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3 Century-Old Mansions May Be Kazed
To Make Room for State Department Annex
THREATENED-Blair House (left) and Decatur House are located on the square bounded by Penn-
sylvania ave., H st., Jackson pl. and 17th st., where the State Department plans to erect an 18 mil-
lion dollar annex. Decatur house is shown as it appeared before restoration several years ago
Three century-old houses that
Quincy Adams; Martin Van Buren,
Blair House, the mother home,
have watched the passing parade of
and Edward Livingston, succeeding
was erected by Surgeon General
American history may soon give
Secretary of State under Andrew
Joseph Lovell in 1824 and was
way to postwar progress.
Jackson.
bought by the Blairs for $6500.
Decatur House, Blair House, and
During the Civil War the house
Four generations of the family
Blair-Lee House, that now control
was used for offices, but was bought
lived there, beginning with Francis
the block overlooking the State De-
afterward by Edward Fitzgerald
Preston Blair, who came from Ken-
Beale, a Virginian who fought in
tucky at the request of President
partment and Lafayette Square,
are in danger of being razed in
the Mexican War and helped found
Andrew Jackson to establish a
order that an 18 million dollar
the State of California. President
newspaper, "The Congressional
State Department annex may be
Grant appointed him United States
Globe."
constructed on the block.
Minister to Austria-Hungary. His
As a wedding gift to his daugh-
son, the late Truxtun Beale, whose
ter, he built next-door Blair-Lee
Oldest of the three homes is De-
widow still lives in the mansion,
House, which the United States
cator House, at 748 Jackson pl. nw.,
was formerly United States Min-
Government bought several years
which was threatened with destruc-
ister to Persia and to Greece.
before acquiring Blair House. It
tion eight years ago.
Decatur House faced its first
was used as an office building for
This house was built in 1818 for
threat in 938 when the estate of
the Mexican Claims Commission
Commodore Stephen Decatur by
Truxtun Beale was being settled.
until 1944, when it was remodeled
Architect Benjamin H. Latrobe,
Public-spirited citizens who wanted
and turned into a guest house for
leader of the Greek architecture
to save the house as a museum
visitors of the State Department.
revival who planned St. John's
formed a "Save the Decatur House"
House Bought in 1940
Church and worked on the design
movement which was by Secre-
Blair House itself was bought
of the Capitol building.
tary of the Interior Harold Ickes.
by the Government after the death
Common belief is that Decatur
paid for the house with prize
Home Was Restored
of Maj. Blair in 1940, and has been
After this hazard was safely past,
used as a temporary home for visi-
money for the capture of the
frigate Philadelphia, which had
Mrs. Beale had the home restored
tors of the White House.
Preservation Copy
fallen into the hands of the Tri-
to its original plans, according to
Its first Government guest was
politan pirates.
Latrobe's water-color architectural
the President of Chile. Since then
Family history, however, shows
drawings.
many other Presidents, including
that Congress refused to vote prize
The hand-made Georgian bricks
the present President of the United
money on this occasion because
were cleaned of paint; windows
States, have visited Blair House.
Decatur burned the Philadel-
were reglazed; and iron balconies
President Roosevelt was there
phia instead of attempting to bring
on the front windows gave way to
once for an hour and a half only a
her out of harbor.
shutters. The house, even now, is
few weeks before his death. He
Decatur and his young bride
lighted entirely by candles and oil
came to see a portrait of himself
lived in this house for little more
lamps, and has neither gas nor
painted by Commander Edward
HARRY
ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY
"NATIONAL
Murray, which hangs in the library
RECORDS
than a year when he was brought
electricity.
home mortally wounded from a
Yesterday Mrs. Beale commented
of the old home.
dual with Commodore Barron at
but briefly on the possible razing:
"This room, the library, was his
GOVERNMENT
Bladensburg, Md.
"I have had offer after offer of
favorite room," and the favorite
After his death, Decatur's house
money for this house. Unless the
of the Trumans," Mrs. Victoria
saw many famous masters. Baron
public takes a hand, I am inclined
Geaney, custodian housekeeper,
Hyde de Neuville, French Minister
to sit back and let things take their
said. She added that it was former
to the United States, lived there.
course."
President Roosevelt's wish that the
After him a Russian Minister,
Around the corner from Decatur
house would remain there always,
Baron de Tuyll, came. He was fol-
House are Blair House and Blair-
because no one who looked on this
Washington Post,
lowed by Henry Clay, Secretary
Lee Houses, at 1651 and 1653 Penn-
treasury of Americana could feel January 21, 1946
of State under President John
sylvania ave. nw.
any enmity toward our country
A Stake Marked the Spot Wash. Post 20:
1946
Decorator Truman Rushes In
Where Washington Never Slept
President Truman's recently announced plans to spend $1,650,000
remodeling the White House and materially changing its appearance
raised a storm of protest from congressional and civic leaders which
has focused attention on the history of the President's home. In
the first of a series of three articles The Post presents some of the
highlights in the building of the historic house, which has come to
be regarded as a national shrine.
(Citizens Associations disapprove White House changes. Page 12.)
By John F. Gerrity
Post Staff Writer
One March day in 1792 the
"premium of $500 or a medal of that
first President of the United States
value" to the person who would
halted his horse on a wooded ridge,
submit the most acceptable plans
for a President's House. The word
commanding a superb view of the
"palace" departed with L'Enfant.
Potomac River, nudged a French
James Hoban, a young Irish ar-
engineer by his side, and said,
chitect, who was then living in.
"We shall build here."
Charlestown, S. C., and whose de-
That simply did George Wash-
sign was copied largely from the
ington select the home site of his
plan of the palace of the Duke of
31 successors.
Leinster in Dublin, was the suc-
That same day he directed Maj.
cessful competitor. His drawings
Pierre C. L'Enfant, designer of the
were approved; he was awarded his
city, to drive into the ground a
"premium" and promptly hired by
stake marking the spot where the
the Commissioners at an annual
center of the "President's Palace"
salary of 100 guineas to supervise
would be.
the building.
L'Enfant, however, did no more
Hoban's sketches called for a far
than that for shortly thereafter he
more modest structure than the
was dismissed. The city commission-
palace conceived by L'Enfant, and
ers-Thomas Johnson and Daniel
there was some trouble in adapting
Carroll of Maryland and David
the plans to the site. The Commis-
Stuart of Virginia-then offered a
See WHITE, Page 10, Column 4.
Preservation Copy
HARRYA ARCHIVES AND
S.
HARRY
"NATIONAL
RECORDS
LIBRARY
SERVICE"
GOVERNMENT
President's Home a Century Ago
aftoman
y skilled art àc-
'S of patient en-
of man-power
tailors are ex-
st custom tailor-
: service we ren-
: reason we can
lete satisfaction
ailored clothes.
:tion of
Fabrics
gton
und Women
AFTER THE FIRE-The White House in the nineteenth century, rebuilt after it was burned by the
Co.
British in 1814
er
Since 1898
WHITE
From Page 1.
half-finished house, he stopped to
N
sioners wrote on August 3, 1792:
gaze through the windows that
"The President joined us yester-
faced toward the river-the same
day and the location of the house
spot where other Presidents would
has given him some difficulty. On
stand to ponder the affairs of the
the whole, he has concluded that
Nation.
the north front of the building
As he visualized the home as it
should be brought up to the post
would be completed, the torn
fixed by Major L'Enfant to mark
grounds, littered with workmen
the center of the building. Thus
shanties, cluttered with brick kilns,
it would be 'most in view to the
water pits and rubbish little ham-
diagonals and east and west streets
pered his imagining.
-though not so much from the
Abigail Adams Irked
Capitol as might be wished.'
Only the central portion of the
In September work began and
building, as designed by Hoban,
aquia stone was laboriously hauled
was initially built. It is substan-
from nearby Virginia to buttress
tially the same as it was then and
the stout oak beams-first skeleton
later rebuilt after the burning by
to the house.
the British in 1814
The cornerstone was laid the
following October 13 in a colorful
However, Abigail Adams, first
full dress Freemasons ceremony.
mistress of the house who arrived
From across the river in Alexan-
in 1800, took a more practical view
dria Masons came in their pictur-
of the unfinished home. She was
esque costumes-there was music,
impressed by its grandeur, but
speeches and prayers. The only
irked by its lack of conveniences
celebrity missing was the man re-
She wrote: "If New England had the
sponsible for the house.
making of this seat of the Govern-
He Toasted the Town
ment, it would be more nearly ready
than it is.
Early newspaper reports show
There was not enough furniture
that Washington had written from
for the great bare rooms. Al-
Mount Vernon on October 7 that
though the house was in "the midst
he "expected to set out tomorrow
of a great wooded area" firewood to
for Philadelphia." Next we hear
dry damp walls was expensive and
that he arrived in Baltimore on
"men to cut and cart it to the
October 10 and the record says that
house are most difficult to obtain."
"he and his lady spent the night in
The Adams family washing hung in
an elegant suite."
the now sumptuous East Room.
That evening at an elaborate
But even as the Adamses lived
supper he "drank a toast to the
there, improvements came. "Six
City of Washington and to the Ter-
chambers were made comfortable.
ritory of Columbia." Saturday aft-
A large oval room upstairs has the
ernoon Washington and his family
crimson furniture in it. "Handsome
arrived in Philadelphia-just about
as it is now, it will be beautiful
the time his Washington neighbors
when it is completed," wrote the
laid the trowel on the stone, which
First Lady, who said that to "keep
no one today can locate.
this great castle is a tax indeed."
Preservation Copy
George Washington and his fam-
Often the construction of the
ily never lived in the President's
house bogged down when fund rais-
House.
ing became difficult. But by the
On November 9, 1799, one month
time the Adamses were ready to
before he died, Washington visited
give way to Widower Thomas Jef-
his namesake city and toured the
ferson, $333,207 had been spent on
"publick buildings."
the President's House-which was
It adds to our sentiment to know
then conservatively judged to be
that when he walked through the "just
habitable."
TRUMA
HARRY LIBRARY
SUPREME COURT MIFFED
Surprise to Diplomatists.
That the order was a surprise to some
of the leading members of the Diplo,
matic Corps is undisputed. This is evi-
dent from one noteworthy fact-the ar:
AT JUDICIARY RECEPTION
rival of the dean of the corps. Count
Cassini, at twenty minutes past the
hour set for the opening of the recep,
tion and his taking his. place with his
staff in the general line, as guests-in-
ordinary of the President,
Most Distinguished Judicial Guests Resent
Count Cassini's regard for punctilious
official etiquette is thoroughly well
known by his confreres. They are well
Assignment in Rear of Diplomatic Corps.
aware that if he had expected to claim
the right to precede the judiciary, he
The Chief Justice Protests.
WS have been on hand, well in ad-
var of the hour set, to claim such a
right for himself and his colleagues,
Mexican Envoy Leads.
The old feud between the members of
the aide. "The Diplomatic Corps goes
In consequence, when the members of
the United States Supreme Court and
first.
the corps were invited to lead the line, the
the Diplomatic Corps over the right of
The Chief Justice thereupon asked the
Mexican ambassador was the ranking
official precedence, has broken out anew
aide when he had been appointed social
diplomatist present and was the first to
in consequence of an incident at the
director of the White House, and if
shake hands with the President, After
White House reception last night.
so, where he had received the remark-
him came the British and French am-
Though it was only one incident in the
able instructions he was carrying out.
bassadors with their staffs, and a num-
reception itself, and unknown to most
Justice Harlan asserted that never, in
ber of the ministers, with their legation
of the guests present, it was the main
all his experience at the Capital, had
attaches.
incident to the eminent jurists and nota-
he heard of such an occurrence. The
At 9:20 o'elock Count Cassini arrived
ble diplomatists present.
major seemed somewhat ruffled, but
and entered the general line as it was
Official Washington has experienced
nevertheless held to his course and did
passing through the Red Room.
many feuds over this right of prece-
not permit the justices to reach the
He was accompanied by Mr. Hanson,
dence, but the judicial-diplomatic one is
Blue Room until all the assembled dip-
Colonel Raspopow, Commander Bouta-
the most deep-rooted of all. It rests
lomats, big and little, had passed
koff, and Mr. Bobroff. Other diplomat-
upon the decision on the one question
along.
1sts joined the line, in similar way, as
which is to be ranked first: The highest
soon as they arrived, indicating their
judicial tribunal of the nation, which
view that they came as personal and
passes judgment upon the laws of the
not as official guests of honor.
land and can impose its judicial will
upon the acts of Congress and the Pres-
Reproved by Chief Justice.
ident; or the Diplomatic Corps mem-
While detained at the door of the
bers, some of them representing the
Blue Room, Chief Justice Fuller gave
persons of their sovereigns, equal, as
Major McCawley, the aide, a low-voiced
head of a nation, to the President him-
dressing down that the officer will prob-
self.
Justices Held Up.
ably remember a long time. Associate
Justice Harlan, towering head and
Although last night's reception was
shoulders above his white-locked chief,
announced as given in honor of the ju-
added a few well-chosen remarks to
diciary, the members of the august
those of the Chief Justice.
United States Supreme Court had to
"You'll have to wait. your honor,
take second place to the diplomatists.
said the major. "The Diplomatic Corps
The foreign tingent were given the
goes first.'
same position at Ohe head of the line as
But this is the reception to the ju-
was accorded them two weeks ago at
diciary, sir," indignantly replied Chief
the reception in their honor.
Justice Fuller, "We should certainly
This proved most annoying to Chief
have precedence tonight."
Justice Fuller and his associates, and
they protested to Major McCawley, one
"Can't help it, your honor." responded
of the White House aides, who was sta-
tioned at the entrance to the Blue
Room. Their protest proved unavailing,
however, and they were obliged to stand
in line and wait until the Diplomatic
Corps had passed by the President.
Resented by Justices.
Not only were ambassadors and min-
isters given precedence over the Chief
Justice and his associates, but all the
legation secretaries and other attaches
who had arrived up to that time were
allowed to receive the President's
greetings before the members of the
judiciary were permitted to enter the
room.
Chief Justice Fuller and his associates
left the White House immediately fter
passing down the line. The Chief Jus-
tice and his wife, after shaking hands
with the receiving party, passed directly
back through the Blue and Red parlors
to the private elevator and left the
mansion.
Washington Times, January 22, 1904
Co.
HARRY
ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY
"NATIONAL
Preservation Copy
RECORDS
GOVERNMENT
WHITE HOUSE SPREADING OUT-How the west wing would
appear after the proposed changes, looking northwest from
White House architect. The part of the building left of center
the south lawn, is shown in this sketch of Lorenzo S. Winslow,
in the sketch would be new-an extension of the President's
offices.
White House Changes to Add
Radio and Television Studio
By RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.
new east wing will be rearranged
Extension of the west wing of the
for the museum, and an outside
White House to provide 15,000
curved staircase at its south side
square feet of additional office space
will provide another access to the
for the presidential staff and an
second floor.
auditorium for press conferences
The architect said the public un-
and other White House events will
doubtedly will again be allowed in
be undertaken under a $1,650,000
the east wing after it has been con-
appropriation provided in the last
verted into a museum.
deficiency act.
Architectural plans for the ex-
Seven rooms are planned to house
the museum exhibits, Mr. Winslow
tension were made public yesterday
by. Lorenzo S. Winslow, architect
said. For purposes of arranging the
exhibits, he said, administrations
of the White House, who also pre-
dicted part of the White House
will be divided historically some-
what as follows: 1793-1820, 1820-
would be reopened to the public
1840, 1840-1860, 1860-1870, 1870 to
next year. It has been closed to
1900, 1900-1933 and 1933 onward.
tourists since early 1941.
When completed the addition to
Each room likely will house objects
from one of the periods.
the west wing will provide space
for members of the President's
The late President Roosevelt con-
staff who now have offices in the east
ceived the idea for the museum, Mr.
wing, which will then be made into a
Winslow said, and had him make
White House museum to house his-
numerous sketches for it. Use of
torically interesting objects of va-
the wing as a museum should
rious administrations. Many of the
further the privacy and homelike
exhibits will be taken from the
atmosphere of the White House
Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Wins-
proper, he said. The wing would
low said yesterday.
continue to be the main public en-
The addition will be the same
trance to the White House.
height as the present west wing
Mr. Roosevelt prepared a long list
and will extend south along West
of objects that he thought should
Executive avenue.
be included in the museum exhibits,
Auditorium to Seat 375.
Mr. Winslow said. He said the list
Central feature of the addition
included historic furniture, papers,
will be the auditorium. It will be
chinaware, the dresses of Presidents'
two stories high and have a seat-
wives and other articles used by
ing capacity of 375. A private pas-
presidential families.
sageway will lead from the Presi-
Bomb Shelter Retained.
dent's office to a small stage, which
The east wing will continue to
will be equipped with a stage ele-
house White House police officers
vator, large enough to lift a grand
and the presidential bomb shelter.
piano to the stage from the base-
Under the same appropriation, Mr.
ment level.
Winslow said, interior alterations
Presidential broadcasts and inti-
will be made to the White House
mate White House entertainment
proper and the grounds will receive
functions as well as press confer-
landscaping improvements.
ences are to take place there. At
The alterations to the house will
the upper level of the auditorium
include complete modernization of
will be a special glass-inclosed
the heating plant, in service since
Wash. Eve. Star,
balcony for photographers and a
1902. The entire flooring of the
series of special galleries for radio
January 12, 1946
President's family quarters on the
broadcasting, including television. A
second floor will be replaced because
movie projector and disappearing
it is now loose and worn, and new
movie screen also are provided for.
wall coverings, rugs, draperies, fur-
The screen, Mr. Winslow said, would
niture and household articles will be
be able to receive television broad-
installed, Mr. Winslow added.
casts, and projection facilities will
include sound-track equipment.
Trees to Be Planted.
Mr. Winslow said photographs of
Landscaping will include extensive
actual floor plans of the addition
tree surgery and the planting of
would not be made public at this
trees, flowering shrubs, boxwood
time, since they are still being
hedges, and the complete replanting
worked on. A view of the plans
of the garden areas on the south
lawn.
already made was granted the press
yesterday, however.
To provide more storage space for
the house several rooms will be built
The main entrance to the west
under the drive at the north of the
wing will open on the basement or
main building.
AND
LIBRARY
ground floor from West Executive
All delivery service, trash and
ORDS
avenue. This floor will contain air-
garbage removal must now enter or
conditioning units, mail and file
leave via the Pennsylvania avenue
rooms, a storage room and mimeo-
gates, Mr. Winslow said. Therefore
graph room.
a new service drive is to be built
The second and third floors will
from West Executive avenue into a
contain office space as well as the
short tunnel passing below and
auditorium. The extension also will
slightly to the north of the present
contain a cafeteria for White House
west wing executive office entrance
employes.
and leading to the present service
Under the same appropriation the
courtyard of the main building.
Preservation Copy
White House to Have Addition,
With Auditorium and Cafeteria
By Robert E. Nichols
signers skirted in their lay-out
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Blue-
rather than destroy the tree.
prints for an addition to the
Mr. Winslow also outlined as
White House executive offices-to
projects under the $1,650,000 ap-
be financed out of $1,650,000 re-
propriation: landscaping and im-
cently appropriated by Congress at
provements to the grounds, urged
the request of President Truman-
by the late President Roosevelt;
were disclosed today by Lorenzo S.
interior alterations to the mansion
Winslow, White House architect,
and completion of the newly con-
who said the extension vill include
structed east wing.
a ceremonial auditorium equipped
Paralleling the State Depart-
with radio and television booths.
ment along West Executive Ave-
To be started this spring and
nue, the new structure will be
completed within the year, the
similar in construction and detail
structure will extend south of the
to the existing 152-year-old Ex-
Presidential Mansion's west wing
ecutive Mansion, which was begun
in the shape of an "L," Mr. Winslow
in 1793 and completed in 1826.
said. It could have a more regu-
Mr. Winslow said the plans pro-
lar shape, he said, were it notafor
vide for 1,500 square feet of new
a centuries-old elm which the de-
(Continued on page 24, column 2)
White House
Snyder's Office of War Mobiliza-
built and completed in 1826; re-
tion and Reconversion has had its
headquarters there.
modeled by Theodore Roosevelt in
1902; altered again by President
(Continued from page one)
In addition, the east wing now
contains quarters of White House
Taft in 1909, and fire-proofed by
President Coolidge in 1927.
office space to accommodate the
guards, the President's permanent
President's executive aids, together
bomb shelter, and various offices.
with a large clerical force, who
The museum, designed by Mr.
Opposes White House Expansion
now occupy quarters outside the
Winslow in consultation with the
To the Editor of The Star:
White House or in its east wing.
late President Roosevelt, will dis-
I agree that the announcement that
The auditorium, he said, will seat
play furniture, china and other
historic relics according to Presi*
an addition is to be made to the al-
375 persons and will be used for
dential eras. These will be divided
ready sprawling White House at an ex-
press conferences, radio broad-
casts, motion pictures, and meet-
roughly into periods of ten and
pense of $1,650,000, raises several ques-
ings and social entertainments
twenty years; the Revolutionary
tions in John Citizen's mind, and if
that heretofore have been held in
period, 1800 to 1820; Federal, 1820
this is an indication of the intention
the formal East Room of the White
to 1840; pre-Civil War, 1840 to
of those in power to conținue to waste
House, There also will be increased
1860; Civil War, 1860 to 1870; Vic-
money and scarce building materials
filing-room space, a larger mail
torian, 1870 to 1900; and modern
on useless monstrosities, veterans and
room, a small cafeteria for White
The modern exhibit will include
others might as well prepare to con-
House employees, a mimeograph
many of the gifts received by Mr
tinue to camp out of doors with no
room and storage and utility
Roosevelt on his trips.
housing available.
rooms.
The appropriation also will
It is stated that this project will
When the addition is finished,
allow for some alterations to the
provide 15,000 square feet of office space
Mr. Winslow said, the personnel
mansion itself. These are to in-
and a theatre with 375 seats. The
now occupying the east wing-
clude complete modernization of
largely reconversion assistants to
the heating system; replacement
office space could not cost over $300,000;
the President-will be transferred
of loose and worn flooring of the
$350,000 might be spent in altering the
to the new quarters, and com-
President's family quarters on the
the heating plant and other improve
pletion of the east wing for its
second floor, and replacement of
ments mentioned, leaving $1,000,000 to
originally intended purpose as the
some furniture to be removed to
be spent on a little theatre seating
the museum.
375 persons.
White House museum will begin
Plans for the museum were being
Finally, the appropriation calls
Was Congress informed of the real
for development of the "Presi-
purpose of this project when it recently
drafted when war was declared,
dent's park." However, extensive
appropriated the money? Why extend
and the cornerstone was laid by
tree surgery, planting and re-lay-
the office capacity of the White House
the late President Roosevelt on
ing of flower gardens will be de-
unless more and more power is to be
Nov. 5, 1942. During the war,
layed until-next year, Mr. Winslow
centralized in the hands of the Presi-
emergency offices in this wing were
said.
occupied by Admiral William D.
dent? Why waste money and build-
The Presidential Mansion has
Leahy, Harry L. Hopkins, Fred M.
ing materials on this super de luxe
undergone numerous alteration;
Vinson, James F. Byrnes, John W.
theatre when building materials are so
since 1793. It was partially de
Snyder, and other aids. Mr.
badly needed for housing for return-
stroyed by the British in 1814; re
ing veterans? Does the common man
from Missouri need a million dollars
private theater for his entertainment
more than people need homes to live in
If the President allows this wastę
to continue, he should stop expressing
concern over housing for servicemen.
A VETERAN.
New York Herald Tribune,
Wash. Eve. Star,
January 12, 1946
January 16, 1946
Preservation Copy
AND
LIBRARY
VERNMENT
Leaders Act
WHITE
Wash. Times Herald
To Postpone
From Page 1
Jan. 29, 1946
the new buildings. The basement
offices of the west wing have been
Arts Unit Backs
White House
emptied and prepared for excava-
tion for the new foundations.
Bid forms for the work will be
Truman Annex
Enlargement
sent to contractors sometime this
week and it is expected that the
The long series of statements
bids would be returned and the
Rep. Smith of Va.
by public and private groups op-
contract awarded in month, he add-
posing extension of the White
Asks That Congress
ed.
House west wing WC broken yes.
Surveying for the new building
terday when the Fine Arts Com-
Have Opportunity
has been completed and a staff of
mission expressed its unanimous
To Examine Project
six architects are making last
approval for the addition request-
minute revisions in the plans,
ed by President Truman.
By John F. Gerrity
which were approved by the Fine
Meeting with White House
Post Reporter
While White House architects
Arts Commission, Winslow said.
architect Lorenzo S. Winslow, the
The architect also said that as
commission admitted it had op-
pushed ahead with President Tru-
man's plans to remodel the Execu-
further changes are made in the
posed an extension in 1934, but
plans, the Fine Art Commission
said that the health of the Presi-
tive Mansion, aroused congres-
sional leaders indicated they would
which is charged with approving
dent was the major factor to be
considered in view of his mani-
take steps today to halt the $1,650,-
every Government building built in
fold duties at the present time.
000 building program.
the District of Columbia, will work
Demands Increased
Representative Howard W.
right along with his staff, "giving
Smith, Democrat, of Alexandria,
advice and approving their work."
"The demands upon the Chief
Va., said that he planned to intro-
Executive are now greater than
Speed-Up Assailed
upon almost any other human
duce a joint resolution to the
Several leaders on Capitol Hill
being on earth," said the commis-
House, asking that construction of
the new offices and the auditorium
interpreted the speed-up in putting
sion. "The strength of the Chief,
Executive must be considered and
be held up until Congress has an
into operation Mr. Truman's plans
consequently he is entitled to have
opportunity to examine the plans
as a move to get construction start-
provided more spacious and more
and understand the additions Mr.
ed before too great a protest was
convenient offices demanded by
Truman wants.
these tumultuous and unsettled
made. They said that it would be
Smith said that he expected his
times."
very difficult to stop construction
resolution to be referred to the
The statement added that
once it had started.
House Rules Committee, of which
"these are not times to quibble
The plans, which call for a new
he is a member.
over the propriety of providing an
cafeteria, an auditorium, seating
addition to the White House."
$870,000 Allocated to Crim
375 persons, conversion of the East
Protests against the proposed
Representative Clarence J.
Wing into a museum, refurnishing
extension continued to come from
Brown (R., Ohio) announced he
the living quarters and improve-
other groups. The Washington
would support Smith's resolution
ments to the grounds have been
Board of Trade's committee on
"to the limit" and predicted an
stoutly opposed by citizens groups,
architectural awards yesterday
overwhelming nonpartisan vote in
historical and architectual societies.
announced its opposition, urging
favor of the move to delay con-
The American Institute of Archi-
that "the historical characteris-
struction.
tects is presently making a study
tics of the White House as the
Meanwhile, White House Archi-
of the plans and is expected to
'President's Residence' be pre-
tect Lorenzo S. Winslow said that
make recommendations opposing
served" by keeping executive of
$870,000 for the office buildings
the program by the end of the
fices separate from the living
had been allocated to Howell G.
week.
quarters.
Crim, chief usher of the White
Outside Site Urged
House. Crim serves as adminis-
trative officer for the Executive
The committee suggested that
Mansion and is responsible for all
"the matter of adequate housing
maintenance and building funds.
for the executive offices outside
The $1,650,000 for all improve-
the White House grounds, giving
ments, including the grounds, was
Washington Post,
full consideration to future as well
appropriated in the deficiency bill,
as present needs, be thoroughly
passed by Congress. The money
January 23, 1946
explored."
was first allocated to the Interior
Department but an executive order
was issued "late last week" call-
ing for its assignment to Crim,
according to Winslow.
Interior Secretary Harold L.
Preservation Copy
Ickes said that he knew nothing of
the transfer of funds.
Winslow Pushing Ahead
"In fact, while the Interior De-
partment is charged with super-
vision of public buildings-and
the White House is a public build-
ing-we have never been consulted
ARRY ARCHIVES "NATIONAL AND LIBRARY
on the proposed changes, as we
RECORDS
should have been," Ickes told The
Post.
Winslow said that his office was
GOVERNMENT
pushing ahead with the work on
Plans for White House
House Bars White House Addition
Extension Opposed
After Truman Predicts Approval
By Interfederation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (AP)
answers to critics of the White
The House today blocked plans
House enlargement plan. He went
into detail about the proposed im-
The Interfederation Conference
for a $1,650,000 addition to the
provements, emphasizing that the
last night voted to oppose plans
White House a few hours after
new executive office wing would
for extensions to the White House
President Truman told reporters
not be visible from Pennsylvania
as prepared by Lorenzo S. Winslow,
he didn't think there was much
avenue and that it would permit
White House architect.
the removal of some workers from
"As citizens of the United States,
opposition in Congress to the ex-
the White House.
we are interested in the White
pansion.
By a standing vote of 110 to 41,
He asserted that, if the critics
House as the home of the Presi-
the House ordered that $883,660 of
were still unsatisfied after his de-
dent," declared Mrs. Franklin G.
the fund for construction, voted
tailed explanation, they could
Sartwell of the District Federa-
last year, should be used for gen-
chain themselves to a bush or tree
tion of Citizens' Associations, who
eral White House expenses for
as some women once did in pro-
introduced the motion. "To add
the next fiscal year, and the rest
test against the cutting down of
to it and make it a futuristic mon-
be restored to the Treasury.
cherry trees at the Jefferson Me-
strosity is out of keeping with the
The $883,660 was the amount
morial site.
feeling we all have for the Presi-
the Appropriations Committee
He also said that more room was
dent's home."
recommended for general White
needed in the White House proper
While it was conceded among the
House expenses in the pending In-
and that he did not want to have
members that certain additions
dependent Offices appropriation
to follow Dolly Madison's example
might be in order, it was felt that
bill. An amendment taking that
by using the East room to hang
pending revisions were undesirable.
amount from the fund previously
out laundry.
Matre Heads Group.
allotted for the addition to the
A woman reporter said that it
executive offices at the White
was Abigail Adams. Truman, who
Joseph B. Matre of the Mont-
House was offered by Represen-
is something of a historian, said
gomery County Federation was
tative Case (Rep.) South Dakota.
he thought both had used the East
elected chairman of the conference,
Almost every republican and a
room for a laundry.
succeeding Harry N. Stull of the
few democrats supported it.
With a smile, he observed that
District Federation.
the White House was the finest
Other officers elected were Walter
Part of Truman's press confer-
residence in the United States and
F. Mulligan, Prince Georges County
ence today was taken up with his
he wanted it to stay that way.
Federation, first vice chairman; Dr.
R. A. Osborne, Fairfax County Fed-
eration, second vice chairman; Wil-
St. Louis Post Dispatch,
liam G. Watt, Arlington County
Federation, third vice chairman, and
January 24, 1946
Mrs. Sartwell, fourth vice chairman.
Mrs. Florence Arnheim of the Ar-
lington Federation was re-elected
secretary and treasurer.
Reporting on the possible effects
of the so-called Fair Trade Act for
the District, Mr. Stull declared a
comparison of prices of a chain
drug concern here and in Virginia,
where such legislation is in effect,
revealed Virginia prices were from
one to seven cents higher.
Flood Study Recommended.
Mr. Stull discussed also the con-
cern over Government plans for
future development along East Cap-
itol street because it might mean
demolition of residential property
and large-scale evictions of home
owners "in these times" of crowded
living conditions.
