The President's Table: Two Hundred Years of Dining and Diplomacy | Barry H. Landau | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Presidential historian Barry Landau shares his extraordinary life and collection of presidential memorabilia, detailing his experiences with presidents and the unique stories behind his artifacts.

Transcript

hi everyone thank you for joining us for today's authors at google event it is my pleasure to introduce barry landau barry is a presidential historian and one of the foremost collectors of presidential memorabilia and artifacts he's the author of the president's table 200 years of dining and diplomacy the first volume of a trilogy inspired from his... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏈 Barry Landau's collection of presidential memorabilia offers a unique perspective on the history and importance of the American presidency.
• 🥹 Presidential menus and invitations hold historical significance and provide insights into past events and personal interactions between presidents and important figures.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Barry Landau to start collecting presidential memorabilia?

Barry Landau's collection began at the age of 10 when he had a chance meeting with President Eisenhower and was invited to the White House. This encounter sparked his interest in collecting presidential artifacts.

Q: How did Barry Landau become involved with presidential events and committees?

Through his extensive collection and knowledge of presidential history, Barry Landau became a frequent network commentator on matters relating to the presidency. This led to his involvement in presidential committees and invitations to historical events.

Q: What is the significance of scrapbooks in Barry Landau's collection?

Barry Landau refers to his collection as "America's scrapbook." These scrapbooks provide a behind-the-scenes look at the presidency and offer unique insights into historical events that are not available through other sources, such as Google.

Q: How has technology affected presidential events and invitations?

In the past, presidential invitations were delivered in person by a White House courier on horseback. Today, invitations are sent via fax or email, and hard invitations are mailed once the initial acceptance is received. Technology has also influenced how presidential collections, such as menus and invitations, are recorded and shared.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Barry Landau is a presidential historian and collector of presidential memorabilia with a collection exceeding 1.2 million artifacts.

• He has worked with nine presidents, known 13 presidents, and been invited to the White House as a child.

• His collection includes presidential menus, invitations, and personal letters, providing a unique insight into the history of the presidency.