Andy Montoya
Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, received a 1400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a New York dairy farmer in 1835. The cheese sat in the White House for two years, reportedly giving off a strong smell that could be detected from blocks away. In 1837, during his final term, Jackson invited the public to come and eat the cheese, and 10,000 visitors devoured it within two hours. This event inspired the Big Block of Cheese Day in the TV show The West Wing and has been emulated by subsequent White House administrations as a day of social media outreach and engagement with the American people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Weight of the cheese | 1,400 pounds |
| Type of cheese | Cheddar |
| Source of the cheese | A New York dairy farmer named Thomas Meacham |
| Year the cheese was received | 1836 |
| Year the cheese was consumed | 1837 |
| Reason for the gift | To showcase the rising might of American agriculture and industry |
| Duration of the cheese in the White House | Two years |
| Number of visitors at the party | 10,000 |
| Time taken to finish the cheese | Two hours |
| Legacy | Inspired the "Big Block of Cheese Day" in the White House |
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What You'll Learn
- Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a New York dairy farmer
- Jackson left the cheese in the foyer of the White House for two years
- In 1837, Jackson invited the public to come and eat the cheese
- The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell lingered
- The cheese inspired Big Block of Cheese Day on *The West Wing*
Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a New York dairy farmer
Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a New York dairy farmer. The cheese was made in 1835 and arrived at the White House on New Year's Day, 1836. Jackson immediately wrote a thank-you note to the dairy farmer, Thomas Meacham, expressing his gratitude for the gift and recognising it as a symbol of the prosperity and strength of the American dairy industry. Jackson kept the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House for almost two years, during which time it developed a strong smell that could be detected from several blocks away.
In 1837, towards the end of his second term, Jackson decided to share the cheese with the public. He hosted a party at the White House, inviting everyone to come and eat the cheese. The event was well-attended, with an estimated 10,000 visitors, and the entire block of cheese was devoured within two hours. The party became known as "Big Block of Cheese Day" and was later depicted in an episode of the TV show "The West Wing".
The cheese gift to Jackson was inspired by a similar gift presented to an earlier president, Thomas Jefferson. In 1802, Jefferson received a 1,200-pound cheese from a church in Massachusetts, which started a trend of giving large gifts to presidents. Meacham's cheese for Jackson was intended to showcase the success of American agriculture and industry and the growing power of the United States as a nation.
While the cheese was certainly a unique gift, it also posed some challenges for Jackson and his successors. The strong smell permeated the White House, requiring extensive cleaning and renovations to remove the odour. Jackson's successor, Van Buren, had to deal with the lingering smell and stain left by the cheese, which took significant effort to eradicate.
The story of Andrew Jackson's 1,400-pound block of cheese has become a notable episode in American presidential history, combining elements of populism, marketing, and the celebration of American agriculture. It also highlights the potential challenges of accepting large and unusual gifts, as the presidents who followed Jackson had to address the practical consequences of hosting a massive block of cheese in the White House.
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Jackson left the cheese in the foyer of the White House for two years
Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a group of dairy-farming supporters from upstate New York. The cheese was made by Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, who owned one of the largest dairies in the United States. Jackson kept the cheese in the foyer of the White House for two years, during which time it emitted a strong odour that could be smelled from several blocks away.
Jackson's reasons for keeping the cheese in the White House for so long are a matter of speculation. One theory suggests that he wanted to age the cheese to improve its flavour. Another interpretation is that Jackson, who was coming to the end of his second term, didn't want to transport the enormous cheese when he left office.
In 1837, during his final party as president, Jackson invited the public to come and eat the cheese. About 10,000 people attended, and the cheese was devoured within two hours. However, the smell lingered long after the party, and Jackson's successor, Van Buren, had to air out the carpet, paint, and whitewash the room to get rid of the odour.
The story of Jackson's cheese has been popularised by the TV show "The West Wing," which featured a “Big Block of Cheese Day” inspired by the historical event. The show depicted the cheese as a populist symbol, accessible to anyone who was hungry. While this interpretation may be romanticised, it reflects Jackson's desire to share the cheese with the public and engage with everyday Americans.