Henry W. Austin reported on the
public hearing in Hyattsville Jan-
uary 9 on proposed improvements
for flood control and navigation of
the Anacostia River and tributaries
by the Army engineers. Pointing
out that the work would benefit
all the areas represented by the
Preservation Copy
conference members, he urged that
they study the proposed improve-
ments.
Mr. Matre told the conference
that appeals to the Maryland Pub-
lic Utilities Commission by two
transit companies now promise in-
stitution of cross-country bus serv-
ices for Montgomery County. Mat-
ters being discussed by the Feder-
ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY
"NATIONAL
ation in that county were out-
lined by C. Stephen Duvall, jr.
RECORDS
The group heard reports also by
SERVICE
Mrs. Florence Cannon of the Ar-
lington Federation and Mrs. Sart-
well.
Wash. Eve. Star,
Jan. 22, 1946
To 'Judge For Themselves'
Critics Invited to Study Plans
For Additions to White House
By John F. Gerrity
Post Reporter
Charles G. Ross, White House
that his staff "was forging right
press secretary, yesterday invited
ahead with their work." Winslow
amplified Ross' invitation and said
congressional opponents of Pres-
that it was "extended to all mem-
ident Truman's plan to spend $1,-
bers of Congress," but he excluded
650,000 altering the Executive Man-
from the invitation representatives
sion to inspect the plans and "judge
of architectural, historical and the
for themselves."
D. C. Federation of Citizens As-
sociations.
In the meantime, Representative
"Those persons-members of
Howard W. Smith (D., Va.), one
Congress and the Fine Arts Com-
of the foremost objectors to
mission-who have a lawful right
the remodeling program, said that
to know what we are doing, are wel-
he would go right ahead with his
come to come in and see our plans,"
plans for a joint resolution to Con-
Winslow said.
gress to delay construction, but
that he would look at the sketches
"We are not trying to force the
project down anyone's throat. We
anyway.
will lay out the plans and let them
At the same time, other Capitol
decide for themselves whether
Hill leaders confidently predicted
they like them."
that all, construction would stop as
While Winslow said that the en-
soon as "ways and means are found
tire basement of the West Wing had
to show the President our official
been emptied, preparatory to ex-
stand on the matter."
cavation work for the new founda-
Representative John L. McMillan
tions, Eben Ayers, assistant press
(D., S. C.), new chairman of the
secretary to the President, refused
House District Committee and Rep-
to allow photographers to take pic-
resentative Ralph H. Daughton (D.,
tures of the work in progress.
Va.) reaffirmed their original stand
The Washington Chapter of the
on the new building project, de-
American Institute of Architects
spite the invitation, and said they
today will issue findings and recom-
were sure "the whole thing will col-
mendations on their study of the
lapse when Mr. Truman realizes
construction of the auditorium, the
how Congress feels."
cafeteria, 15,000 square feet of ad-
Senator Clyde R. Hoey (D., N. C.),
ditional office space and other im-
said that he hadn't had an op-
provements proposed by Mr. Tru-
portunity to study Mr. Truman's
man.
plans; that ordinarily he would be
The reports will be sent to the
opposed to any changes in the
Fine Arts Commission, Gen. U. S.
White House and that he proposed
Grant, director of the Parks and
to make "a thorough investigation
Planning Commission, Secretary of
of the matter as soon as possible."
the Interior Harold L. Ickes, Wins-
Meanwhile, White House Archi-
low and James R. Edmonds, presi-
tect Lorenzo S. Winslow announce
of the national AIA,
Preservation Copy
Washington Post, January 24, 1946
HARRY ARCHIVES "NATIONAL TRUMAN RECORDS AND LIERARY
U.S.
GOVERNMENT
Hearth of a Nation-and How It Grew
has
Before the Fire
Before the War of 1812 when
the British set fire to it, the
White House resembled a serene
country estate. From the rear
you can see the landscaping and
the terraces joining east and
west wings added by Thomas
Jefferson during his term of of-
fice which ended in 1809. His
interest in architecture led to
many improvements.
77
Gala Days
By 1829, in the
"boisterous era"
when Andrew Jack-
son lived there, the
Presidential Man-
sion had been com-
pletely restored
with the addition of
north and south
porticos. This car-
toon is typical of
the rowdy days
when admirers,
guests and horses
swarmed the lawn.
At his inaugural re-
ception hogsheads
of punch on the
lawn failed to divert
hosts of "guests,"
and Jackson fled by
the back door.
Proposed extension
would be added here
Present
Executive
Offices
West Executive Ave.
Corridor
WHITE
HOUSE
Corridor with
FDR's swimming
East portico and
pool in basement
reception rooms
Destroyed
This is the way the elegant home of Presidents
Now-Offices, Offices
Proposed new wing for the White House is
looked in 1814. Up in smoke went Dolly Madi-
son's piano, guitar, mirror and yellow-satin upholstery when the
pictured above, with an aerial view of where
British fired on the building. She fled with Washington's portrait
it would be, below. The 15,000 square feet of new office space, including pro-
and her pet macaw.
vision for a large auditorium, has whipped up furious pros and cons. Some say,
a busy man needs a busy building; others say, once a home always a home.
Preservation Copy
RUMAN
HARRY U.S. ARCHIVES GOVERNMENT "NATIONAL RECORDS AND LIBRARY
PRESENT
EXTENSION
West Elevation
WHTE HOUSE PLANS-Above
EXTENSION
is an architect's 'sketch of a
west view of the proposed ex-
tension to the White House
from West Executive avenue.
In the center is the main en-
trance to the west wing.
Dotted line separates the part
of the west wing already in
existence from that proposed.
East Elevation
EXTENSION
PRESENT
(mm/mm/yyyy)
South Elevation
Looking north from a point in the White House grounds near West Executive avenue the
proposed extension of the west wing would appear like the above. Dotted line separates existing
from proposed parts of the wing. The existing portion shown here in perspective contains the
President's office. All three views are taken from architectural plans for the extension prepared
by Lorenzo S. Winslow, White House architect.
House. The addition, plus other
White House since the Lincoln ad-
lin D. Roosevelt ordered the follow-
improvements and changes at the
ministration.
ing statement made by a representa-
Executive Mansion, are to be made
"As a result of your advice," the
tive sent to lay a Decoration Day
under a $1,650,000 appropriation
spokesman quoted Mr. Roosevelt
wreath on the tomb of James Hoban,
made in the last deficiency act.
writing the firm afterward, "the
designer of the White House:
A spokesman for the architects
White House is restored and is now
"The architects of the United
said the decision to ask delay for
the ideal house for Presidents."
States must accept a measure of
public discussion was taken during
In December 1908, Theodore Roos-
responsibility and observe with a
the week at a chapter meeting. The
evelt wrote the preșident of the
watchful eye the changes (in the
chapter's approval was unanimous,
AIA, the spokesman said, as follows:
White House) that time requires."
he said.
"If I had it m my power as I
It is because of this recognition
The spokesman said word of the
leave office, I would leave as a
of the AIA by successive presidents,
proposal had been passed along to
legacy to you and the American
the spokesman said, that the insti-
the committee on the National Cap-
Institute of Architects the duty of
tute is asking now for thorough
ital of the AIA and that its chair-
preserving a perpetual eye of guar-
investigation of what the present
man had written letters seeking the
dianship over the White House to
plans for the Executive Mansion
views of committee members
see that it is kept unchanged and
would mean.
throughout the country.
unmarred from this time on."
Sunday Star
White House Watchdog.
In answer, the spokesman said,
Wash.D.C.
The AIA since 1899 has considered
the AIA president wrote he would
itself the watchdog of the White
look upon the President's remarks
Jan. 24, 1946
"as our charter and our authority
House, he said. In that year the old
Office of Public Buildings and
for defense of this structure."
Preservation Copy
Since that time, he said, the AIA
Grounds prepared a plan for erect-
has assumed public responsibility
ing two extensions to the Executive
Mansion which would have more
for keeping a watchful eye on any
plans to change the building or en-
than doubled its size. They took
the form of two wings surmounted
large it.
MAN
by towers which would have dwarfed
In 1932, he said, President Frank-
the White House proper.
HARRY
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES
AND
RECORDS
SERVICE
GOVERNMENT
Stone From Capitol, Mt. Vernon,
White House Sent to Palestine
Drop Cafe Plan
Fragments to Be Put
In Cornerstone of
At White House
Children's Home
Opponents to construction of
When the cornerstone of the
an addition to the Executive Of-
Washington Children's Colony in
fice wing of the White House
Palestine for Jewish Orphans from
Europe is laid at Yevneh on George
won two points yesterday when the
Washington's Birthday, it will con-
Federal Fine Arts Commission
tain three pieces of stone from
announced the proposed museum
buildings associated with Washing-
and cafeteria had been eliminated
ton's career, flown from the United
from the plans.
States to the Near East.
The commission, a Government
This was announced yesterday by
agency, said that President Tru-
Rabbi Zemach Green of Ohev Sho-
man had approved the two
lom Congregation, 500 I street N.W.,
changes.
founder and president of the colony.
Organizations of architects had
One fragment of stone came from
voiced strong opposition to the
Mount Vernon, one from the Capi-
whole addition, which is to in-
tol and one from the White House.
clude a theater for press confer-
The shipment will be transported by
ences and radio broadcasts. Al-
the courier division of the State De-
though preliminary work was
partment and will reach Dr. Isaac
underway when the plans were
Herzog, chief rabbi of the Holy
announced early this month, the
Land and chairman of the board of
House of Representatives voted
trustees in Palestine, next week.
to revoke the appropriation be-
"We are deeply grateful to all
ing used to finance the construc-
friends whose hearty interest and
tion. The Senate has not yet
generosity were instrumental in cre-
acted upon the appropriation
ating this new link between the
RABBI ZEMACH GREEN.
revocation
Nation's Capital of America, the
-Star Staff Photo.
Opponents of the wing con-
city of Washington and the Wash-
struction contended the White
ington settlement in the Holy
tered in the village will be taught
House should be primarily the
Land," Rabbi Green said.
modern agricultural methods and
President's home. They proposed
Funds Raised in U. S.
arts and crafts techniques
that additional White House office
The Hebrew name of the colony
Charles C. Wall, superintendent
space be provided in the State
is Givat Washington, which means
of Mount Vernon, who gave the
Department or some other Gov.
"Mount Washington." Located at
stone from Washington's famous
ernment building.
Yevneh, the ancient refuge of the
home on the Potomac, told The Star
They centered their opposition
Sanhedrin after the destruction of
that it was taken from a section
on the theater, cafeteria and mu-
the Second Temple at Jerusalem by
of an original hearth displaced in
seum.
Emperor Titus in 70 A. D., the
the course of repairs.
The commission recommended
buildings of the settlement are
The fragment from the White
that the proposed presidential
being constructed with funds raised
House is authenticated by Lorenzo
museum be incorporated in one of
in Washington and throughout the
S. Winslow, Architect of the White
the. Government's present mu-
country.
House, as having been in an exterior
seums
The whole group will constitute
wall of the Executive Mansion from
an independent village populated by
1792 until October, 1944. It was
boys and girls whose parents per-
accompanied to Palestine by a piece
ished in the massacres of Europe in
of mahogany and four hand-made
the past decade. More than $50,-
iron nails which once were parts of
Washington Time S
000 already has been subscribed
a window in the East Room, also
through Rabbi Green's efforts.
contributed by Mr. Winslow.
Herald, January 30,
His work is sponsored by a com-
David Lynn, architect of the Capi-
1946
mittee headed by Representative
tol, chose the stone from the Capi-
Bloom of New York and Edmund I.
tol building. It was taken from
Kaufman, aided by a Christian
quarries at Aquia Creek, an arm of
committee, of which the Right Rev.
the Potomac about 40 miles south
Angus Dun, Bishop of Washington,
of Washington, and was a portion
and the Rev. Dr. Frederick E. Reis-
of the old Supreme Court section,
sig, secrstary of the Washington
originally the Senate wing of the
Federation of Churches, are chair-
structure. The date of the frag-
men. Nehemiah M. Cohen is treas-
ment, Mr. Lynn declared, was be-
urer of the building fund campaign.
tween 1793 and 1800.
Former President Hoover is hon-
The certifying letters of Mc. Wall,
orary president.
Mr. Winslow and Mr. Lynn will be
Children to be Educated.
sealed in the cornerstone at Givat
Rabbi Green said the site of
Washington with the historic frag-
Yevneh and the new development
ments to which they witness.
Preservation Copy
there is about 25 miles from Tel
A precedent 1or the sending cf the
Aviv. It is approximately two miles
stones to Palestine is available in
from a railroad running from Haifa
the Jerusalem altar at Washington
to Egypt and also approximately
Cathedral which contains stones
four miles from the Mediterranean
brought from the Holy Land for
seacoast. The children to be shel-
that purpose prior to 1902
Washington Star, January 27, 1946
MAN
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
LIBRARY
REGORDS
GOVERNMENT
White House
Civic Planners Urge
(Continued From First Page.)
History of Views on Expansion
priated to extend the West wing
Delay in Extension of
Of White House Given Truman
House action followed two weeks in
which Washington professional and
Horace M. Albright, president of
which keep alive our sense
civic groups and members of Con-
the American Planning and Civie
tinuity with the Nation's past."
White House Wing
gress severely criticized the exten-
Association yesterday sent to* Pres-
1905-Elihu Root thank
sion plan.
ident Truman the historical record
heaven that the White House has
Gurney Registers Opposition.
of the views of former Presidents,
been preserved, restored and pro-
Use of State Department
The independent offices bill would
Fine Arts Commission and leading
tected against discordant and over-
architects on the need for preserv-
whelming additions and against
Building for Offices
be taken up by the Senate Appropri-
ing the White House as a home for
all garish display and inconsistant
ations Committee sometime this
Proposed in Resolution
Presidents and not as an office
treatment; preserved as a precious
week.
building.
monument of America's past for
HISTORICAL RECORD of long
Yesterday Senator Gurney, Re-
Attached to a. letter which he
America's future.
opposition to White House changes
publican, of South Dakota, a mem-
wrote the President was an appen-
1908 Letter from Theodore
given Truman. 1100 Page A-7.
ber of the Senate Appropriations
dix prepared by the Joint Commit-
Roosevelt to Cass Gilbert, at that
Committee, which approved the ap-
tee on the National Capital, which
time president of the American In-
By RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.
propriation for the extension with-
represents, beside the planning and
stitute of Architects, also designer
The Board of Directors of the
out hearing testimony on it, prom-
civic association, the American In-
of the United States Chamber of
ised a fight to support the House
stitute of Architects, the American
Commerce Building, the Treasury
American Planning and Civic As
action.
Federation of Arts, the American
Annex and the Supreme Court
sociation yesterday asked that
'My colleague (Representative
Institute of Planners, the American
Building. "If I had it in my power
extension of the west wing of
Case, Republican, of South Dakota,
Society of Civil Engineers, the
as Illeave office, I would like to
the White House be delayed until
who moved to block money for the
American Society of Landscape Ar-
leave as a legacy to you and the
the possibility of:providing exec-
construction in the House) had
chitects, the Garden Club of Amer-
American Institute of Architects the
utive office space in the State
good grounds for his motion," he
ica, the National Association of Real
duty of preserving a: perpetual
Department Building across the
said yesterday.
Estate Boards, the National Sculp-
of guardianship' over the White
street has been thoroughly ex
"I hate to see this controversy
ture Society and the National So-
House to see that it is kept un-
arise, but I also hate to see the
ciety of Mural Painters
changed and unmarred from this
plored.
White House made into an office
Unsuitable for Dual Use,
time on."
The board, which held its annual
building. The question should have
Here is the record as presented:
Would Detract from Structure.
meeting yesterday at its Washington
been placed clearly before Con-
1874-A description of the White
1908-Mr. Gilbert's answer: "Your
offices in the Union Trust building,
gress last December when the de-
House in Keim's Handbook: "It is
letter will be a treasured document
further asked that the administra-
ficiency bill providing for the White
entirely unsuitable for the purposes
among the archives of the institute
tion "proceed at once" with erec-
House extension was offered.
I
to which it is now applied: executive
and will, as need arises, be looked
tion of a new State Department
hope it is not too late to find other
offices and private residence.'
upon as our charter and as our
building in the block north of the
means of giving the President's staff
1899-Glenn Brown's Memories:
authority for such defense (kept
adequate space, "he said.'
present building. It asked, however,
"A draftsman of the Office of Public
unmarred and unchanged) of this
structure."
Reed Wants All Facts.
that the Blair and Decatur Houses?
Buildings and Grounds made a plan
more than doubling the size of the
1918-Report of the Fine Arts
which occupy sites in the block, be
Seantor Reed, Republican, of
Commission: "Po build a second
Kansas, another appropriations
building with additions east and
spared.
west, each of them larger than the
story on the present building (west
committee member, said yesterday,
wing) would detract from the
The board's resolution was further
present White House and ending in
strengthened yesterday by a per-
"I want to hear all the facts and
White House itself."
circular towers. The American Insti-
1925-Report of the Fine Arts
sonal letter from Horace M. Al-
I want to hear both sides of the
tute of Architects "strongly protested
question."
the propòsed addition.' Protests of
Commission: "This building (the
bright, association president, to
west wing) was designed for tem-
President Truman. He, too, asked
The resolution of the American
48 art associations throughout the
porary uses until Congress should
that the plan for taking over the,
Planning and Civic Association
country were added. President Mc-
provide for more adequate quarters
said:
Kinley listened to the public demand
elsewhere than in the White House
old State Department building as an
"In view of the long succession of
and ordered the plan abandoned.'
Grounds."
executive office building be revived
expressed and recorded opinions
Would Lose Individuality.
1929-Report of the Fine Arts
The plan was approved by Presi-
and policies on the part of former
1902-Report. of the McMillan
Commission: "The fact that the
dent Roosevelt and the National
Presidents, public officials and emi-
Commission: "The historic White
Chief Executive is housed in a tem-
Commission of Fine Arts in 1934
nent architects that permanent ex-
House cannot be enlarged without
porary office building which on two
he said.
ecutive offices should be provided
destroying its individuality, thus
occasions in recent years, has had
Some Members "Reluctant."
outside the White House grounds,
causing the loss of those character-
to be enlarged and is inadequate
the board recommends that before
istic features which endear the edi-
at the present time, would seem to
The Fine Arts Commission has
construction begins on any exten-
fice to the American people Removal
make it imperative that an execu-
since approved a project to tripl
sions to what have been acknowl-
of offices is favored by the present
tive building in keeping with the
the size of the west wing of th edged as temporary offices within
Chief Executive (Theodore Roose-
White House be built in the near
White House despite the reported the White House grounds, studies
velt); and to the commission it seems
future."
"reluctance" of some members. be made to ascertain whether it is
to be the best solution of the prob-
New Building Predicted.
The project would add 15,00 not now possible to provide per-
lem possible at this time."
1932-H. P. Caemmerrer, secretary
square feet of office space to the manent executive offices in a re-
1902-Daniel H. Burnham, first
of the National Fine Arts Commis-
wing, including an auditorium, modeled State Department Building
chairman of the Fine Arts Com-
sion: It is thought by some that
cafeteria and other facilities, across West Executive avenue from
mission: "I shall be very much op-
in the years to come the remodeled
would permit conversion of the east the White House.
posed to any structure in the
State Department Building will be-
wing into reception rooms for the
"The
board
further
recommends
present White House grounds be-
come the permanent executive office
public and & presidential museum that the plans which have existed
cause, although called 'temporary,'
building, and the State Department
Thursday, the House inserted lan-for more than 30 years for a new
it would be left there for a life-
will have a new building on the
guages in the independent officesState Department Building on the
time."
west side of Lafayette Square."
bill blocking money alreadykappro-square west of Lafayette Park be
1902-Report of McKim Meade
1934-Report of the National Fine
(See WHITE HOUSE Page A with a view to proceed-
and E. White, architects who re-
Arts Commission: "Removal of the
wing at once with the erection of
a
stored the White House in the
President's offices to this building
State Department Building on that
Theodore Roosevelt administration:
(the State Department Building) of-
Washington Sun.
square, with provision for preserva-
"To construct within these grounds
fers the best solution of a problem
Star,
January
tion of the Decatur and Blair houses
a building sufficiently large and im-
that is bound to become insistent
on the site."
1946
posing to stand as permanent of-
within the next decade."
Authorization for a new State De-
fices would be to detract from the
1946-Letter to President Truman
partment building on this site, to
White House itself so seriously as
from Gilmore D. Clarke, chairman
cost $18,000,000, is incorporated in
to be absolutely out of, the ques-
of the Fine Arts Commission: "The
the Administration's post war Fed-
tion. The one possible solution,
Commission of Fine Arts were de-
eral Buildings Bill, now being con-
therefore, was to occupy the only
lighted to review plans for an
sidered by the House Committee on
available space with a temporary
addition to the west wing of the
Public Buildings and Grounds.
building (the present west wing)
White
House
necessary
to
Chairman Lanham of the commit-
which should be comfortable within
provide additional office space for
tee, will hold an executive commit-
and inconspicuous in appearance,
the executive office of the Presi-
tee session on the bill Wednesday
leaving to Congress at its leisure
dent.
prior to reporting it to the House.
to take up seriously the question of
"The commission are pleased to
Chairman of the association's
a permanent, adequate and thor-
advise that they find the plans gen-
board is Frederic A. Delano, uncle
oughly dignified office for the Chief
erally satisfactory.
of President Roosevelt, and for
Executive."
"The commission were pleased
many years chairman of the Nation-
that the future extension of the
al Capital Park and Planning Com-
Restoration Praised.
west wing to the south will not
mission. Mr. Delano was reelected
1902-1908 - annual message to
seriously encroach on the grounds
to the chairmanship at yesterday's
Congress of President Theodore
annual meeting.
Roosevelt: "Through a wise pro-
"The commission were especially
Other Officers Re-elected.
vision of the Congress at its last
pleased to be called upon to
session, the White House, which had
advise in this matter."
Other officers of the association
become disfigured by incongruous
who have served for the past year
addition and changes, has now been
were re-electd as follows: Mr. Al-
restored to what it was planned to
bright, president; Maj. Gen. U. S.
be by Washington. It should be
Grant, III, chairman of the Na-
kept as it originally was, for the
tional Capital Park and Planning
same reasons that we keep Mount
Commission, first vice president;
Vernon as it originally was. It
Tom Wallace, Louisville, Ky., second
is a good thing to preserve such
vice president; Earle H. Draper,
buildings as historic monuments
Washington, third vice president;
C. F. Jacobson, Washington, treas-
urer, and Miss Harlean James,
Washington, executive secretary.
Irmer Supreme Court Justice
Owen J. Roberts was elected to the
board to succeed Miss Marie Der-
mitt, of Pittsburgh, who resigned
Preservation Copy
recently after 30 years of service
as a board member.
Mr. Roberts recently was suc-
ceeded as chairman of the associa-
tion's Committee of 100 on the Fed-
eral City by Clifton A. Woodrum,
former representative from Virginia.
TRUMAN
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
LIBRARY
societies Planning Last Stand
Home Builders
"Personally," he said, "I am very
satisfied with the building as it is.
The White House is the most nota-
Against Altering White House
Fight Addition
bly beautiful of all residences of
rulers I have ever rnown. I'd hate
to see it made less beautiful. The
By John F. Gerrity
To White House
proposed addition may make it
Post Reporter
mor beautiful- don't know, but
National historical and architec-
nounced that it would launch E
I think we should be exceedingly
tural societies are expected to open
Nation-wide education program to
careful,"
a last-ditch stand today against
day to inform the people through.
Plead for Veterans, Saying
From still another quarter, the
President Truman's plans to spend
out the country of the proposals
Construction Materials
American Planning and Civic As-
to "mutilate" the White House.
$1,650,000 remodeling the White
sociation addressed a letter to Mr.
Historical arguments for preserv-
Will Be Channeled Off
House.
Truman urging a halt to construc-
The societies will time their
ing the Executive Mansion, as a
tion and preparation of the State
home, and counterproposals to
From the Herald Tribune Bureau
opening blows to coincide. with the
Department Building to receive
meet the demands for" executive
WASHINGTON, Pan. 26.-Pre-
Fine Arts Commission meeting at
any necessary executive offices
office space have also been fur-
dicting that the expansion of the
the Interior Building to approve
nished members of the Senate, who
White House west executive of
White House Architect Lorenzo S.
are scheduled to act this week on
fices will consume a large amount
Winslow's alteration sketches.
the bill passed by the House Thurs-
of priority building materials oth-
According to spokesmen for the
day to reallocate building funds,
erwise available for emergency
American Institute of Architects
thereby stopping construction.
housing, the Home Builders Asso-
and the American Planning and
In explaining its 'stand on the
ciation of metropolitan Washing-
Civic Association, principal pro-
Fine Arts Commission's authority
ton urged President Truman today
fessional opponents to the reno-
insofar as public building in the
to "set an example" in behalf of
vation program, the fight will be
District is concerned, the AIA and
veterans housing and halt con-
urged on the following counts:
the APCA said that the Public
struction
1.
Remodeling plans for the White
Buildings Administration and the
Workers, meanwhile, had re-
House should be initiated by
NCPPC were charged by mandate
moved windows from a portion of
the National Capital Park and
of Congress to initiate all plans for
the White House west wing and
Planning Commission or the Pub-
new buildings, and additions and
alterations to existing buildings.
were preparing to demolish a con-
lic. Buildings Administration, not
The Fine Arts Commission is lim-
crete underground filing room in
the Fine Arts Commission.
ited to simple approval of plans,
the path of the proposed exten-
2.
In its early approval of the
which must conform to a general
sion.
plan to increase, by 15,000
architectural scheme throughout
Speaking for the builders asso-
square feet, the office space in the
ciation, Edward R. Carr, president,
the city.
Executive Mansion, the Fine Arts
said: "Builders were surprised and
Plan Not Justified
Commission has repudiated its long-
shocked when they heard the news
AIA leaders also said that a
time policy of preserving the White
of the plan to enlarge the White
House as a home for Presidents.
change in leadership in the organi-
House only a few days'after Presi
zation of the Fine Arts Commission
dent Truman had promised, a
3.
Remodeling work, already in
(Gilmore D. Clarke, New York land-
delegation of officials of the Na-
progress, should be halted un-
scape architect is present chair-
tional Association of Home Build-
til Mr. Truman and the Govern-
man of the Commission) does not
ers they would get the materials
ment building agencies involved
justify a change in policy on pub-
they needed for veterans' hous-
have thoroughly explored the pos-
lic building requirements.
ng."
sibility of installing presidential
Also to bridge party lines in the
"If White House expansion, in
offices in the State War and Navy
controversy the AIA pointed out
luding a museum and an audi-
Building or in some other building
that during 30 years of discussion,
orium, is as necessary as veterans'
off the White House grounds.
Republican and Democratic presi-
housing at present, then it should
To Explain Mutilation
dents have sought to keep the
go on But we doubt that it is as
White House as it was originally
At the same time the American
necessary," he said.
Planning and Civic Association an-
intended, They quote President
"We went through the war with
Theodore Roosevelt:
present White House facilities, and
"The White House is the proper-
it seems to us the enlargement
ty of the Nation, and, so far as is
could wait awhile.
compatible with living therein, it
"It would be a wondèrful ex-
should be kept as it originally was,
ample to the country if the Presi-
for the same reason that we keep
Mount Vernon as it originally was.
dent would hold it up for the time
being, because that would show
In 1934, President Franklin
Roosevelt, who authorized "tem-
that the government really means
porary" wartime additions, opposed
what it says on channeling ade-
further expansion and the AIA
quate materials for veterans'
housing."
said:
"President Roosevelt then ex-
Separately, Senator Kenneth
pressed to the Fine Arts Commis-
McKellar, Democrat, of Kentucky
sion the conviction that the next
acting chairman of the Senate Ap-
step (in expansion) would be the
propriations Committee, reported
transferring of the President's of
that he expects the House appro-
fices to the so-called State, War and
priations bill, with provisions for
rescinding the funds for the White
Navy Building, remodeled to pro-
House extension, to be brought be-
vide adequately for demands for
fore the committee next Wednes-
S.A
such office space."
day.
The American Planning and
Senator McKellar said the mat-
GNV
Civic Association claims that the
long-time policy of the Fine Arts
(
ter would be given very serious
study and the possibility of restor-
Commission was summarized by
ing the funds recalled by the
former War Secretary Elihu Root,
House-would be donsidered.
who said:
the
White
Wash. Post, Jan. 28, 1946
N.Y. "erald Tribune,
January 27, 1946
Preservation Copy
Jefferson First to Beautity W nite House;
January 1946
Can Be Altered No More,' Todd Wrote in Book
Wide World Photo.
GROWING PAINS Early in President Roosevelt's administration the offices of the Executive Man-
sion were enlarged. to handle New Deal personnel. Since the house was first built its size has more
ast
than quadrupled
During its lifetime of 154 years
tico was finished in 1824 and the
many alterations and additions
colonnaded portico in 1829. During
have been made to the White
Jackson's term the East Room was
House, all in an effort to keep
finished and furnished. Gas light-
the house abreast of the demands
ing was installed in 1848. While
made on it. However, historical
water had been piped into the
societies and architectural groups,
house from a spring in Franklin
opponents to President Truman's
Park 20 years before, city
plans to spend $1,650,000 for
water and central heating were in-
further additions, claim that the
troduced in 1853.
time has come to call a halt. In
Bathtubs arrived during Presi-
this second of a series of three
dent Hayes term, 1877-1881.
articles The Post traces the
In 1902 crowded conditions that
growth of the Executive Mansion.
would make today's complaints
By John F. Gerrity
seem farcial by comparison, de-
Post Staff Writer
manded the renovation of the
Twenty-two years after its con-
house. On great occasions, matters
struction was begun, the Presi-
had become so bad that departing
dent's House was a heap of charred
guests would rummage through
ruins, burned by the British on
piles of clothes for their wraps-
August 14, 1814.
there was no cloakroom-and step
When the first tenants, the
gracefully down a temporary
Adams family of Massachusetts,
wooden stairway out of a window
had moved out, they left the home
in the East Room.
"just habitable" for their successor,
Congress appropriiated $500,000
Thomas Jefferson.
for the changes and the buiildinig
For a while, President Jefferson
was rebuilt to the form it substan-
made great progress in beautifying
tially is today. At that time,
the house. Some features planned
President Theodore Roosevelt offi-
by Architect James Hoban, previ-
cially named the Executive Man-
ously unrealized, were completed.
sion the White House. It had
Grounds were improved. Terraces
been called that for some years be-
in the form of wings extended from
fore and some historians say that
the east and west facades. Un-
the origin of the name rested in
finished interior walls were plas-
the fact that frequent white paint-
tered. Some furniture was replaced
ings were necessary to cover the
and slowly the great rooms lost
walls, smoke charred in the fire
their emptiness.
of 1814. Still others say that even
Dolly Madison Aided
before the fire the house, as was
Thomas Jefferson was a widower.
the custom in those days, was
Dolly Madison, wife of the then
painted white and known as the
Secretary of State, served as mis-
"White House."
tress of the White House. And as
Recent years have seen many
her influence þegan to show itself
restorations to keep the building
in great parties, receptions, the
abreast of the demands made on
first home of the country began
it. By the end of President Taft's
to acquire some semblance of bril-
term of office it had alreday been
liance.
enlarged to about twice its original
For some reason no historian
size.
seems able to explain, in a short
Restored in 1930
time Jefferson began to undo all
the good he had first accomplished.
