National Treasures: America’s Enduring Love for First Family Heirlooms

Americans — we the people, in the year 2016 — are a people descended from a revolution against the British Crown that separated ourselves from a king and his empire. With great difficulty, those Americans created a democracy of co-joined states with a leader would not be a hereditary king, but a president.

The unintended consequence was that we instilled in ourselves an awe of a leader that, if not of the divine right of kings, is something almost equally intoxicating: an inherent respect and even idolatry — a keen, nostalgic, intense interest — for the office that is not a throne.

We are fascinated not only with the presidents and first families, but with all of the stuff of presidents — their letters, books, clothes, their children and their toys and school work, their hair, jewelry and shoes, their activities and hobbies, parties and balls, the women they loved, their advisers, even their dogs.

We love the artifacts left behind — the places they slept, the plays they saw and music they listened to, the notes they wrote to their boon companions. The physical remainders — found in presidential libraries, in museums, archives and private homes — are vivid reminders of the stories they surround. We collect mementos, keepsakes, coins, a photograph catching a glimpse in a parade.

It never really stops.

There’s 88-year-old Mary Gallagher, who wrote “My Life with Jackie Kennedy” in 1969, one of the first books to personalize a relationship with, arguably, one of the most charismatic first ladies in modern times. Jackie is coming to life in the city as we look to last week’s film production of “Jackie,” a 2017 film starring actress Natalie Portman.

Auction house Bonhams has timed its March 25th Decatur House showing of pieces from its presidential and related collections — including those of Gallagher, who was secretary to Sen. John F. Kennedy and later to Jackie Kennedy — to the 60th anniversary of Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage.”

President Obama made news recently by stating his intention to keep the first family in Washington after his presidency ends so youngest daughter, Sasha, can finish high school. Our interest even extends to fictional first families, as a D.C. visit from Kevin Spacey, who plays president on the Netflix hit, “House of Cards,” made news, including an interview on “Meet the Press.”

Sadly, we also recall the life and times of first lady Nancy Reagan, who passed away Feb. 6.

We the people long to admire and respect — but we also want to know the intimate details, touch the cloth, see the Lincoln bedroom and the house where the father of the country slept — hear and read the words.