c-span is brought to you by your cable or satellite provider. >> next, former white house executive pastry chef, roland, recalls observing five president over a quarter- century. we spoke with the white house historical association conference, attended by reference -- sites around the country, and descendents of residents from james monroe, to gerald ford. >> good afternoon. hello everybody! we have been coming around to say hi to you, if i got up to the stage, i need a round of applause. [ applause ] >> and the reason is, i sprained my foot about six weeks ago, and this is my first outing, and first walking up steps, and only for roll-on messier, what i climb steps -- roland -- what i -- welcome to

the 2018 presidential summit, we are delighted you are here, and look forward to many partnerships, went the summit is over. i am a member of the association board, -- i am afraid of what i am going to say, and i am chair of the regional committee, so here is my -- anytime this week, stop by our shop, and buy, buy, buy. if you are new, i would have to say that, there is a pop up right outside, where we are eating, there is a full-line store across -- and levine avenue, and the white house visitors center, and there is another full-line store, at 1610, eight street, so stop by any of them, show your summit id, and you will receive a 10% discount. and now, the real reason i am here. i had the great pleasure of working with our next guest speaker, chef roll-on messier, the first five years of the clinton administration. i was the white house --

secretary, and he was the executive pastry chef, and i still hold him responsible, for the weight that i have put on, while working there. and i mean it, it was about 10 pounds. sneak over there every day. he is a world-renowned pastry chef and author, who has held important positions in the most prestigious hotels. the sheboygan london, the george frank in paris, and the greenbrier in west virginia. he has served five, count them five extraordinary presidents: jimmy carter, ronald reagan, george hw bush, bill clinton, and george dubya bush, and i think that deserves a round of applause.

but, too many of us, he was also a very good friend, and trusted colleague, and here is where i got in trouble. he was always ready with a cookie, a truffle, a piece of cake, a sliver of pie, no matter what else was going on in the white house that week. and, when it comes to creativity, well, i may be a little bit biased, but if you match his -- matching in that department. over the years, everyone from local -- to global heads of state, have marveled at his one- of-a-kind creations. his holiday gingerbread houses were consistently amazing, whether models on the presidents boyhood homes, to first ladies, to even socks the cat. and, when president mrs. clinton hosted their first state dinner for their majesty, the emperor and empress of japan, the chef was ready. he did his research, taking inspiration from the japanese cherry trees, along the tidal basin, here in washington, and he created what he called

simply, cherry sorbet. but, believe me, this dessert was anything but simple. picture a foot tall and blown sugar cherry, with white -- california cherries -- and yes, cherry sorbet. nestled inside. chocolate basket, with bamboo handles, and hand-painted cookies, marty pond cookies, made to look like sushi, -- marty pond cookies, made to look like sushi, completed a masterpiece. it was a work of art. her majesty was so enraptured, that she asked to meet the chef, and congratulate him personally. i was there -- i was scared to death, because i thought that was wrong when she called people over, but she was just wanting to say congratulations on the beautiful desert. and, she was far from his last admirer. my mouth is still watering, thinking about the beautiful

clever, and always always delicious concoctions this man created. please join me, and welcome my friend, and chef extraordinaire, the incomparable roland ms. da. -- ms. da. [ applause ] [ indescernible ] >> tricky audio man. >> this is .

-- i am not too sure. it goes down a little bit, no? i am just a basic -- pastry chef. i am not -- an engineer, or anything of that kind. but, yeah. i -- fly everywhere, i do not know. good morning everyone! welcome to the beautiful capital city. of washington dc of course. and, the beautiful willard hotel. yes, my name is roland messier,

and i was the executive pastry chef of the white house for 26 years. i served proudly, five presidents. you know, to get into the white house, everybody wants to work at the white house , until they get the job. then, they do not know what to do with it. i really mean it, that is the truth. you have to understand, this job -- is very scary. because, of the people you are serving. you no longer serve just anybody, you know, like in a restaurant, or hotel or whatever, you are serving people that have achieved great things in life, that have had great jobs, great things. so, you better be on the same level with your food. i also served numerous -- members of the emperors, kings, heads of states, all during my

tenure. but, i worked, when i started at the white house, i was already in that line of work, for 20 years, learning from the best chefs available, and pakistan, in germany, and especially, the hotel, that i always mention, because that particular hotel, used to be known as the number one hotel in the world. today -- through the years, is now part of a chain. but, those days, it was owned by family, big difference. big difference. and, the customer, -- the guests, that we were seeing at -- those days, just to give you a short -- we had a lot of people from hollywood, of course, frank sinatra -- going back.

