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Early maps referred to the White House as the “President’s Palace,” but in 1810, the building was officially named “Executive Mansion” in order to avoid any connection to royalty. The residence has also been called “President’s House,” or “President’s Mansion.” In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt changed the official name to “White House,” a moniker that had been used throughout the 19th century. “There had been a pool inside the White House added by Franklin Roosevelt that he would use as exercise for his polio, but later, Gerald Ford wanted an outdoor pool,” says Fling. Ford’s pool was built on the South Lawn, and Roosevelt’s indoor pool was covered and turned into a press briefing room.
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Residence for the President
The architect was chosen in a contest that received several proposals and was won by James Hoban. Hoban was persuaded to submit a design by Washington himself, who was the judge, and of course selected it. The District of Columbia is located between the states of Virginia and Maryland, along the banks of the Potomac River. The U.S. Constitution has provided for it as a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, so it is not part of any state. The next significant renovation in the White House took place in 1824 under the mandate of Thomas Jefferson, who designated Benjamin Henry Latrobe as the “Supervisor of Public Buildings” of the United States.
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There are many types, with all sorts of colors and materials used. Aside from the styling, the size of a love seat must also be scrutinized so it fits your design theme. The size of the White House and its appearance has come to represent power and prestige.
Who Was the First President to Live in the White House?
“The only people who are going to benefit are big law firms in Washington, DC, because they are going to go after every single president. They will start with Obama, Fast and Furious, right, where he gives 2,000 weapons to cartel members,” Eric Trump mused. Last July, Secret Service agents discovered a small baggie in a vestibule near the Situation Room and a floor below the Oval Office that they later concluded contained under a gram of cocaine. The Trump scion further cautioned that if his father fails to win his bid for absolute immunity then the floodgates could be open to a flurry of prosecutions against other presidents. “You don’t get many opportunities like this on a major issue,” said Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the Republican majority leader. He was one of 15 lawmakers, aides and officials directly involved in shaping and passing the bill who were interviewed for this article.
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Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week. In June 2023, fighter jets moved to intercept a light aircraft that violated Washington DC airspace near the White House, before it crashed in Virginia.[108] All occupants in the intrusion aircraft were killed. The White House was the scene of mourning after the assassination of Pres. While Mary Todd Lincoln lay in her room for five weeks grieving for her husband, many White House holdings were looted. Responding to charges that she had stolen government property when she left the White House, she angrily inventoried all the items she had taken with her, including gifts of quilts and waxworks from well-wishers. We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better.
Truman and his family lived in Blair House across the street during the renovations. In 1800, when the house was almost finished, the second president of the United States, John Adams, and his wife Abigail moved into it. The President’s House was destroyed by fire under the invasion of the British army. James Hoban rebuilt it according to the original design, but this time the sandstone walls were painted white.

Making It Accessible
Also two stories, the East Wing, meanwhile, contains office space for the first lady and her staff and features a covered entrance for guests during large events. The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., in Washington, D.C., perhaps the nation's most famous address. Empowered by the Residence Act of 1790, President George Washington chose the exact spot for the 10-square-mile capital, on the Potomac River's east bank and near the Capitol building. Builders laid the White House cornerstone on October 13, 1792, with the Capitol cornerstone following soon after on August 18, 1793. James Hoban, an Irish immigrant and architect hand-picked by President George Washington, designed the original building.
The architectural style of the White House
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During Jefferson’s tenure, the White House was elegantly furnished in Louis XVI style (known in America as Federal style). L’Enfant initially proposed an opulent design for the residence, which would have resulted in a building four times the size of what stands today. He was ultimately dismissed by the three-person committee overseeing the development of the District of Columbia, and his palatial design was abandoned. Instead, Washington and his secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, decided that the design would be chosen through a national competition. The official home for the U.S. president was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the 1790s.
Construction and Design
With structural problems mounting from the 1902 installation of floor-bearing steel beams, most of the building’s interior was stripped bare as a new concrete foundation went in place. The Trumans helped redesign most of the state rooms and decorate the second and third floors, and the president proudly displayed the results during a televised tour of the completed house in 1952. The building’s South and North Porticoes were added in 1824 and 1829, respectively, while John Quincy Adams established the residence’s first flower garden. The practice continued until 1885, when newly elected Grover Cleveland arranged for a presidential review of the troops from a grandstand in front of the White House instead of the traditional open house.
The exterior of the residential portion requires 300 gallons of paint. The ground floor has ten rooms, 6 comfort rooms and the main corridor. The State Floor has an entrance hall, the main corridor and 8 rooms. President Jefferson’s design concepts partially survive through the galleries that connect the White House residence with the east and west wings. The galleries are used for domestic purposes and do not provide additional office space. Conservatories were built on the residence’s west side in the late 19th century.
He also displayed the painting Fired On by Western artist Frederic Remington. The massive size of the building is estimated to consume around 300 gallons of paint at the exterior part. When this building was repainted in 1994, it took about 570 gallons of white paint to paint the whole building, both the internal and the outer sections, costing the federal government more than $283,000. John Adams became the first president to reside in the White House after its construction was accomplished in 1800. When John Adams and his family moved into this house, the building had not been fully furnished.
"The sight of sheep grazing on the south lawn of the White House may seem unusual, but during World War I, it was a highly visible symbol of home front support of the troops overseas," the White House Historical Association explains. "The flock, which numbered 48 at its peak, saved manpower by cutting the grass and earned $52,823 for the Red Cross through an auction of their wool." A fire in that wing broke out on Christmas Eve in 1929, damaging much of the structure and its furnishings. First Lady Dolley Madison — who lived in the White House at the time — refused to leave the burning building until the portrait was accounted for. All eyes have been on the White House since President Joe Biden moved in on January 20. The "elliptic salon" at the center of the White House was the outstanding feature of Hoban's original plan.
They also reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The President referred to his statement with 17 other world leaders demanding that Hamas release their citizens without delay to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including through preparations to open new northern crossings starting this week. The President stressed the need for this progress to be sustained and enhanced in full coordination with humanitarian organizations. The leaders discussed Rafah and the President reiterated his clear position.
Most of the other weddings that took place were for people in the president's family — most often their children. Ten people have died in the White House, including two presidents (William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor) and three first ladies (Letitia Tyler, Caroline Harrison and Ellen Wilson). The White House first became equipped with accessibility features like ramps and elevators when Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office, as he suffered from polio and used a wheelchair in private. The Oval Office was created by President Howard Taft in 1909, when he called for an expansion of the West Wing, where the office is located. "The government did not own slaves, but officials did hire out enslaved laborers from their owners," according to White House records, many of whom were trained on the spot to do the work of brickmakers, carpenters and quarrymen.
The White House and its surrounding grounds serve as the home of the President of the United States and First Family. It’s also a museum of American history—and a place where that history continues to unfold every day. The court was altered again when President Barack Obama came into office, modifying it to allow for basketball as well as tennis.
And I think because I have been on the beat a long time and in the business a long time, I am quite comfortable pushing for things that I believe we need to get the job done. Visitors who wish to use a White House wheelchair should notify a U.S. Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged, as there is no parking available on the White House complex and street parking is limited. The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, silver, and red lines), and McPherson Square (blue, orange, and silver lines). All U.S. citizens ages 18 and older, and foreign nationals of all ages (including children), must present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon arrival for their tour.