On Christmas Eve, 1929, a fire
Soon the terraces were marred with
damaged greatly the offices and
long rows of one-story "offices."
for a while spread to the living
Meat houses, wine cellars, coal and
quarters in the house. It was again
wood sheds-and even privies-
restored in 1930.
were haphazardly scattered
In th summer of 1934, President
throughout the grounds.
Roosevelt had the offices enlarged
The festivities which began with
and the building was closed except
Jefferson and continued when Mrs.
for regular executive business, for
Madison became mistress in her
four months. And again 1936 the
own right, came to an abrupt end
House was closed for several weeks
when 5000 British troops sailed up
while an entire new electric and
the Patuxent River, routed 7000
communications system replaced
raw recruits at Bladensburg and
the systems that had outlived their
raided the National Capital.
usefulness. In 1942, more large
Some Were Satisfied
scale repairs were made on the offi-
Preservation Copy
While many contemporaries
ces in the wings and the air raid
shelter for the President and his
breathed deep sighs of relief after
the fire and the departure of the
official family was built.
British, for they thought a per-
Through all these years, archi-
manent end had come to the "re-
tects have skilfully altered the
sort of the idle" and "frivolities,"
building to meet the demands, but
Dolly Madison herself prevented
always the general character has
the loss from being greater than
ben preserved. Charles Burr Todd,
it was. She gathered together
in his "Story of Washington,"
great trunkfuls of cabinet papers,
noted this fact in 1899-and be
china, silverware, and Stuart's
warned then that the time would
NATIONAL
famous portrait of Washington and
come when great changes would be
AND
fled the city, bringing them back
sought.
unharmed when the invaders had
"Then the White House can be
left.
altered no more than Mount Ver-
The fire left little but the stone
non, for its place in the Nation's
walls of the house. Great sections
history supersedes all others."
of these had to be torn down and
rebuilt. The interior, had to be
completely reconstructed. For-
tunately Hoban was still in Wash-
ington and he was commissioned
in 1815 to reproduce the house.
Today, it is not the home of Adams,
Jefferson and Madison, but an ac-
curate structural reproduction.
THE WHITE HOUSE
That's the Way It Was, That's the Way It Is, and
Congress Says That's the Way It's Going to Stay
By HERBERT HOLLANDER,
Special Correspondent for the
drew Johnson's hectic admin-
Globe-Democrat.
istration, they found walls and
floors discolored by tobacco
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-The
juice; vermin in the East Room,
House of Representatives kept
where soldiers of the guard had
Teddy Roosevelt from taking a
slept on the new carpet; chairs
couple of spins in his grave last
with dirt caked thick on the
Thursday when it refused to
upholstery, and rats and mice
provide money for a proposed
practically running away with
$1,650,000 addition to the White
the whole house. It may be
House, for President Theodore
noted in passing that rodents
Roosevelt is on record as hav-
still are a White House problem
ing written in 1908: "If I had
despite all manner of rat-proof-
it in my power I would
ing, trapping and other methods
leave as a legacy to you (the
of extermination.
American Institute of Archi-
The heavy-handed and over-
tects) the duty of preserving a
crowded interior decorating
perpetual eye of guardianship
fashions of the 1870s made a
over the White House to see
strong impression on furnish-
that it is kept unchanged and
ings during the Grant adminis-
unmarred from this time on."
trations, and thick dark drapes,
As things now stand, the 150-
huge sideboards, bric-a-brac
year-old White House will be
whatnots, and other such con-
kept architecturally unchanged
temporary indispensables made
unless, of course, the Congress-
their appearance.
men decide to reverse them-
In the Rutherford B. Hayes
selves.
administration, reluctant per-
And as things now stand, the
mission was given for the in-
people here wearing the biggest
stallation of a single telephone
smiles are the folks who are
line, forerunner of the battery
prominent members of the
of trunk lines now running
American Institute of Archi-
into the White House. During
tects. Originally, the A. I. A.
the Garfield administration, cut
had suggested the work of en-
short by assassination, an eleva-
largement be delayed until "ade-
tor, slow and a shade uncertain,
quate opportunity has been of-
was the single improvement
fered the nation to consider the
added.
important question implied by a
It was during the reign of the
plan to provide 13,672 square
dandified Chester A. Arthur that
feet of additional office space
the era of ultra fancy White
in a new west wing, along with
House decoration reached its
a cafeteria, and an auditorium
apogee, or nadir, however one
for press conferences and other
events."
THIS OLD PRINT SHOWS THE WHITE HOUSE as it appeared shortly after its
cares to view it. Arthur secured
the services of New York's Mr.
completion. The cornerstone was laid by George Washington in 1792, and John
Tiffany to refurbish the place,
President's House
Adams was the first President to take up residence there, in 1800. Today the build-
and when the job was finished
The architects had questioned
ing's exterior is virtually unchanged.
the mansion was completely ele-
"whether the property of the
gant in the most rococo style
nation traditionally known as
of that day.
desirability of maintaining the
Opposition to the most recent
the White House should contin-
wings in recent years, there have
historic balance of the White
and now defeated plans does not
ue to be the President's house,
been many other improvements
Modifications
House and charged the archi-
mean, it is pointed out, that
as George Washington put it, or
and modernizations. The Presi-
tects of the country with a high
changes should not be made
During all these years when
whether it is to become the ex-
dent's office is air-conditioned.
duty in this regard.
from time to time. But it does
There is a swimming pool. Ef-
modifications were being made
ecutive office building of the
Upon the occasion of the lay-
mean that the essential charac-
ficient central heating has sup-
in the White House interior and
President with dwelling quarters
ing of a wreath upon the tomb
ter of the structure should not
incidental.'
planted huge open fireplaces and
in its furnishings, few altera-
of James Hoban, original de-
be lost. So far as changes are
Lorenzo S. Winslow, White
an old hot-air furnace. There
tions took place in the exterior
signer of the executive mansion,
concerned, there have been some
is modern plumbing and the
of the building and, most im-
House staff architect and the
he wrote:
man who had planned the addi-
in almost every administration.
kitchens boast the finest new
portantly, little if anything was
"The architects of the United
tion, is downcast. His arguments
equipment the pre-war market
done to give the President and
States must accept a measure
Air Conditioned
afforded.
his staff more space in which
were: 1) present quarters are in-
of responsibility and observe
to carry on the increasingly
adequate for the ever-mounting
volume of work which funnels
with a watchful eye the changes
For example, in addition to the
The first important change
heavy volume of work which
in the White House that time
took place during the Madison
through No. 1600 Pennsylvania
greatly increased office space
was coming their way. As point-
ave.; and 2) the proposed addi-
requires."
developed at both east and west
administration, when the building
ed out, McKinley sought to
was burned by the British.
make substantial additions for
tion would not mar the appear-
Originally buff colored, the man-
this purpose, but the design was
ance of the White House, would
sion was painted to cover up
such as to create a storm of
not even be seen from the front,
the fire marks and it has been
disapproval.
and could be seen by the public
repainted white ever since.
Theodore Roosevelt, McKin-
only from the air or from the
The first comprehensive job
ley's successor, realized the ne-
little side street between the
of interior decorating was done
cessity of finding a practical
White House and the State De-
by James Monroe, and little was
solution to the problem and one
partment.
altered in the way of furnish-
which would not destroy the
The A. I. A. first assumed its
ings thereafter until the impec-
character of the historic old
White House watchdog role in
cable Martin Van Buren came
building. The distinguished archi-
the McKinley administration. At
along. He brought new carpets
tects he employed succeeded in
that time a plan was prepared
to replace old ones which were
their delicate mission and for
for erection of two extensions to
brown with tobacco stains, in-
the first time the Presidents had
the executive mansion which
stalled a lot of fancy French
would have more than doubled
offices which were a part of the
furniture, and even went so far
mansion and yet not immediate-
its size. They took the form of
as to put in a few foot tubs,
twin wings surmounted by tow-
ly within the living quarters.
laboriously filled by transferring
Through the years these west-
ers which would have dwarfed
St. Louis Globe-De
hot water in buckets from the
the White House proper. Upon
kitchens. Van Buren also did
wing offices have been carefully
enlarged on several occasions.
strong representations to the
January 29, 194
something about the latter
President by the architects, and
Also, it has been found nec-
rooms, where the rain often
vigorous public protests, the
essary to strengthen the roof
stood in puddles for weeks on
plan was dropped.
beams in a major way. During
end. It was at this same time,
an inspection after a fire in the
too, that the first hot-air fur-
'Ideal' Said T. R.
White House during the Cool-
nace finally gave the mansion a
idge administration it was found
President Theodore Roosevelt
form of central heating. But it
that the whole roof structure
in 1902 employed the famed firm
remained drafty and uncomfort-
over the building proper had
of McKim, Meade and White to
able in Washington's damp,
almost rotted through, and the
bring order out of the array of
chilly winters.
President was not permitted to
outbuildings which had grown
The first permanent bath tub
live there for several months
up around the White House
was not installed until Millard
during 1927 until ancient wood-
since the Lincoln administration.
Fillmore's day, and it was dur-
T. R. was so pleased with the
en supports were supplanted by
ing this administration that gas
steel trusses.
result that he declared "the
for lighting made its initial ap-
White House is now the ideal
pearance. But the cooking still
house for Presidents."
was done on coal and wood
Since then changes and en-
ranges. At this time also the
largements have been made in
now extensive White House li-
the White House offices (includ-
brary got its small start.
ing the recent addition of an
entirely new east wing), but the
Rats, Mice
outward appearance of the an-
cient structure has been virtual-
Little was done to the White
ly unchanged. Both the enlarged
House during the years of Lin-
west wing and the new east
coln's occupancy because of the
wing do not in any degree over-
war. When the decorators fi-
balance the original living quar-
nally got on the job during An-
ters.
Although several important
additions and enlargements were
made during the administrations
of President Franklin D. Roose-
velt, he, like his relative and
Preservation Copy
predecessor, also recognized the
TRUMAN
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
SERVICE
Sunday Star, February 6, 1946
AN UNSUCESSFUL WHITE HOUSE PLAN-This is the White House plan defeated by the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects in 1899. The present plan to extend the west wing of the Executive
Mansion, while not so extensive or bizarre, is opposed by the architects and other groups on
the ground the White House should be retained as the home of the President and that offices
should be constructed outside the White House grounds. This is a view from the south side
of the White House of what would have been constructed if the AIA had not led organized
resistance against it.
Architects Recall 1899 Victory
Against White House Changes
By RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.
A review of the last three weeks
As the controversy over expansion
shows the current controversy fol-
of office space in the White House
lowing almost the same pattern.
grounds enters its fourth week,
Fight Is Promised.
members of the American Institute
Lorenzo S. Winslow, architect of
of Architects last night recalled
the White House, made public a set
their victory 47 years ago in pre-
of plans to extend the west wing.
venting larger and more bizarre
The next day the Washington chap-
additions to the Executive Mansion
ter of the AIA opened a campaign
proposed in the McKinley admin-
against the plan. The campaign re-
istration
sulted in the House blocking funds
With the AIA's annual convention
for the extension. Following this
scheduled here for February 15,
the plan was watered down by the
members are hoping their oppo-
President and the Fine Arts Com-
sition to the present plan, several
mission.
parts of which already have been
A fight to have the Senate con-
discarded, may result in the same
cur with the House is now under
success.
way, despite the fact that the plan
A prominent AIA member pro-
had been modified.
vided a blow-by-blow account of the
AIA members promise an explo-
1899 controversy, with pictures, and
sive session on the White House at
a comparison between what hap-
their coming convention.
pened then and what is happening
If the plan goes through in its
now.
present form, it apparently will be
after a hard fight, similar to that
Scene Was the Same.
which resulted in total victory in
The scene was the same, the
1899.
names and titles different.
Then, as now, the President need-
ed more space. But the man who
Historical Group Protests
planned the additions then made
big plans. He decided the White
Changes at White House
House needed to be twice its pres-
ent size and that it wasn't fancy
The Columbia Historical Society
enough.
yesterday added its formal protest
He was Col. Theodore Bingham,
against extending the west wing of
commissioner of public buildings
the White House to current criti-
and grounds.
cism of the project.
According to an account of the
Its board of managers, taking ac-
times by Glenn Brown, Washington
tion foreshadowed nearly two weeks
architect who three years later was
ago when F. Regis Noel, society
to superintend the renovation of the
president, indicated opposition from
Preservation Copy
Executive Mansion in the Theodore
the society would be forthcoming,
Roosevelt administration, "Col.
adopted a resolution as follows:
Bingham was ambitious to have his
"The Columbia Historical Society
name prominently connected with
opposes any alteration or addition
the White House."
which will in any way affect the
Called "Mongrel Contraption."
pristine beauty and identity of the
White House as the residence of the
He employed mechanical drafts-
President other than removal of
men to lay plans. These men, prin-
temporary additions already there."
cipally, Frederick D. Owen, asked for
The question of taking action on
the addition of statues, an allegori-
the White House plans was referred
cal fountain, palms, conservatories
to the board by a general meeting
HARRY
"NATIONAL
and lily pond. Two huge wings were
ARCHIVES AND
LIBRARY
January 15.
to be surmounted by circular tower-
RECORD3
like ends reminiscent of world fair
designs.
U.S.
GOVERNMENT
White House
THE WASHINGTON PI
11 State Functions
Sunday, September 22, 1946
Society Gets
to the doors.
tion at the White House since
Entertaining
The judicial reception Decem-
February 11, 1941, when Presi-
ber 10 will be the first such func-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt received
White House
Goes Formal
members of the Army and Navy.
The last state dinner was held
January 31, 1939.
'Go' Sign
Continued from Page 1
protocol division. Down through
all the Administrations, they have
By Peggy Preston
been held in order that White
House/courtesy and hospitality may
CAPITAL society got the go-
be extended to official represent-
ahead sign this week. From
atives of all other nations as well as
the White House came announce
our own.
ment of a full-dress social "sea-
Seldom does the list vary, al-
son," first since 1939.
though from time to time a Presi-
dent takes it upon himself to abol-
In Washington that means
a
ish one or the other of the func-
number of things. First, it proves
tions, or to add another. President
that despite loud rumblings of
Hoover did this when he called off
international disputes, relations
the giant New Year's Day recep-
within the Family of Nations are
tion. It was he, too, who instituted
the Vice President's dinner (for
sufficiently calm to allow repre-
which is substituted this year the
sentatives to dine together once
dinner to the President Pro Tem-
more at the White House.
pore of the Senate).
It is a definite sign that the re-
The Speaker's dinner was added
conversion cycle from war to
to the program in the first Presi-
peace is all but complete; that
dent Roosevelt's Administration as
the President may, with good
a special salute to "Uncle Joe"
taste, assume the cloak of First
Cannon.
Host of the Land, according to
traditions laid down by his pred-
All Set Tuesday
ecessors,
Each function is arranged for a
From a purely local angle, the
Tuesday, this in order that the
resumption of official entertaining
First Family may have its weekends
at the White House is of consider-
free. Approximately 1000 attend
abietsighi ficance. When Mrs. James
the receptions; from 85 to 100, the
Helm: Mrs. Truman's social secre-
dinners.
tary, released. the schedule she
This year, however, there are
fired the opening gun in the town's
11 dates, since two diplomatic
party race. Hostesses may now get
dinners are scheduled instead of
to work on their own pet social
the usual one, This has happened
projects. They will cast their eyes
only once before and that just
over the White House schedule,
before our entry into World War
note on which night a state dinner
I, when President Wilson deemed
or reception is scheduled and make
it wise not to ask representatives
their plans accordingly.
of warring nations to the same
It Makes Difference
dinner. Ambassadors from the
Allied nations were asked to one;
They'll be careful not to ask a
those from Germany, etc., to
member of the Diplomatic Corps to
another.
dinner on January 7, for he'll have
Obviously this is not the reason
to dash off during the soup course
for the double dates on this year's
to attend the diplomatic reception.
Nor will the wise lady plan a din-
calendar. They signify something
quite different. The two dinners
ner for the Chief Justice without
consulting the White House sched-
point up the fact that Washington
ule. Mr. Justice Vinson and his col-
has emerged from the war a great
leagues are due in the State Dining
world capital; that the Diplomatic
Room January 14 at 8 p. m. sharp.
Corps now is so large that the state
And so it goes down the line, with
dining room is not big enough to
a specific date on the list reserved
seat its members all at once.
for each official group.
Corps Reaches 1150
The schedule is as follows:
The corps, incidentally, has grown
November 26, Tuesday, diplomat-
by leaps and bounds the last four
ic dinner, 8 p. m.
year, now numbering 1150, Only
Preservation Copy
December 3, Tuesday, diplomatic
Chiefs of Missions and a few top
dinner, 8 p. m.
aides are asked to the dinners,
December 10, Tuesday, judicial
but almost the entire corps is in-
reception, 9 p. m.
vited to the diplomatic reception.
December 17, Tuesday, Cabinet
Hence, the night of January 7
dinner, 8 p. m.
will see the White House crowded
January 7, Tuesday, diplomatic
TRUMAN
HARRY
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
LIBRARY
RNMENT
Traveled Abroad
THURSDAY. OCTO]
The President's wife selected
eraid
After graduation, Miss Folsom
her personal friends with a firm
traveled abroad for a year with
Tribune, Oct.
Youngest First Lady
disregard for their economic, so-
her mother, then Mrs. Emma
cial or political status. One close
1947
Folsom Perrine. They returned
friend was the wife of a clerk in
unannounced to New York City,
the Treasury Department, and the
landing at night from a tug that
White House carriage frequently
met the ship, and slipped un-
called at her modest home in
noticed to the old Gilsey House
Washington's least fashionable
on Broadway.
district. Another was a young
President Cleveland called there
woman who taught music for a liv-
soon after their arrival, and three
ing and for whom Mrs. Cleveland
days later Miss Folsom was en
obtained pupils. A third was the
route to Washington for the wed-
teacher of a small kindergarten
ding. It was the first marriage
school, who later taught the Cleve-
of a Chief Executive to take place
land girls in the White House.
in the White House and the bride
Family Moved Here
was to be the youngest first lady
When the President failed of re-
to preside there President, Cleve-
election in 1888, the Clevelands
land was then forty-nine.
moved to New York City, where
The press and the public made
they lived until his election to a
the most of the quiet romance
second term in 1892.
and the simple, ceremony in which
At the close of President Cleve-
it culminated. One sentimental
land's second term they moved to
reporter described the rain that
Princeton, where they acquired
fell as she arrived in the capital,
the fifteen-roou brick Colonial
at 5:30 a. m. on June 2, 1866, as
home, Westland which had been
"gentle as a maiden's tears."
built in 1850 by Commodore F. S.
The ceremony was held that
Stockton.
evening in the, Blue Room before
Mr. Cleveland became a trustee
a few intimate friends and rela-
and lecturer at Princeton Univer-
tives. Dr. Byron Sunderland, the
sity, and Westland became a
President's pastor, read the re-
rendezvous for its undergraduates.
vised service in which the bride
The family passed the summers
promised to "love, honor, and
in a large farmhouse on Stevenson
Associated Press
keep" her husband, after John
Hill at Tamworth, N. H.
Mrs. Thomas J. Preston jr.,
Philip Sousa's Marine Band
After Mr. Cleveland died in
widow of President Groper Cleve
played the wedding march. The
1908, Mrs. Cleveland took the chil-
land, as she appeared in 1892.
Rev. William N. Cleveland, brother
dren abroad, where they lived for
They were married at the W hite
of the President, pronounced the
two years, first in Switzerland and
House in 1886
blessing; the Navy Yard sounded
then in Italy. Mrs, Cleveland
a twenty-one-gun salute; and
studied lánguages with them
church bells in the capital chimed
After her return to Princeton,
Cleveland's
a benediction.
Mrs. Cleveland lived in semi-
retirement for two years, attend-
In Unwanted Spotlight
ing only a few functions at the
The nation sat back then to ob-
university, of which she had been
(Continued from page one)
serve how the youngest first lady
appointed a trustee She was
ter of Mr. Cleveland's law. partner
in the history of the land would
married on Feb. 10, 1913. to Pro-
in Buffalo, Oscar Folsom, who
comport herself in the White
fessor Preston, whom she had
died when she was eleven. Mr.
House, She moved constantly in
known since her years at Wells
Cleveland *looked after her as a
an unwanted spotlight of public-
College, where he taught arche-
semi-official guardian while she
ity, but there was never a word of
ology.
went through Central High School
critcism of her conduct. She pre
Interest in Politics Warned
in Buffalo.
sided over state functions and
Her interest in politics waned
smalls parties alike with grace,
During this period she made
after Mr. Cleveland's death, but in
charm and a dignity unexpected
good grades in school, won a
1913 she was vice-president of the
in a twenty-two-year-old matron
beauty contest at the authors'
New Jersey Association Opposed to
Her loyalty to the President in
carnival in Buffalo and made and
Woman Suffrage. In 1918 she suc-
all matters was so strong that she
broke an engagement with Charles
ceeded Professor Preston as di-
once avoided shaking hands with
Townsend, who thereafter entered
rector of the National Security
a Senator who was politically hos-
the Presbyterian Seminary at
League's speakers bureau.
tile to Mr. Geveland. She was so
Auburn, N. Y.
She was active in the Women's
generous with handshaking gen-
University Club, of which she was
Mr. Cleveland was in the Gov-
erally, however, that in time her
president in 1920, the Garden Club
ernor's Mansion at Albany when
right hand grew nortosably larger
of America and the Needlework
Miss Folsom entered Wells College
than her left. She held two re-
Guild of America, of which she was
at Aurora, N. Y. "Her fellow stu-
ceptions weekly scheduling one
president for thirteen years until
dents were more exicted than she
on Saturday afternoonsirso that
1938. She was a member of the
over the periodic arrival of large
women and girls in Washington
State Public Library Commission.
boxes of roses from the Executive
might more easily attending evwb
BE Preston was moderately
Mansion for Frances Folsom.
wealthy, having inherited $250,000
By the time she was graduated
from her father and a comfortal, le
in 1885, the flowers were'still com-
fortune left by Mr. Cleveland.
ing, but now from the White
House. The engagement was
never publicly announced, but it
was widely reported that the tall,
blue-eyed college girl would marry
Grover Cleveland.
AND
LIBRARY
RECORDS
Preservation Copy
GOVERNMENT
Wash. Eve. Star
New York Times
October 1947
Mrs. Preston
A famous American romance inevitably
A PRESIDENT'S WIDOW
was recalled by the death of Mrs. Thomas
Jex Preston, junior. She was the first
None could have guessed when Fran-
White House bride. The date of her mar-
ces Folsom was a child of 11, just
riage to President Grover Cleveland was
after/her father's death, that she was
destined to be the first woman to
June 2, 1886, and the time-stained pages
of The Star for the following day tell the
marry a President of the United States
in the White House. Yet from that
story of the wedding in multitudinous
hour her path led there. Her father's
detail. Only a few private friends wit-
law partner, Grover Cleveland, was a
nessed the ceremony in the Blue Parlor,
rising young man in Buffalo politics.
the report explained, but thousands of
He made it his business to look after
people stood in the streets and grounds
the affairs of his partner's daughter.
adjacent to the Executive Mansion, while
As she grew to womanhood boxes of
the rites were in progress and subsequently
roses began to arrive at her home from
saw the happy couple" leave for their
his office. At Wells College, where she
honeymoon at Deer Park.
was a student, they continued to arrive
Mr. Cleveland, forty-nine years of age
from the Governor's Mansion in Al-
when he became a husband, had been a
bany. Finally they came from the
lonely figure in official Washington. Deeply
White House at Washington.
sensitive despite a seemingly gruff exterior,
That was more than sixty years ago.
he mourned the fading of his youth with-
Such a romance could not fail to move
the heart of a sentimental nation. Miss
out any attempt to conceal his melancholy.
Folsom was as modest and gracious as
Oscar and Emma Folsom had been his
friends in Buffalo. Their daughter Frances,
she was lovely. Mr. Cleveland, at 49,
was the most eligible bachelor in the
born there on July 21, 1864, grew to woman-
world. For weeks the approaching
hood while he worked his way up from ob-
wedding was the topic of the day.
security to the highest position in the land
The new First Lady proved herself
Twice she came to the Capital with her
a devoted wife and mother. Avoiding
mother to visit his empty home. The Presi-
the limelight whenever possible, she
dent's sister was her host and may have had
was, nevertheless, the most popular.
much to do with arranging the match.
woman in America.
Exactly when or how Mr. Cleveland pro-
Five widows of former Presidents
posed never has been publicized. Formal
are still alive. They live longer than
announcement of the prospective mar-
their husbands, for the office breaks
riage was issued only five days before it.
down all but the most rugged men. Mr.
took place.,
Cleveland died eleven years after he left
The minister who officiated was the
the White House. Five years later Mrs.
Reverend Dr. Byron Sunderland, pastor of
Cleveland married Dr. Thomas Preston,
the First Presbyterian Church: After the
Professor of Archaeology at her old
ceremony he expressed his belief that the
Alma Mater and then at Princeton.
union would be exceptionally happy. His
Throughout her long and useful life
judgment was confirmed. The President
she remained the same charming, level-
visibly reflected his contentment. Mrs.
headed and friendly woman she had
Cleveland entered upon her duties at the
always been, alert to the changes of
White House with a modest dignity which
her time and ever quick to help others.
generously was commended. At the close
of the President's second term on March
4, 1897, he retired to Princeton, New Jersey,
where he busied himself with his auto-
biography, Dying July 24, 1908, he left the
reputation of "a truly American type of
the best kind," as James Russell Lowell
had described him. His widow kept alive
his memory even after she married Pro-
fessor Preston in 1913. She still was a
person of distinction and charm when the
world to which she belonged had disap-
Preservation Copy
peared under the impact of two World
Wars and a myriad of other tremendous
events.
HARRY S. ARCHIVES "NATIONAL RECORDS MAN AND LIBRARY
U.S.
GOVERNMENT
Mrs.Cleveland Was
Only First Lady to
Win Beauty Contest
By EVELYN PEYTON GORDON
IT'S rarely that I feel prone to talk about the deceased.
But the death the other day of Mrs. Thomas J. Preston
(formerly Mrs. Grover Cleveland) recalls to really old Wash-
ingtonians the Capital of another day.
Most of you have actually for-
gotten that there were more
than four former First Ladies
drifting around the country, in-
cluding Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
Mrs. Coolidge, Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt, Mrs. Theodore Roose-
velt and Mrs. Benjamin Harri
son.
But even those of you who
remember back to the days of
Grover Cleveland have perhaps
forgotten that his beautiful bride
was the youngest First Lady of
all time. She was only 22 when
she became hostess at the White
House, and I'll bet that she was
the first First Lady to be a
college girl and the only one to
have ever won a beauty con-
test
A couple of years ago I found
this photograph, which is print-
ed here, among some old papers
in a little town in western Min-
nesota. So great was the in
terest of the nation in the White
House bride of the 80s that a
MRS. CLEVELAND
Mr. Delaney Hunter returning to
his hometown from a visit to
Washington took the picture to
"show the folks." It happened
Washington Daily News,
to be the first photograph made
of the former Frances Folson
after she became Mrs. Grover
October 31, 1947
Cleveland.
It was made by C. M. Bell,
whose studio was between
Fourth and Fifth streets on
Pennsylvania-av nw. So proud
was he of his commission to
photograph the President's wife
that he had the following print-
ed on the back of every picture:
"This photograph, made and
published by me, is the first of
Mrs. Cleveland made since her
marriage, and is fully protected
by copyright. All originals will
have facsimile of my autograph
on face of card." And it's there
altho it doesn't appear in the
cut
Now it was only a few weeks
Preservation Copy
ago that Baltimore announced
the addition of the name of
Mrs. Preston's granddaughter to
the season's debutante ranks.
Undoubtedly the pretty blond
daughter of Richard Cleveland,
Baltimore attorney, would have
taken some part in the social
activities this winter - some-
thing of a repetition of the bril-
liant days of her grandmother's
youth. Perhaps even now we'll
meet the pretty young miss.
HARRY S. GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES SERVICE" "NATIONAL RECORDSAND TRUMAN
C-2
THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington, D. C.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1947.
The east room. of the White House at the time of the wedding of Nellie Grant, daughter of
President U. S. Grant, to Algernon Sartoris.
White obtatuo House Weddings
NE of the most interesting
By John Clagett Proctor
and a pearl fan with lace cover
weddings ever to occur. in
The bridesmaids were eight in num-
the White House was the
ber-Miss Barnes, Miss Fish, Miss
emarriage of Nellie Grant
missed in society. She is quite
Conkling, Miss Frelinghuysen, Miss
to Algernon Sartoris. Mr. Sartoris
young, not yet 19, and is noted for
Porter, Miss Sherman, Miss Drexel
had come to Washington some time
her quiet self-possession and mod-
and Miss Dent. The groom was in
before the wedding, and on May 4
esty. Mr. Algernon C, F. Sartoris
full evening dress and was accom-
attended the ceremony which joined
is the only son of Mr. Edward Sar-
panied by his best man, Col. Fred
in life partnership Lt. Hooker and
toris of Hampshire, England. He
Grant, in full uniform. The Pres-
Miss Stewart at the latter's father's
is only 23 years of age. He and
ident wore evening dress."
home on Dupont Circle, known as
Miss Grant met when she returned
While the wedding party was
Stewart's Castle. This was indeed
from her European tour 18 months
driving to the depot the chimes
brilliant affair, and those plan-
ago.
of the Metropolitan Church played
ning the White House wedding were
"The marriage has taken place
the following program: "Wedding
there no doubt to take notes.
sooner than was intended at first.
Pearl" (English); Mendelssohn's
Senator William M. Stewart of
The preparations for the wedding
"Wedding March," "Hail Columbia,"
Nevada was a very wealthy man for
have been on the most magnificent
"God Save the Queen," grand march
that period, and upon this occasion
scale. The trousseau was mostly
from "Tannhauser." The numbers
spared not the purse. His home
selected in New York City, as time
were all played by Prof. Widdows.
was one of the most expensive, beau-
would not permit of a full order
A special palace car bore away
tiful and up-to-date in the city, as
being sent to Paris: but the laces
the happy couple at 1:40 p.m. After
might readily be imagined from the
were selected abroad and exceed in
leaving Baltimore, the car was at-
name it always bore-"Stewart's
beauty anything ever seen here.
tached to the regular train for New
Castle"-until it was destroyed by
There are complete sets, one of
York. Mr. and Mrs. Sartoris sailed
fire on December 30, 1879; with dam-
white lace and the other black. This
for England on the Baltic of the
age of $30,000.
is the munificent gift of the Pres-
White Star Line, which left two
Notable Affair.
ident to his daughter.
days after their wedding. President
Seventeen days after the Hooker-
"The bridal dress is of the richest
and Mrs. Grant went on to New
Stewart wedding, on May 21, 1874,
white satin, with a train three yards
York with them.
the Sartoris-Grant ceremony took
long. Around the bottom of the
President Cleveland's Wedding.
place in the White House, and for
dress is a flounce of satin about three
Another great social event, certain-
sensible arrangements and splendor
inches deep, with plisses of tulle on
ly of no less interest than the
has rarely, if ever, been exceeded in
the edge. This flounce is laid on in
Grant-Sartoris wedding, was the
this country. No doubt ever so
marriage of President Grover Cleve-
much more money has been spent
land and Frances Folsom on June
on other weddings, but the spend-
2, 1886. The ceremony was per-
ing and lavishing of money does
formed, in the blue room which
not always mean results. It, indeed,
was transformed into a bower of
was a great and notable affair.
beauty for the occasion, and the
The day before the wedding we
noted bandmaster, John Philip
find the following announcement in
Sousa, then director of the Marine
The Star:
Band, came with that celebrated
"A marriage license was issued
organization of musicians to enliven
by the clerk of the court here today
the occasion. The officiating clergy-
to Algernon Charles Frederick Sar-
man was the Rev. Byron Sunder-
toris of Wars-Ash House, Tichfield,
land, who had been the pastor of
Hants, England, and Ellen Wren-
the First Presbyterian Church from
shall Grant of Washington."