we also had, the white house family all the time, i served the queen of england long time ago, for the first time. and many many more after that, and also, and also -- jim, and then, we had jackie kennedy, that would be coming for dinner, but at the time, she was a kennedy anymore, she was just -- she was still jackie kennedy, but she was not married to the president, had already passed away, and -- -- came to dinner by himself, not by himself, with his girlfriend at the time, which was -- the opera singer. so, this is the caliber, of the people that we fed, every day. you know, to give you -- before the service every day. we had a customer that was a

billionaire, -- this man, when he came, always -- big roundtable, and, he expected, every time, at the end of the meal, to receive an enormous silver tray, filled with homemade chocolates, and cookies, and all of that he expected it, he did not order it, it was automatic. now, what this man, when that tray came to his table, what he did, he would have -- one can of cookies needed to be there all the time on the tray, that is like what we call -- cookies -- and, he said they had to be so delicate, he would pick one up, and dropped it on the table, and the table, -- and the cookie -- said to shatter in 1000 -- pieces, if the cookie did not break, he would call the butler, and say take this out of your.

i do not want it, it is not any good, did not even tasted. so, you know, the pressure was on. the pressure was on. and, in the center of this big silver tray, there was always, a beautiful gold -- gold and blown sugar display. so, just to give you a little taste, of what it was. it was an exceptional place to work, and i have learned so much there. i think it is a special place. now, after that, i was a pastry chef, in bermuda, and i was also the pastry chef for the governor's palace in bermuda. i also -- you know, the princess was -- by then by the richest man in the world, his name was esther dk ludovic. and, he had tankards that -- brought to the united states, and many other businesses, he

was a real businessman, let me tell you. and, he had a hotel built, called the acapulco princess, the first hotel, shaped like the pyramids. -- chain design, later on. when i was doing this in acapulco, we all -- also had -- we had the millionaire, also, that guy, at the hotel, we had to feed him -- his name i have it here somewhere, but my paper -- my table is not exactly the best. that was, what was his name -- he had, the total -- for of the hotel, and we fed him, he did not want to see anybody. we fed him, under the door.

every plate of food needed to fit under the door. every window was aborted up. that was the end of the line, the end of the life for this man, so you know, all sorts of crazy things, were hard for him -- to live on. and, then, after that, i came back to france for a while, pastry chef, at the hotel, which was another fabulous hotel, privately owned, family owned, and then, i will worked in a three-star restaurant also, in paris. and, i was back in bermuda, by popular demand. the homestead hotel, was my next job, where i spent five years, and, it is where my family and i started our life in the united states. i also was a consultant, to the hotel for six years. so, those were very significant

places, and jobs, where quality needed to be, not just anyone could work there, and say, i am going to be the pastry chef there tomorrow, no, you needed to be experienced in many many ways. by the way, often, i will take some questions, if you need clarification on something. then, in 1979, -- had to spoil -- for me. because i was very happy at the homestead, and some -- thought, we are coming to the homestead, regularly, and stole my work, and approached me one day, and said roland, looking for pastry chef, why don't you apply, i said no, i am very happy here, i do not want to go to washington. i understand there is a mental problem in washington, and i am not about to get that disease. i am staying away from that place. so, fine, two weeks later, they

come back in the hotel, and again, when are you going to come, i said oh man, please, i already told you, no interest. so, they did that a couple times. and then, one time, they called me, in december, 79, they called me, at my house, the white house called my house, and said, roland, i am going to bring an employment sheet, and i want you to fill it in, if you do not mind. and also, -- wishes for you to come for a tour of the white house. that was a trick! that was a trip -- trap ladies and gentlemen. so anyways, i kept it, and those days, i drove all the way from -- virginia, to downtown dc, to visit the white house. now, i was driving in 1965, dodge -- avocado green.

