This is two and three of a program for a dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 31, 1999 in celebration of New Year's Eve and the start of the new millennium. This dinner was part of a larger millennium celebration taking place over the course of the night and into the morning. After being greeted by the President and Mrs. Clinton, 360 guests sat down to dinner in the East Room, State Dining Room, and Rose Garden. Following the dinner, White House guests joined the public for America's Millennium Gala on the National Mall produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens, Jr. and hosted by actor Will Smith. The gala included appearances by many notable performers, the President's address to the nation, and fireworks at midnight. The guests returned to the White House after midnight to enjoy music and dancing until four in the morning. For the full program, see 1141182. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for White House events from 1980 to 2004.

This is a program for a dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 31, 1999 in celebration of New Year's Eve and the start of the new millennium. This dinner was part of a larger millennium celebration taking place over the course of the night and into the morning. After being greeted by the President and Mrs. Clinton, 360 guests sat down to dinner in the East Room, State Dining Room, and Rose Garden. Following the dinner, White House guests joined the public for America's Millennium Gala on the National Mall produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens, Jr. and hosted by actor Will Smith. The gala included appearances by many notable performers, the President's address to the nation, and fireworks at midnight. The guests returned to the White House after midnight to enjoy music and dancing until four in the morning. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for White House events from 1980 to 2004.

In this photograph taken by Mary Anne Fackelman, staff at Annenberg Estate, known as Sunnylands, in Rancho Mirage, California, stand at an outdoor buffet lunch on New Year's Day in 1987. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan spent many New Year's holidays as houseguests of philanthropists Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, a tradition that began when Mr. Reagan was governor and continued after he left the White House. While staying at the estate the Reagans enjoyed activities such as golf and backgammon. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph by Mary Anne Fackelman, shows an unidentified man serving dessert on New Year's Eve in 1985 at Annenberg Estate, known as Sunnylands, in Rancho Mirage, California. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan spent many New Year's holidays as houseguests of philanthropists Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, a tradition that began when President Reagan was governor and continued after he left the White House. While staying at the estate the Reagans enjoyed activities such as golf and backgammon. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This eagle cake, photographed by Mary Anne Fackelman, was created by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier for a New Year's celebration on January 1, 1987 during the Ronald Reagan administration. The bald eagle-shaped dessert has a sign reading, "Happy New Year Mr. President Mrs. Reagan" in scripted icing. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph likely of the desserts served at the New Year's Eve celebration at the White House on December 31, 1999. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted the night's festivities, which were a celebration of the new millennium. The desserts are photographed here in the Family Dining Room, located on the State Floor of the White House. For the full menu, see 1141182. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is the fifth page of a program for a dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 31, 1999 in celebration of New Year's Eve and the start of the new millennium. This dinner was part of a larger millennium celebration taking place over the course of the night and into the morning. After being greeted by the President and Mrs. Clinton, 360 guests sat down to dinner in the East Room, State Dining Room, and Rose Garden. Following the dinner, White House guests joined the public for America's Millennium Gala on the National Mall produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens, Jr. and hosted by actor Will Smith. The gala included appearances by many notable performers, the President's address to the nation, and fireworks at midnight. The guests returned to the White House after midnight to enjoy music and dancing until four in the morning. This page details the menu for the White House Millennium Dinner. For the full program, see 1141182. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for White House events from 1980 to 2004.

This is the fourth page of a program for a dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 31, 1999 in celebration of New Year's Eve and the start of the new millennium. This dinner was part of a larger millennium celebration taking place over the course of the night and into the morning. After being greeted by the President and Mrs. Clinton, 360 guests sat down to dinner in the East Room, State Dining Room, and Rose Garden. Following the dinner, White House guests joined the public for America's Millennium Gala on the National Mall produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens, Jr. and hosted by actor Will Smith. The gala included appearances by many notable performers, the President's address to the nation, and fireworks at midnight. The guests returned to the White House after midnight to enjoy music and dancing until four in the morning. This page shares words from the President and First Lady welcoming their guests and expressing their desire to celebrate the nation's past and imagine its future. For the full program, see 1141182. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for White House events from 1980 to 2004.

