L-9 Life at Blair House With "Mrs. V"
- Benedicte Valentiner *
- Thursday, Mar 29; 2-4
- $7 for members, $10 for nonmembers
Blair House, the President's guesthouse since World War II, is across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and hosts only chiefs of state and heads of government at the President's specific invitation. Benedicte Valentiner, "Mrs. V," general manager and innkeeper of Blair House from 1988 to 2001, served four Presidents and six Secretaries of State and created an atmosphere that impressed, calmed, cajoled, and comforted the world's leaders. Learn the history of this important landmark and the secrets, shenanigans, and quirks of the world's movers and shakers backstage where "everything is otherwise."
Trained in the hotel business in Europe, Danish-born Benedicte Valentiner served as the innkeeper of Blair House for 12 years. During her tenure, she managed 200 visits of presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens; organized 300,000 meals; and hosted more than 200,000 visitors. She is the author of the recently published Bedtime and Other Stories from the President's Guest House.
* new to Renesan