Photo -- See Caption Below


Souvenir Plate
Depicts Ike and Mamie on a souvenir plate. Mamie purchased this plate at a Stuckey's store, located off of the Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg, PA.
Earthenware. Dia 19.0 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 3134.

Shopping
Shopping was one of the First lady’s favorite pastimes. She would buy clothes and jewelry for herself and assorted gifts for friends, family, and employees. But she also enjoyed accumulating inexpensive, kitschy mementoes. Purchases like the presidential plate from a nearby Stuckey’s souvenir stand reflected her unpretentious, down-to-earth nature. The plate cost approximately $2.99. Many of the Secret Service agents dreaded the First Lady’s shopping excursions. If the agents were married, she would insist they purchase a gift for their wives. Before long, only the bachelor agents seemed to be available to accompany Mamie shopping.