President’s Day is always in February, so what a great opportunity to tie that holiday into our real estate business. Behind every great man is a fabulous woman, and the presidents were no exception. Their first ladies each put their own mark on their newest home, the White House.
Exterior
Ellen Wilson, the first wife of Woodrow Wilson, first imagined the well-known White House Rose Garden, which bordered the Oval Office, West Wing, and the residence. Michelle Obama, our most recent former First Lady, added a vegetable garden, which complemented the Rose Garden wonderfully.
Pat Nixon added visibility to the White House, with a dramatic outdoor lighting system. She’s responsible for the beauty of the White House to folks walking, driving, and even in planes flying above. She is also responsible for making the White House accessible to those with physical restrictions.
Renovations
Theodore Roosevelt’s wife, Edith Roosevelt, wanted the office of the staff removed from the residence, which inspired the construction of the West Wing in 1902. She then renovated the residence in a classical style, adding the ground floor corridor of the all the portraits of the First Ladies.
In the 1920s, Grace Coolidge created a “sky parlor”, which is part of the Solarium or Sun Room that has been hugely popular with first families. During roof renovations, she took the opportunity to add some improvements to that area, so it now offered an open sky view through walls of glass.
Decor
The First Lady with the most changes is Jacqueline Kennedy. She began a historical restoration in 1961, hoping to enrich the décor of both the interior and exterior to reflect the mansion’s history. The only room still with her decorating touch is the small, private Queen’s Sitting Room.
Hillary Clinton added a public display of art, both inside the White House and within the formal gardens. Glass, pottery, and ceramic artwork by the US artist, rotated through the three floors of the White House.
Preservation
We cannot overlook Bess Truman’s special contribution to the White House. In 1948, the mansion was declared too dangerous for occupancy. Many suggested it might be more economical to tear it down and rebuild. Mrs. Truman stood her ground, insisting instead that the interior be gutted and modernized. She believed the four walls of the original White House, which survived a fire during the War of 1812, must be preserved. The White House has been cherished by Americans and first families for over 200 years thanks to Bess Truman.