1853.
The invitations are said to have
According to a published state-
been very plain, script type being
ment, the time required for the
used on parchment paper, without
marriage ceremony was just 7 min-
monogram or other device, and
utes: "At 7:03 o'clock Mendelssonn's
read:
march was played by the band. At
"The President and Mrs. Grant
the same instant the booming of
request the pleasure of your com-
guns was heard and the ringing
pany at the marriage of their
of church bells and blowing of
daughter, at the Executive Mansion,
steam whistles told the story to all
on Thursday, May 21, at 11 o'clock
the people of Washington that the
a.m."
marriage had taken place. The
The Star's Account.
Marine Band finished the march at
Continuing, The Star gives an
7:05. At 7:12 the band again began
excellent account of the wedding
to play," indicating that the cere-
ceremony itself, which took place
mony was over.
in the famous East Room, gorgeously
The ceremony itself was the same
decorated for the purpose. The Star
ritualistic one that Dr. Sunderland
Preservation Copy
further says: "The bridal party
had read to many contracting par-
having assembled upstairs, descended
ties on previous occasions and he
by the private stairway and pro-
stood before the distinguished cou-
ceeded down the hall in the follow-
ple beside the Rev. William H. Cleve-
ing order: Mr. Sartoris and his best
land, a Presbyterian clergyman, and
man advanced to the foot of the
brother to the President.
dais, where Rev. Dr. Tiffany awaited
The Wedding Dress.
the bride. Miss Conkling and Miss
It might be interesting to the
Frelinghuysen were the first of the
MISS FRANCES FOLSOM,
women of the present day to know
bridesmaids to arrive. They paused
the nature of the bride's costume.
just after passing the center of the
As she appeared at the time
The dress was of ivory satin cut en
room. Miss Porter and Miss Sher-
of her marriage in the White
train, with high corsage and elbow
man advanced beyond them, Miss
House to President Grover
sleeves. Two bands of mull, edged
Drexel and Miss Dent passing the
Cleveland.
with lace, crossed the bosom and
last two and Miss Barnes and Miss
the skirt was trimmed with the same
Fish passing to the foot of the dais.
box pleats, with loops and ends of
sort of scarfs which crossed the front
Then came the bride with her
the satin between each pleat. Above
and formed the trimming of the
father. As she approached, Mr. Sar-
this flounce and reaching to the
skirt. The orange blossom gar-
toris stepped forward and secured
waist are two exquisite point lace
niture, commencing upon the veil
her arm from her father. The bride
flounces, which are flat across the
in a superb cornet, was continued
and groom stepped upon the dais,
front breadth and form side trim-
throughout the costume. A veil of
the bridesmaids forming a semi-
mings up the back. The waist is
tulle completely enveloped the bride
circle. Dr. Tiffany performed the
high and trimmed with lace and
and fell to the edge of her train.
service according to the form of the
flowers to match the skirt. The
Among the telegrams received by
Methodist Church.
sleeves reach below the elbow and
the President was one from Queen
"Miss Nellie Grant has grown up
are finished with lace. The veil is
Victoria of England. Her telegram
in this city and her appearance is
of tulle and fastened with orange
said: "Pray accept my sincere con-
"NATIONAL
well known to most of our citizens.
blossoms; ornaments pearls and
gratulations on your marriage, and
ARCHIVES
She is very popular among her
diamonds. She carried this morning
my best wishes for your happiness.
RECORDS
friends and will be very much
a bouquet of choice white flowers
Victoria."
SERVICE"
"The President's House," as rebuilt after its burning by the British in 1814.
By 1885, when Cleveland took office, the main part of the White House looked much as it does now
Preservation Copy
HARRY ARCHIVES TRUMAN "NATIONAL AND LIBRARY
RECORDS
U.S. GOVERNAMENT
EDOMEN
This enlargement plan, including two ornate wings and a conservatory to the south, was rejected by McKinley in 1899
-
in
for
a
8'
#
The remodeling of the executive offices by Franklin Roosevelt in 1934
This proposed 1946 extension (left of center) of the west wing executive offices was abandoned after a Nation-wide prote
Preservation Copy
HARRY U.S. ARCHIVES TRUMAN "NATIONAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS AND LIBRERY
All Presidents Are Architects
British Started Fad by Burning the White House;
Occupants Have Been Trying to Change It Ever Since
By Edward T. Folliard
tastes. What he has in mind now is a little
home of George Washington's wife on the
Post Reporter
balcony outside of his second-floor bedroom
Pamunkey River in Virginia. However, it
HE LATEST controversy over the White
and study, behind the columns of the South
seems more likely that the name caught on
House-arising from President Truman's
Portico. Here, for as many summer nights
after, rather than before, the British
desire for a mod st $15,000 porch outside of
as are allotted to him in the White House,
invasion of 1814. For a long time, the
his bedroom-is mild compared to some
he would like to sit with the First Lady and
official name was "The Executive Mansion."
precipitated by changes in the historic
watch the fireflies and relax, much as they
Not until Theodore Roosevelt's administra-
mansion.
used to do on their porch in Independence,
tion did White House become the 0 cial
Mr. Truman himself got into a much more
Mo.
designation.
violent dispute two years ago when he
However, the Fine Arts Commission
The work of completing the mansion
sought to enlarge the west wing.
opposed the balcony, saying it would
progressed slowly. It was far from finished
But for a real humdinger of a row, you
"permanently change the appearance of the
when the British marched into the city with
have to go back a century or so. The elegant
south facade of the White House." Chairman
their torches. Reconstruction work started
Martin Van Buren was President, having
Gilmore D. Clarke said such changes ought
in the spring of 1815, and President Monroe
succeeded the inelegant Andrew Jackson in
not to be made in "the design of the central
moved in during the latter part of 1817. The
1837. Great changes occurred once Van
element of a building of such historic
significance."
cost of the White House from the beginning
Buren took over. A man of refined and
up to 1820 was $579,000, counting repairs.
somewhat extravagant tastes, he made
Once the commission learned that Mr.
many repairs and additions to the White
26 Million Valuation
House and imported exquisite furniture
T
ODAY, according to District Assessor
from France.
Edward A. Dent, the White House has
Whereas Jackson had allowed King Mob
an over-all value of nearly 26 million dollars
to reign, Van Buren stationed policemen at
(land, $23,623,170; buildings and improve-
the White House doors. He drove about in
ments, $2,250,000).
a magnificient coach, dined off silver plate,
The south portico, behind which Mr.
and had his dinners prepared by an English
Truman wants his balcony, was completed
chef. His daughter-in-law, who acted as
in 1824, and the north portico in 1829.
hostess of the White House, had acquired
In Teddy Roosevelt's time, the White
aristocratic tastes in Europe. Her guests
House underwent extensive structural and
were formally announced. She received
architectural changes, the first since it was
them on a raised platform, wearing a long-
completed. This overhauling was called
train velvet gown, with a headdress of three
"radical" and was otherwise denounced on
feathers.
Capitol Hill. A new office building was
All this, the historians tell us, was re-
erected, taking the place of a greenhouse on
garded as "a flagrant betrayal of, the Jack-
the west side of the mansion. The mansion
son tradition."
itself was so thoroughly renovated that T. R.
Likened to Caesar's Palace
and his family had to move out, taking up
temporary residence at No. 22 Jackson pl.
0N
CAPITOL HILL, the changes wrought
on the west side of Lafayette Park.
by Van Buren, physical and social, be-
came the subject of red-hot debate, little of
The Executive Office was enlarged to
it favorable to the President. One member
twice its original size by President Taft.
of Congress, Representative Ogle of Penn-
In 1927 it became necessary to recon-
sylvania, complained that the White House
struct the roof and the attic of the White
had become "a palace as splendid as that
House. While this was being done, Presi-
of Caesar and as richly adorned as the
dent Coolidge made his home in the Patter-
proudest Asiatic mansion."
son mansion on Dupont Circle.
Another Pennsylvania member, Repre-
1929 Fire Recalled
sentative Tyler, made an oratorical attack
on Van Buren in July, 1840, that lasted
O
N Christmas Eve, 1929, while Herbert
several days. Here is an extract from the
Hoover was President, a fire did great
flood of his satire and irony:
damage to the Executive Office. While re-
"What will the plain Republican farmer
pairs were being made, Mr. Hoover used
This is that South Portico
Gen. John J. Pershing's office in the old
say when he discovers that our economical
State Department Building.
reformers have expended $13,000 of the
Truman was determined to have the balcony.
In the 12 years that Franklin D. Roose-
people's cash for looking(glasses, lamps and
it said it was "gratified" to learn that he
candlesticks?
velt was President, a number of changes
had selected William Adams Delano, a
took place. The Executive Office was
"What would the frugal Hoosier think
New York architect, to handle the project.
again remodeled so as to triple the available
vere he to behold a Democratic peacock in
The New York Herald Tribune carried a
office space. A swimming pool was con-
full court costume, strutting by the hour
tart editorial after the announcement. It
structed in the West Terrace. In 1936, a new
before golden-framed mirrors 9 feet high
reminded Mr. Truman that he was "only a
kitchen with all electric equipment was in-
nd 4½ feet wide? Why, sir, were Mr. Van
tenant" in the White House, and it accused
stalled, together with an automatic fire de-
Buren to dash into the palace on the back
him of having "a lamentable penchant for
tection system and many other improve-
f his Roanoke race horse, be could gaze
meddling with a historical structure which
ments.
and admire the hoofs of his charger and
the Nation prefers to retain as it is.
Not long after the United States Was
is erown at the same instant of time, in
plunged into World War II, plans were
ne of those splendid mirrors!"
Present Lawn Once Garden
started for an East Wing office building.
Van Buren's critic then told how an "Eng-
I
F THE City of Washington had grown as
This included, besides office space and
lish porter" at the White House had
its planners expected, Mr. Truman's
quarters for White House police, an air-
slammed the door in the face of a plain
balcony would look out over the front of
raid shelter costing $65,000. FDR never
citizen who simply wanted to see the "gor-
used it.
the White House. Originally, the south side
geous drapery and brilliant mirrors" of the
of the mansion was the main entrance and
Two years ago, President Truman decided
East Room.
the area which now abuts Pennsylvania ave.
to have an addition built to the Executive
He concluded with a warning that things
was the family garden.
Office on the west side of the mansion.
would be different when "Old Tip" took
It would have cost $1,650,000 and would
In those early days, it was called the
over.
have provided additional office space, a
"President's House" and was set in a park
cafeteria and an auditorium.
He was right, too. The hero of Tippe-
that extended all the way from H st. to the
The Fine Arts Commission, which ob.
canoe, William Henry Harrison, was elected
Potomac River, and ran from 15th st. to
that same year and moved into the White
jected to Mr. Truman's little $15,000 porch,
17th st.
approved the proposed addition, but some
House on March 4, 1841. He and Vice
How It Got Its Name
of the Nation's leading architects objected.
President John Tyler were determined to
So did many civic leaders.
restore a simpler atmosphere. Harrison
died a month after taking the oath. And
H
OW THE British set fire to the mansion
Mr. Truman called the outery a tempest
in 1814, leaving hardly anything but
in a teapot, but in the end he was balked.
Tyler's wife died in the White House a
the stone walls, and how it had to be
Congress refused to appropriate the money.
year or SO later.
painted white to give it a decent appearance
However, he is going to have his balcony.
A Place to Relax
-this is a familiar story. But there is still
And on the hot nights that lie ahead-
a dispute over how it got the name of
THE PRESENT occupant of the White
perhaps for one summer, perhaps for five
"White House."
--he will be able to get such breezes as
House, Mr. Truman, is far more like
Some authorities have contended it was
come from the Potomac, and thus be re-
Jackson than Van Buren in his habits and
called that before the fire, after the early
freshed for the world's hardest job.
HARRY
"NATIONAL
Preservation Copy
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
SERVICE
New York Times, February 18, 1949
TRUMAN RECOUNTS
The seriousness of structural
weaknesses discovered in the Exec-
Study Made by Many Experts
utive Mansion," said Truman,
"raised grave question concerning
The report was signed by W. E.
WHITE HOUSE PERIL
the safety of the members of the
Reynolds, Commissioner of Public
Presidential household and of the
Buildings. It was based on inspec-
thousands. of persons visiting the
tions and studies by the following:
mansion as sightseers, or as mem-
Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming, Fed-
bers of groups attending business
eral Works Administrator; Lo-
or social functions.
renzo S. Winslow, architect of the
Weakness So 'Truly Appalling'
The Chief Executive as well as
White House: Richard E. Dough-
the experts stated that the tradi-
erty, past president, American So-
Mansion Might Have Fallen
tional appearance inside and out-
ciety of Civil Engineers of New
In on Household, He Says
side would be preserved, with only
York, who retired recently as vice
minor modifications of unimpor-
president for improvements and
tant features for changes required
development of the Newsy ork Cen-
by modern materials:
tral Railroad Systenf. Onglas
HE WANTS IT PRESERVED
"It will be no small task to reno-
William Orr, New Haven, Conn.,
vate and modernize the structure,'
president of the American Insti-
Mr. Truman said. "It perhaps
tute of Architects; Charles B.
would be more economical from a
Spencer, president of Spencer,
It Might Be More Economical
purely financial standpoint to raze
White & Prentis, founda tion engi-
the building and to rebuild com-
neers and contractors, New York
to Tear It Down, but It Is a
pletely. In so doing, however,
City; Edward F., Neild Neild,
there would be destroyed a build-
Somdal & Neild, architects of
Symbol of U. S., He Asserts
ing of tremendous historical sig-
Shreveport, La., and Edward L.
nificance in the growth of the
Crosby, mechanical engineer, of
nation. I am in favor of preserv-
Henry Adams, Inc., Baltimore
ing our outstanding historical
As the report pointed out, reçon-
By NTHONY LEVIERO
structures.
struction, rather than tearing
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES
Will Preserve the Shrine
down and building anew, was mòre
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17-Presi-
expensive because the operation
dent Truman told Congress today
"The scope of the work now pro-
would be cramped within the outer
about the "truly appalling" weak-
posed will not alter the architec-
walls of the White House, prohibit-
ness of the White House and of
tural or cultural features of the
ing maximum use of machinery
the risk that it might have fallen
mansion. The historic and tradi-
and requiring a greater volume of
in on him and on sightseers and
tional symbolism of this national
skilled and unskilled hard labor,
guests at state functions. He
shrine will be preserved to the
which would about double the
asked $5,400,000 for its reconstruc-
greatest degree consistent with the
usual payroll an a new construc-
tion.
modern materials and equipment
tionsjob.
1
Perhaps it would be more eco-
that necessarily must be incorpol
The chief need, in reconstruo
nomical to tear down the historic
rated in the project.
is a foundation going below the
mansion, President Truman said,
After reconstruction, said the
present soft clay to the sand and
but he favored its preservation as
experts, the White House "will be
gravel stratum on which the
a symbolic national shrine.
expected to survive the ravages of
foundation of "the Washington
The condition of the Executive
time for generations to come." And
Monument rests. Others recom-
Mansion was set forth in a letter
in conclusion the report stated
mendations follow:
by the President to Congress and
"No consideration has been
Removal of all interior walls,
in an experts' report prepared by
given to the alternative of demol.
which rest wholly. "upen inferiori
the Public Building Administra-
ishing the present structure and
and compressible earthen materi-
tion.
replacing it with a new and mod-
als."
Historic rooms dating to the
ern building. Such a program
Construction of an independent
time of John Adams are now clut-
would be entirely feasible as a
interior structural steel frame to
tered with trusses and scaffolding,
corstruction operation. It would
be supported by concrete piers that
holding up deeply sagging ceilings.
be less expensive than the project
will be founded upon the stratum
Meanwhile, the Truman family is
for renovation, rehabilitation and
of sand and gravel upon which the
living in the twin Blair and Blair-
underpinning of the exterior walls
Lee Mansions on Pennsylvania
Continued Page 44, Column 7
will
bear.
Avenue, awaiting the rebuilding of
Distributing to the independent
the White House, which Mr. Tru-
interior structural steel frame of
man estimated would take fifteen
substantially all of the weight (of
to eighteen months.
the structure and its contents, ex-
Sightseers are no longer admit-
TRUMAN RECOUNTS
cept the weight of the exterior
ted and the historic furnishings of
walls
the mansion have been stored
away in the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
WHITE HOUSE PERIL
basement. Construction of an entirely new
Replacement. including modest
Plumbing Called "Makeshift"
relocations and additions, of inte
riorgiartitions and facilities on the
The report, compiled by official
Continued From Page 25
first-and second floors and remod-
and private experts, bore out the
eling of space and facilities of the
observations of recent visitors that
modernization hereinaster deline-
ground floor.
for some years the First Families
ated.
Installation of modern heating,
of the country have been living in
"Aside from the specific direc-
plumbing, electric light and power
a place which was not nearly as
tive in pursuance: of which this
and communications systems, and
comfortable as a modern apart-
study has been made, considera-
complete air conditioning. bus
ment house.
The report found the plumbing
tion of the alt native would have
Elimination of fire hazards other
"makeshift" and "unsanitary," and
trespassed the domains of
than those otherwise by
recommended that it be "aban-
national pride, sentiment and tra-
reconstruction.dr Acond floor.
doned" along with the heating sys-
dition. The Executivé Mansion is
tem
and will probably.orlong be The
Investigation of the White House
White House' a symbol of the
nation"
began with a consideration of seri-
ous fire hazards, according to the
report, but this faded into second
place as the structural deteriora-
tion, in "appalling degree, and
threatening complete collapse. was
fully surveyed.
Preservation Copy
Here Are Sketches of 12 Who Help Tri
write speech material, among
ogy University of Chicago. Spe-
chase spies in Italy. Formen
They Made Trip
other duties.
cialist on Indian background. Was
assistant general counse of
with Office of War Information
Treasury. Joined White House
To Key West
David Bell, 30, born at James-
during war. He and sister run
staff last February.
town, N. D., but now a resident of
large cranberry business in Wis-
With President
Palo Alto, Cal. Another aide of
consin. Made assistant to Niles in
Russell Andrews, 46, native of
Murphy's and extremely publicity
1945.
Salt Lake City, special assistant
to Steelman. Studied at Pomona
shy. Was in the Marines in the
Washington, Dec. 25
last war and then was in the
Stephen J. Spingarn, native of
College, University of Southern
is a story about 12 men on Presi-
Budget Bureau. Assists in speech-
Bedford, N. Y., 41-year-old
California, and took A.B. and
dent Truman's staff who help
writing, among other things.
assistant to Clifford. Was lieu-
M.A. degrees at Stanford. Was
tenant colonel in war and helped
in Budget Bureau seven years
make the White House wheels go
David H. Stowe, 39, adminis-
'round, but rarely get their names
trative assistant, born at New
in the papers.
Canaan, Conn., attended Wash-
Each was considered important
ington & Lee and Duke. Instruc-
enough to be taken to Key West
tor in history and economics be-
recently during the President's
fore becoming chief budget ex-
three-week stay there preparing
aminer in Government from 1941
for the new session of Congress.
to 1947. Does general staff work.
The youngest is 30, the oldest
Was deputy to John R. Steelman,
60. Their average age is 42. Most
assistant to the President, before
have college degrees. Their sala-
appointed administrative assist-
ries are in the $10,000 and $15,000
ant last March.
class. One gets $20,000. A few
work in the White House itself.
David K. Niles, 60, Boston, ad-
The others have offices in the
ministrative assistant. Bachelor
old State Department Building
and so-called "mystery man" who
across the street.
has been active in Massachusetts
and national politics for 25 years.
Some Are Lawyers
Did spadework with minority
Among them are lawyers,
groups in Roosevelt and Truman
budget experts, and war veterans
campaigns and his present job
with a knack of getting along with
deals primarily with taking the
members of Congress. There is a
political pulse of those groups.
veteran of political wars, a 31-
year-old naval historian, and an
Philleo Nash, 40, assistant to
anthropologist.
Niles. From Wisconsin Rapids,
Some are special-assignment
Wis. A. B. University of Wis-
men. Others do research work
consin, and P.H.D. in anthropol-
and help write sections of presi-
dential speeches and messages to
Congress.
Not one hails from the Presi-
dent's home state of Missouri.
Here are thumbnail sketches of
before going to White House last President this year to serve as
the men:
February.
liaison with. Senate. Received
Navy Cross in war. Was captain
George M. Elsey, 31-year-old
Philip F. Maguire, 44, native of
at end of war then served as Navy
administrative assistant, native of
South Plainfield, N. J., but now a
liaison with Capitol.
Palo Alto, Cal., Naval Reserve
resident of Orlando, Fla. He also
officer who spent most of the war
is special assistant to Steelman
Col. Charles Maylon, 54, Dis-
in the highly secret White House
with offices in east wing of White
trict of Columbia, legislative as-
map room. Degrees from Prince-
House. Was on E.C.A. mission to
sistant since July when he retired
ton (A.B.) and Harvard (M.A.).
Greece.
from U.S. Air Force. Spent most
of life in Army (1912-49). Serves
Did research work in last cam-
Joseph G. Feeney, 40, Scranton,
as liaison between White House
paign and composed many of
made legislative assistant to and House of Representatives.
Truman's "whistle-stop" speeches.
Assisted Capt. Samuel E. Mor-
rison in writing official naval
history of World War II. Made
administrative assistant to the
President August 23, 1949.
Charles S. Murphy, 40, admin-
istrative assistant who becomes
special counsel to the President
February 1. Born in Wallace,
N. C. A leading member of the
speech-writing team. Current
duties embrace watching progress
of Administration measures in
Congress where he formerly
worked on the Senate legal-coun-
sel-staff. A.B. and L.L.D. degrees
from Duke University. Made
administrative assistant to Presi-
dent January 7, 1947. Promoted
to $20,000-a-year special-counsel
job last week, to succeed Clark
Clifford, retiring to practice law.
David D. Lloyd, 38, New York.