not the prettiest thing to bring down to dc, let me tell you. but you know, the nicest thing, those days, they let me drive on pennsylvania avenue, they opened the big gate, to drive right in, and they asked me to park my avocado, under the -- is that beautiful, or what? i said, i am starting to like this place, you know. if i get a job here, i get to park your everyday, no -- well anyway. took a tour of the white house, and who should be on the tour, no kidding me? mrs. costa, with open arms. she was so nice, called me by my first name, gave me a hug, and she said, come with me, we need to talk, so she pulled me on the side, and, we talked -- direction, very nice lady, and, we talked, and, that is when

mrs. costa, asked me if i would want to take a job for a little bit, so, you cannot say no to the president, you cannot say no to the first lady, i said madam, yes, i will give you five years, maybe, and then we see, you know. okay, that is good, so then -- russian, the social secretary -- said i was not an american citizen. i was on a green card, i was legal. green card. so, no, mrs. costa said to gretchen, said listen gretchen, i want him, and i want him bad, do you understand? and now, so, do not worry about that. i will fix it, when he comes to the white house. and sure enough, if you wonder why i love mrs. costa very much, because of what i am going to tell you next, it is

because, one day, surprise surprise, i am working in the white house, these dudes show up from nowhere, tap me on the shoulder, and said get into the car, that is outside, it is this black limousine, get into the car, i have no idea, i have no idea what is going to happen. so, he is taking me near the train station, to some -- and, in an office, where the guy stopped to ask me, while -- what about the american government, and a question, and i said man, i do not know nothing. very simple, i do not know nothing. and he was getting very irritated with he said, do you know the president, i said sure, i see him every day, his name is jimmy carter. good, you passed the text -- test. i was ready to say, i was ready to say what test are you testing me, what for? so after that, to get back in the car, so they drove me back downtown, not downtown, in the

alexandria, thank you, alexandria. and, this lady is waiting for me, at the doorstep, with a bible. i say who died? she said no, no joke, she said -- business here, put your hand on the bible, and repeat after me. i said sure. congratulations, you are an american citizen. ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, only in america, you leave your house in the morning, as a foreigner, come back as an american citizen. is that a beautiful country, or what? and, this is why, miss costa has been in my heart, all my life. as a matter of fact, i was able to do something very special, not last year, for the wedding,

anniversary, i think, i forgot, -- they were celebrating, -- what is the town, annapolis, thank you., with a friend of mine, we made a wedding cake she did not know the, the president did not know, and we showed up, at dessert time, and entered the room with his wedding cake. and, those two were so happy, to see me again, after so many years, gave me a big hug, and they were saying, and, the president and mrs. costa, were -- fantastic, let me tell you, for all that they have done, all their lives. and i love those people, they are very honest, very nice, very very nice. you know, i walked at the white house, -- as a pastry chef, we leave a lot of things, not directly, because we not -- not allowed to do it, and i am glad it is not the case, because too

many people will take advantage of that and, we know that the white house -- we are there to take care of the president, and first lady, regardless of the party, and whatever -- are. and, let me tell you, the -- to have been able to do that, to present them with these -- it meant so much to me, and for them, it was really fantastic, and -- so happy. i remember, when we they walked into the room that day, after, working all day, they were working all day, and, they both went on the dance floor, for 20 minutes, no stop, and -- this is fantastic, absolutely fantastic. so, and every president that i have served, giving me, different stories, if you will, true stories. this is -- where i want to become a very truly understand.

i do not speak in public, to have -- people told me, unless -- it happened with me -- i will not repeated. the same for all of my folks. -- books, i have eight books, seven books, but, i was really on top of things, to make sure that what is -- is truth and facts. there are many false books out there, many, and some of them, i would not even use them to put them on the bottom of my -- that is just because -- lie after lie. makeup story, because -- to put their. when i started writing books, i told people what my book, it is -- see something in my book that is not correct, let me know. i want to know.

but i am still waiting, okay, it has been 15 years now. so, just to say, it has to be because, i figure, that, we are doing a story here, this is history, that is what the young people will read. and, whatever they read about certain -- president, hast to be very -- very -- so, that is why -- is something that i would never never -- without doing that. you know, as i said, the white house is a very intimidating place. i always had a fear of failing. my first year on the job, most people in the white house thought, that i was probably an arrogant man, because i did not speak to nobody. but it had nothing to do with arrogance, it has to do with failing, because, i needed -- like this. you know, talking about that, i am amazed today, where -- i

hope, there are some people here, but let me tell you one thing. and this is what i see, when i cover -- and this is also -- you go to a restaurant, you are -- a waitress, or a waiter something, they will have -- and the last one she will forget it. i am not teasing you, how do you know -- mentioned it. and then, i am sorry, --'s world now, sorry, everybody is sorry, and nobody is sorry, that is what bothers me. because, when i say i am sorry, i mean it, i really do. -- i was born in a very poor family in fact. nine children. very tiny house. we had no electricity, no running water in the house. but, trust me, when we were told to do something, we did

