Light through live performance. He is the Operations Director for a new business venture, J. Barker Paving. Jewel holds a BA in Musical Performance/Dramatic