Assistant to Murphy. A.B. and
Preservation Copy
L.L.D. degrees, Harvard. Was
legal adviser to Secretary of De-
fense. At White House since De-
cember 1, 1948. Helps gather and
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"ocrText": "3 Century-Old Mansions May Be Kazed\nTo Make Room for State Department Annex\nTHREATENED-Blair House (left) and Decatur House are located on the square bounded by Penn-\nsylvania ave., H st., Jackson pl. and 17th st., where the State Department plans to erect an 18 mil-\nlion dollar annex. Decatur house is shown as it appeared before restoration several years ago\nThree century-old houses that\nQuincy Adams; Martin Van Buren,\nBlair House, the mother home,\nhave watched the passing parade of\nand Edward Livingston, succeeding\nwas erected by Surgeon General\nAmerican history may soon give\nSecretary of State under Andrew\nJoseph Lovell in 1824 and was\nway to postwar progress.\nJackson.\nbought by the Blairs for $6500.\nDecatur House, Blair House, and\nDuring the Civil War the house\nFour generations of the family\nBlair-Lee House, that now control\nwas used for offices, but was bought\nlived there, beginning with Francis\nthe block overlooking the State De-\nafterward by Edward Fitzgerald\nPreston Blair, who came from Ken-\nBeale, a Virginian who fought in\ntucky at the request of President\npartment and Lafayette Square,\nare in danger of being razed in\nthe Mexican War and helped found\nAndrew Jackson to establish a\norder that an 18 million dollar\nthe State of California. President\nnewspaper, \"The Congressional\nState Department annex may be\nGrant appointed him United States\nGlobe.\"\nconstructed on the block.\nMinister to Austria-Hungary. His\nAs a wedding gift to his daugh-\nson, the late Truxtun Beale, whose\nter, he built next-door Blair-Lee\nOldest of the three homes is De-\nwidow still lives in the mansion,\nHouse, which the United States\ncator House, at 748 Jackson pl. nw.,\nwas formerly United States Min-\nGovernment bought several years\nwhich was threatened with destruc-\nister to Persia and to Greece.\nbefore acquiring Blair House. It\ntion eight years ago.\nDecatur House faced its first\nwas used as an office building for\nThis house was built in 1818 for\nthreat in 938 when the estate of\nthe Mexican Claims Commission\nCommodore Stephen Decatur by\nTruxtun Beale was being settled.\nuntil 1944, when it was remodeled\nArchitect Benjamin H. Latrobe,\nPublic-spirited citizens who wanted\nand turned into a guest house for\nleader of the Greek architecture\nto save the house as a museum\nvisitors of the State Department.\nrevival who planned St. John's\nformed a \"Save the Decatur House\"\nHouse Bought in 1940\nChurch and worked on the design\nmovement which was by Secre-\nBlair House itself was bought\nof the Capitol building.\ntary of the Interior Harold Ickes.\nby the Government after the death\nCommon belief is that Decatur\npaid for the house with prize\nHome Was Restored\nof Maj. Blair in 1940, and has been\nAfter this hazard was safely past,\nused as a temporary home for visi-\nmoney for the capture of the\nfrigate Philadelphia, which had\nMrs. Beale had the home restored\ntors of the White House.\nPreservation Copy\nfallen into the hands of the Tri-\nto its original plans, according to\nIts first Government guest was\npolitan pirates.\nLatrobe's water-color architectural\nthe President of Chile. Since then\nFamily history, however, shows\ndrawings.\nmany other Presidents, including\nthat Congress refused to vote prize\nThe hand-made Georgian bricks\nthe present President of the United\nmoney on this occasion because\nwere cleaned of paint; windows\nStates, have visited Blair House.\nDecatur burned the Philadel-\nwere reglazed; and iron balconies\nPresident Roosevelt was there\nphia instead of attempting to bring\non the front windows gave way to\nonce for an hour and a half only a\nher out of harbor.\nshutters. The house, even now, is\nfew weeks before his death. He\nDecatur and his young bride\nlighted entirely by candles and oil\ncame to see a portrait of himself\nlived in this house for little more\nlamps, and has neither gas nor\npainted by Commander Edward\nHARRY\nARCHIVES AND LIBRARY\n\"NATIONAL\nMurray, which hangs in the library\nRECORDS\nthan a year when he was brought\nelectricity.\nhome mortally wounded from a\nYesterday Mrs. Beale commented\nof the old home.\ndual with Commodore Barron at\nbut briefly on the possible razing:\n\"This room, the library, was his\nGOVERNMENT\nBladensburg, Md.\n\"I have had offer after offer of\nfavorite room,\" and the favorite\nAfter his death, Decatur's house\nmoney for this house. Unless the\nof the Trumans,\" Mrs. Victoria\nsaw many famous masters. Baron\npublic takes a hand, I am inclined\nGeaney, custodian housekeeper,\nHyde de Neuville, French Minister\nto sit back and let things take their\nsaid. She added that it was former\nto the United States, lived there.\ncourse.\"\nPresident Roosevelt's wish that the\nAfter him a Russian Minister,\nAround the corner from Decatur\nhouse would remain there always,\nBaron de Tuyll, came. He was fol-\nHouse are Blair House and Blair-\nbecause no one who looked on this\nWashington Post,\nlowed by Henry Clay, Secretary\nLee Houses, at 1651 and 1653 Penn-\ntreasury of Americana could feel January 21, 1946\nof State under President John\nsylvania ave. nw.\nany enmity toward our country\nA Stake Marked the Spot Wash. Post 20:\n1946\nDecorator Truman Rushes In\nWhere Washington Never Slept\nPresident Truman's recently announced plans to spend $1,650,000\nremodeling the White House and materially changing its appearance\nraised a storm of protest from congressional and civic leaders which\nhas focused attention on the history of the President's home. In\nthe first of a series of three articles The Post presents some of the\nhighlights in the building of the historic house, which has come to\nbe regarded as a national shrine.\n(Citizens Associations disapprove White House changes. Page 12.)\nBy John F. Gerrity\nPost Staff Writer\nOne March day in 1792 the\n\"premium of $500 or a medal of that\nfirst President of the United States\nvalue\" to the person who would\nhalted his horse on a wooded ridge,\nsubmit the most acceptable plans\nfor a President's House. The word\ncommanding a superb view of the\n\"palace\" departed with L'Enfant.\nPotomac River, nudged a French\nJames Hoban, a young Irish ar-\nengineer by his side, and said,\nchitect, who was then living in.\n\"We shall build here.\"\nCharlestown, S. C., and whose de-\nThat simply did George Wash-\nsign was copied largely from the\nington select the home site of his\nplan of the palace of the Duke of\n31 successors.\nLeinster in Dublin, was the suc-\nThat same day he directed Maj.\ncessful competitor. His drawings\nPierre C. L'Enfant, designer of the\nwere approved; he was awarded his\ncity, to drive into the ground a\n\"premium\" and promptly hired by\nstake marking the spot where the\nthe Commissioners at an annual\ncenter of the \"President's Palace\"\nsalary of 100 guineas to supervise\nwould be.\nthe building.\nL'Enfant, however, did no more\nHoban's sketches called for a far\nthan that for shortly thereafter he\nmore modest structure than the\nwas dismissed. The city commission-\npalace conceived by L'Enfant, and\ners-Thomas Johnson and Daniel\nthere was some trouble in adapting\nCarroll of Maryland and David\nthe plans to the site. The Commis-\nStuart of Virginia-then offered a\nSee WHITE, Page 10, Column 4.\nPreservation Copy\nHARRYA ARCHIVES AND\nS.\nHARRY\n\"NATIONAL\nRECORDS\nLIBRARY\nSERVICE\"\nGOVERNMENT\nPresident's Home a Century Ago\naftoman\ny skilled art àc-\n'S of patient en-\nof man-power\ntailors are ex-\nst custom tailor-\n: service we ren-\n: reason we can\nlete satisfaction\nailored clothes.\n:tion of\nFabrics\ngton\nund Women\nAFTER THE FIRE-The White House in the nineteenth century, rebuilt after it was burned by the\nCo.\nBritish in 1814\ner\nSince 1898\nWHITE\nFrom Page 1.\nhalf-finished house, he stopped to\nN\nsioners wrote on August 3, 1792:\ngaze through the windows that\n\"The President joined us yester-\nfaced toward the river-the same\nday and the location of the house\nspot where other Presidents would\nhas given him some difficulty. On\nstand to ponder the affairs of the\nthe whole, he has concluded that\nNation.\nthe north front of the building\nAs he visualized the home as it\nshould be brought up to the post\nwould be completed, the torn\nfixed by Major L'Enfant to mark\ngrounds, littered with workmen\nthe center of the building. Thus\nshanties, cluttered with brick kilns,\nit would be 'most in view to the\nwater pits and rubbish little ham-\ndiagonals and east and west streets\npered his imagining.\n-though not so much from the\nAbigail Adams Irked\nCapitol as might be wished.'\nOnly the central portion of the\nIn September work began and\nbuilding, as designed by Hoban,\naquia stone was laboriously hauled\nwas initially built. It is substan-\nfrom nearby Virginia to buttress\ntially the same as it was then and\nthe stout oak beams-first skeleton\nlater rebuilt after the burning by\nto the house.\nthe British in 1814\nThe cornerstone was laid the\nfollowing October 13 in a colorful\nHowever, Abigail Adams, first\nfull dress Freemasons ceremony.\nmistress of the house who arrived\nFrom across the river in Alexan-\nin 1800, took a more practical view\ndria Masons came in their pictur-\nof the unfinished home. She was\nesque costumes-there was music,\nimpressed by its grandeur, but\nspeeches and prayers. The only\nirked by its lack of conveniences\ncelebrity missing was the man re-\nShe wrote: \"If New England had the\nsponsible for the house.\nmaking of this seat of the Govern-\nHe Toasted the Town\nment, it would be more nearly ready\nthan it is.\nEarly newspaper reports show\nThere was not enough furniture\nthat Washington had written from\nfor the great bare rooms. Al-\nMount Vernon on October 7 that\nthough the house was in \"the midst\nhe \"expected to set out tomorrow\nof a great wooded area\" firewood to\nfor Philadelphia.\" Next we hear\ndry damp walls was expensive and\nthat he arrived in Baltimore on\n\"men to cut and cart it to the\nOctober 10 and the record says that\nhouse are most difficult to obtain.\"\n\"he and his lady spent the night in\nThe Adams family washing hung in\nan elegant suite.\"\nthe now sumptuous East Room.\nThat evening at an elaborate\nBut even as the Adamses lived\nsupper he \"drank a toast to the\nthere, improvements came. \"Six\nCity of Washington and to the Ter-\nchambers were made comfortable.\nritory of Columbia.\" Saturday aft-\nA large oval room upstairs has the\nernoon Washington and his family\ncrimson furniture in it. \"Handsome\narrived in Philadelphia-just about\nas it is now, it will be beautiful\nthe time his Washington neighbors\nwhen it is completed,\" wrote the\nlaid the trowel on the stone, which\nFirst Lady, who said that to \"keep\nno one today can locate.\nthis great castle is a tax indeed.\"\nPreservation Copy\nGeorge Washington and his fam-\nOften the construction of the\nily never lived in the President's\nhouse bogged down when fund rais-\nHouse.\ning became difficult. But by the\nOn November 9, 1799, one month\ntime the Adamses were ready to\nbefore he died, Washington visited\ngive way to Widower Thomas Jef-\nhis namesake city and toured the\nferson, $333,207 had been spent on\n\"publick buildings.\"\nthe President's House-which was\nIt adds to our sentiment to know\nthen conservatively judged to be\nthat when he walked through the \"just\nhabitable.\"\nTRUMA\nHARRY LIBRARY\nSUPREME COURT MIFFED\nSurprise to Diplomatists.\nThat the order was a surprise to some\nof the leading members of the Diplo,\nmatic Corps is undisputed. This is evi-\ndent from one noteworthy fact-the ar:\nAT JUDICIARY RECEPTION\nrival of the dean of the corps. Count\nCassini, at twenty minutes past the\nhour set for the opening of the recep,\ntion and his taking his. place with his\nstaff in the general line, as guests-in-\nordinary of the President,\nMost Distinguished Judicial Guests Resent\nCount Cassini's regard for punctilious\nofficial etiquette is thoroughly well\nknown by his confreres. They are well\nAssignment in Rear of Diplomatic Corps.\naware that if he had expected to claim\nthe right to precede the judiciary, he\nThe Chief Justice Protests.\nWS have been on hand, well in ad-\nvar of the hour set, to claim such a\nright for himself and his colleagues,\nMexican Envoy Leads.\nThe old feud between the members of\nthe aide. \"The Diplomatic Corps goes\nIn consequence, when the members of\nthe United States Supreme Court and\nfirst.\nthe corps were invited to lead the line, the\nthe Diplomatic Corps over the right of\nThe Chief Justice thereupon asked the\nMexican ambassador was the ranking\nofficial precedence, has broken out anew\naide when he had been appointed social\ndiplomatist present and was the first to\nin consequence of an incident at the\ndirector of the White House, and if\nshake hands with the President, After\nWhite House reception last night.\nso, where he had received the remark-\nhim came the British and French am-\nThough it was only one incident in the\nable instructions he was carrying out.\nbassadors with their staffs, and a num-\nreception itself, and unknown to most\nJustice Harlan asserted that never, in\nber of the ministers, with their legation\nof the guests present, it was the main\nall his experience at the Capital, had\nattaches.\nincident to the eminent jurists and nota-\nhe heard of such an occurrence. The\nAt 9:20 o'elock Count Cassini arrived\nble diplomatists present.\nmajor seemed somewhat ruffled, but\nand entered the general line as it was\nOfficial Washington has experienced\nnevertheless held to his course and did\npassing through the Red Room.\nmany feuds over this right of prece-\nnot permit the justices to reach the\nHe was accompanied by Mr. Hanson,\ndence, but the judicial-diplomatic one is\nBlue Room until all the assembled dip-\nColonel Raspopow, Commander Bouta-\nthe most deep-rooted of all. It rests\nlomats, big and little, had passed\nkoff, and Mr. Bobroff. Other diplomat-\nupon the decision on the one question\nalong.\n1sts joined the line, in similar way, as\nwhich is to be ranked first: The highest\nsoon as they arrived, indicating their\njudicial tribunal of the nation, which\nview that they came as personal and\npasses judgment upon the laws of the\nnot as official guests of honor.\nland and can impose its judicial will\nupon the acts of Congress and the Pres-\nReproved by Chief Justice.\nident; or the Diplomatic Corps mem-\nWhile detained at the door of the\nbers, some of them representing the\nBlue Room, Chief Justice Fuller gave\npersons of their sovereigns, equal, as\nMajor McCawley, the aide, a low-voiced\nhead of a nation, to the President him-\ndressing down that the officer will prob-\nself.\nJustices Held Up.\nably remember a long time. Associate\nJustice Harlan, towering head and\nAlthough last night's reception was\nshoulders above his white-locked chief,\nannounced as given in honor of the ju-\nadded a few well-chosen remarks to\ndiciary, the members of the august\nthose of the Chief Justice.\nUnited States Supreme Court had to\n\"You'll have to wait. your honor,\ntake second place to the diplomatists.\nsaid the major. \"The Diplomatic Corps\nThe foreign tingent were given the\ngoes first.'\nsame position at Ohe head of the line as\nBut this is the reception to the ju-\nwas accorded them two weeks ago at\ndiciary, sir,\" indignantly replied Chief\nthe reception in their honor.\nJustice Fuller, \"We should certainly\nThis proved most annoying to Chief\nhave precedence tonight.\"\nJustice Fuller and his associates, and\nthey protested to Major McCawley, one\n\"Can't help it, your honor.\" responded\nof the White House aides, who was sta-\ntioned at the entrance to the Blue\nRoom. Their protest proved unavailing,\nhowever, and they were obliged to stand\nin line and wait until the Diplomatic\nCorps had passed by the President.\nResented by Justices.\nNot only were ambassadors and min-\nisters given precedence over the Chief\nJustice and his associates, but all the\nlegation secretaries and other attaches\nwho had arrived up to that time were\nallowed to receive the President's\ngreetings before the members of the\njudiciary were permitted to enter the\nroom.\nChief Justice Fuller and his associates\nleft the White House immediately fter\npassing down the line. The Chief Jus-\ntice and his wife, after shaking hands\nwith the receiving party, passed directly\nback through the Blue and Red parlors\nto the private elevator and left the\nmansion.\nWashington Times, January 22, 1904\nCo.\nHARRY\nARCHIVES AND LIBRARY\n\"NATIONAL\nPreservation Copy\nRECORDS\nGOVERNMENT\nWHITE HOUSE SPREADING OUT-How the west wing would\nappear after the proposed changes, looking northwest from\nWhite House architect. The part of the building left of center\nthe south lawn, is shown in this sketch of Lorenzo S. Winslow,\nin the sketch would be new-an extension of the President's\noffices.\nWhite House Changes to Add\nRadio and Television Studio\nBy RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.\nnew east wing will be rearranged\nExtension of the west wing of the\nfor the museum, and an outside\nWhite House to provide 15,000\ncurved staircase at its south side\nsquare feet of additional office space\nwill provide another access to the\nfor the presidential staff and an\nsecond floor.\nauditorium for press conferences\nThe architect said the public un-\nand other White House events will\ndoubtedly will again be allowed in\nbe undertaken under a $1,650,000\nthe east wing after it has been con-\nappropriation provided in the last\nverted into a museum.\ndeficiency act.\nArchitectural plans for the ex-\nSeven rooms are planned to house\nthe museum exhibits, Mr. Winslow\ntension were made public yesterday\nby. Lorenzo S. Winslow, architect\nsaid. For purposes of arranging the\nexhibits, he said, administrations\nof the White House, who also pre-\ndicted part of the White House\nwill be divided historically some-\nwhat as follows: 1793-1820, 1820-\nwould be reopened to the public\n1840, 1840-1860, 1860-1870, 1870 to\nnext year. It has been closed to\n1900, 1900-1933 and 1933 onward.\ntourists since early 1941.\nWhen completed the addition to\nEach room likely will house objects\nfrom one of the periods.\nthe west wing will provide space\nfor members of the President's\nThe late President Roosevelt con-\nstaff who now have offices in the east\nceived the idea for the museum, Mr.\nwing, which will then be made into a\nWinslow said, and had him make\nWhite House museum to house his-\nnumerous sketches for it. Use of\ntorically interesting objects of va-\nthe wing as a museum should\nrious administrations. Many of the\nfurther the privacy and homelike\nexhibits will be taken from the\natmosphere of the White House\nSmithsonian Institution, Mr. Wins-\nproper, he said. The wing would\nlow said yesterday.\ncontinue to be the main public en-\nThe addition will be the same\ntrance to the White House.\nheight as the present west wing\nMr. Roosevelt prepared a long list\nand will extend south along West\nof objects that he thought should\nExecutive avenue.\nbe included in the museum exhibits,\nAuditorium to Seat 375.\nMr. Winslow said. He said the list\nCentral feature of the addition\nincluded historic furniture, papers,\nwill be the auditorium. It will be\nchinaware, the dresses of Presidents'\ntwo stories high and have a seat-\nwives and other articles used by\ning capacity of 375. A private pas-\npresidential families.\nsageway will lead from the Presi-\nBomb Shelter Retained.\ndent's office to a small stage, which\nThe east wing will continue to\nwill be equipped with a stage ele-\nhouse White House police officers\nvator, large enough to lift a grand\nand the presidential bomb shelter.\npiano to the stage from the base-\nUnder the same appropriation, Mr.\nment level.\nWinslow said, interior alterations\nPresidential broadcasts and inti-\nwill be made to the White House\nmate White House entertainment\nproper and the grounds will receive\nfunctions as well as press confer-\nlandscaping improvements.\nences are to take place there. At\nThe alterations to the house will\nthe upper level of the auditorium\ninclude complete modernization of\nwill be a special glass-inclosed\nthe heating plant, in service since\nWash. Eve. Star,\nbalcony for photographers and a\n1902. The entire flooring of the\nseries of special galleries for radio\nJanuary 12, 1946\nPresident's family quarters on the\nbroadcasting, including television. A\nsecond floor will be replaced because\nmovie projector and disappearing\nit is now loose and worn, and new\nmovie screen also are provided for.\nwall coverings, rugs, draperies, fur-\nThe screen, Mr. Winslow said, would\nniture and household articles will be\nbe able to receive television broad-\ninstalled, Mr. Winslow added.\ncasts, and projection facilities will\ninclude sound-track equipment.\nTrees to Be Planted.\nMr. Winslow said photographs of\nLandscaping will include extensive\nactual floor plans of the addition\ntree surgery and the planting of\nwould not be made public at this\ntrees, flowering shrubs, boxwood\ntime, since they are still being\nhedges, and the complete replanting\nworked on. A view of the plans\nof the garden areas on the south\nlawn.\nalready made was granted the press\nyesterday, however.\nTo provide more storage space for\nthe house several rooms will be built\nThe main entrance to the west\nunder the drive at the north of the\nwing will open on the basement or\nmain building.\nAND\nLIBRARY\nground floor from West Executive\nAll delivery service, trash and\nORDS\navenue. This floor will contain air-\ngarbage removal must now enter or\nconditioning units, mail and file\nleave via the Pennsylvania avenue\nrooms, a storage room and mimeo-\ngates, Mr. Winslow said. Therefore\ngraph room.\na new service drive is to be built\nThe second and third floors will\nfrom West Executive avenue into a\ncontain office space as well as the\nshort tunnel passing below and\nauditorium. The extension also will\nslightly to the north of the present\ncontain a cafeteria for White House\nwest wing executive office entrance\nemployes.\nand leading to the present service\nUnder the same appropriation the\ncourtyard of the main building.\nPreservation Copy\nWhite House to Have Addition,\nWith Auditorium and Cafeteria\nBy Robert E. Nichols\nsigners skirted in their lay-out\nWASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Blue-\nrather than destroy the tree.\nprints for an addition to the\nMr. Winslow also outlined as\nWhite House executive offices-to\nprojects under the $1,650,000 ap-\nbe financed out of $1,650,000 re-\npropriation: landscaping and im-\ncently appropriated by Congress at\nprovements to the grounds, urged\nthe request of President Truman-\nby the late President Roosevelt;\nwere disclosed today by Lorenzo S.\ninterior alterations to the mansion\nWinslow, White House architect,\nand completion of the newly con-\nwho said the extension vill include\nstructed east wing.\na ceremonial auditorium equipped\nParalleling the State Depart-\nwith radio and television booths.\nment along West Executive Ave-\nTo be started this spring and\nnue, the new structure will be\ncompleted within the year, the\nsimilar in construction and detail\nstructure will extend south of the\nto the existing 152-year-old Ex-\nPresidential Mansion's west wing\necutive Mansion, which was begun\nin the shape of an \"L,\" Mr. Winslow\nin 1793 and completed in 1826.\nsaid. It could have a more regu-\nMr. Winslow said the plans pro-\nlar shape, he said, were it notafor\nvide for 1,500 square feet of new\na centuries-old elm which the de-\n(Continued on page 24, column 2)\nWhite House\nSnyder's Office of War Mobiliza-\nbuilt and completed in 1826; re-\ntion and Reconversion has had its\nheadquarters there.\nmodeled by Theodore Roosevelt in\n1902; altered again by President\n(Continued from page one)\nIn addition, the east wing now\ncontains quarters of White House\nTaft in 1909, and fire-proofed by\nPresident Coolidge in 1927.\noffice space to accommodate the\nguards, the President's permanent\nPresident's executive aids, together\nbomb shelter, and various offices.\nwith a large clerical force, who\nThe museum, designed by Mr.\nOpposes White House Expansion\nnow occupy quarters outside the\nWinslow in consultation with the\nTo the Editor of The Star:\nWhite House or in its east wing.\nlate President Roosevelt, will dis-\nI agree that the announcement that\nThe auditorium, he said, will seat\nplay furniture, china and other\nhistoric relics according to Presi*\nan addition is to be made to the al-\n375 persons and will be used for\ndential eras. These will be divided\nready sprawling White House at an ex-\npress conferences, radio broad-\ncasts, motion pictures, and meet-\nroughly into periods of ten and\npense of $1,650,000, raises several ques-\nings and social entertainments\ntwenty years; the Revolutionary\ntions in John Citizen's mind, and if\nthat heretofore have been held in\nperiod, 1800 to 1820; Federal, 1820\nthis is an indication of the intention\nthe formal East Room of the White\nto 1840; pre-Civil War, 1840 to\nof those in power to conținue to waste\nHouse, There also will be increased\n1860; Civil War, 1860 to 1870; Vic-\nmoney and scarce building materials\nfiling-room space, a larger mail\ntorian, 1870 to 1900; and modern\non useless monstrosities, veterans and\nroom, a small cafeteria for White\nThe modern exhibit will include\nothers might as well prepare to con-\nHouse employees, a mimeograph\nmany of the gifts received by Mr\ntinue to camp out of doors with no\nroom and storage and utility\nRoosevelt on his trips.\nhousing available.\nrooms.\nThe appropriation also will\nIt is stated that this project will\nWhen the addition is finished,\nallow for some alterations to the\nprovide 15,000 square feet of office space\nMr. Winslow said, the personnel\nmansion itself. These are to in-\nand a theatre with 375 seats. The\nnow occupying the east wing-\nclude complete modernization of\nlargely reconversion assistants to\nthe heating system; replacement\noffice space could not cost over $300,000;\nthe President-will be transferred\nof loose and worn flooring of the\n$350,000 might be spent in altering the\nto the new quarters, and com-\nPresident's family quarters on the\nthe heating plant and other improve\npletion of the east wing for its\nsecond floor, and replacement of\nments mentioned, leaving $1,000,000 to\noriginally intended purpose as the\nsome furniture to be removed to\nbe spent on a little theatre seating\nthe museum.\n375 persons.\nWhite House museum will begin\nPlans for the museum were being\nFinally, the appropriation calls\nWas Congress informed of the real\nfor development of the \"Presi-\npurpose of this project when it recently\ndrafted when war was declared,\ndent's park.\" However, extensive\nappropriated the money? Why extend\nand the cornerstone was laid by\ntree surgery, planting and re-lay-\nthe office capacity of the White House\nthe late President Roosevelt on\ning of flower gardens will be de-\nunless more and more power is to be\nNov. 5, 1942. During the war,\nlayed until-next year, Mr. Winslow\ncentralized in the hands of the Presi-\nemergency offices in this wing were\nsaid.\noccupied by Admiral William D.\ndent? Why waste money and build-\nThe Presidential Mansion has\nLeahy, Harry L. Hopkins, Fred M.\ning materials on this super de luxe\nundergone numerous alteration;\nVinson, James F. Byrnes, John W.\ntheatre when building materials are so\nsince 1793. It was partially de\nSnyder, and other aids. Mr.\nbadly needed for housing for return-\nstroyed by the British in 1814; re\ning veterans? Does the common man\nfrom Missouri need a million dollars\nprivate theater for his entertainment\nmore than people need homes to live in\nIf the President allows this wastę\nto continue, he should stop expressing\nconcern over housing for servicemen.\nA VETERAN.\nNew York Herald Tribune,\nWash. Eve. Star,\nJanuary 12, 1946\nJanuary 16, 1946\nPreservation Copy\nAND\nLIBRARY\nVERNMENT\nLeaders Act\nWHITE\nWash. Times Herald\nTo Postpone\nFrom Page 1\nJan. 29, 1946\nthe new buildings. The basement\noffices of the west wing have been\nArts Unit Backs\nWhite House\nemptied and prepared for excava-\ntion for the new foundations.\nBid forms for the work will be\nTruman Annex\nEnlargement\nsent to contractors sometime this\nweek and it is expected that the\nThe long series of statements\nbids would be returned and the\nRep. Smith of Va.\nby public and private groups op-\ncontract awarded in month, he add-\nposing extension of the White\nAsks That Congress\ned.\nHouse west wing WC broken yes.\nSurveying for the new building\nterday when the Fine Arts Com-\nHave Opportunity\nhas been completed and a staff of\nmission expressed its unanimous\nTo Examine Project\nsix architects are making last\napproval for the addition request-\nminute revisions in the plans,\ned by President Truman.\nBy John F. Gerrity\nwhich were approved by the Fine\nMeeting with White House\nPost Reporter\nWhile White House architects\nArts Commission, Winslow said.\narchitect Lorenzo S. Winslow, the\nThe architect also said that as\ncommission admitted it had op-\npushed ahead with President Tru-\nman's plans to remodel the Execu-\nfurther changes are made in the\nposed an extension in 1934, but\nplans, the Fine Art Commission\nsaid that the health of the Presi-\ntive Mansion, aroused congres-\nsional leaders indicated they would\nwhich is charged with approving\ndent was the major factor to be\nconsidered in view of his mani-\ntake steps today to halt the $1,650,-\nevery Government building built in\nfold duties at the present time.\n000 building program.\nthe District of Columbia, will work\nDemands Increased\nRepresentative Howard W.\nright along with his staff, \"giving\nSmith, Democrat, of Alexandria,\nadvice and approving their work.\"\n\"The demands upon the Chief\nVa., said that he planned to intro-\nExecutive are now greater than\nSpeed-Up Assailed\nupon almost any other human\nduce a joint resolution to the\nSeveral leaders on Capitol Hill\nbeing on earth,\" said the commis-\nHouse, asking that construction of\nthe new offices and the auditorium\ninterpreted the speed-up in putting\nsion. \"The strength of the Chief,\nExecutive must be considered and\nbe held up until Congress has an\ninto operation Mr. Truman's plans\nconsequently he is entitled to have\nopportunity to examine the plans\nas a move to get construction start-\nprovided more spacious and more\nand understand the additions Mr.\ned before too great a protest was\nconvenient offices demanded by\nTruman wants.\nthese tumultuous and unsettled\nmade. They said that it would be\nSmith said that he expected his\ntimes.\"\nvery difficult to stop construction\nresolution to be referred to the\nThe statement added that\nonce it had started.\nHouse Rules Committee, of which\n\"these are not times to quibble\nThe plans, which call for a new\nhe is a member.\nover the propriety of providing an\ncafeteria, an auditorium, seating\naddition to the White House.\"\n$870,000 Allocated to Crim\n375 persons, conversion of the East\nProtests against the proposed\nRepresentative Clarence J.\nWing into a museum, refurnishing\nextension continued to come from\nBrown (R., Ohio) announced he\nthe living quarters and improve-\nother groups. The Washington\nwould support Smith's resolution\nments to the grounds have been\nBoard of Trade's committee on\n\"to the limit\" and predicted an\nstoutly opposed by citizens groups,\narchitectural awards yesterday\noverwhelming nonpartisan vote in\nhistorical and architectual societies.\nannounced its opposition, urging\nfavor of the move to delay con-\nThe American Institute of Archi-\nthat \"the historical characteris-\nstruction.\ntects is presently making a study\ntics of the White House as the\nMeanwhile, White House Archi-\nof the plans and is expected to\n'President's Residence' be pre-\ntect Lorenzo S. Winslow said that\nmake recommendations opposing\nserved\" by keeping executive of\n$870,000 for the office buildings\nthe program by the end of the\nfices separate from the living\nhad been allocated to Howell G.\nweek.\nquarters.\nCrim, chief usher of the White\nOutside Site Urged\nHouse. Crim serves as adminis-\ntrative officer for the Executive\nThe committee suggested that\nMansion and is responsible for all\n\"the matter of adequate housing\nmaintenance and building funds.\nfor the executive offices outside\nThe $1,650,000 for all improve-\nthe White House grounds, giving\nments, including the grounds, was\nWashington Post,\nfull consideration to future as well\nappropriated in the deficiency bill,\nas present needs, be thoroughly\npassed by Congress. The money\nJanuary 23, 1946\nexplored.\"\nwas first allocated to the Interior\nDepartment but an executive order\nwas issued \"late last week\" call-\ning for its assignment to Crim,\naccording to Winslow.\nInterior Secretary Harold L.\nPreservation Copy\nIckes said that he knew nothing of\nthe transfer of funds.\nWinslow Pushing Ahead\n\"In fact, while the Interior De-\npartment is charged with super-\nvision of public buildings-and\nthe White House is a public build-\ning-we have never been consulted\nARRY ARCHIVES \"NATIONAL AND LIBRARY\non the proposed changes, as we\nRECORDS\nshould have been,\" Ickes told The\nPost.\nWinslow said that his office was\nGOVERNMENT\npushing ahead with the work on\nPlans for White House\nHouse Bars White House Addition\nExtension Opposed\nAfter Truman Predicts Approval\nBy Interfederation\nWASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (AP)\nanswers to critics of the White\nThe House today blocked plans\nHouse enlargement plan. He went\ninto detail about the proposed im-\nThe Interfederation Conference\nfor a $1,650,000 addition to the\nprovements, emphasizing that the\nlast night voted to oppose plans\nWhite House a few hours after\nnew executive office wing would\nfor extensions to the White House\nPresident Truman told reporters\nnot be visible from Pennsylvania\nas prepared by Lorenzo S. Winslow,\nhe didn't think there was much\navenue and that it would permit\nWhite House architect.\nthe removal of some workers from\n\"As citizens of the United States,\nopposition in Congress to the ex-\nthe White House.\nwe are interested in the White\npansion.