not forget, because if we did, we would -- bay major, to put it in your head, that you never forget. today, everything is oh, who cares, enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, what if you -- do not worry -- i will not -- i like to spend -- but also expect something in return. and, people are not focusing, not focusing at home. mostly on the job, you know why? hello darling, did you enjoy last night, yes -- goodbye, i cannot talk about -- now. then, you know, when i was at the white house, i was very -- and, when i hire somebody, i want you to listen, and listen

good, because i am only going to say it once. if i have to say it again, you will be taking -- i said, you start at 8 o'clock, to work, i do not want you to come in with a can of coke in your hands, or talk about the other guy, about what you did last night, there is no importantly, if we work, if we are here to produce the best we can, and i need you to -- to do that. to remind you of that, then you are not any good to me. or if you want to go, very simple. and, you know -- one thing, that most people, -- batch, and someone said, -- and, establish those guidelines, and make sure they are respected, baloney

thing, with -- they think, -- grade, i will feed -- you know, you need -- now, it is a time now, where you have to be serious, and do a job. when that is over, i do not care what you do with your life. you want to die, go dance -- and you know -- for a young woman that worked for me a little bit. and, she was kind of losing hair. hair -- is disgusting, could you imagine this hair -- to go -- so, i pulled her aside, i said come with a hairnet. why, why, my -- said, if you --

i can do it right now. no problem. no, hairnet. she showed up the next day, no hairnet, and she, the same day, she was going to a competition, and she asked me, if she could bring a piece of cake to me, to taste, to see if it was good enough, for the competition. i could into the cake, what is the first thing i pull out of the cake? i said, now do you want a picture of this thing, you know what that is? so, do me a favor, go home, do not come back, that was it. but, just to say, you need, today, you know -- ladies and gentlemen, in no time. 50% of your -- when you read the paper, and you -- i could put it out there, and my wife -- she can tell you, she is

right there, i do not lie to her. i said, i know exactly what happened. i will tell -- i know what happened. she says, nothing to do, but you know, in washington, the remedy to everything, is -- we need more money. you know what, i want to be very honest with you, money stinks. i do not have any money, never had, never will, and i do not care. i am a happy man. because, i do my job, the right way. i want to produce the best i can, whatever -- i also -- always wanted to be -- but, i always thought, if i could -- sweet moment, when they go through so much every day, and which president did not get beat up -- i am sorry, to say, there is something very wrong with these -- -- and you know

what, most of the time, the things that i say, -- to my wife, two months later, there it is, and all, remember what i told you? there it is. we could have saved two months of headache, if they would just come to roland. but, i am not bragging about myself, i just -- was raised a different way. money was not the main objective. money, usually is what will rot something, definitely, to the core. enough money to leave -- you need five car six car, you drive all of them at the same time? no. but, it is very important to me, and, all what i am telling you know, all what i am telling you now. is, going into the food

business, the same, that is why, i never went to school to learn how to bake. i learned on the job training, working in some hotel, for some great chef, and that chef those chefs -- those chefs, those were just like -- if you want to stay here, this is what you need to do. but, anyway -- i want to give you a line, what is going on in the food business. if you notice, all of these terms that they use, the chefs do not even know what they mean, especially if they use french terms, and i know they do not know. they do not know nothing about french, but they just -- you know. on the menu. you know what couture is, it is close. something together, i do not know. now, you know -- you know what

-- that is a slaughterhouse. is that something that you really want to hear, just before you eat? there is a famous tuna consulate, which is nothing but a -- and, i am sure you watch those -- on tv, and -- have a shortage of -- i think there would be a revolution. have you noticed mike have you seen those guys, that cook on tv, that there is -- cheese in every dish, there used to be worried about -- no more, cholesterol is good for you. hey, do not eat eggs, you are going to die. now, eggs are fabulous for you. they are feeding you baloney

every single day, but you are eating it, with the biggest spoon you can find. that is the shame, nobody ever set up, and said excuse me chef, you just say that, but -- i have read it differently, i have no different way. no, no. we eat it with a big spoon, you know. now, i can predict to you, the restaurant of the future, they are going to weigh you on the way and come away you on the way out -- and an odd idea, and then, -- and then, a nice flour, and silver that was so shiny -- where is it today? today -- the old wood table --, with the wet one, and push the garbage on one side, so the table stakes, gets stuck to the table, because of --, oh my god, my -- you know -- that you

