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Counting the Oval Office and the Rose Garden among its famous features, it remains the only private residence of a head of state open free of charge to the public. While it was only a project on the drafting table, the design of the EEOB was subject to controversy. When it was completed in 1888, the Second Empire style had fallen from favor, and Mullett’s masterpiece was perceived by capricious Victorians as only an embarrassing reminder of past whims in architectural preference. This was especially the case with the EEOB, since previous plans for a building on the same site had been in the Greek Revival style of the Treasury Building.
Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President
And while the commander-in-chief was away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that didn't mean the White House remained idle. Designers from the General Service Administration (an agency of the U.S. government) worked overtime to complete a much-needed $3.4 million renovation. The redesign included the updating of a 27-year-old H.V.A.C. system, upgrading the building's IT systems, and repairing the South Portico steps for the first time since the Eisenhower administration (1953–1961).
FIRST FLOOR
While the financing for the White House make-over was approved by the Obama administration, Trump's staff didn't miss an opportunity to attack the former president. Though some presidents have chosen to do day-to-day work in a smaller study just west of the Oval Office, most use the actual Oval Office for work and meetings. Traffic from the large numbers of staff, visitors, and pets over time takes its toll. The original floor was made of cork installed over softwood; however, President Eisenhower was an avid golfer and damaged the floor with his golf spikes. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan had the floor replaced with quarter sawn oak and walnut, in a cross parquet pattern similar in design to a 1933 Eric Gugler sketch, which had never been executed. In August 2005, the floor was replaced again under President George W. Bush, in exactly the same pattern as the Reagan floor.
Cocaine found in White House near where guests enter West Wing - The Washington Post
Cocaine found in White House near where guests enter West Wing.
Posted: Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The President's Neighborhood
The Indian Treaty Room, originally the Navy’s library and reception room, cost more per square foot than any other room in the building because of its rich marble wall panels, tiled floors, 800-pound bronze sconces, and gold-leaf ornamentation. This room has been the scene of many Presidential news conferences and continues to be used for conferences and receptions attended by the President. The remaining north, west, and center wings were constructed for the War Department and took an additional 10 years to build. Notable interiors include an ornate cast-iron library, the Secretary’s suite, and the stained glass skylight over the west wing’s double staircase. By 1870 the ice house had been floored over for a black servants’ dining room and lounge, hiding that ear- lier feature for the rest of the century.
It’s been cut out entirely from the space and sent off to Obama’s presidential library, Gustafson said. The new space was designed so panels can be removed and updated and new technology swapped in, usually with less space needs. The complex is staffed around the clock by military and civilian personnel who monitor breaking developments worldwide.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the White House did a significant Situation Room update, along with a broader upgrade to presidential communications on Air Force One and the presidential helicopter. Presidents used the complex for secure video conferences before such tech became more portable. These are rooms where history happens, where the president meets with national security officials to discuss secret operations and sensitive government matters, speaks with foreign leaders and works through major national security crises. During the Nixon Administration, more space was required to accommodate the growing press corps.
A contest to find a builder produced a winning design from Irish-born architect James Hoban, who modeled his building after an Anglo-Irish villa in Dublin called the Leinster House. Gradually, the original tenants of the EEOB vacated the building — the Navy Department left in 1918 (except for the Secretary who stayed until 1921), followed by the War Department in 1938, and finally by the State Department in 1947. The White House began to move some of its offices across West Executive Avenue in 1939, and in 1949 the building was turned over to the Executive Office of the President and renamed the Executive Office Building. The building continues to house various agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President, such as the White House Office, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the National Security Council. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, located next to the West Wing, is an impressive structure that commands a unique position in both our nation’s history and its architectural heritage. Originally built for the State, War, and Navy Departments between 1871 and 1888, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building now houses a majority of offices for White House staff.
Footnotes & Resources
Instead, Hoban was brought back to rebuild it nearly from scratch, in some areas incorporating the original, charred walls. Upon reassuming residency in 1817, James Madison and his wife Dolley gave the home a more regal touch by decorating with extravagant French furniture. The French Second Empire style originated in Europe, where it first appeared during the rebuilding of Paris in the 1850s and 60s. Based upon French Renaissance prototypes, such as the Louvre Palace, the Second Empire style is characterized by the use of a steep mansard roof, central and end pavilions, and an elaborately sculptured facade.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Charles McKim removed the steps completely in 1902 and the defunct landing became a private sitting area. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who screened the area off from the Center Hall, particularly enjoyed it. In the subsequent Truman Renovation, architects enclosed the hall with solid partitions and created a living room.
West Wing tour guest likely brought cocaine in, White House sources say - NBC News
West Wing tour guest likely brought cocaine in, White House sources say.
Posted: Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The architectural expansion of the West Wing reflects the growth and adaptability of our nation. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of our leaders, who faced adversity with grace and sought to strengthen the foundations of our democracy. This room serves as a powerful reminder that progress is achieved through collaboration and a shared vision for the future.
The "elliptic salon" at the center of the White House was the outstanding feature of Hoban's original plan. An architect, James Hoban, visited President Washington in Philadelphia in June 1792, and probably saw the bow window.[9] The next month, Hoban won the design competition for the White House. He spent most of his presidency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which served as the temporary national capital for 10 years, from 1790 to 1800, while Washington, D.C., a new city, was under construction. Burned to the ground by the British in August 1814, the President’s House was nearly left in its smoldering remains as lawmakers contemplated moving the capital to another city.
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