\nBy a standing vote of 110 to 41,\nHe asserted that, if the critics\nHouse as the home of the Presi-\nthe House ordered that $883,660 of\nwere still unsatisfied after his de-\ndent,\" declared Mrs. Franklin G.\nthe fund for construction, voted\ntailed explanation, they could\nSartwell of the District Federa-\nlast year, should be used for gen-\nchain themselves to a bush or tree\ntion of Citizens' Associations, who\neral White House expenses for\nas some women once did in pro-\nintroduced the motion. \"To add\nthe next fiscal year, and the rest\ntest against the cutting down of\nto it and make it a futuristic mon-\nbe restored to the Treasury.\ncherry trees at the Jefferson Me-\nstrosity is out of keeping with the\nThe $883,660 was the amount\nmorial site.\nfeeling we all have for the Presi-\nthe Appropriations Committee\nHe also said that more room was\ndent's home.\"\nrecommended for general White\nneeded in the White House proper\nWhile it was conceded among the\nHouse expenses in the pending In-\nand that he did not want to have\nmembers that certain additions\ndependent Offices appropriation\nto follow Dolly Madison's example\nmight be in order, it was felt that\nbill. An amendment taking that\nby using the East room to hang\npending revisions were undesirable.\namount from the fund previously\nout laundry.\nMatre Heads Group.\nallotted for the addition to the\nA woman reporter said that it\nexecutive offices at the White\nwas Abigail Adams. Truman, who\nJoseph B. Matre of the Mont-\nHouse was offered by Represen-\nis something of a historian, said\ngomery County Federation was\ntative Case (Rep.) South Dakota.\nhe thought both had used the East\nelected chairman of the conference,\nAlmost every republican and a\nroom for a laundry.\nsucceeding Harry N. Stull of the\nfew democrats supported it.\nWith a smile, he observed that\nDistrict Federation.\nthe White House was the finest\nOther officers elected were Walter\nPart of Truman's press confer-\nresidence in the United States and\nF. Mulligan, Prince Georges County\nence today was taken up with his\nhe wanted it to stay that way.\nFederation, first vice chairman; Dr.\nR. A. Osborne, Fairfax County Fed-\neration, second vice chairman; Wil-\nSt. Louis Post Dispatch,\nliam G. Watt, Arlington County\nFederation, third vice chairman, and\nJanuary 24, 1946\nMrs. Sartwell, fourth vice chairman.\nMrs. Florence Arnheim of the Ar-\nlington Federation was re-elected\nsecretary and treasurer.\nReporting on the possible effects\nof the so-called Fair Trade Act for\nthe District, Mr. Stull declared a\ncomparison of prices of a chain\ndrug concern here and in Virginia,\nwhere such legislation is in effect,\nrevealed Virginia prices were from\none to seven cents higher.\nFlood Study Recommended.\nMr. Stull discussed also the con-\ncern over Government plans for\nfuture development along East Cap-\nitol street because it might mean\ndemolition of residential property\nand large-scale evictions of home\nowners \"in these times\" of crowded\nliving conditions.\nHenry W. Austin reported on the\npublic hearing in Hyattsville Jan-\nuary 9 on proposed improvements\nfor flood control and navigation of\nthe Anacostia River and tributaries\nby the Army engineers. Pointing\nout that the work would benefit\nall the areas represented by the\nPreservation Copy\nconference members, he urged that\nthey study the proposed improve-\nments.\nMr. Matre told the conference\nthat appeals to the Maryland Pub-\nlic Utilities Commission by two\ntransit companies now promise in-\nstitution of cross-country bus serv-\nices for Montgomery County. Mat-\nters being discussed by the Feder-\nARCHIVES AND LIBRARY\n\"NATIONAL\nation in that county were out-\nlined by C. Stephen Duvall, jr.\nRECORDS\nThe group heard reports also by\nSERVICE\nMrs. Florence Cannon of the Ar-\nlington Federation and Mrs. Sart-\nwell.\nWash. Eve. Star,\nJan. 22, 1946\nTo 'Judge For Themselves'\nCritics Invited to Study Plans\nFor Additions to White House\nBy John F. Gerrity\nPost Reporter\nCharles G. Ross, White House\nthat his staff \"was forging right\npress secretary, yesterday invited\nahead with their work.\" Winslow\namplified Ross' invitation and said\ncongressional opponents of Pres-\nthat it was \"extended to all mem-\nident Truman's plan to spend $1,-\nbers of Congress,\" but he excluded\n650,000 altering the Executive Man-\nfrom the invitation representatives\nsion to inspect the plans and \"judge\nof architectural, historical and the\nfor themselves.\"\nD. C. Federation of Citizens As-\nsociations.\nIn the meantime, Representative\n\"Those persons-members of\nHoward W. Smith (D., Va.), one\nCongress and the Fine Arts Com-\nof the foremost objectors to\nmission-who have a lawful right\nthe remodeling program, said that\nto know what we are doing, are wel-\nhe would go right ahead with his\ncome to come in and see our plans,\"\nplans for a joint resolution to Con-\nWinslow said.\ngress to delay construction, but\nthat he would look at the sketches\n\"We are not trying to force the\nproject down anyone's throat. We\nanyway.\nwill lay out the plans and let them\nAt the same time, other Capitol\ndecide for themselves whether\nHill leaders confidently predicted\nthey like them.\"\nthat all, construction would stop as\nWhile Winslow said that the en-\nsoon as \"ways and means are found\ntire basement of the West Wing had\nto show the President our official\nbeen emptied, preparatory to ex-\nstand on the matter.\"\ncavation work for the new founda-\nRepresentative John L. McMillan\ntions, Eben Ayers, assistant press\n(D., S. C.), new chairman of the\nsecretary to the President, refused\nHouse District Committee and Rep-\nto allow photographers to take pic-\nresentative Ralph H. Daughton (D.,\ntures of the work in progress.\nVa.) reaffirmed their original stand\nThe Washington Chapter of the\non the new building project, de-\nAmerican Institute of Architects\nspite the invitation, and said they\ntoday will issue findings and recom-\nwere sure \"the whole thing will col-\nmendations on their study of the\nlapse when Mr. Truman realizes\nconstruction of the auditorium, the\nhow Congress feels.\"\ncafeteria, 15,000 square feet of ad-\nSenator Clyde R. Hoey (D., N. C.),\nditional office space and other im-\nsaid that he hadn't had an op-\nprovements proposed by Mr. Tru-\nportunity to study Mr. Truman's\nman.\nplans; that ordinarily he would be\nThe reports will be sent to the\nopposed to any changes in the\nFine Arts Commission, Gen. U. S.\nWhite House and that he proposed\nGrant, director of the Parks and\nto make \"a thorough investigation\nPlanning Commission, Secretary of\nof the matter as soon as possible.\"\nthe Interior Harold L. Ickes, Wins-\nMeanwhile, White House Archi-\nlow and James R. Edmonds, presi-\ntect Lorenzo S. Winslow announce\nof the national AIA,\nPreservation Copy\nWashington Post, January 24, 1946\nHARRY ARCHIVES \"NATIONAL TRUMAN RECORDS AND LIERARY\nU.S.\nGOVERNMENT\nHearth of a Nation-and How It Grew\nhas\nBefore the Fire\nBefore the War of 1812 when\nthe British set fire to it, the\nWhite House resembled a serene\ncountry estate. From the rear\nyou can see the landscaping and\nthe terraces joining east and\nwest wings added by Thomas\nJefferson during his term of of-\nfice which ended in 1809. His\ninterest in architecture led to\nmany improvements.\n77\nGala Days\nBy 1829, in the\n\"boisterous era\"\nwhen Andrew Jack-\nson lived there, the\nPresidential Man-\nsion had been com-\npletely restored\nwith the addition of\nnorth and south\nporticos. This car-\ntoon is typical of\nthe rowdy days\nwhen admirers,\nguests and horses\nswarmed the lawn.\nAt his inaugural re-\nception hogsheads\nof punch on the\nlawn failed to divert\nhosts of \"guests,\"\nand Jackson fled by\nthe back door.\nProposed extension\nwould be added here\nPresent\nExecutive\nOffices\nWest Executive Ave.\nCorridor\nWHITE\nHOUSE\nCorridor with\nFDR's swimming\nEast portico and\npool in basement\nreception rooms\nDestroyed\nThis is the way the elegant home of Presidents\nNow-Offices, Offices\nProposed new wing for the White House is\nlooked in 1814. Up in smoke went Dolly Madi-\nson's piano, guitar, mirror and yellow-satin upholstery when the\npictured above, with an aerial view of where\nBritish fired on the building. She fled with Washington's portrait\nit would be, below. The 15,000 square feet of new office space, including pro-\nand her pet macaw.\nvision for a large auditorium, has whipped up furious pros and cons. Some say,\na busy man needs a busy building; others say, once a home always a home.\nPreservation Copy\nRUMAN\nHARRY U.S. ARCHIVES GOVERNMENT \"NATIONAL RECORDS AND LIBRARY\nPRESENT\nEXTENSION\nWest Elevation\nWHTE HOUSE PLANS-Above\nEXTENSION\nis an architect's 'sketch of a\nwest view of the proposed ex-\ntension to the White House\nfrom West Executive avenue.\nIn the center is the main en-\ntrance to the west wing.\nDotted line separates the part\nof the west wing already in\nexistence from that proposed.\nEast Elevation\nEXTENSION\nPRESENT\n(mm/mm/yyyy)\nSouth Elevation\nLooking north from a point in the White House grounds near West Executive avenue the\nproposed extension of the west wing would appear like the above. Dotted line separates existing\nfrom proposed parts of the wing. The existing portion shown here in perspective contains the\nPresident's office. All three views are taken from architectural plans for the extension prepared\nby Lorenzo S. Winslow, White House architect.\nHouse. The addition, plus other\nWhite House since the Lincoln ad-\nlin D. Roosevelt ordered the follow-\nimprovements and changes at the\nministration.\ning statement made by a representa-\nExecutive Mansion, are to be made\n\"As a result of your advice,\" the\ntive sent to lay a Decoration Day\nunder a $1,650,000 appropriation\nspokesman quoted Mr. Roosevelt\nwreath on the tomb of James Hoban,\nmade in the last deficiency act.\nwriting the firm afterward, \"the\ndesigner of the White House:\nA spokesman for the architects\nWhite House is restored and is now\n\"The architects of the United\nsaid the decision to ask delay for\nthe ideal house for Presidents.\"\nStates must accept a measure of\npublic discussion was taken during\nIn December 1908, Theodore Roos-\nresponsibility and observe with a\nthe week at a chapter meeting. The\nevelt wrote the preșident of the\nwatchful eye the changes (in the\nchapter's approval was unanimous,\nAIA, the spokesman said, as follows:\nWhite House) that time requires.\"\nhe said.\n\"If I had it m my power as I\nIt is because of this recognition\nThe spokesman said word of the\nleave office, I would leave as a\nof the AIA by successive presidents,\nproposal had been passed along to\nlegacy to you and the American\nthe spokesman said, that the insti-\nthe committee on the National Cap-\nInstitute of Architects the duty of\ntute is asking now for thorough\nital of the AIA and that its chair-\npreserving a perpetual eye of guar-\ninvestigation of what the present\nman had written letters seeking the\ndianship over the White House to\nplans for the Executive Mansion\nviews of committee members\nsee that it is kept unchanged and\nwould mean.\nthroughout the country.\nunmarred from this time on.\"\nSunday Star\nWhite House Watchdog.\nIn answer, the spokesman said,\nWash.D.C.\nThe AIA since 1899 has considered\nthe AIA president wrote he would\nitself the watchdog of the White\nlook upon the President's remarks\nJan. 24, 1946\n\"as our charter and our authority\nHouse, he said. In that year the old\nOffice of Public Buildings and\nfor defense of this structure.\"\nPreservation Copy\nSince that time, he said, the AIA\nGrounds prepared a plan for erect-\nhas assumed public responsibility\ning two extensions to the Executive\nMansion which would have more\nfor keeping a watchful eye on any\nplans to change the building or en-\nthan doubled its size. They took\nthe form of two wings surmounted\nlarge it.\nMAN\nby towers which would have dwarfed\nIn 1932, he said, President Frank-\nthe White House proper.\nHARRY\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES\nAND\nRECORDS\nSERVICE\nGOVERNMENT\nStone From Capitol, Mt. Vernon,\nWhite House Sent to Palestine\nDrop Cafe Plan\nFragments to Be Put\nIn Cornerstone of\nAt White House\nChildren's Home\nOpponents to construction of\nWhen the cornerstone of the\nan addition to the Executive Of-\nWashington Children's Colony in\nfice wing of the White House\nPalestine for Jewish Orphans from\nEurope is laid at Yevneh on George\nwon two points yesterday when the\nWashington's Birthday, it will con-\nFederal Fine Arts Commission\ntain three pieces of stone from\nannounced the proposed museum\nbuildings associated with Washing-\nand cafeteria had been eliminated\nton's career, flown from the United\nfrom the plans.\nStates to the Near East.\nThe commission, a Government\nThis was announced yesterday by\nagency, said that President Tru-\nRabbi Zemach Green of Ohev Sho-\nman had approved the two\nlom Congregation, 500 I street N.W.,\nchanges.\nfounder and president of the colony.\nOrganizations of architects had\nOne fragment of stone came from\nvoiced strong opposition to the\nMount Vernon, one from the Capi-\nwhole addition, which is to in-\ntol and one from the White House.\nclude a theater for press confer-\nThe shipment will be transported by\nences and radio broadcasts. Al-\nthe courier division of the State De-\nthough preliminary work was\npartment and will reach Dr. Isaac\nunderway when the plans were\nHerzog, chief rabbi of the Holy\nannounced early this month, the\nLand and chairman of the board of\nHouse of Representatives voted\ntrustees in Palestine, next week.\nto revoke the appropriation be-\n\"We are deeply grateful to all\ning used to finance the construc-\nfriends whose hearty interest and\ntion. The Senate has not yet\ngenerosity were instrumental in cre-\nacted upon the appropriation\nating this new link between the\nRABBI ZEMACH GREEN.\nrevocation\nNation's Capital of America, the\n-Star Staff Photo.\nOpponents of the wing con-\ncity of Washington and the Wash-\nstruction contended the White\nington settlement in the Holy\ntered in the village will be taught\nHouse should be primarily the\nLand,\" Rabbi Green said.\nmodern agricultural methods and\nPresident's home. They proposed\nFunds Raised in U. S.\narts and crafts techniques\nthat additional White House office\nThe Hebrew name of the colony\nCharles C. Wall, superintendent\nspace be provided in the State\nis Givat Washington, which means\nof Mount Vernon, who gave the\nDepartment or some other Gov.\n\"Mount Washington.\" Located at\nstone from Washington's famous\nernment building.\nYevneh, the ancient refuge of the\nhome on the Potomac, told The Star\nThey centered their opposition\nSanhedrin after the destruction of\nthat it was taken from a section\non the theater, cafeteria and mu-\nthe Second Temple at Jerusalem by\nof an original hearth displaced in\nseum.\nEmperor Titus in 70 A. D., the\nthe course of repairs.\nThe commission recommended\nbuildings of the settlement are\nThe fragment from the White\nthat the proposed presidential\nbeing constructed with funds raised\nHouse is authenticated by Lorenzo\nmuseum be incorporated in one of\nin Washington and throughout the\nS. Winslow, Architect of the White\nthe. Government's present mu-\ncountry.\nHouse, as having been in an exterior\nseums\nThe whole group will constitute\nwall of the Executive Mansion from\nan independent village populated by\n1792 until October, 1944. It was\nboys and girls whose parents per-\naccompanied to Palestine by a piece\nished in the massacres of Europe in\nof mahogany and four hand-made\nthe past decade. More than $50,-\niron nails which once were parts of\nWashington Time S\n000 already has been subscribed\na window in the East Room, also\nthrough Rabbi Green's efforts.\ncontributed by Mr. Winslow.\nHerald, January 30,\nHis work is sponsored by a com-\nDavid Lynn, architect of the Capi-\n1946\nmittee headed by Representative\ntol, chose the stone from the Capi-\nBloom of New York and Edmund I.\ntol building. It was taken from\nKaufman, aided by a Christian\nquarries at Aquia Creek, an arm of\ncommittee, of which the Right Rev.\nthe Potomac about 40 miles south\nAngus Dun, Bishop of Washington,\nof Washington, and was a portion\nand the Rev. Dr. Frederick E. Reis-\nof the old Supreme Court section,\nsig, secrstary of the Washington\noriginally the Senate wing of the\nFederation of Churches, are chair-\nstructure. The date of the frag-\nmen. Nehemiah M. Cohen is treas-\nment, Mr. Lynn declared, was be-\nurer of the building fund campaign.\ntween 1793 and 1800.\nFormer President Hoover is hon-\nThe certifying letters of Mc. Wall,\norary president.\nMr. Winslow and Mr. Lynn will be\nChildren to be Educated.\nsealed in the cornerstone at Givat\nRabbi Green said the site of\nWashington with the historic frag-\nYevneh and the new development\nments to which they witness.\nPreservation Copy\nthere is about 25 miles from Tel\nA precedent 1or the sending cf the\nAviv. It is approximately two miles\nstones to Palestine is available in\nfrom a railroad running from Haifa\nthe Jerusalem altar at Washington\nto Egypt and also approximately\nCathedral which contains stones\nfour miles from the Mediterranean\nbrought from the Holy Land for\nseacoast. The children to be shel-\nthat purpose prior to 1902\nWashington Star, January 27, 1946\nMAN\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nLIBRARY\nREGORDS\nGOVERNMENT\nWhite House\nCivic Planners Urge\n(Continued From First Page.)\nHistory of Views on Expansion\npriated to extend the West wing\nDelay in Extension of\nOf White House Given Truman\nHouse action followed two weeks in\nwhich Washington professional and\nHorace M. Albright, president of\nwhich keep alive our sense\ncivic groups and members of Con-\nthe American Planning and Civie\ntinuity with the Nation's past.\"\nWhite House Wing\ngress severely criticized the exten-\nAssociation yesterday sent to* Pres-\n1905-Elihu Root thank\nsion plan.\nident Truman the historical record\nheaven that the White House has\nGurney Registers Opposition.\nof the views of former Presidents,\nbeen preserved, restored and pro-\nUse of State Department\nThe independent offices bill would\nFine Arts Commission and leading\ntected against discordant and over-\narchitects on the need for preserv-\nwhelming additions and against\nBuilding for Offices\nbe taken up by the Senate Appropri-\ning the White House as a home for\nall garish display and inconsistant\nations Committee sometime this\nProposed in Resolution\nPresidents and not as an office\ntreatment; preserved as a precious\nweek.\nbuilding.\nmonument of America's past for\nHISTORICAL RECORD of long\nYesterday Senator Gurney, Re-\nAttached to a. letter which he\nAmerica's future.\nopposition to White House changes\npublican, of South Dakota, a mem-\nwrote the President was an appen-\n1908 Letter from Theodore\ngiven Truman. 1100 Page A-7.\nber of the Senate Appropriations\ndix prepared by the Joint Commit-\nRoosevelt to Cass Gilbert, at that\nCommittee, which approved the ap-\ntee on the National Capital, which\ntime president of the American In-\nBy RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.\npropriation for the extension with-\nrepresents, beside the planning and\nstitute of Architects, also designer\nThe Board of Directors of the\nout hearing testimony on it, prom-\ncivic association, the American In-\nof the United States Chamber of\nised a fight to support the House\nstitute of Architects, the American\nCommerce Building, the Treasury\nAmerican Planning and Civic As\naction.\nFederation of Arts, the American\nAnnex and the Supreme Court\nsociation yesterday asked that\n'My colleague (Representative\nInstitute of Planners, the American\nBuilding. \"If I had it in my power\nextension of the west wing of\nCase, Republican, of South Dakota,\nSociety of Civil Engineers, the\nas Illeave office, I would like to\nthe White House be delayed until\nwho moved to block money for the\nAmerican Society of Landscape Ar-\nleave as a legacy to you and the\nthe possibility of:providing exec-\nconstruction in the House) had\nchitects, the Garden Club of Amer-\nAmerican Institute of Architects the\nutive office space in the State\ngood grounds for his motion,\" he\nica, the National Association of Real\nduty of preserving a: perpetual\nDepartment Building across the\nsaid yesterday.\nEstate Boards, the National Sculp-\nof guardianship' over the White\nstreet has been thoroughly ex\n\"I hate to see this controversy\nture Society and the National So-\nHouse to see that it is kept un-\narise, but I also hate to see the\nciety of Mural Painters\nchanged and unmarred from this\nplored.\nWhite House made into an office\nUnsuitable for Dual Use,\ntime on.\"\nThe board, which held its annual\nbuilding. The question should have\nHere is the record as presented:\nWould Detract from Structure.\nmeeting yesterday at its Washington\nbeen placed clearly before Con-\n1874-A description of the White\n1908-Mr. Gilbert's answer: \"Your\noffices in the Union Trust building,\ngress last December when the de-\nHouse in Keim's Handbook: \"It is\nletter will be a treasured document\nfurther asked that the administra-\nficiency bill providing for the White\nentirely unsuitable for the purposes\namong the archives of the institute\ntion \"proceed at once\" with erec-\nHouse extension was offered.\nI\nto which it is now applied: executive\nand will, as need arises, be looked\ntion of a new State Department\nhope it is not too late to find other\noffices and private residence.'\nupon as our charter and as our\nbuilding in the block north of the\nmeans of giving the President's staff\n1899-Glenn Brown's Memories:\nauthority for such defense (kept\nadequate space, \"he said.'\npresent building. It asked, however,\n\"A draftsman of the Office of Public\nunmarred and unchanged) of this\nstructure.\"\nReed Wants All Facts.\nthat the Blair and Decatur Houses?\nBuildings and Grounds made a plan\nmore than doubling the size of the\n1918-Report of the Fine Arts\nwhich occupy sites in the block, be\nSeantor Reed, Republican, of\nCommission: \"Po build a second\nKansas, another appropriations\nbuilding with additions east and\nspared.\nwest, each of them larger than the\nstory on the present building (west\ncommittee member, said yesterday,\nwing) would detract from the\nThe board's resolution was further\npresent White House and ending in\nstrengthened yesterday by a per-\n\"I want to hear all the facts and\nWhite House itself.\"\ncircular towers. The American Insti-\n1925-Report of the Fine Arts\nsonal letter from Horace M. Al-\nI want to hear both sides of the\ntute of Architects \"strongly protested\nquestion.\"\nthe propòsed addition.' Protests of\nCommission: \"This building (the\nbright, association president, to\nwest wing) was designed for tem-\nPresident Truman. He, too, asked\nThe resolution of the American\n48 art associations throughout the\nporary uses until Congress should\nthat the plan for taking over the,\nPlanning and Civic Association\ncountry were added. President Mc-\nprovide for more adequate quarters\nsaid:\nKinley listened to the public demand\nelsewhere than in the White House\nold State Department building as an\n\"In view of the long succession of\nand ordered the plan abandoned.'\nGrounds.\"\nexecutive office building be revived\nexpressed and recorded opinions\nWould Lose Individuality.\n1929-Report of the Fine Arts\nThe plan was approved by Presi-\nand policies on the part of former\n1902-Report. of the McMillan\nCommission: \"The fact that the\ndent Roosevelt and the National\nPresidents, public officials and emi-\nCommission: \"The historic White\nChief Executive is housed in a tem-\nCommission of Fine Arts in 1934\nnent architects that permanent ex-\nHouse cannot be enlarged without\nporary office building which on two\nhe said.\necutive offices should be provided\ndestroying its individuality, thus\noccasions in recent years, has had\nSome Members \"Reluctant.\"\noutside the White House grounds,\ncausing the loss of those character-\nto be enlarged and is inadequate\nthe board recommends that before\nistic features which endear the edi-\nat the present time, would seem to\nThe Fine Arts Commission has\nconstruction begins on any exten-\nfice to the American people Removal\nmake it imperative that an execu-\nsince approved a project to tripl\nsions to what have been acknowl-\nof offices is favored by the present\ntive building in keeping with the\nthe size of the west wing of th edged as temporary offices within\nChief Executive (Theodore Roose-\nWhite House be built in the near\nWhite House despite the reported the White House grounds, studies\nvelt); and to the commission it seems\nfuture.\"\n\"reluctance\" of some members. be made to ascertain whether it is\nto be the best solution of the prob-\nNew Building Predicted.\nThe project would add 15,00 not now possible to provide per-\nlem possible at this time.\"\n1932-H. P. Caemmerrer, secretary\nsquare feet of office space to the manent executive offices in a re-\n1902-Daniel H. Burnham, first\nof the National Fine Arts Commis-\nwing, including an auditorium, modeled State Department Building\nchairman of the Fine Arts Com-\nsion: It is thought by some that\ncafeteria and other facilities, across West Executive avenue from\nmission: \"I shall be very much op-\nin the years to come the remodeled\nwould permit conversion of the east the White House.\nposed to any structure in the\nState Department Building will be-\nwing into reception rooms for the\n\"The\nboard\nfurther\nrecommends\npresent White House grounds be-\ncome the permanent executive office\npublic and & presidential museum that the plans which have existed\ncause, although called 'temporary,'\nbuilding, and the State Department\nThursday, the House inserted lan-for more than 30 years for a new\nit would be left there for a life-\nwill have a new building on the\nguages in the independent officesState Department Building on the\ntime.\"\nwest side of Lafayette Square.\"\nbill blocking money alreadykappro-square west of Lafayette Park be\n1902-Report of McKim Meade\n1934-Report of the National Fine\n(See WHITE HOUSE Page A with a view to proceed-\nand E. White, architects who re-\nArts Commission: \"Removal of the\nwing at once with the erection of\na\nstored the White House in the\nPresident's offices to this building\nState Department Building on that\nTheodore Roosevelt administration:\n(the State Department Building) of-\nWashington Sun.\nsquare, with provision for preserva-\n\"To construct within these grounds\nfers the best solution of a problem\nStar,\nJanuary\ntion of the Decatur and Blair houses\na building sufficiently large and im-\nthat is bound to become insistent\non the site.\"\n1946\nposing to stand as permanent of-\nwithin the next decade.\"\nAuthorization for a new State De-\nfices would be to detract from the\n1946-Letter to President Truman\npartment building on this site, to\nWhite House itself so seriously as\nfrom Gilmore D. Clarke, chairman\ncost $18,000,000, is incorporated in\nto be absolutely out of, the ques-\nof the Fine Arts Commission: \"The\nthe Administration's post war Fed-\ntion. The one possible solution,\nCommission of Fine Arts were de-\neral Buildings Bill, now being con-\ntherefore, was to occupy the only\nlighted to review plans for an\nsidered by the House Committee on\navailable space with a temporary\naddition to the west wing of the\nPublic Buildings and Grounds.\nbuilding (the present west wing)\nWhite\nHouse\nnecessary\nto\nChairman Lanham of the commit-\nwhich should be comfortable within\nprovide additional office space for\ntee, will hold an executive commit-\nand inconspicuous in appearance,\nthe executive office of the Presi-\ntee session on the bill Wednesday\nleaving to Congress at its leisure\ndent.\nprior to reporting it to the House.\nto take up seriously the question of\n\"The commission are pleased to\nChairman of the association's\na permanent, adequate and thor-\nadvise that they find the plans gen-\nboard is Frederic A. Delano, uncle\noughly dignified office for the Chief\nerally satisfactory.\nof President Roosevelt, and for\nExecutive.\"\n\"The commission were pleased\nmany years chairman of the Nation-\nthat the future extension of the\nal Capital Park and Planning Com-\nRestoration Praised.\nwest wing to the south will not\nmission. Mr. Delano was reelected\n1902-1908 - annual message to\nseriously encroach on the grounds\nto the chairmanship at yesterday's\nCongress of President Theodore\nannual meeting.\nRoosevelt: \"Through a wise pro-\n\"The commission were especially\nOther Officers Re-elected.\nvision of the Congress at its last\npleased to be called upon to\nsession, the White House, which had\nadvise in this matter.\"\nOther officers of the association\nbecome disfigured by incongruous\nwho have served for the past year\naddition and changes, has now been\nwere re-electd as follows: Mr. Al-\nrestored to what it was planned to\nbright, president; Maj. Gen. U. S.\nbe by Washington. It should be\nGrant, III, chairman of the Na-\nkept as it originally was, for the\ntional Capital Park and Planning\nsame reasons that we keep Mount\nCommission, first vice president;\nVernon as it originally was. It\nTom Wallace, Louisville, Ky., second\nis a good thing to preserve such\nvice president; Earle H. Draper,\nbuildings as historic monuments\nWashington, third vice president;\nC. F. Jacobson, Washington, treas-\nurer, and Miss Harlean James,\nWashington, executive secretary.\nIrmer Supreme Court Justice\nOwen J. Roberts was elected to the\nboard to succeed Miss Marie Der-\nmitt, of Pittsburgh, who resigned\nPreservation Copy\nrecently after 30 years of service\nas a board member.\nMr. Roberts recently was suc-\nceeded as chairman of the associa-\ntion's Committee of 100 on the Fed-\neral City by Clifton A. Woodrum,\nformer representative from Virginia.\nTRUMAN\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nRECORDS\nLIBRARY\nsocieties Planning Last Stand\nHome Builders\n\"Personally,\" he said, \"I am very\nsatisfied with the building as it is.\nThe White House is the most nota-\nAgainst Altering White House\nFight Addition\nbly beautiful of all residences of\nrulers I have ever rnown. I'd hate\nto see it made less beautiful. The\nBy John F. Gerrity\nTo White House\nproposed addition may make it\nPost Reporter\nmor beautiful- don't know, but\nNational historical and architec-\nnounced that it would launch E\nI think we should be exceedingly\ntural societies are expected to open\nNation-wide education program to\ncareful,\"\na last-ditch stand today against\nday to inform the people through.\nPlead for Veterans, Saying\nFrom still another quarter, the\nPresident Truman's plans to spend\nout the country of the proposals\nConstruction Materials\nAmerican Planning and Civic As-\nto \"mutilate\" the White House.\n$1,650,000 remodeling the White\nsociation addressed a letter to Mr.\nHistorical arguments for preserv-\nWill Be Channeled Off\nHouse.\nTruman urging a halt to construc-\nThe societies will time their\ning the Executive Mansion, as a\ntion and preparation of the State\nhome, and counterproposals to\nFrom the Herald Tribune Bureau\nopening blows to coincide. with the\nDepartment Building to receive\nmeet the demands for\" executive\nWASHINGTON, Pan. 26.-Pre-\nFine Arts Commission meeting at\nany necessary executive offices\noffice space have also been fur-\ndicting that the expansion of the\nthe Interior Building to approve\nnished members of the Senate, who\nWhite House west executive of\nWhite House Architect Lorenzo S.\nare scheduled to act this week on\nfices will consume a large amount\nWinslow's alteration sketches.\nthe bill passed by the House Thurs-\nof priority building materials oth-\nAccording to spokesmen for the\nday to reallocate building funds,\nerwise available for emergency\nAmerican Institute of Architects\nthereby stopping construction.\nhousing, the Home Builders Asso-\nand the American Planning and\nIn explaining its 'stand on the\nciation of metropolitan Washing-\nCivic Association, principal pro-\nFine Arts Commission's authority\nton urged President Truman today\nfessional opponents to the reno-\ninsofar as public building in the\nto \"set an example\" in behalf of\nvation program, the fight will be\nDistrict is concerned, the AIA and\nveterans housing and halt con-\nurged on the following counts:\nthe APCA said that the Public\nstruction\n1.\nRemodeling plans for the White\nBuildings Administration and the\nWorkers, meanwhile, had re-\nHouse should be initiated by\nNCPPC were charged by mandate\nmoved windows from a portion of\nthe National Capital Park and\nof Congress to initiate all plans for\nthe White House west wing and\nPlanning Commission or the Pub-\nnew buildings, and additions and\nalterations to existing buildings.\nwere preparing to demolish a con-\nlic. Buildings Administration, not\nThe Fine Arts Commission is lim-\ncrete underground filing room in\nthe Fine Arts Commission.\nited to simple approval of plans,\nthe path of the proposed exten-\n2.\nIn its early approval of the\nwhich must conform to a general\nsion.\nplan to increase, by 15,000\narchitectural scheme throughout\nSpeaking for the builders asso-\nsquare feet, the office space in the\nciation, Edward R. Carr, president,\nthe city.\nExecutive Mansion, the Fine Arts\nsaid: \"Builders were surprised and\nPlan Not Justified\nCommission has repudiated its long-\nshocked when they heard the news\nAIA leaders also said that a\ntime policy of preserving the White\nof the plan to enlarge the White\nHouse as a home for Presidents.\nchange in leadership in the organi-\nHouse only a few days'after Presi\nzation of the Fine Arts Commission\ndent Truman had promised, a\n3.\nRemodeling work, already in\n(Gilmore D. Clarke, New York land-\ndelegation of officials of the Na-\nprogress, should be halted un-\nscape architect is present chair-\ntional Association of Home Build-\ntil Mr. Truman and the Govern-\nman of the Commission) does not\ners they would get the materials\nment building agencies involved\njustify a change in policy on pub-\nthey needed for veterans' hous-\nhave thoroughly explored the pos-\nlic building requirements.\nng.\"\nsibility of installing presidential\nAlso to bridge party lines in the\n\"If White House expansion, in\noffices in the State War and Navy\ncontroversy the AIA pointed out\nluding a museum and an audi-\nBuilding or in some other building\nthat during 30 years of discussion,\norium, is as necessary as veterans'\noff the White House grounds.