pretend to be somebody, that knows but they really do not. what is wrong with the people -- old days, every tablecloth, they were made of paper. and, do you know, when the meal was over, you ask the waiter for the bill, the guy took his pen, and he wrote it right on the napkin, he took it, and said there is your bill. then he put on your one, there was a clean tablecloth every time a new table. progress are not -- do not have to make an effort. but, the professional -- if it is in food or anything, this

takes hard work, concentration, and -- you have to dedicate yourself -- when i was at the white house, i said, i care was the president, does not mean nothing to me. the only time, that i -- thought like that, was during the first -- jewish -- bush. i said, i am going to prove, that republicans and democrats can have a good time together. so i created a dessert, it was an elephant, made of blown sugar, -- and, a donkey, blown sugar, sitting on his back, of the elephant, with the front leg extended, and there is a sugar -- -- dessert. and, it was all made of blown sugar, and -- donkeys and elephants, and -- someday, and

you come back, and tell me what you think. , so anywhere, the dessert came in, and i said oh my god, we are going to hear something here, you know -- and, no, not a peep in the dining room, i said oh, what is going on? so, the dining room went crazy. -- going off, everybody laughing, having a great time, well, one of the guests got the idea, the bright idea to take his knife, at the end, and -- [ indescernible ] and then, the republicans -- and they did that in every single table. remember, we had one -- that

much of -- they were having a ball, bang, bang, bang. they all came back -- but i like it, i said -- that is going to be met -- why should i be mad? that was meant for you, and i am glad, for once, that a republican and democrat, can get along. for five minutes, at least. so, for me, that was the real success. but ladies and gentlemen, i think i need to stop, right? i want to take questions, yes. because, of the timing. i do not know, we take questions. okay, because any question you have, remember i am very knowledgeable about -- about things, about money problems, sexual problems, car problems, what is it, sexual, car -- that

is a good question, you are not going to believe me, you will think i am lying. when i started at the white house, i had zero -- not even a part-time helper. and think -- no pastry kitchen, i was in the main kitchen, with the cook, and then, the main kitchen at the white house, would have been about -- the table over there, to a square, that was about it. now, as a pastry chef, trying to work -- when the chef is browning meat on the stove, impossible to do. and, so, that was very -- i made it work for several years -- seven years like that. and, after seven years, i had enough. i went to see -- who was the head usher, very good man. and, i said sensor, i cannot

continue to work like this. got stronger -- bigger. and i said, i am not putting a knife if you tell me, that saw me. i don't even know when that happened. >> [ laughter ]. >> is a joke. but it is true. we never did anything. we could not do anything. she can tell you.

14, 15 hours a day was not uncommon. i would say next weekend we will go home for dinner and i would say no, no dinner, i have to go to the white house. i could not have done it any other way. this is not possible for me. i would not have enjoyed myself. so you know, i asked my boss and said -- i had two jobs. all my life i have two jobs. i worked not only at the white house but i am the one who did a professional program in washington dc. i started that and we were producing -- there was no pastry chef in washington. so i did that for many years.

i said i cannot do that anymore. i cannot do 2 jobs. i would be finishing at the white house at 7 pm and then go home, sleep a couple of hours and back to the white house the next day and then go to the school to teach for four or five hours. that was a very hard time for me. anyway, i said yes to the pastry kitchen. after a while, i was not hearing from him and i said you never come back to me about the money. are you paying me something? i want to quit my other job and i cannot do that. he kept his promise and the pastry kitchen, we try to find a spot where we could do it around the white house. he kept his promise. he was a very good man.

so we did come to that. i got a plan and then there was another offer at the white house. an engineer was good to work with. i have the pictures, not with me today, of all my equipment. it was in front of the white house, they removed the last window to the right to be able to bring my -- into the white house. then there was one elevator to go up but those were very tiny. it was better than nothing. it worked for me very well. i was given an additional room, that was the chocolate room of the white house.

so you see, everything is possible to give it time. and the white house, i always said, was a place made for me. i love to work there because they let me produce whatever i wanted to. but all my desserts had a significance in some way. >> sometimes, we had desserts from italy. i find something special around the town and that will be duplicated in the pastry of course. i did that all the time, all the time, all the time. one of the first ladies, she was great. i loved to work for her because she knew what she wanted.