This is the front cover of a program for a dinner hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 31, 1999 in celebration of New Year's Eve and the start of the new millennium. This dinner was part of a larger millennium celebration taking place over the course of the night and into the morning. After being greeted by the President and Mrs. Clinton, 360 guests sat down to dinner in the East Room, State Dining Room, and Rose Garden. Following the dinner, White House guests joined the public for America's Millennium Gala on the National Mall produced by Quincy Jones and George Stevens, Jr. and hosted by actor Will Smith. The gala included appearances by many notable performers, the President's address to the nation, and fireworks at midnight. The guests returned to the White House after midnight to enjoy music and dancing until four in the morning. For the full program, see 1141182. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for White House events from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph of White House Residence staff preparing for a millennium reception in the East Room was taken by William Vasta on December 31, 1999. To mark the final day of the 20th century, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted a candlelit dinner in the East Room to recognize partner institutions who had supported the Clinton administration's goals of "honoring the past and supporting the future," by leading environmental and community programs over the previous two years. Attendees at the event included representatives from the office of Mayor Anthony Williams and the government of the District of Columbia, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the National Parks Foundation, and members of Congress.

This photograph of White House Residence staff preparing for a millennium reception in the East Room was taken by William Vasta on December 31, 1999. To mark the final day of the 20th century, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted a candlelit dinner in the East Room to recognize partner institutions who had supported the Clinton administration's goals of "honoring the past and supporting the future," by leading environmental and community programs over the previous two years. Attendees at the event included representatives from the office of Mayor Anthony Williams and the government of the District of Columbia, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the National Parks Foundation, and members of Congress.

In this photograph, taken on January 1, 2002, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush share a meal with friends at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, their home near Crawford, Texas, to ring in the new year. President and Mrs. Bush often celebrated the holiday by feasting on southwestern favorites, including tamales, chili, fresh corn tortillas, guacamole, and black beans. Pictured behind Mrs. Bush in this photograph is chef Matthew Wendel. In 1995, Wendel became acquainted with Bush, then governor of Texas, when working as a caterer-waiter in Austin, Texas. When Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to prepare meals for the family during visits to Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

In this photograph taken in 1889 by Frances Benjamin Johnston, carriages wait for guests of President Grover Cleveland's New Year's Day reception near the North Portico. This annual tradition started in 1801 during the Adams administration and ended in 1932 during the Hoover administration. Johnston was one of the first influential female photographers in America and she well known for her intimate photographs of the Roosevelt family, White House, and Washington D.C. society.

In the photograph taken on January 1, 1927, guests wait in line to be received by President Calvin Coolidge, during the New Year's Day reception. This annual tradition started in 1801 during the Adams administration and ended in 1932 during the Hoover administration. This photograph is from the Herbert E. French collection, at the Library of Congress, which captured life in Washington, D.C. from the Wilson to the Hoover administrations.

This is a photograph taken ca. 1905 of guests at the North Portico waiting to be received by President Theodore Roosevelt during the New Year's Day public reception. This annual tradition started in 1801 during the Adams administration and ended in 1932 during the Hoover administration.

This is a photograph of the soldiers waiting in line near the White House to greet President Theodore Roosevelt at the New Year's Day reception on January 1, 1909.

This hand-colored wood engraving by Alfred R. Waud appeared in the centerfold of Harper's Weekly on January 25, 1862. Waud made a sketch in person at the reception, which was the basis for the engraving. Abraham Lincoln, tallest man present, welcomes guests near a White House doorway during a Grand Reception in January 1862. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase and his daughter Kate greet Mrs. Lincoln, while several Union Army officers fill out the scene.