\nRepublican and Democratic presi-\nhousing at present, then it should\nTo Explain Mutilation\ndents have sought to keep the\ngo on But we doubt that it is as\nWhite House as it was originally\nAt the same time the American\nnecessary,\" he said.\nPlanning and Civic Association an-\nintended, They quote President\n\"We went through the war with\nTheodore Roosevelt:\npresent White House facilities, and\n\"The White House is the proper-\nit seems to us the enlargement\nty of the Nation, and, so far as is\ncould wait awhile.\ncompatible with living therein, it\n\"It would be a wondèrful ex-\nshould be kept as it originally was,\nample to the country if the Presi-\nfor the same reason that we keep\nMount Vernon as it originally was.\ndent would hold it up for the time\nbeing, because that would show\nIn 1934, President Franklin\nRoosevelt, who authorized \"tem-\nthat the government really means\nporary\" wartime additions, opposed\nwhat it says on channeling ade-\nfurther expansion and the AIA\nquate materials for veterans'\nhousing.\"\nsaid:\n\"President Roosevelt then ex-\nSeparately, Senator Kenneth\npressed to the Fine Arts Commis-\nMcKellar, Democrat, of Kentucky\nsion the conviction that the next\nacting chairman of the Senate Ap-\nstep (in expansion) would be the\npropriations Committee, reported\ntransferring of the President's of\nthat he expects the House appro-\nfices to the so-called State, War and\npriations bill, with provisions for\nrescinding the funds for the White\nNavy Building, remodeled to pro-\nHouse extension, to be brought be-\nvide adequately for demands for\nfore the committee next Wednes-\nS.A\nsuch office space.\"\nday.\nThe American Planning and\nSenator McKellar said the mat-\nGNV\nCivic Association claims that the\nlong-time policy of the Fine Arts\n(\nter would be given very serious\nstudy and the possibility of restor-\nCommission was summarized by\ning the funds recalled by the\nformer War Secretary Elihu Root,\nHouse-would be donsidered.\nwho said:\nthe\nWhite\nWash. Post, Jan. 28, 1946\nN.Y. \"erald Tribune,\nJanuary 27, 1946\nPreservation Copy\nJefferson First to Beautity W nite House;\nJanuary 1946\nCan Be Altered No More,' Todd Wrote in Book\nWide World Photo.\nGROWING PAINS Early in President Roosevelt's administration the offices of the Executive Man-\nsion were enlarged. to handle New Deal personnel. Since the house was first built its size has more\nast\nthan quadrupled\nDuring its lifetime of 154 years\ntico was finished in 1824 and the\nmany alterations and additions\ncolonnaded portico in 1829. During\nhave been made to the White\nJackson's term the East Room was\nHouse, all in an effort to keep\nfinished and furnished. Gas light-\nthe house abreast of the demands\ning was installed in 1848. While\nmade on it. However, historical\nwater had been piped into the\nsocieties and architectural groups,\nhouse from a spring in Franklin\nopponents to President Truman's\nPark 20 years before, city\nplans to spend $1,650,000 for\nwater and central heating were in-\nfurther additions, claim that the\ntroduced in 1853.\ntime has come to call a halt. In\nBathtubs arrived during Presi-\nthis second of a series of three\ndent Hayes term, 1877-1881.\narticles The Post traces the\nIn 1902 crowded conditions that\ngrowth of the Executive Mansion.\nwould make today's complaints\nBy John F. Gerrity\nseem farcial by comparison, de-\nPost Staff Writer\nmanded the renovation of the\nTwenty-two years after its con-\nhouse. On great occasions, matters\nstruction was begun, the Presi-\nhad become so bad that departing\ndent's House was a heap of charred\nguests would rummage through\nruins, burned by the British on\npiles of clothes for their wraps-\nAugust 14, 1814.\nthere was no cloakroom-and step\nWhen the first tenants, the\ngracefully down a temporary\nAdams family of Massachusetts,\nwooden stairway out of a window\nhad moved out, they left the home\nin the East Room.\n\"just habitable\" for their successor,\nCongress appropriiated $500,000\nThomas Jefferson.\nfor the changes and the buiildinig\nFor a while, President Jefferson\nwas rebuilt to the form it substan-\nmade great progress in beautifying\ntially is today. At that time,\nthe house. Some features planned\nPresident Theodore Roosevelt offi-\nby Architect James Hoban, previ-\ncially named the Executive Man-\nously unrealized, were completed.\nsion the White House. It had\nGrounds were improved. Terraces\nbeen called that for some years be-\nin the form of wings extended from\nfore and some historians say that\nthe east and west facades. Un-\nthe origin of the name rested in\nfinished interior walls were plas-\nthe fact that frequent white paint-\ntered. Some furniture was replaced\nings were necessary to cover the\nand slowly the great rooms lost\nwalls, smoke charred in the fire\ntheir emptiness.\nof 1814. Still others say that even\nDolly Madison Aided\nbefore the fire the house, as was\nThomas Jefferson was a widower.\nthe custom in those days, was\nDolly Madison, wife of the then\npainted white and known as the\nSecretary of State, served as mis-\n\"White House.\"\ntress of the White House. And as\nRecent years have seen many\nher influence þegan to show itself\nrestorations to keep the building\nin great parties, receptions, the\nabreast of the demands made on\nfirst home of the country began\nit. By the end of President Taft's\nto acquire some semblance of bril-\nterm of office it had alreday been\nliance.\nenlarged to about twice its original\nFor some reason no historian\nsize.\nseems able to explain, in a short\nRestored in 1930\ntime Jefferson began to undo all\nthe good he had first accomplished.\nOn Christmas Eve, 1929, a fire\nSoon the terraces were marred with\ndamaged greatly the offices and\nlong rows of one-story \"offices.\"\nfor a while spread to the living\nMeat houses, wine cellars, coal and\nquarters in the house. It was again\nwood sheds-and even privies-\nrestored in 1930.\nwere haphazardly scattered\nIn th summer of 1934, President\nthroughout the grounds.\nRoosevelt had the offices enlarged\nThe festivities which began with\nand the building was closed except\nJefferson and continued when Mrs.\nfor regular executive business, for\nMadison became mistress in her\nfour months. And again 1936 the\nown right, came to an abrupt end\nHouse was closed for several weeks\nwhen 5000 British troops sailed up\nwhile an entire new electric and\nthe Patuxent River, routed 7000\ncommunications system replaced\nraw recruits at Bladensburg and\nthe systems that had outlived their\nraided the National Capital.\nusefulness. In 1942, more large\nSome Were Satisfied\nscale repairs were made on the offi-\nPreservation Copy\nWhile many contemporaries\nces in the wings and the air raid\nshelter for the President and his\nbreathed deep sighs of relief after\nthe fire and the departure of the\nofficial family was built.\nBritish, for they thought a per-\nThrough all these years, archi-\nmanent end had come to the \"re-\ntects have skilfully altered the\nsort of the idle\" and \"frivolities,\"\nbuilding to meet the demands, but\nDolly Madison herself prevented\nalways the general character has\nthe loss from being greater than\nben preserved. Charles Burr Todd,\nit was. She gathered together\nin his \"Story of Washington,\"\ngreat trunkfuls of cabinet papers,\nnoted this fact in 1899-and be\nchina, silverware, and Stuart's\nwarned then that the time would\nNATIONAL\nfamous portrait of Washington and\ncome when great changes would be\nAND\nfled the city, bringing them back\nsought.\nunharmed when the invaders had\n\"Then the White House can be\nleft.\naltered no more than Mount Ver-\nThe fire left little but the stone\nnon, for its place in the Nation's\nwalls of the house. Great sections\nhistory supersedes all others.\"\nof these had to be torn down and\nrebuilt. The interior, had to be\ncompletely reconstructed. For-\ntunately Hoban was still in Wash-\nington and he was commissioned\nin 1815 to reproduce the house.\nToday, it is not the home of Adams,\nJefferson and Madison, but an ac-\ncurate structural reproduction.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nThat's the Way It Was, That's the Way It Is, and\nCongress Says That's the Way It's Going to Stay\nBy HERBERT HOLLANDER,\nSpecial Correspondent for the\ndrew Johnson's hectic admin-\nGlobe-Democrat.\nistration, they found walls and\nfloors discolored by tobacco\nWASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-The\njuice; vermin in the East Room,\nHouse of Representatives kept\nwhere soldiers of the guard had\nTeddy Roosevelt from taking a\nslept on the new carpet; chairs\ncouple of spins in his grave last\nwith dirt caked thick on the\nThursday when it refused to\nupholstery, and rats and mice\nprovide money for a proposed\npractically running away with\n$1,650,000 addition to the White\nthe whole house. It may be\nHouse, for President Theodore\nnoted in passing that rodents\nRoosevelt is on record as hav-\nstill are a White House problem\ning written in 1908: \"If I had\ndespite all manner of rat-proof-\nit in my power I would\ning, trapping and other methods\nleave as a legacy to you (the\nof extermination.\nAmerican Institute of Archi-\nThe heavy-handed and over-\ntects) the duty of preserving a\ncrowded interior decorating\nperpetual eye of guardianship\nfashions of the 1870s made a\nover the White House to see\nstrong impression on furnish-\nthat it is kept unchanged and\nings during the Grant adminis-\nunmarred from this time on.\"\ntrations, and thick dark drapes,\nAs things now stand, the 150-\nhuge sideboards, bric-a-brac\nyear-old White House will be\nwhatnots, and other such con-\nkept architecturally unchanged\ntemporary indispensables made\nunless, of course, the Congress-\ntheir appearance.\nmen decide to reverse them-\nIn the Rutherford B. Hayes\nselves.\nadministration, reluctant per-\nAnd as things now stand, the\nmission was given for the in-\npeople here wearing the biggest\nstallation of a single telephone\nsmiles are the folks who are\nline, forerunner of the battery\nprominent members of the\nof trunk lines now running\nAmerican Institute of Archi-\ninto the White House. During\ntects. Originally, the A. I. A.\nthe Garfield administration, cut\nhad suggested the work of en-\nshort by assassination, an eleva-\nlargement be delayed until \"ade-\ntor, slow and a shade uncertain,\nquate opportunity has been of-\nwas the single improvement\nfered the nation to consider the\nadded.\nimportant question implied by a\nIt was during the reign of the\nplan to provide 13,672 square\ndandified Chester A. Arthur that\nfeet of additional office space\nthe era of ultra fancy White\nin a new west wing, along with\nHouse decoration reached its\na cafeteria, and an auditorium\napogee, or nadir, however one\nfor press conferences and other\nevents.\"\nTHIS OLD PRINT SHOWS THE WHITE HOUSE as it appeared shortly after its\ncares to view it. Arthur secured\nthe services of New York's Mr.\ncompletion. The cornerstone was laid by George Washington in 1792, and John\nTiffany to refurbish the place,\nPresident's House\nAdams was the first President to take up residence there, in 1800. Today the build-\nand when the job was finished\nThe architects had questioned\ning's exterior is virtually unchanged.\nthe mansion was completely ele-\n\"whether the property of the\ngant in the most rococo style\nnation traditionally known as\nof that day.\ndesirability of maintaining the\nOpposition to the most recent\nthe White House should contin-\nwings in recent years, there have\nhistoric balance of the White\nand now defeated plans does not\nue to be the President's house,\nbeen many other improvements\nModifications\nHouse and charged the archi-\nmean, it is pointed out, that\nas George Washington put it, or\nand modernizations. The Presi-\ntects of the country with a high\nchanges should not be made\nDuring all these years when\nwhether it is to become the ex-\ndent's office is air-conditioned.\nduty in this regard.\nfrom time to time. But it does\nThere is a swimming pool. Ef-\nmodifications were being made\necutive office building of the\nUpon the occasion of the lay-\nmean that the essential charac-\nficient central heating has sup-\nin the White House interior and\nPresident with dwelling quarters\ning of a wreath upon the tomb\nter of the structure should not\nincidental.'\nplanted huge open fireplaces and\nin its furnishings, few altera-\nof James Hoban, original de-\nbe lost. So far as changes are\nLorenzo S. Winslow, White\nan old hot-air furnace. There\ntions took place in the exterior\nsigner of the executive mansion,\nconcerned, there have been some\nis modern plumbing and the\nof the building and, most im-\nHouse staff architect and the\nhe wrote:\nman who had planned the addi-\nin almost every administration.\nkitchens boast the finest new\nportantly, little if anything was\n\"The architects of the United\ntion, is downcast. His arguments\nequipment the pre-war market\ndone to give the President and\nStates must accept a measure\nAir Conditioned\nafforded.\nhis staff more space in which\nwere: 1) present quarters are in-\nof responsibility and observe\nto carry on the increasingly\nadequate for the ever-mounting\nvolume of work which funnels\nwith a watchful eye the changes\nFor example, in addition to the\nThe first important change\nheavy volume of work which\nin the White House that time\ntook place during the Madison\nthrough No. 1600 Pennsylvania\ngreatly increased office space\nwas coming their way. As point-\nave.; and 2) the proposed addi-\nrequires.\"\ndeveloped at both east and west\nadministration, when the building\ned out, McKinley sought to\nwas burned by the British.\nmake substantial additions for\ntion would not mar the appear-\nOriginally buff colored, the man-\nthis purpose, but the design was\nance of the White House, would\nsion was painted to cover up\nsuch as to create a storm of\nnot even be seen from the front,\nthe fire marks and it has been\ndisapproval.\nand could be seen by the public\nrepainted white ever since.\nTheodore Roosevelt, McKin-\nonly from the air or from the\nThe first comprehensive job\nley's successor, realized the ne-\nlittle side street between the\nof interior decorating was done\ncessity of finding a practical\nWhite House and the State De-\nby James Monroe, and little was\nsolution to the problem and one\npartment.\naltered in the way of furnish-\nwhich would not destroy the\nThe A. I. A. first assumed its\nings thereafter until the impec-\ncharacter of the historic old\nWhite House watchdog role in\ncable Martin Van Buren came\nbuilding. The distinguished archi-\nthe McKinley administration. At\nalong. He brought new carpets\ntects he employed succeeded in\nthat time a plan was prepared\nto replace old ones which were\ntheir delicate mission and for\nfor erection of two extensions to\nbrown with tobacco stains, in-\nthe first time the Presidents had\nthe executive mansion which\nstalled a lot of fancy French\nwould have more than doubled\noffices which were a part of the\nfurniture, and even went so far\nmansion and yet not immediate-\nits size. They took the form of\nas to put in a few foot tubs,\ntwin wings surmounted by tow-\nly within the living quarters.\nlaboriously filled by transferring\nThrough the years these west-\ners which would have dwarfed\nSt. Louis Globe-De\nhot water in buckets from the\nthe White House proper. Upon\nkitchens. Van Buren also did\nwing offices have been carefully\nenlarged on several occasions.\nstrong representations to the\nJanuary 29, 194\nsomething about the latter\nPresident by the architects, and\nAlso, it has been found nec-\nrooms, where the rain often\nvigorous public protests, the\nessary to strengthen the roof\nstood in puddles for weeks on\nplan was dropped.\nbeams in a major way. During\nend. It was at this same time,\nan inspection after a fire in the\ntoo, that the first hot-air fur-\n'Ideal' Said T. R.\nWhite House during the Cool-\nnace finally gave the mansion a\nidge administration it was found\nPresident Theodore Roosevelt\nform of central heating. But it\nthat the whole roof structure\nin 1902 employed the famed firm\nremained drafty and uncomfort-\nover the building proper had\nof McKim, Meade and White to\nable in Washington's damp,\nalmost rotted through, and the\nbring order out of the array of\nchilly winters.\nPresident was not permitted to\noutbuildings which had grown\nThe first permanent bath tub\nlive there for several months\nup around the White House\nwas not installed until Millard\nduring 1927 until ancient wood-\nsince the Lincoln administration.\nFillmore's day, and it was dur-\nT. R. was so pleased with the\nen supports were supplanted by\ning this administration that gas\nsteel trusses.\nresult that he declared \"the\nfor lighting made its initial ap-\nWhite House is now the ideal\npearance. But the cooking still\nhouse for Presidents.\"\nwas done on coal and wood\nSince then changes and en-\nranges. At this time also the\nlargements have been made in\nnow extensive White House li-\nthe White House offices (includ-\nbrary got its small start.\ning the recent addition of an\nentirely new east wing), but the\nRats, Mice\noutward appearance of the an-\ncient structure has been virtual-\nLittle was done to the White\nly unchanged. Both the enlarged\nHouse during the years of Lin-\nwest wing and the new east\ncoln's occupancy because of the\nwing do not in any degree over-\nwar. When the decorators fi-\nbalance the original living quar-\nnally got on the job during An-\nters.\nAlthough several important\nadditions and enlargements were\nmade during the administrations\nof President Franklin D. Roose-\nvelt, he, like his relative and\nPreservation Copy\npredecessor, also recognized the\nTRUMAN\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nRECORDS\nSERVICE\nSunday Star, February 6, 1946\nAN UNSUCESSFUL WHITE HOUSE PLAN-This is the White House plan defeated by the Ameri-\ncan Institute of Architects in 1899. The present plan to extend the west wing of the Executive\nMansion, while not so extensive or bizarre, is opposed by the architects and other groups on\nthe ground the White House should be retained as the home of the President and that offices\nshould be constructed outside the White House grounds. This is a view from the south side\nof the White House of what would have been constructed if the AIA had not led organized\nresistance against it.\nArchitects Recall 1899 Victory\nAgainst White House Changes\nBy RUDOLPH KAUFFMANN II.\nA review of the last three weeks\nAs the controversy over expansion\nshows the current controversy fol-\nof office space in the White House\nlowing almost the same pattern.\ngrounds enters its fourth week,\nFight Is Promised.\nmembers of the American Institute\nLorenzo S. Winslow, architect of\nof Architects last night recalled\nthe White House, made public a set\ntheir victory 47 years ago in pre-\nof plans to extend the west wing.\nventing larger and more bizarre\nThe next day the Washington chap-\nadditions to the Executive Mansion\nter of the AIA opened a campaign\nproposed in the McKinley admin-\nagainst the plan. The campaign re-\nistration\nsulted in the House blocking funds\nWith the AIA's annual convention\nfor the extension. Following this\nscheduled here for February 15,\nthe plan was watered down by the\nmembers are hoping their oppo-\nPresident and the Fine Arts Com-\nsition to the present plan, several\nmission.\nparts of which already have been\nA fight to have the Senate con-\ndiscarded, may result in the same\ncur with the House is now under\nsuccess.\nway, despite the fact that the plan\nA prominent AIA member pro-\nhad been modified.\nvided a blow-by-blow account of the\nAIA members promise an explo-\n1899 controversy, with pictures, and\nsive session on the White House at\na comparison between what hap-\ntheir coming convention.\npened then and what is happening\nIf the plan goes through in its\nnow.\npresent form, it apparently will be\nafter a hard fight, similar to that\nScene Was the Same.\nwhich resulted in total victory in\nThe scene was the same, the\n1899.\nnames and titles different.\nThen, as now, the President need-\ned more space. But the man who\nHistorical Group Protests\nplanned the additions then made\nbig plans. He decided the White\nChanges at White House\nHouse needed to be twice its pres-\nent size and that it wasn't fancy\nThe Columbia Historical Society\nenough.\nyesterday added its formal protest\nHe was Col. Theodore Bingham,\nagainst extending the west wing of\ncommissioner of public buildings\nthe White House to current criti-\nand grounds.\ncism of the project.\nAccording to an account of the\nIts board of managers, taking ac-\ntimes by Glenn Brown, Washington\ntion foreshadowed nearly two weeks\narchitect who three years later was\nago when F. Regis Noel, society\nto superintend the renovation of the\npresident, indicated opposition from\nPreservation Copy\nExecutive Mansion in the Theodore\nthe society would be forthcoming,\nRoosevelt administration, \"Col.\nadopted a resolution as follows:\nBingham was ambitious to have his\n\"The Columbia Historical Society\nname prominently connected with\nopposes any alteration or addition\nthe White House.\"\nwhich will in any way affect the\nCalled \"Mongrel Contraption.\"\npristine beauty and identity of the\nWhite House as the residence of the\nHe employed mechanical drafts-\nPresident other than removal of\nmen to lay plans. These men, prin-\ntemporary additions already there.\"\ncipally, Frederick D. Owen, asked for\nThe question of taking action on\nthe addition of statues, an allegori-\nthe White House plans was referred\ncal fountain, palms, conservatories\nto the board by a general meeting\nHARRY\n\"NATIONAL\nand lily pond. Two huge wings were\nARCHIVES AND\nLIBRARY\nJanuary 15.\nto be surmounted by circular tower-\nRECORD3\nlike ends reminiscent of world fair\ndesigns.\nU.S.\nGOVERNMENT\nWhite House\nTHE WASHINGTON PI\n11 State Functions\nSunday, September 22, 1946\nSociety Gets\nto the doors.\ntion at the White House since\nEntertaining\nThe judicial reception Decem-\nFebruary 11, 1941, when Presi-\nber 10 will be the first such func-\ndent and Mrs. Roosevelt received\nWhite House\nGoes Formal\nmembers of the Army and Navy.\nThe last state dinner was held\nJanuary 31, 1939.\n'Go' Sign\nContinued from Page 1\nprotocol division. Down through\nall the Administrations, they have\nBy Peggy Preston\nbeen held in order that White\nHouse/courtesy and hospitality may\nCAPITAL society got the go-\nbe extended to official represent-\nahead sign this week. From\natives of all other nations as well as\nthe White House came announce\nour own.\nment of a full-dress social \"sea-\nSeldom does the list vary, al-\nson,\" first since 1939.\nthough from time to time a Presi-\ndent takes it upon himself to abol-\nIn Washington that means\na\nish one or the other of the func-\nnumber of things. First, it proves\ntions, or to add another. President\nthat despite loud rumblings of\nHoover did this when he called off\ninternational disputes, relations\nthe giant New Year's Day recep-\nwithin the Family of Nations are\ntion. It was he, too, who instituted\nthe Vice President's dinner (for\nsufficiently calm to allow repre-\nwhich is substituted this year the\nsentatives to dine together once\ndinner to the President Pro Tem-\nmore at the White House.\npore of the Senate).\nIt is a definite sign that the re-\nThe Speaker's dinner was added\nconversion cycle from war to\nto the program in the first Presi-\npeace is all but complete; that\ndent Roosevelt's Administration as\nthe President may, with good\na special salute to \"Uncle Joe\"\ntaste, assume the cloak of First\nCannon.\nHost of the Land, according to\ntraditions laid down by his pred-\nAll Set Tuesday\necessors,\nEach function is arranged for a\nFrom a purely local angle, the\nTuesday, this in order that the\nresumption of official entertaining\nFirst Family may have its weekends\nat the White House is of consider-\nfree. Approximately 1000 attend\nabietsighi ficance. When Mrs. James\nthe receptions; from 85 to 100, the\nHelm: Mrs. Truman's social secre-\ndinners.\ntary, released. the schedule she\nThis year, however, there are\nfired the opening gun in the town's\n11 dates, since two diplomatic\nparty race. Hostesses may now get\ndinners are scheduled instead of\nto work on their own pet social\nthe usual one, This has happened\nprojects. They will cast their eyes\nonly once before and that just\nover the White House schedule,\nbefore our entry into World War\nnote on which night a state dinner\nI, when President Wilson deemed\nor reception is scheduled and make\nit wise not to ask representatives\ntheir plans accordingly.\nof warring nations to the same\nIt Makes Difference\ndinner. Ambassadors from the\nAllied nations were asked to one;\nThey'll be careful not to ask a\nthose from Germany, etc., to\nmember of the Diplomatic Corps to\nanother.\ndinner on January 7, for he'll have\nObviously this is not the reason\nto dash off during the soup course\nfor the double dates on this year's\nto attend the diplomatic reception.\nNor will the wise lady plan a din-\ncalendar. They signify something\nquite different. The two dinners\nner for the Chief Justice without\nconsulting the White House sched-\npoint up the fact that Washington\nule. Mr. Justice Vinson and his col-\nhas emerged from the war a great\nleagues are due in the State Dining\nworld capital; that the Diplomatic\nRoom January 14 at 8 p. m. sharp.\nCorps now is so large that the state\nAnd so it goes down the line, with\ndining room is not big enough to\na specific date on the list reserved\nseat its members all at once.\nfor each official group.\nCorps Reaches 1150\nThe schedule is as follows:\nThe corps, incidentally, has grown\nNovember 26, Tuesday, diplomat-\nby leaps and bounds the last four\nic dinner, 8 p. m.\nyear, now numbering 1150, Only\nPreservation Copy\nDecember 3, Tuesday, diplomatic\nChiefs of Missions and a few top\ndinner, 8 p. m.\naides are asked to the dinners,\nDecember 10, Tuesday, judicial\nbut almost the entire corps is in-\nreception, 9 p. m.\nvited to the diplomatic reception.\nDecember 17, Tuesday, Cabinet\nHence, the night of January 7\ndinner, 8 p. m.\nwill see the White House crowded\nJanuary 7, Tuesday, diplomatic\nTRUMAN\nHARRY\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nLIBRARY\nRNMENT\nTraveled Abroad\nTHURSDAY. OCTO]\nThe President's wife selected\neraid\nAfter graduation, Miss Folsom\nher personal friends with a firm\ntraveled abroad for a year with\nTribune, Oct.\nYoungest First Lady\ndisregard for their economic, so-\nher mother, then Mrs. Emma\ncial or political status. One close\n1947\nFolsom Perrine. They returned\nfriend was the wife of a clerk in\nunannounced to New York City,\nthe Treasury Department, and the\nlanding at night from a tug that\nWhite House carriage frequently\nmet the ship, and slipped un-\ncalled at her modest home in\nnoticed to the old Gilsey House\nWashington's least fashionable\non Broadway.\ndistrict. Another was a young\nPresident Cleveland called there\nwoman who taught music for a liv-\nsoon after their arrival, and three\ning and for whom Mrs. Cleveland\ndays later Miss Folsom was en\nobtained pupils. A third was the\nroute to Washington for the wed-\nteacher of a small kindergarten\nding. It was the first marriage\nschool, who later taught the Cleve-\nof a Chief Executive to take place\nland girls in the White House.\nin the White House and the bride\nFamily Moved Here\nwas to be the youngest first lady\nWhen the President failed of re-\nto preside there President, Cleve-\nelection in 1888, the Clevelands\nland was then forty-nine.\nmoved to New York City, where\nThe press and the public made\nthey lived until his election to a\nthe most of the quiet romance\nsecond term in 1892.\nand the simple, ceremony in which\nAt the close of President Cleve-\nit culminated. One sentimental\nland's second term they moved to\nreporter described the rain that\nPrinceton, where they acquired\nfell as she arrived in the capital,\nthe fifteen-roou brick Colonial\nat 5:30 a. m. on June 2, 1866, as\nhome, Westland which had been\n\"gentle as a maiden's tears.\"\nbuilt in 1850 by Commodore F. S.\nThe ceremony was held that\nStockton.\nevening in the, Blue Room before\nMr. Cleveland became a trustee\na few intimate friends and rela-\nand lecturer at Princeton Univer-\ntives. Dr. Byron Sunderland, the\nsity, and Westland became a\nPresident's pastor, read the re-\nrendezvous for its undergraduates.\nvised service in which the bride\nThe family passed the summers\npromised to \"love, honor, and\nin a large farmhouse on Stevenson\nAssociated Press\nkeep\" her husband, after John\nHill at Tamworth, N. H.\nMrs. Thomas J. Preston jr.,\nPhilip Sousa's Marine Band\nAfter Mr. Cleveland died in\nwidow of President Groper Cleve\nplayed the wedding march. The\n1908, Mrs. Cleveland took the chil-\nland, as she appeared in 1892.\nRev. William N. Cleveland, brother\ndren abroad, where they lived for\nThey were married at the W hite\nof the President, pronounced the\ntwo years, first in Switzerland and\nHouse in 1886\nblessing; the Navy Yard sounded\nthen in Italy. Mrs, Cleveland\na twenty-one-gun salute; and\nstudied lánguages with them\nchurch bells in the capital chimed\nAfter her return to Princeton,\nCleveland's\na benediction.\nMrs. Cleveland lived in semi-\nretirement for two years, attend-\nIn Unwanted Spotlight\ning only a few functions at the\nThe nation sat back then to ob-\nuniversity, of which she had been\n(Continued from page one)\nserve how the youngest first lady\nappointed a trustee She was\nter of Mr. Cleveland's law. partner\nin the history of the land would\nmarried on Feb. 10, 1913. to Pro-\nin Buffalo, Oscar Folsom, who\ncomport herself in the White\nfessor Preston, whom she had\ndied when she was eleven. Mr.\nHouse, She moved constantly in\nknown since her years at Wells\nCleveland *looked after her as a\nan unwanted spotlight of public-\nCollege, where he taught arche-\nsemi-official guardian while she\nity, but there was never a word of\nology.\nwent through Central High School\ncritcism of her conduct. She pre\nInterest in Politics Warned\nin Buffalo.\nsided over state functions and\nHer interest in politics waned\nsmalls parties alike with grace,\nDuring this period she made\nafter Mr. Cleveland's death, but in\ncharm and a dignity unexpected\ngood grades in school, won a\n1913 she was vice-president of the\nin a twenty-two-year-old matron\nbeauty contest at the authors'\nNew Jersey Association Opposed to\nHer loyalty to the President in\ncarnival in Buffalo and made and\nWoman Suffrage. In 1918 she suc-\nall matters was so strong that she\nbroke an engagement with Charles\nceeded Professor Preston as di-\nonce avoided shaking hands with\nTownsend, who thereafter entered\nrector of the National Security\na Senator who was politically hos-\nthe Presbyterian Seminary at\nLeague's speakers bureau.\ntile to Mr. Geveland. She was so\nAuburn, N. Y.\nShe was active in the Women's\ngenerous with handshaking gen-\nUniversity Club, of which she was\nMr. Cleveland was in the Gov-\nerally, however, that in time her\npresident in 1920, the Garden Club\nernor's Mansion at Albany when\nright hand grew nortosably larger\nof America and the Needlework\nMiss Folsom entered Wells College\nthan her left. She held two re-\nGuild of America, of which she was\nat Aurora, N. Y. \"Her fellow stu-\nceptions weekly scheduling one\npresident for thirteen years until\ndents were more exicted than she\non Saturday afternoonsirso that\n1938. She was a member of the\nover the periodic arrival of large\nwomen and girls in Washington\nState Public Library Commission.\nboxes of roses from the Executive\nmight more easily attending evwb\nBE Preston was moderately\nMansion for Frances Folsom.\nwealthy, having inherited $250,000\nBy the time she was graduated\nfrom her father and a comfortal, le\nin 1885, the flowers were'still com-\nfortune left by Mr. Cleveland.\ning, but now from the White\nHouse. The engagement was\nnever publicly announced, but it\nwas widely reported that the tall,\nblue-eyed college girl would marry\nGrover Cleveland.\nAND\nLIBRARY\nRECORDS\nPreservation Copy\nGOVERNMENT\nWash. Eve. Star\nNew York Times\nOctober 1947\nMrs. Preston\nA famous American romance inevitably\nA PRESIDENT'S WIDOW\nwas recalled by the death of Mrs. Thomas\nJex Preston, junior. She was the first\nNone could have guessed when Fran-\nWhite House bride. The date of her mar-\nces Folsom was a child of 11, just\nriage to President Grover Cleveland was\nafter/her father's death, that she was\ndestined to be the first woman to\nJune 2, 1886, and the time-stained pages\nof The Star for the following day tell the\nmarry a President of the United States\nin the White House. Yet from that\nstory of the wedding in multitudinous\nhour her path led there. Her father's\ndetail. Only a few private friends wit-\nlaw partner, Grover Cleveland, was a\nnessed the ceremony in the Blue Parlor,\nrising young man in Buffalo politics.\nthe report explained, but thousands of\nHe made it his business to look after\npeople stood in the streets and grounds\nthe affairs of his partner's daughter.\nadjacent to the Executive Mansion, while\nAs she grew to womanhood boxes of\nthe rites were in progress and subsequently\nroses began to arrive at her home from\nsaw the happy couple\" leave for their\nhis office. At Wells College, where she\nhoneymoon at Deer Park.\nwas a student, they continued to arrive\nMr. Cleveland, forty-nine years of age\nfrom the Governor's Mansion in Al-\nwhen he became a husband, had been a\nbany. Finally they came from the\nlonely figure in official Washington. Deeply\nWhite House at Washington.\nsensitive despite a seemingly gruff exterior,\nThat was more than sixty years ago.\nhe mourned the fading of his youth with-\nSuch a romance could not fail to move\nthe heart of a sentimental nation. Miss\nout any attempt to conceal his melancholy.\nFolsom was as modest and gracious as\nOscar and Emma Folsom had been his\nfriends in Buffalo. Their daughter Frances,\nshe was lovely. Mr. Cleveland, at 49,\nwas the most eligible bachelor in the\nborn there on July 21, 1864, grew to woman-\nworld. For weeks the approaching\nhood while he worked his way up from ob-\nwedding was the topic of the day.