personally, you better do what she asks you to do and do it the right way. there is nothing wrong there. again, i love to work with people like this. i would rather do that then people who say i do not know. the last one with mrs. reagan, we were doing sunday noon at the white house. we were going to have on tuesday the queen of the netherlands and you know the netherlands is known for its desserts. anyway, i already had told nancy reagan -- nancy reagan, i studied her very early on. she is very interesting. she was going to give you --

she even did that to the reporter on television. when the reporter would ask a question and i would see nancy going and i was thinking oh you don't know what is coming. i feel for you man. >> [ laughter ]. >> sure enough, she was good. i loved her. you know i say that i became the pastry chef that i am be -- because of nancy reagan and i mean it every time. she was so sure on what she wanted. that time, send a -- sunday noon, again, the dinner was going to be tuesday night. too many things were going on in my head at the same time and she is having lunch in the solarium at the white house. there is a very long table there for some reason. the president was eating on one

hand and nancy was eating on the other. when i came with the desert, nancy reagan looked at the dessert and i said man, brace yourself man. oh that is not going to do. she could never tell you why. president reagan came to my rescue. he said honey, leave the chef alone. that is a beautiful dessert. so nancy reagan looked up to the president and said honey, this is not your problem. >> [ laughter ]. >> i don't care. that is not my thing.

although, -- anyway, i went down to the kitchen and you know one word came to mind, suicide. >> [ laughter ]. >> i said there is a spot on the stove boiling and i will probably jump and. -- in. i said you know, -- the phone rings. come back to this delorean. i know exactly what i want to do. so when i get there, she says here is what we are going to do. the netherlands is known for the --. i want you to make a sugar basket, a basket made of sugar. one per table. with a beautiful handle and on the handle, i want you to put

-- on each handle. i want these baskets to be filled with homemade assorted ice cream. it was springtime. i said mrs. reagan, this is beautiful, i do agree. i would have to make a lot of those and it is sunday noon. i told mrs. reagan, madame, there is only two days left before the dinner. this is a challenge. correction, you have two days and two nights. you know, i felt a chill in my back even right now as we speak. i said yes madam, thank you very much. i went back to my kitchen and

started cooking. for some of you who do not know what a sugar basket is, it is made all of sugar. there is a sketch that shows you how to make a sugar basket in my book. so times 15, you can count how many sugar cubes that is plus i had to make cookies and many many other things. >> so she said i have two days and two nights. ladies and gentlemen, it is when you know how it is because how close it happened and happened well and she got so many compliments. on my way home that night, i

did not know i had that much thanking me but i said this is what courage is. that is what is when you have passion for something. you are not going to say oh i do not have time. not possible, i am by myself. no. i would have felt less than a human being if i had done that. i hate mrs. reagan, yes. it is going to happen. i have pictures of those desserts in some of my books. i said this is what pride is. you are not born with pride in you. pride is something you cultivate all the time, and you get more proud. this is why i say nancy reagan made me who i am because i said i want this feeling again.

when we do the next dinner, i want to feel that feeling again. and it worked for me. it worked for me. if it will not work this way, i did not feel very good. >> question now, anybody questions? please. yes? oh, remember what i said? if somebody talks, you listen. we see what happens with the dc subway when the engineer doesn't listen. >> [ laughter ]. >> okay. i will not say any more. >> [ indiscernible ]. >> i do not have any here. >> next please.

>> the dessert that you got the most compliments on? >> i would say it was from the emperor of japan. i wanted to create a dessert for the emperor of japan that nobody really knows what it is until they dig into it. i see that was very well. i had a big bowl that i want to look like an oversized --. that people needed to be cut in half. that is not an easy task. those two half bowls were placed on the desk of white chocolate -- disc of white chocolate. inside, i placed a round bowl of ice cream which is white.

and then in the middle of that, there was another bowl that was made of cherry sauce. now just picture please, i give you the keys to the catalog. dig into that white ball because you see the guest of the white house, that was a dessert for a table of 10. the gases served -- guests served themselves. as you go into that white bowl, what is going to appear? thank you sir. you win. the flag of japan. i wanted to do something a little bit that is not just a dessert but it was perfectly hard inside. you dig into it and there is the flag of japan. >> that i served another basket, and they were made --

shaped like sushi. so just picture the job. the dinner for japan was very big. >> [ inaudible comment ] . >> i made enough for 20 12 -- 20 tables. and in the white house, i had no place to work. remember, i have to store this stuff because it is sugar. after you make sugar, it gets sticky. the humidity, sugar does not like humidity. i did not have enough space to store it.