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In 1837, Jackson invited the public to come and eat the cheese
In 1837, President Andrew Jackson invited the public to come and eat a 1,400-pound wheel of cheddar cheese that had been sitting in the White House for two years. The cheese was a gift from a group of dairy-farming supporters from upstate New York, including Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, who owned one of the largest dairies in the United States. Jackson displayed the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to make a dent in the massive block of cheese.
As Jackson's second term was coming to an end, he decided to get rid of the cheese by making it the featured attraction at his last public reception at the White House. The reception was attended by 10,000 visitors, who devoured the entire wheel of cheese in just two hours. The event became known as "Big Block of Cheese Day" and was later immortalised in an episode of the TV show "The West Wing".
The cheese party was not a purely altruistic gesture, as Jackson had been trying to get rid of the cheese for some time. It had reportedly started to smell quite strongly, and the stench had permeated the White House, even after the cheese was gone. Jackson's successor, Van Buren, had to rip out the curtains, sand the walls, and paint over them to get rid of the smell.
Despite the somewhat chaotic nature of the event, Jackson's cheese party left a lasting impact. It has been interpreted as a symbol of a caring democracy and a populist gesture, with the president sharing food with the people. The story has also inspired modern White House administrations to hold similar events, such as days of social media outreach and answering questions from the public, in an effort to connect with the American people.
Overall, Andrew Jackson's decision to invite the public to come and eat the big cheese in 1837 has become a memorable and influential moment in the history of the White House and American democracy.
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The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell lingered
Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a New York dairy farmer, Thomas Meacham. The cheese was displayed in the Entrance Hall of the White House for almost two years, during which time it emitted a strong odour that could be smelled from several blocks away.
In 1837, towards the end of his second term, Jackson hosted a party to get rid of the cheese, inviting the public to come and eat it. The reception attracted 10,000 visitors, who devoured the entire block of cheese in just two hours. However, the smell of cheese lingered in the White House, and it took days of cleaning to get rid of the stench. Jackson's successor, Van Buren, had to air out the carpet, remove the curtains, and paint and whitewash the room to eliminate the cheese smell.
The cheese was intended as a symbol of the rising might of American agriculture and industry and was seen as a populist gesture by Jackson. The incident inspired the "Big Block of Cheese Day" in the TV show "The West Wing," in which White House officials answer questions from the public, reflecting Jackson's openness and accessibility to the American people.
While the cheese was certainly a unique gift, it also served as a marketing stunt by Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, who owned one of the largest dairies in the United States. The episode showcases the power of cheese to captivate the public, leaving a lasting impression that even the passage of time couldn't erase.
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The cheese inspired Big Block of Cheese Day on *The West Wing*
The story of Andrew Jackson's big cheese inspired the creation of "Big Block of Cheese Day" in the TV show *The West Wing*. In the show, the day is a colloquial reference to a Bartlet White House tradition of granting access to interest groups that would not ordinarily receive attention from White House staff.
In one episode, titled "The Crackpots and These Women", White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry recounts the story of Andrew Jackson's two-ton block of cheese, which was placed in the foyer of the White House for anyone who was hungry. While the story serves as a symbol of the White House's openness to the American people, it is also mocked by other characters, who view the day as a nuisance.
In reality, Andrew Jackson did receive a 1,400-pound block of cheese from a New York dairy farmer. Jackson kept the cheese in the Entrance Hall of the White House for two years before inviting the public to come and eat it in 1837. The cheese was consumed within two hours, but the smell lingered for much longer, allegedly permeating the fixtures of the White House.
The story of Jackson's big cheese has been immortalized not only through *The West Wing* but also through a painting by Benjamin Perley Poore in 1886. The tradition of "Big Block of Cheese Day" has also been continued by the Obama White House, with officials taking to social media for a day-long "open house" to answer questions from the public.
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Frequently asked questions
Andrew Jackson received a 1,400-pound block of cheese as a gift from a group of dairy-farming supporters from upstate New York.
Jackson's admirers wanted to pay him an honour similar to one received by Thomas Jefferson, who was gifted a 1,200-pound cheese.
Jackson displayed the cheese in the White House for a year. He then invited the public to come and eat it at a party in 1837.
The cheese was gone in two hours, but the smell remained for much longer.
Jackson's successor, Van Buren, had to rip out the curtains, sand and whitewash the walls, and air the carpet for many days to get rid of the smell.
