NEW Podcast Episode Explores Legacy of Naval Hero Commodore Stephen Decatur and his Historic 200YearOld Home on Lafayette Square
June 282828,28 , 2018 (Washington, D.C.) — The White House Historical Association today released the latest episode of The 1600 Sessions podcast, “Decatur House, The President’s Neighbor”, exploring the legacy of Naval hero and Commodore Stephen Decatur and the historic Decatur House positioned in the President’s Neighborhood on Lafayette Square and part of Washington, D.C.’s earliest history. This episode was recorded in the parlors of Decatur House itself, and features interviews with Katherine MaloneFrance, Senior Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation (formerly Director of Collections and Programs at Decatur House), which owns and operates Decatur House in costewardship with the White House Historical Association; and Osborne Mackie, Fine and Decorative Arts Expert, and contributor along with MaloneFrance to the soontobe released book, The Stephen Decatur House: A History , published by the White House Historical Association. Together, they discuss the longlasting significance of the Decatur House in Washington. Association President Stewart McLaurin opens the podcast, “2018, marks the bicentennial of the construction of Decatur House and the publication of a new book by the Association … The Stephen Decatur House , about this remarkable home, its occupants, and the collection of Decatur House.” In this episode, MaloneFrance elaborates on the significance of this anniversary, giving a brief history of Stephen Decatur, the original owner of the house: “If you were writing the story of the early republic as a novel, you'd write a character just like Stephen Decatur…He is in many ways as bold and as brash as the young republic.” Malone France continues, outlining the pivotal moment that made Stephen Decatur a name to remember—his encounter with the Barbary pirates. This “movielike battle” helped create the legacy of Stephen Decatur, who would go on to play a significant role in Washington politics and social life. Osborne Mackie explains how Decatur’s military accomplishments accumulated into the building of the Decatur House. Decatur used the awards and compensations he received during his time as a successful Navy general to build a house across from the White House. The space soon became central to the social fabric of Washington, hosting extravagant dinners, parties, and events, such as the wedding party of Maria Monroe, as Stephen and Susan Decatur were acquainted with President and First Lady Monroe. MaloneFrance and McLaurin also consider the potential Stephen Decatur held, as potentially the next President of the United States, yet sadly his life was cut short when he was mortally wounded in a duel with fellow Naval officer James Barron. MaloneFrance explains the dilemma this left for Decatur’s young widow, Susan, who was forced to sell his possessions and rent the Decatur House to an array of prominent figures. Mackie believes the Decatur House was only able to retrieve the home’s historic objects out of the kindness of descendants and relatives: “When the National Trust decided in its wisdom to open Decatur House as a house museum, here were family members…who'd been treasuring these things all these years, suddenly they saw there was a place in the public eye that these things can be used.” MaloneFrance and McLaurin also discuss a solemn reminder present in the structure of Decatur House. Although Stephen and Susan Decatur did not own slaves, other owners of the home kept a kitchen and living quarters for enslaved persons and their families. MaloneFrance explains that most contemporary houses in Lafayette Square would have had similar quarters, and she points out the role of enslaved persons in the building of the White House. She calls Decatur House “the last piece of preserved physical evidence that AfricanAmericans were held in bondage within sight of the White House.”
The 1600 Sessions In this podcast series, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews luminaries, historians, and eyewitnesses to history about America’s most famous residence and office—the White House. Each episode includes a prominent guest or guests to discuss varying facets of White House history, including insights from former staff and many other topical issues. The White House Historical Association offers tours of the Decatur House on Mondays at 11AM, 12:30PM and 2PM. The 1600 Sessions is available on iTunes , GooglePlay , and Stitcher . To hear the full episode, visit The1600Sessions.org and learn more about White House History at WhiteHouseHistory.org For media inquiries, please contact [email protected] or Jessica Fredericks, Communications Director at [email protected] .
About The White House Historical Association First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $47 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org .
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