All the Presidents’ House
For the past year most of us have watched events in the US concluding in the recent election. In January, Donald Trump will move into the most famous address in the world – 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC the White House. I had the privilege recently of visiting the stately mansion, the oldest public building in the District of Columbia. It is the only residence used by a head of State, which is open to the public though there are certain regulations in place due to security constraints. Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President, opened the house to the public in the mornings.Franklin Delano Roosevelt the only President to have served four terms described the mansion as follows:“I never forget that I live in a House owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust.”
A commentary at the beginning of the tour at the Visitors’ entrance displays a TV introduction by First Lady Michelle Obama – “This is really what the White House is all about – it’s the “People’s House. It’s a place that is steeped in history, but it’s also a place where everyone should feel welcome. And that’s why my husband and I have made it our mission to open up the house to as many people as we can.”
Outgoing US President Barack Obama on the recent campaign described his occupancy of the mansion as “a house Michelle and I have rented for eight years” and was making an inventory of what may have been damaged by Bo and Sunny, the family’s two Portuguese water dogs!
On January 20, 2017, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in and the present incumbent will leave the building on the same day after welcoming the new President at the entrance. Previously, the inauguration was held in March but was shifted to January when FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) took his oath of office for his second term in 1937.
President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first occupants of the White House. The plans for building the mansion were made in the 1790s. Architect, James Hoban was Irish and modelled the plans on Leinster house in Dublin, Ireland. The house was built of Aquia creek sandstone from Stafford, Virginia over eight years by a workforce of freed, enslaved slaves along with European migrants. Prior to that the first President, George Washington selected the site now known as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The house was burnt by the British in 1814 in revenge for the burning of public buildings in Canada by American troops and was rebuilt by the same architect. Dolley Madison, the wife of James Madison refused to leave the house until she had wrenched the portrait of George Washington from its frame (which is now in the state dining room) and sped away to join her husband to safety. The Madisons moved into the incomplete house in 1809. The next incumbent to move in after the house was rebuilt was President James Monroe in September 1817.
During the Civil War that tore the nation apart, the house became the centre for decision-making; President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in his second floor office and troops were quartered in the East Room during the early stages of the Civil war. He was the first President assassinated and his body lay in state in the East Room.
Jacqueline Kennedy’s painting of the White House at the Kennedy Library in Boston and above, the visitors’ entrance
The house has developed over the years with the needs of each resident. John Quincy Adams, the sixth President and the son of the second President laid out the gardens. Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 transferred the Executive Office from the residence to the West Wing. William Taft then enlarged the Oval Office. A complete renovation was undertaken during Harry Truman’s term and the famous Truman balcony was added overlooking the sprawling lawns. He lived with his wife across the road at Blair House, now used by state guests.
The movie theatre for private viewings was the work of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The famous Rose Garden (formerly the coach houses) borders the Oval Office and was introduced by Ellen Wilson, Woodrow Wilson’s wife. The garden was redesigned by Rachael Mellon during John F. Kennedy’s term. An interesting detail is that on July 1, gnomes were placed in the garden to represent every living President. The garden is now used to greet distinguished visitors, for certain ceremonies and receptions and is also a private space for the President to relax. The swimming pool was built during FDR’s administration as he was stricken with polio and the West and East Wings were expanded as well to meet the growing needs. Internet facilities for the complex were introduced by George H. W. Bush in 1992 and the Vegetable Garden introduced by Michelle Obama to promote “healthy eating habits” especially amongst schoolchildren who assisted in cultivating it.
The House has also carried various names such as “President’s Palace”, the “President’s House”, and the “Executive Mansion” until Theodore Roosevelt renamed it “The White House”.
The White House has 142 rooms, including 35 bathrooms on six floors and is approximately 55,000 sq. ft. It has been said that if George Washington should reappear he would still recognise the house as there are not many changes to the main structure.
When Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy occupied the house during her husband’s tenure in the early 60’s, she worked to restore the house to its earlier elegance and to protect its holdings. Major reforms were undertaken by a committee she headed which secured donations, antiques from the founding fathers and bought period furniture and artifacts. They rummaged through the storage rooms of the old house and finally on completion established the house as a museum of American art and history. Jackie Kennedy wrote a book setting out the history of the house and documenting the artifacts. In a televised tour, broadcast to 56 million viewers, she won an Emmy for her performance for introducing the refurbished house to viewers.
I inquired from the security personnel present whether there had been any changes since and was informed that nothing had changed. As Patron of the Arts Jacqueline invited eminent musicians to perform at the White House for state events.
The First Family live in private quarters on the second and third floor and the Lincoln Bedroom, the Cabinet Room and the Queen’s Bedroom used for Royalty are on these floors, but not open to the public nor is the Oval Office. However, replicas of past President’s Oval Offices since the time of FDR are displayed in their libraries in their home state.
The visit begins at the Visitors’ Entrance Building near the Treasury building. As you enter the house there are portraits of Presidents and First Ladies that line the corridor and hallways of the ground and state floors. The floral arrangements are striking. The present President’s last banquet for the Italian President had been held the night before and the flower arrangements were even more resplendent.
The Library contains volumes of history, biography, fiction and sciences by American authors. The Vermeil Room contains all the silver used for all the functions leading to the China Room where all the China and glass used by successive Presidents is displayed in cabinets. When required Presidents designed their own china, which carries the official seal. The Diplomatic Reception Room is not included on the tour but is one of three oval rooms where Ambassadors present their credentials.
The Map Room was the situation room during the Second World War for FDR and was used by the Independent Counsel, Ken Starr during the examination of President Bill Clinton in the Lewinsky affair. Barack Obama also took his Oath of Office for the second time in this room in 2009 due to an error during the swearing in ceremony of his first term.
The East Room, the largest room in the White House is used for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences and other events. Weddings have also been held here for Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter and Lyndon Johnson’s elder daughter. Seven Presidents have also lain in state in the room. Abigail Adams hung her washing in the unfinished room when the Adams moved in.
The Green Room (with light green silk draperies) once used by Thomas Jefferson as a dining room is now a parlour and used for receptions. The Italian white marble mantelpiece was purchased in 1818 for the State dining room but moved here.
The elegant Blue Room is used often by the President to receive guests and is furnished in the period of James Monroe who bought certain pieces after the fire of 1814. Portraits of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe hang here. The White House Christmas tree is placed in this room. At the entrance to the room is the Presidential seal.
Another attractive room is the Red Room used for small receptions, a favourite of the First Ladies. It is described as being furnished in the American Empire Parlour style of 1810-30. John Adams, the second President of the US used this room to breakfast in and Rutherford Hayes took the oath of office here. The marble mantel is identical to the one in the Green Room.
A security official pointed out the private dining room that was used by Jackie Kennedy.
The State Room seats 130 guests for official lunches or dinners. The walls are lined with English Oak from 1902. Carved into the fireplace mantel is a quotation from a letter of John Adams, which is worth pondering over.
“Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and All that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof.”