and then when it molded into chocolate, that need to be stored. and then another thing you have to really plan well is the ice cream when it comes to the table. it is to be perfectly soft. you do not want anybody to be poking at it so the timing, everything is to be worked out. so that for me, the dessert was the hardest. there were so many components that you had to work on. yes? >> [ inaudible comment ] . so there was humidity outside? the timing on this was absolutely critical. >> yes. thank you. exactly. so you know, for me, the more difficult task i have, the more power i feel. do you understand that x -- that? some people would say that is

too difficult, i don't know why you bother. why bother? i feel it's. and try someday to be proud, it feels good. and with the -- my time passing at the white house, i feel pride. many times people asked me the same question, which ones were your favorite x i said they were all my favorites. it has nothing to do with politics. it is the truth. they were all absolutely fantastic. the first lady, the president, no problem. so many times, i have conversations and i can assure you another thing, during all my years in the white house, i have seen every president and first lady cry and laugh. i tell you one thing, it gets right to your heart because the

first family becomes your family. many times when i first come into the white house, i put guidelines for me in my head. i say each president and first lady, would you put your body to shield them if they were attacked? that is not even a question that i would not do that. this is enough of beating people on the had. you don't achieve things like this. complements, that is on the back. and i was 26 years in this position and i would have never never, if the president and first lady --. my profession was very

important to me. all the poor souls that go there, do they know what they are doing? do they know it is a shame what they are doing? do they know that they are telling you stuff that is not true? do you know now when they do some sugar on television, do you know what they use? there is not one ounce of sugar in its. i would tell you what they use. do you know what a cough drop is made out of? is a product that looks like sugar that you can flavor but there is zero sugar in its. it is so easy to work with because it does not get affected by the humidity. do you know cough drops many years ago for some of you who have been around, they used to stick together after you opened the bag. now they do not stick anymore. the pastry chef, they still come on tv.

they are not even pastry chefs. don't get me started. >> [ laughter ]. >> they are not. we are two different breeds here. they are taking you for fools. yes? >> [ inaudible comment ] . who has the most ambitious ideas for you? also, why did you retire when you did? >> okay. no president and first lady -- reagan that there with the basket there the one time but most of it, i decided on the dessert. many will look at it and say yes or no and the first lady was involved. it was more than one person involved on saying yes or no.

so when i started to have that feeling about -- when i plan a dessert, don't come and ask me to make it hot. i would say the pie shop is around the corner. it has to be special. many times, desserts will go with the guests they invited. a flag is too easy. it had to be something else. then sometimes, -- i could go on but we need to curve it's. yes? >> [ inaudible comment ]. >> yes. the first lady would come and

look. i did not finish your last question. what was that? >> [ inaudible comment ]. >> why because i was already going downhill physically. 16 hour day will catch up with you. i was very very achy and went on i sat down with my wife and i said we need to decide on a date. i need to stop this. i cannot do that anymore. because of this, do not ask me to do simpler things. i could not do that. that is why. i'm sorry. that was your question i did not answer. yes? >> [ inaudible comment ]. >> sugar, no problem but the souffli is an interesting one there. that happened once and that was not even part of my control.

we were doing a hot hot souffli which is delicious. the recipe i use, that dessert could be a low-calorie diet dessert if you will. it is wonderful. and we were doing that for a lot. i forget which country. i put that on the menu. i wanted a hot souffli and at the white house, we made a big souffli like that. one of my favorites. so i tested the recipe, checked it out. i checked the timing and everything. it worked beautifully. so here comes the night of the dinner. i said okay, we start with the

egg whites. so we did all the egg whites at the time. you know what? it never came up. i said man -- >> [ laughter ]. >> honestly, the guests are going to come in. a souffli that size needs over an hour to cook, at least. so the dinner at the white house takes a little bit less than an hour. i said okay, let's throw those away. we will watch the ball -- bull and start all over. and again, they did not come out again. and they are speaking and at the white house, when they come for dessert, you cannot say i need another payment. you cannot do that. the only word they want to hear is speak up now.