\nsecurity to the highest position in the land\nThe new First Lady proved herself\nTwice she came to the Capital with her\na devoted wife and mother. Avoiding\nmother to visit his empty home. The Presi-\nthe limelight whenever possible, she\ndent's sister was her host and may have had\nwas, nevertheless, the most popular.\nmuch to do with arranging the match.\nwoman in America.\nExactly when or how Mr. Cleveland pro-\nFive widows of former Presidents\nposed never has been publicized. Formal\nare still alive. They live longer than\nannouncement of the prospective mar-\ntheir husbands, for the office breaks\nriage was issued only five days before it.\ndown all but the most rugged men. Mr.\ntook place.,\nCleveland died eleven years after he left\nThe minister who officiated was the\nthe White House. Five years later Mrs.\nReverend Dr. Byron Sunderland, pastor of\nCleveland married Dr. Thomas Preston,\nthe First Presbyterian Church: After the\nProfessor of Archaeology at her old\nceremony he expressed his belief that the\nAlma Mater and then at Princeton.\nunion would be exceptionally happy. His\nThroughout her long and useful life\njudgment was confirmed. The President\nshe remained the same charming, level-\nvisibly reflected his contentment. Mrs.\nheaded and friendly woman she had\nCleveland entered upon her duties at the\nalways been, alert to the changes of\nWhite House with a modest dignity which\nher time and ever quick to help others.\ngenerously was commended. At the close\nof the President's second term on March\n4, 1897, he retired to Princeton, New Jersey,\nwhere he busied himself with his auto-\nbiography, Dying July 24, 1908, he left the\nreputation of \"a truly American type of\nthe best kind,\" as James Russell Lowell\nhad described him. His widow kept alive\nhis memory even after she married Pro-\nfessor Preston in 1913. She still was a\nperson of distinction and charm when the\nworld to which she belonged had disap-\nPreservation Copy\npeared under the impact of two World\nWars and a myriad of other tremendous\nevents.\nHARRY S. ARCHIVES \"NATIONAL RECORDS MAN AND LIBRARY\nU.S.\nGOVERNMENT\nMrs.Cleveland Was\nOnly First Lady to\nWin Beauty Contest\nBy EVELYN PEYTON GORDON\nIT'S rarely that I feel prone to talk about the deceased.\nBut the death the other day of Mrs. Thomas J. Preston\n(formerly Mrs. Grover Cleveland) recalls to really old Wash-\ningtonians the Capital of another day.\nMost of you have actually for-\ngotten that there were more\nthan four former First Ladies\ndrifting around the country, in-\ncluding Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,\nMrs. Coolidge, Mrs. Eleanor\nRoosevelt, Mrs. Theodore Roose-\nvelt and Mrs. Benjamin Harri\nson.\nBut even those of you who\nremember back to the days of\nGrover Cleveland have perhaps\nforgotten that his beautiful bride\nwas the youngest First Lady of\nall time. She was only 22 when\nshe became hostess at the White\nHouse, and I'll bet that she was\nthe first First Lady to be a\ncollege girl and the only one to\nhave ever won a beauty con-\ntest\nA couple of years ago I found\nthis photograph, which is print-\ned here, among some old papers\nin a little town in western Min-\nnesota. So great was the in\nterest of the nation in the White\nHouse bride of the 80s that a\nMRS. CLEVELAND\nMr. Delaney Hunter returning to\nhis hometown from a visit to\nWashington took the picture to\n\"show the folks.\" It happened\nWashington Daily News,\nto be the first photograph made\nof the former Frances Folson\nafter she became Mrs. Grover\nOctober 31, 1947\nCleveland.\nIt was made by C. M. Bell,\nwhose studio was between\nFourth and Fifth streets on\nPennsylvania-av nw. So proud\nwas he of his commission to\nphotograph the President's wife\nthat he had the following print-\ned on the back of every picture:\n\"This photograph, made and\npublished by me, is the first of\nMrs. Cleveland made since her\nmarriage, and is fully protected\nby copyright. All originals will\nhave facsimile of my autograph\non face of card.\" And it's there\naltho it doesn't appear in the\ncut\nNow it was only a few weeks\nPreservation Copy\nago that Baltimore announced\nthe addition of the name of\nMrs. Preston's granddaughter to\nthe season's debutante ranks.\nUndoubtedly the pretty blond\ndaughter of Richard Cleveland,\nBaltimore attorney, would have\ntaken some part in the social\nactivities this winter - some-\nthing of a repetition of the bril-\nliant days of her grandmother's\nyouth. Perhaps even now we'll\nmeet the pretty young miss.\nHARRY S. GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES SERVICE\" \"NATIONAL RECORDSAND TRUMAN\nC-2\nTHE SUNDAY STAR, Washington, D. C.\nSUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1947.\nThe east room. of the White House at the time of the wedding of Nellie Grant, daughter of\nPresident U. S. Grant, to Algernon Sartoris.\nWhite obtatuo House Weddings\nNE of the most interesting\nBy John Clagett Proctor\nand a pearl fan with lace cover\nweddings ever to occur. in\nThe bridesmaids were eight in num-\nthe White House was the\nber-Miss Barnes, Miss Fish, Miss\nemarriage of Nellie Grant\nmissed in society. She is quite\nConkling, Miss Frelinghuysen, Miss\nto Algernon Sartoris. Mr. Sartoris\nyoung, not yet 19, and is noted for\nPorter, Miss Sherman, Miss Drexel\nhad come to Washington some time\nher quiet self-possession and mod-\nand Miss Dent. The groom was in\nbefore the wedding, and on May 4\nesty. Mr. Algernon C, F. Sartoris\nfull evening dress and was accom-\nattended the ceremony which joined\nis the only son of Mr. Edward Sar-\npanied by his best man, Col. Fred\nin life partnership Lt. Hooker and\ntoris of Hampshire, England. He\nGrant, in full uniform. The Pres-\nMiss Stewart at the latter's father's\nis only 23 years of age. He and\nident wore evening dress.\"\nhome on Dupont Circle, known as\nMiss Grant met when she returned\nWhile the wedding party was\nStewart's Castle. This was indeed\nfrom her European tour 18 months\ndriving to the depot the chimes\nbrilliant affair, and those plan-\nago.\nof the Metropolitan Church played\nning the White House wedding were\n\"The marriage has taken place\nthe following program: \"Wedding\nthere no doubt to take notes.\nsooner than was intended at first.\nPearl\" (English); Mendelssohn's\nSenator William M. Stewart of\nThe preparations for the wedding\n\"Wedding March,\" \"Hail Columbia,\"\nNevada was a very wealthy man for\nhave been on the most magnificent\n\"God Save the Queen,\" grand march\nthat period, and upon this occasion\nscale. The trousseau was mostly\nfrom \"Tannhauser.\" The numbers\nspared not the purse. His home\nselected in New York City, as time\nwere all played by Prof. Widdows.\nwas one of the most expensive, beau-\nwould not permit of a full order\nA special palace car bore away\ntiful and up-to-date in the city, as\nbeing sent to Paris: but the laces\nthe happy couple at 1:40 p.m. After\nmight readily be imagined from the\nwere selected abroad and exceed in\nleaving Baltimore, the car was at-\nname it always bore-\"Stewart's\nbeauty anything ever seen here.\ntached to the regular train for New\nCastle\"-until it was destroyed by\nThere are complete sets, one of\nYork. Mr. and Mrs. Sartoris sailed\nfire on December 30, 1879; with dam-\nwhite lace and the other black. This\nfor England on the Baltic of the\nage of $30,000.\nis the munificent gift of the Pres-\nWhite Star Line, which left two\nNotable Affair.\nident to his daughter.\ndays after their wedding. President\nSeventeen days after the Hooker-\n\"The bridal dress is of the richest\nand Mrs. Grant went on to New\nStewart wedding, on May 21, 1874,\nwhite satin, with a train three yards\nYork with them.\nthe Sartoris-Grant ceremony took\nlong. Around the bottom of the\nPresident Cleveland's Wedding.\nplace in the White House, and for\ndress is a flounce of satin about three\nAnother great social event, certain-\nsensible arrangements and splendor\ninches deep, with plisses of tulle on\nly of no less interest than the\nhas rarely, if ever, been exceeded in\nthe edge. This flounce is laid on in\nGrant-Sartoris wedding, was the\nthis country. No doubt ever so\nmarriage of President Grover Cleve-\nmuch more money has been spent\nland and Frances Folsom on June\non other weddings, but the spend-\n2, 1886. The ceremony was per-\ning and lavishing of money does\nformed, in the blue room which\nnot always mean results. It, indeed,\nwas transformed into a bower of\nwas a great and notable affair.\nbeauty for the occasion, and the\nThe day before the wedding we\nnoted bandmaster, John Philip\nfind the following announcement in\nSousa, then director of the Marine\nThe Star:\nBand, came with that celebrated\n\"A marriage license was issued\norganization of musicians to enliven\nby the clerk of the court here today\nthe occasion. The officiating clergy-\nto Algernon Charles Frederick Sar-\nman was the Rev. Byron Sunder-\ntoris of Wars-Ash House, Tichfield,\nland, who had been the pastor of\nHants, England, and Ellen Wren-\nthe First Presbyterian Church from\nshall Grant of Washington.\"\n1853.\nThe invitations are said to have\nAccording to a published state-\nbeen very plain, script type being\nment, the time required for the\nused on parchment paper, without\nmarriage ceremony was just 7 min-\nmonogram or other device, and\nutes: \"At 7:03 o'clock Mendelssonn's\nread:\nmarch was played by the band. At\n\"The President and Mrs. Grant\nthe same instant the booming of\nrequest the pleasure of your com-\nguns was heard and the ringing\npany at the marriage of their\nof church bells and blowing of\ndaughter, at the Executive Mansion,\nsteam whistles told the story to all\non Thursday, May 21, at 11 o'clock\nthe people of Washington that the\na.m.\"\nmarriage had taken place. The\nThe Star's Account.\nMarine Band finished the march at\nContinuing, The Star gives an\n7:05. At 7:12 the band again began\nexcellent account of the wedding\nto play,\" indicating that the cere-\nceremony itself, which took place\nmony was over.\nin the famous East Room, gorgeously\nThe ceremony itself was the same\ndecorated for the purpose. The Star\nritualistic one that Dr. Sunderland\nPreservation Copy\nfurther says: \"The bridal party\nhad read to many contracting par-\nhaving assembled upstairs, descended\nties on previous occasions and he\nby the private stairway and pro-\nstood before the distinguished cou-\nceeded down the hall in the follow-\nple beside the Rev. William H. Cleve-\ning order: Mr. Sartoris and his best\nland, a Presbyterian clergyman, and\nman advanced to the foot of the\nbrother to the President.\ndais, where Rev. Dr. Tiffany awaited\nThe Wedding Dress.\nthe bride. Miss Conkling and Miss\nIt might be interesting to the\nFrelinghuysen were the first of the\nMISS FRANCES FOLSOM,\nwomen of the present day to know\nbridesmaids to arrive. They paused\nthe nature of the bride's costume.\njust after passing the center of the\nAs she appeared at the time\nThe dress was of ivory satin cut en\nroom. Miss Porter and Miss Sher-\nof her marriage in the White\ntrain, with high corsage and elbow\nman advanced beyond them, Miss\nHouse to President Grover\nsleeves. Two bands of mull, edged\nDrexel and Miss Dent passing the\nCleveland.\nwith lace, crossed the bosom and\nlast two and Miss Barnes and Miss\nthe skirt was trimmed with the same\nFish passing to the foot of the dais.\nbox pleats, with loops and ends of\nsort of scarfs which crossed the front\nThen came the bride with her\nthe satin between each pleat. Above\nand formed the trimming of the\nfather. As she approached, Mr. Sar-\nthis flounce and reaching to the\nskirt. The orange blossom gar-\ntoris stepped forward and secured\nwaist are two exquisite point lace\nniture, commencing upon the veil\nher arm from her father. The bride\nflounces, which are flat across the\nin a superb cornet, was continued\nand groom stepped upon the dais,\nfront breadth and form side trim-\nthroughout the costume. A veil of\nthe bridesmaids forming a semi-\nmings up the back. The waist is\ntulle completely enveloped the bride\ncircle. Dr. Tiffany performed the\nhigh and trimmed with lace and\nand fell to the edge of her train.\nservice according to the form of the\nflowers to match the skirt. The\nAmong the telegrams received by\nMethodist Church.\nsleeves reach below the elbow and\nthe President was one from Queen\n\"Miss Nellie Grant has grown up\nare finished with lace. The veil is\nVictoria of England. Her telegram\nin this city and her appearance is\nof tulle and fastened with orange\nsaid: \"Pray accept my sincere con-\n\"NATIONAL\nwell known to most of our citizens.\nblossoms; ornaments pearls and\ngratulations on your marriage, and\nARCHIVES\nShe is very popular among her\ndiamonds. She carried this morning\nmy best wishes for your happiness.\nRECORDS\nfriends and will be very much\na bouquet of choice white flowers\nVictoria.\"\nSERVICE\"\n\"The President's House,\" as rebuilt after its burning by the British in 1814.\nBy 1885, when Cleveland took office, the main part of the White House looked much as it does now\nPreservation Copy\nHARRY ARCHIVES TRUMAN \"NATIONAL AND LIBRARY\nRECORDS\nU.S. GOVERNAMENT\nEDOMEN\nThis enlargement plan, including two ornate wings and a conservatory to the south, was rejected by McKinley in 1899\n-\nin\nfor\na\n8'\n#\nThe remodeling of the executive offices by Franklin Roosevelt in 1934\nThis proposed 1946 extension (left of center) of the west wing executive offices was abandoned after a Nation-wide prote\nPreservation Copy\nHARRY U.S. ARCHIVES TRUMAN \"NATIONAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS AND LIBRERY\nAll Presidents Are Architects\nBritish Started Fad by Burning the White House;\nOccupants Have Been Trying to Change It Ever Since\nBy Edward T. Folliard\ntastes. What he has in mind now is a little\nhome of George Washington's wife on the\nPost Reporter\nbalcony outside of his second-floor bedroom\nPamunkey River in Virginia. However, it\nHE LATEST controversy over the White\nand study, behind the columns of the South\nseems more likely that the name caught on\nHouse-arising from President Truman's\nPortico. Here, for as many summer nights\nafter, rather than before, the British\ndesire for a mod st $15,000 porch outside of\nas are allotted to him in the White House,\ninvasion of 1814. For a long time, the\nhis bedroom-is mild compared to some\nhe would like to sit with the First Lady and\nofficial name was \"The Executive Mansion.\"\nprecipitated by changes in the historic\nwatch the fireflies and relax, much as they\nNot until Theodore Roosevelt's administra-\nmansion.\nused to do on their porch in Independence,\ntion did White House become the 0 cial\nMr. Truman himself got into a much more\nMo.\ndesignation.\nviolent dispute two years ago when he\nHowever, the Fine Arts Commission\nThe work of completing the mansion\nsought to enlarge the west wing.\nopposed the balcony, saying it would\nprogressed slowly. It was far from finished\nBut for a real humdinger of a row, you\n\"permanently change the appearance of the\nwhen the British marched into the city with\nhave to go back a century or so. The elegant\nsouth facade of the White House.\" Chairman\ntheir torches. Reconstruction work started\nMartin Van Buren was President, having\nGilmore D. Clarke said such changes ought\nin the spring of 1815, and President Monroe\nsucceeded the inelegant Andrew Jackson in\nnot to be made in \"the design of the central\nmoved in during the latter part of 1817. The\n1837. Great changes occurred once Van\nelement of a building of such historic\nsignificance.\"\ncost of the White House from the beginning\nBuren took over. A man of refined and\nup to 1820 was $579,000, counting repairs.\nsomewhat extravagant tastes, he made\nOnce the commission learned that Mr.\nmany repairs and additions to the White\n26 Million Valuation\nHouse and imported exquisite furniture\nT\nODAY, according to District Assessor\nfrom France.\nEdward A. Dent, the White House has\nWhereas Jackson had allowed King Mob\nan over-all value of nearly 26 million dollars\nto reign, Van Buren stationed policemen at\n(land, $23,623,170; buildings and improve-\nthe White House doors. He drove about in\nments, $2,250,000).\na magnificient coach, dined off silver plate,\nThe south portico, behind which Mr.\nand had his dinners prepared by an English\nTruman wants his balcony, was completed\nchef. His daughter-in-law, who acted as\nin 1824, and the north portico in 1829.\nhostess of the White House, had acquired\nIn Teddy Roosevelt's time, the White\naristocratic tastes in Europe. Her guests\nHouse underwent extensive structural and\nwere formally announced. She received\narchitectural changes, the first since it was\nthem on a raised platform, wearing a long-\ncompleted. This overhauling was called\ntrain velvet gown, with a headdress of three\n\"radical\" and was otherwise denounced on\nfeathers.\nCapitol Hill. A new office building was\nAll this, the historians tell us, was re-\nerected, taking the place of a greenhouse on\ngarded as \"a flagrant betrayal of, the Jack-\nthe west side of the mansion. The mansion\nson tradition.\"\nitself was so thoroughly renovated that T. R.\nLikened to Caesar's Palace\nand his family had to move out, taking up\ntemporary residence at No. 22 Jackson pl.\n0N\nCAPITOL HILL, the changes wrought\non the west side of Lafayette Park.\nby Van Buren, physical and social, be-\ncame the subject of red-hot debate, little of\nThe Executive Office was enlarged to\nit favorable to the President. One member\ntwice its original size by President Taft.\nof Congress, Representative Ogle of Penn-\nIn 1927 it became necessary to recon-\nsylvania, complained that the White House\nstruct the roof and the attic of the White\nhad become \"a palace as splendid as that\nHouse. While this was being done, Presi-\nof Caesar and as richly adorned as the\ndent Coolidge made his home in the Patter-\nproudest Asiatic mansion.\"\nson mansion on Dupont Circle.\nAnother Pennsylvania member, Repre-\n1929 Fire Recalled\nsentative Tyler, made an oratorical attack\non Van Buren in July, 1840, that lasted\nO\nN Christmas Eve, 1929, while Herbert\nseveral days. Here is an extract from the\nHoover was President, a fire did great\nflood of his satire and irony:\ndamage to the Executive Office. While re-\n\"What will the plain Republican farmer\npairs were being made, Mr. Hoover used\nThis is that South Portico\nGen. John J. Pershing's office in the old\nsay when he discovers that our economical\nState Department Building.\nreformers have expended $13,000 of the\nTruman was determined to have the balcony.\nIn the 12 years that Franklin D. Roose-\npeople's cash for looking(glasses, lamps and\nit said it was \"gratified\" to learn that he\ncandlesticks?\nvelt was President, a number of changes\nhad selected William Adams Delano, a\ntook place. The Executive Office was\n\"What would the frugal Hoosier think\nNew York architect, to handle the project.\nagain remodeled so as to triple the available\nvere he to behold a Democratic peacock in\nThe New York Herald Tribune carried a\noffice space. A swimming pool was con-\nfull court costume, strutting by the hour\ntart editorial after the announcement. It\nstructed in the West Terrace. In 1936, a new\nbefore golden-framed mirrors 9 feet high\nreminded Mr. Truman that he was \"only a\nkitchen with all electric equipment was in-\nnd 4½ feet wide? Why, sir, were Mr. Van\ntenant\" in the White House, and it accused\nstalled, together with an automatic fire de-\nBuren to dash into the palace on the back\nhim of having \"a lamentable penchant for\ntection system and many other improve-\nf his Roanoke race horse, be could gaze\nmeddling with a historical structure which\nments.\nand admire the hoofs of his charger and\nthe Nation prefers to retain as it is.\nNot long after the United States Was\nis erown at the same instant of time, in\nplunged into World War II, plans were\nne of those splendid mirrors!\"\nPresent Lawn Once Garden\nstarted for an East Wing office building.\nVan Buren's critic then told how an \"Eng-\nI\nF THE City of Washington had grown as\nThis included, besides office space and\nlish porter\" at the White House had\nits planners expected, Mr. Truman's\nquarters for White House police, an air-\nslammed the door in the face of a plain\nbalcony would look out over the front of\nraid shelter costing $65,000. FDR never\ncitizen who simply wanted to see the \"gor-\nused it.\nthe White House. Originally, the south side\ngeous drapery and brilliant mirrors\" of the\nof the mansion was the main entrance and\nTwo years ago, President Truman decided\nEast Room.\nthe area which now abuts Pennsylvania ave.\nto have an addition built to the Executive\nHe concluded with a warning that things\nwas the family garden.\nOffice on the west side of the mansion.\nwould be different when \"Old Tip\" took\nIt would have cost $1,650,000 and would\nIn those early days, it was called the\nover.\nhave provided additional office space, a\n\"President's House\" and was set in a park\ncafeteria and an auditorium.\nHe was right, too. The hero of Tippe-\nthat extended all the way from H st. to the\nThe Fine Arts Commission, which ob.\ncanoe, William Henry Harrison, was elected\nPotomac River, and ran from 15th st. to\nthat same year and moved into the White\njected to Mr. Truman's little $15,000 porch,\n17th st.\napproved the proposed addition, but some\nHouse on March 4, 1841. He and Vice\nHow It Got Its Name\nof the Nation's leading architects objected.\nPresident John Tyler were determined to\nSo did many civic leaders.\nrestore a simpler atmosphere. Harrison\ndied a month after taking the oath. And\nH\nOW THE British set fire to the mansion\nMr. Truman called the outery a tempest\nin 1814, leaving hardly anything but\nin a teapot, but in the end he was balked.\nTyler's wife died in the White House a\nthe stone walls, and how it had to be\nCongress refused to appropriate the money.\nyear or SO later.\npainted white to give it a decent appearance\nHowever, he is going to have his balcony.\nA Place to Relax\n-this is a familiar story. But there is still\nAnd on the hot nights that lie ahead-\na dispute over how it got the name of\nTHE PRESENT occupant of the White\nperhaps for one summer, perhaps for five\n\"White House.\"\n--he will be able to get such breezes as\nHouse, Mr. Truman, is far more like\nSome authorities have contended it was\ncome from the Potomac, and thus be re-\nJackson than Van Buren in his habits and\ncalled that before the fire, after the early\nfreshed for the world's hardest job.\nHARRY\n\"NATIONAL\nPreservation Copy\nARCHIVES AND\nRECORDS\nSERVICE\nNew York Times, February 18, 1949\nTRUMAN RECOUNTS\nThe seriousness of structural\nweaknesses discovered in the Exec-\nStudy Made by Many Experts\nutive Mansion,\" said Truman,\n\"raised grave question concerning\nThe report was signed by W. E.\nWHITE HOUSE PERIL\nthe safety of the members of the\nReynolds, Commissioner of Public\nPresidential household and of the\nBuildings. It was based on inspec-\nthousands. of persons visiting the\ntions and studies by the following:\nmansion as sightseers, or as mem-\nMaj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming, Fed-\nbers of groups attending business\neral Works Administrator; Lo-\nor social functions.\nrenzo S. Winslow, architect of the\nWeakness So 'Truly Appalling'\nThe Chief Executive as well as\nWhite House: Richard E. Dough-\nthe experts stated that the tradi-\nerty, past president, American So-\nMansion Might Have Fallen\ntional appearance inside and out-\nciety of Civil Engineers of New\nIn on Household, He Says\nside would be preserved, with only\nYork, who retired recently as vice\nminor modifications of unimpor-\npresident for improvements and\ntant features for changes required\ndevelopment of the Newsy ork Cen-\nby modern materials:\ntral Railroad Systenf. Onglas\nHE WANTS IT PRESERVED\n\"It will be no small task to reno-\nWilliam Orr, New Haven, Conn.,\nvate and modernize the structure,'\npresident of the American Insti-\nMr. Truman said. \"It perhaps\ntute of Architects; Charles B.\nwould be more economical from a\nSpencer, president of Spencer,\nIt Might Be More Economical\npurely financial standpoint to raze\nWhite & Prentis, founda tion engi-\nthe building and to rebuild com-\nneers and contractors, New York\nto Tear It Down, but It Is a\npletely. In so doing, however,\nCity; Edward F., Neild Neild,\nthere would be destroyed a build-\nSomdal & Neild, architects of\nSymbol of U. S., He Asserts\ning of tremendous historical sig-\nShreveport, La., and Edward L.\nnificance in the growth of the\nCrosby, mechanical engineer, of\nnation. I am in favor of preserv-\nHenry Adams, Inc., Baltimore\ning our outstanding historical\nAs the report pointed out, reçon-\nBy NTHONY LEVIERO\nstructures.\nstruction, rather than tearing\nSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES\nWill Preserve the Shrine\ndown and building anew, was mòre\nWASHINGTON, Feb. 17-Presi-\nexpensive because the operation\ndent Truman told Congress today\n\"The scope of the work now pro-\nwould be cramped within the outer\nabout the \"truly appalling\" weak-\nposed will not alter the architec-\nwalls of the White House, prohibit-\nness of the White House and of\ntural or cultural features of the\ning maximum use of machinery\nthe risk that it might have fallen\nmansion. The historic and tradi-\nand requiring a greater volume of\nin on him and on sightseers and\ntional symbolism of this national\nskilled and unskilled hard labor,\nguests at state functions. He\nshrine will be preserved to the\nwhich would about double the\nasked $5,400,000 for its reconstruc-\ngreatest degree consistent with the\nusual payroll an a new construc-\ntion.\nmodern materials and equipment\ntionsjob.\n1\nPerhaps it would be more eco-\nthat necessarily must be incorpol\nThe chief need, in reconstruo\nnomical to tear down the historic\nrated in the project.\nis a foundation going below the\nmansion, President Truman said,\nAfter reconstruction, said the\npresent soft clay to the sand and\nbut he favored its preservation as\nexperts, the White House \"will be\ngravel stratum on which the\na symbolic national shrine.\nexpected to survive the ravages of\nfoundation of \"the Washington\nThe condition of the Executive\ntime for generations to come.\" And\nMonument rests. Others recom-\nMansion was set forth in a letter\nin conclusion the report stated\nmendations follow:\nby the President to Congress and\n\"No consideration has been\nRemoval of all interior walls,\nin an experts' report prepared by\ngiven to the alternative of demol.\nwhich rest wholly. \"upen inferiori\nthe Public Building Administra-\nishing the present structure and\nand compressible earthen materi-\ntion.\nreplacing it with a new and mod-\nals.\"\nHistoric rooms dating to the\nern building. Such a program\nConstruction of an independent\ntime of John Adams are now clut-\nwould be entirely feasible as a\ninterior structural steel frame to\ntered with trusses and scaffolding,\ncorstruction operation. It would\nbe supported by concrete piers that\nholding up deeply sagging ceilings.\nbe less expensive than the project\nwill be founded upon the stratum\nMeanwhile, the Truman family is\nfor renovation, rehabilitation and\nof sand and gravel upon which the\nliving in the twin Blair and Blair-\nunderpinning of the exterior walls\nLee Mansions on Pennsylvania\nContinued Page 44, Column 7\nwill\nbear.\nAvenue, awaiting the rebuilding of\nDistributing to the independent\nthe White House, which Mr. Tru-\ninterior structural steel frame of\nman estimated would take fifteen\nsubstantially all of the weight (of\nto eighteen months.\nthe structure and its contents, ex-\nSightseers are no longer admit-\nTRUMAN RECOUNTS\ncept the weight of the exterior\nted and the historic furnishings of\nwalls\nthe mansion have been stored\naway in the Smithsonian Institu-\ntion.\nWHITE HOUSE PERIL\nbasement. Construction of an entirely new\nReplacement. including modest\nPlumbing Called \"Makeshift\"\nrelocations and additions, of inte\nriorgiartitions and facilities on the\nThe report, compiled by official\nContinued From Page 25\nfirst-and second floors and remod-\nand private experts, bore out the\neling of space and facilities of the\nobservations of recent visitors that\nmodernization hereinaster deline-\nground floor.\nfor some years the First Families\nated.\nInstallation of modern heating,\nof the country have been living in\n\"Aside from the specific direc-\nplumbing, electric light and power\na place which was not nearly as\ntive in pursuance: of which this\nand communications systems, and\ncomfortable as a modern apart-\nstudy has been made, considera-\ncomplete air conditioning. bus\nment house.\nThe report found the plumbing\ntion of the alt native would have\nElimination of fire hazards other\n\"makeshift\" and \"unsanitary,\" and\ntrespassed the domains of\nthan those otherwise by\nrecommended that it be \"aban-\nnational pride, sentiment and tra-\nreconstruction.dr Acond floor.\ndoned\" along with the heating sys-\ndition. The Executivé Mansion is\ntem\nand will probably.orlong be The\nInvestigation of the White House\nWhite House' a symbol of the\nnation\"\nbegan with a consideration of seri-\nous fire hazards, according to the\nreport, but this faded into second\nplace as the structural deteriora-\ntion, in \"appalling degree, and\nthreatening complete collapse. was\nfully surveyed.\nPreservation Copy\nHere Are Sketches of 12 Who Help Tri\nwrite speech material, among\nogy University of Chicago. Spe-\nchase spies in Italy. Formen\nThey Made Trip\nother duties.\ncialist on Indian background. Was\nassistant general counse of\nwith Office of War Information\nTreasury. Joined White House\nTo Key West\nDavid Bell, 30, born at James-\nduring war. He and sister run\nstaff last February.\ntown, N. D., but now a resident of\nlarge cranberry business in Wis-\nWith President\nPalo Alto, Cal. Another aide of\nconsin. Made assistant to Niles in\nRussell Andrews, 46, native of\nMurphy's and extremely publicity\n1945.\nSalt Lake City, special assistant\nto Steelman. Studied at Pomona\nshy. Was in the Marines in the\nWashington, Dec. 25\nlast war and then was in the\nStephen J. Spingarn, native of\nCollege, University of Southern\nis a story about 12 men on Presi-\nBudget Bureau. Assists in speech-\nBedford, N. Y., 41-year-old\nCalifornia, and took A.B. and\ndent Truman's staff who help\nwriting, among other things.\nassistant to Clifford. Was lieu-\nM.A. degrees at Stanford. Was\ntenant colonel in war and helped\nin Budget Bureau seven years\nmake the White House wheels go\nDavid H. Stowe, 39, adminis-\n'round, but rarely get their names\ntrative assistant, born at New\nin the papers.\nCanaan, Conn., attended Wash-\nEach was considered important\nington & Lee and Duke. Instruc-\nenough to be taken to Key West\ntor in history and economics be-\nrecently during the President's\nfore becoming chief budget ex-\nthree-week stay there preparing\naminer in Government from 1941\nfor the new session of Congress.\nto 1947. Does general staff work.\nThe youngest is 30, the oldest\nWas deputy to John R. Steelman,\n60. Their average age is 42. Most\nassistant to the President, before\nhave college degrees. Their sala-\nappointed administrative assist-\nries are in the $10,000 and $15,000\nant last March.\nclass. One gets $20,000. A few\nwork in the White House itself.\nDavid K. Niles, 60, Boston, ad-\nThe others have offices in the\nministrative assistant. Bachelor\nold State Department Building\nand so-called \"mystery man\" who\nacross the street.\nhas been active in Massachusetts\nand national politics for 25 years.\nSome Are Lawyers\nDid spadework with minority\nAmong them are lawyers,\ngroups in Roosevelt and Truman\nbudget experts, and war veterans\ncampaigns and his present job\nwith a knack of getting along with\ndeals primarily with taking the\nmembers of Congress. There is a\npolitical pulse of those groups.\nveteran of political wars, a 31-\nyear-old naval historian, and an\nPhilleo Nash, 40, assistant to\nanthropologist.\nNiles. From Wisconsin Rapids,\nSome are special-assignment\nWis. A. B. University of Wis-\nmen. Others do research work\nconsin, and P.H.D. in anthropol-\nand help write sections of presi-\ndential speeches and messages to\nCongress.\nNot one hails from the Presi-\ndent's home state of Missouri.\nHere are thumbnail sketches of\nbefore going to White House last President this year to serve as\nthe men:\nFebruary.\nliaison with. Senate. Received\nNavy Cross in war. Was captain\nGeorge M. Elsey, 31-year-old\nPhilip F. Maguire, 44, native of\nat end of war then served as Navy\nadministrative assistant, native of\nSouth Plainfield, N. J., but now a\nliaison with Capitol.\nPalo Alto, Cal., Naval Reserve\nresident of Orlando, Fla. He also\nofficer who spent most of the war\nis special assistant to Steelman\nCol. Charles Maylon, 54, Dis-\nin the highly secret White House\nwith offices in east wing of White\ntrict of Columbia, legislative as-\nmap room. Degrees from Prince-\nHouse. Was on E.C.A. mission to\nsistant since July when he retired\nton (A.B.) and Harvard (M.A.).\nGreece.\nfrom U.S. Air Force. Spent most\nof life in Army (1912-49). Serves\nDid research work in last cam-\nJoseph G. Feeney, 40, Scranton,\nas liaison between White House\npaign and composed many of\nmade legislative assistant to and House of Representatives.\nTruman's \"whistle-stop\" speeches.\nAssisted Capt. Samuel E. Mor-\nrison in writing official naval\nhistory of World War II. Made\nadministrative assistant to the\nPresident August 23, 1949.\nCharles S. Murphy, 40, admin-\nistrative assistant who becomes\nspecial counsel to the President\nFebruary 1. Born in Wallace,\nN. C. A leading member of the\nspeech-writing team. Current\nduties embrace watching progress\nof Administration measures in\nCongress where he formerly\nworked on the Senate legal-coun-\nsel-staff. A.B. and L.L.D. degrees\nfrom Duke University. Made\nadministrative assistant to Presi-\ndent January 7, 1947. Promoted\nto $20,000-a-year special-counsel\njob last week, to succeed Clark\nClifford, retiring to practice law.\nDavid D. Lloyd, 38, New York.\nAssistant to Murphy. A.B. and\nPreservation Copy\nL.L.D. degrees, Harvard. Was\nlegal adviser to Secretary of De-\nfense. At White House since De-\ncember 1, 1948. Helps gather and"
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