White House History, Location, & Facts

Table Of Content

• A 'regimented' process to planning the dinner
• White House considers welcoming some Palestinians from war-torn Gaza as refugees
• Overcrowding and building the West Wing
• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
• We’re bringing advanced chip manufacturing back to America after 40 years.
• Presidents
• Architectural competition

Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the President’s Cabinet — carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government. They are joined in this by other executive agencies such as the CIA and Environmental Protection Agency, the heads of which are not part of the Cabinet, but who are under the full authority of the President. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal offices. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

A 'regimented' process to planning the dinner

Lauren Sánchez’s state dinner dress ignites red-hot debate over White House fashion - The Hill

Lauren Sánchez’s state dinner dress ignites red-hot debate over White House fashion.

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The mission of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people. DOI manages approximately 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the land in the United States, and manages hundreds of dams and reservoirs. Agencies within the DOI include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. The DOI manages the national parks and is tasked with protecting endangered species. The DOE promotes America’s energy security by encouraging the development of reliable, clean, and affordable energy. It administers federal funding for scientific research to further the goal of discovery and innovation — ensuring American economic competitiveness and improving the quality of life for Americans.

White House considers welcoming some Palestinians from war-torn Gaza as refugees

Reservations cannot be accepted for tour dates outside this 21 – 90-day window. Kamala and I will continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law.And until then, we’ll continue taking action to protect patients and ensure access to high-quality health care. A guide to 10 of the very best historic sites in America's capital city, including The Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and The White House. The White House has also been subjected to disaster, including two fires, one at the hands of the British in 1814 and one in the West Wing in 1929.

Overcrowding and building the West Wing

Contrary to a popular myth that the building was painted white to hide scorch marks after the fire in 1814, the residence was first painted white in 1798 to protect the exterior from weather damage. In 1800, President John Adams and first lady Abigail Adams moved into the still unfinished building on November 1. While it was much smaller than L’Enfant’s proposal, the completed building was still the largest home in the country and would retain that title until after the Civil War. According to the White House Historical Association, the cost of construction was $232,372. The cornerstone was laid on October 13, 1792, and over the next eight years a construction team comprised of both enslaved and freed African Americans and European immigrants built the Aquia Creek sandstone structure.

A wide variety of ceremonial activities occur during visits to the United States. The specific order of occurrence will vary based on the visitor's itinerary and is determined in advance during pre-visit negotiations between protocol officials of the United States and the visiting state. However, the activities allowed and the form they take proceed generally according to a schedule that accounts for the visitor's rank and the nature of the visit. State Visits are a key part of presidential diplomacy helping to develop and maintain relationships with other countries. These visits involve a rigorous schedule, including an Arrival Ceremony, diplomatic talks, a State Dinner, and entertainment in the East Room. 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.

Famous rooms in the White House include the Blue Room, where President Grover Cleveland married the youngest first lady in history and the President’s Oval Office, which replaced the Roosevelt Room, where President Roosevelt used to house a fish tank and fishing paraphernalia. In fact, President Truman spent most of his term living elsewhere due to the major extent of the renovations undertaken. The White House kitchen has the capacity to prepare dinner for 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres for over 1,000. Each president adds their own personal style to the workspace, choosing artwork from the White House collection or borrowing from museums. Six desks have been used in the Oval Office, the most famous of which is the Resolute desk. Made of wood from the HMS Resolute, the desk is currently in use by President Biden.

“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. The White House’s attic was converted into a third floor during the Coolidge administration, and over the years, it has hosted a music room for President Clinton and a bedroom suite for Melania Trump. There is also a solarium, added by Grace Coolidge, with panoramic views of the Mall. Architect Lorenzo Winslow oversaw the three-year gut renovation, during which the inside of the White House was demolished and completely rebuilt. “The Truman renovation is the largest reconstruction at the White House because of the sheer amount of demolition and reconstruction that you see inside,” says Fling.

Bordering the East Colonnade is the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, which was begun by Jacqueline Kennedy but completed after her husband's assassination. The three-level southern façade combines Palladian and neoclassical architectural styles. The south portico was completed in 1824.[33] At the center of the southern façade is a neoclassical projected bow of three bays. The bow is flanked by five bays, the windows of which, as on the north façade, have alternating segmented and pointed pediments at first-floor level. The bow has a ground-floor double staircase leading to an Ionic colonnaded loggia and the Truman Balcony, built in 1946.[33] The more modern third floor is hidden by a balustraded parapet and plays no part in the composition of the façade. Nine proposals were submitted for the new presidential residence with the award going to Irish-American architect James Hoban.

Architectural competition

The foundation was laid in 1792 by a labor force of African American slaves, free African American laborers, and other immigrants who were yet to legalize their status in America, many of whom were from Europe. The construction plan was made by French engineer Charles Pierre L’Efant and it entailed having two floors and using less costly materials but it had to be altered after problems. As the official workplace and executive residence of the president of the United States, the White House stands as one of the most famous, and recognizable, buildings in the world.

Apportioned by population to the 50 states — one for each member of their congressional delegation (with the District of Columbia receiving 3 votes) — these Electors then cast the votes for President. 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. The White House houses the executive office of the President, and serves as the President's residence.

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. Architect Eric Gugler more than doubled the space of what was becoming known as the “West Wing,” added a swimming pool in the west terrace for the polio-stricken president, and moved the Oval Office to the southeast corner. A new east wing was constructed in 1942, its cloakroom transformed into a movie theater.

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. Dickens was not the only foreign visitor to be disappointed with the White House. The interior was redecorated during various presidential administrations and modern conveniences were regularly added, including a refrigerator in 1845, gas lighting in 1849, and electric lighting in 1891.