so we were cutting eggs again, wash the bowls. this is when i was still working in the main kitchen with the chef. i heard the executive chef and the other chef talking about the mayonnaise that they made on that machine that morning. do you know how many drops of oil it takes to mess up the egg whites? one drop. that is it, forget it. so i did not see the mayonnaise. i was not there when they did it. so all of this is on the machine. when you came with your next thing and you do not see it, you do not know what it is. so when i heard them talking, i said oh my god. should i kick them out now or later? >> [ laughter ]. >> i was very upset.

so luckily, i watched it under the machine and here goes the egg whites. meanwhile, i have lost a great deal of time. so it is when you have knowledge and you have experienced that you can re- skew that. a young kid that came out of school, forget about that. what are you going to do, call 911? call his mother? no. so i gave the order to crank up the of into the max. the stove that you cook on, max. and that souffli, we put on the baking pan with a little water to get that boost, and i was able to shave a great deal of time on the souffli. and you know what?

when they came in, the souffli was ready. not even a minute delay. that happen if you had the experience. don't tell me a guy who just graduated from the school can do that. know. this is not possible unless you were there. this is a different kind of is this. okay. yes? >> [ inaudible comment ]. >> blueberry, apple, i love a good all-american pie. most pies are no good. the bottom crust that is not even baked -- very few times you find a decent pipe. okay. are we good? oh we are going to be selling

books at cost. my latest book that came out last year which is the white house -- a wonderful book, it has many recipes. gingerbread recipes, christmas recipes. in this book, we have this popular eggnog recipe which is the original from the white house. i am telling you the truth, you want to know the truth. do you know the eggnog every night went down the sink. after the party, it went down the sink. nobody wanted it. in my time, there was never enough eggnog. i brought it back. >> [ inaudible comment ] . >> it is true.

it is delicious eggnog. but anyway, this book, i will be signing it. remember, christmas is just around the corner. >> [ laughter ]. >> let me save you some time on your shopping. and another thing, this book because it is so good, the book is based on the truth about it. if i were you, i would buy seven. put them in my basement because this will be a lot of money. i am not kidding you. take a look at its. i will be signing it. everybody gets my business card and every book that i signed which has my information. when was the last time you went to buy a book and the author

gave you his phone number? anything happen to you like that? this author has been giving a card with his phone number, thousands and thousands of books and i have never received a phone call. so that tells you something. that will tell you something. so i started working with them after when i finished at the white house. i was taken by the quality of all they send. if you look for beautiful christmas presents, they are located here. it is worthwhile to go see this book. i was really taken. this is why i decided to do my book with them. first i went with a big publisher. i was not really content with

them. then they blew me away because they do not shortchange everything. they go a long way. just like my dessert. let's do it and let's do it right. this is why i keep working with them. ladies and gentlemen, i wish you the best of time in dc. i will see you again around. enjoy yourself and i hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. thank you. >> [ applause ].

this labor day, american history tv is featuring sessions from the white house historical associations presidential site summit. last week representatives from presidential sites around the country came to washington to discuss their common work and 21st-century challenges. among those attending were

descendents of presidents from james monroe to gerald ford. we will continue with our coverage of the presidential site summit in a few minutes. >> american history tv is on cspan3 every weekend featuring museum tours, archival films and programs on the presidency. the civil war and more. here is a clip from a recent program. >> ♪ got up late -- pay the bills ♪, for me, this government does not speak for me ♪.

you solve nothing, you aggravate our allies ♪. my name has been through a lot ♪ i don't have your title, i don't have your land ♪. ♪ one more term . that is an order from your commander. go home. the reason that the class is going to come -- how often

frankly does it want to be in a to anybody? he wants to concede, issue, and execute policy, not do something for someone else no matter how high up. hamilton really has an almost unhealthy desire for military glory and even death. it is great if you die young if you die gloriously. he often, there is a lot of examples where i could give you along that line. he is resentful of his dependence on washington. he is frustrated by washington seeming indifference to him. he feels trapped. >> you can watch this and other american history programs on our website where all of our video is archived. that is c-span.org/history. >> next on american history tv,

we hear about the long history between american presidents and the press. speakers include former white house press secretaries and reporters who have cover the presidency. the include mike who worked for president clinton and ron who served president for. white house historical association hosted this event as part of its presidential site summit held in washington dc. >> to introduce our distinguished panel of presidents in the press is another very distinguished journalist and author and director of the white house transition project and also member of the board of the white house historical association, my fellow colleague and also my fellow colleague of the committee that we work together on to bring this summit to life. this person has been incredibly instrumental and has added a lot to the planning of this including putting together this