The White House
Two weeks ago, I received an email from the White House Social Office inviting me to the White House for a Presidential Reception to honor Greek Independence Day on March 24—though the official holiday is celebrated on March 25. The invitation offered simple instructions to explain the process for a Secret Service background check and directions to enter the White House properly.
On the day of the event—Monday, March 24—I waited along with a group of approximately 150 people, some of whom were familiar faces, in a line on Pennsylvania Avenue, just outside the Treasury Department. As soon as the Secret Service opened the gate, everyone had their IDs checked twice by different officers and were then screened in an airport-like process that was also repeated twice.
Past security, we approached the East Wing entrance of the White House and heard the sound of the United States Marine Band playing classic Greek music in the distance. The entrance gate, flanked on both sides by American and Greek flags, was impressive, and nearly every guest stopped for pictures.
Inside the East Wing, we walked through the lobby, past marines and security, and towards the White House theater, which was being used as a coat check—this was useful as the day was rainy and we all had umbrellas and raincoats to check.
Approaching the entrance to the Executive Mansion, I spotted portraits of past First Ladies such as Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama and entered into the White House’s ground floor. On the ground floor, which is sliced in half by a large cavernous hallway, we were allowed in the Library and Vermeil Rooms which were opposite each other. After spending some time in each room, we were handed some patriotic pins and walked upstairs.
Upstairs on the State Floor, we walked into the entrance hall where another Marine Band was playing classical Greek music that resounded throughout the airy state rooms. Walking into the grand cross hall, I observed the beautiful Red, Green, and Blue Oval Rooms along with portraits of presidents past, but instead chose to enter the State Dining Room, where Greek food was served.
Finally, I made the prescient decision to walk to the famed East Room, the largest room in the house, where the president was going to speak before the rest of the attendees. I was lucky enough to get a spot just two rows back in the standing-room only space, and waited and chatted until the president’s private band played and sang three Greek folk songs with surprising accuracy.
Around an hour later, the president entered, accompanied by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the spiritual leader of America’s Orthodox community. The archbishop made powerful statements about the close relationship between the United States and Greece, especially regarding the joint affection for democracy, freedom, faith, and peace. The archbishop presented the president with a gold cross decorated with gems and religious icons before handing the podium off to the president.
President Trump shared similar sentiments to the archbishop, and praised the Greek-American diaspora in the United States, further declaring that US-Greece relations are the strongest they have ever been. He continued by praising specific members of the Greek community, some of which have worked with the president in the administration or in Congress. After his speech, he signed a proclamation declaring March 25 to be Greek Independence Day throughout the United States.
Following these events, I was able to approach the president along with another group before he eventually left, leaving us in the mesmerizing White House to explore. I walked through each famous room and could feel the history in the walls of each of them—the most impressive thing, though, was the view of the southern portico which could see past the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac.
After speaking to numerous guests and politicians, I tried some of the White House’s Greek food—which was remarkably delicious and authentic—until the marines slowly escorted guests out of each room and back towards the East Wing, where we collected our things and left the historic mansion.
Later on, I couldn’t help but think about the power of the White House, both literally, but also as a symbol of democracy and Americanism. I also reflected over the surprising lack of political theater, rhetoric, and attitude within the White House, and I left feeling more proud and assured of our nation and its traditions than I did walking into it.