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White House, Committee for the Preservation of the (1)
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White House, Committee for the Preservation of the (1)
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Betty Ford White House Papers
First Lady General Subject Files
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President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. (1974 - 1977)
White House (Washington, D.C.)
Parks
Historic preservation
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1976-05-01
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The original documents are located in Box 47, folder "White House, Committee for the
Preservation of the (1)" of the Betty Ford White House Papers, 1973-1977 at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Betty Ford donated to the United States
of America her copyrights in all of her unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Early History:
A Congressional Act in 1790 established Philadelphia as
the seat of government for ten years and provided that
the capital should be relocated in 1800 on the Potomac.
In 1792, James Hoban, an Irish architect, won a prize
of $500 for submitting the winning design for the White
House. The cornerstone was laid in October, 1792, but
John Adams was the first President to live here, moving
into an unfinished White House on November 1, 1800. The
East Room where Abigail Adams hung her laundry to dry,
remained unfinished until Andrew Jackson took office.
Incredibly, neither staircase from the first to the second
floor was completed. The Adams' had to use a makeshift
staircase until the back stairs were finished a month
after their arrival.
On New Years Day, 1801, President and Mrs. Adams held
the first large reception at the "President's House" in the
Oval Drawing Room on the Second Floor (now the Yellow
Oval Room).
Thomas Jefferson assumed office on Inauguration Day,
March 4, 1801, and moved to the White House on March
19, 1801. Although progress had been made, work continued
with the grounds cluttered with workmen's shanties, remains
of brickyards and other rubbish.
At the time of the 1814 burning by the British, the White
House was still not complete by Hoban's design. The
interior was lost in the fire with just the perimeter walls
and roof remaining. It was reconstructed and occupied by
President Monroe in 1817. During the Presidency of
Andrew Jackson, the East Room was finally finished as
a large reception room. With the exception of Theodore
Roosevelt's renovation which greatly enlarged the State
Dining Room, the purpose of most of the first floor rooms
remained the same, from Jackson's time until today.
GREEN ROOM
Summary:
Thomas Jefferson used this as a dining room. During
the time of John Quincy Adams it became known as the
Green Drawing Room and remains a sitting room today.
Furnishings; The walls are covered with green silk moire. The
furniture is American with most pieces in the Sheraton
style dating from 1800-1815.
Significant
Items:
Benjamin Franklin Portrait - painted in London in 1767 by
David Martin, a Scottish artist.
James Monroe Portrait - painted in 1819 by Samuel F. B.
Morse, inventor of the telegraph.
John Quincy Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams Portraits -
were both painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1818 and presented to
the White House by the Adams' descendents in 1971.
"Philadelphia in 1858", by Ferdinand Richardt, was found
in India, restored, and given to the White House in 1963.
Sheffield Silver Coffee Urn - which belonged to John and
Abigail Adams (engraved with their initials J A A).
Marble Mantle - one of a pair purchased by Monroe in
London in 1818 for the State Dining Room. The mantle and
it's mate in the Red Room were moved to their present
locations by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.
Porcelain Plates - Green Fitzhugh pattern with American
eagle made in China in early 19th Century.
Public Law 87-286
87th Congress, S. 2422
September 22, 1961
An Act
75 STAT. 586.
Concerning the White House and providing for the care and preservation of its
historic and artistic contents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Ilouse of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That all of that por- White House.
tion of reservation numbered 1 in the city of Washington, District of
Preservation of
Columbia, which is within the President's park enclosure, comprising
museum character.
eighteen and seven one-hundredths acres, shall continue to be known
as the White House and shall be administered pursuant to the Act
of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1-3), and Acts supplemen-
tary thereto and amendatory thereof. In carrying out this Act
primary attention shall be given to the preservation and interpretation
of the museum character of the principal corridor on the ground floor
and the principal public rooms on the first floor of the White House,
but nothing done under this Act shall conflict with the administration
of the Executive offices of the President or with the use and occupancy
of the buildings and grounds as the home of the President and his
family and for his official purposes.
SEC. 2. Articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects of the Historic con-
White House, when declared by the President to be of historic or tents, acquisi-
artistic interest, together with such similar articles, fixtures, and tions.
objects as are acquired by the White House in the future when
similarly so declared, shall thereafter be considered to be inalienable Storage
at
and the property of the White House. Any such article, fixture, or
Smithsonian
object when not in use or on display in the White House shall be
Institution.
transferred by direction of the President as a loan to the Smithsonian
Institution for its care, study, and storage or exhibition, and such
articles, fixtures, and objects shall be returned to the White House from
the Smithsonian Institution on notice by the President.
SEC. 3. Nothing in this Act shall alter any privileges, powers, or
duties vested in the White House Police and the United States Secret White House
Service, Treasury Department, by section 202 of title 3, United States Police, U. S.
Code, and section 3056 of title 18, United States Code.
Secret Service.
Approved September 22, 1961.
0
GPO 72139
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 1964
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
111.45
PROVIDING FOR A CURATOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND
ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
WHEREAS the White House, as the home of the highest elective
officer of the United States
-- symbolizes the American ideal of responsible self-government
-- is emblematic of our democracy and our national purpose
-- has been intimately associated with the personal and social
life of the Presidents of the United States and many of their
official acts
-- occupies a particular place in the heart of every American
citizen, and
WHEREAS certain historic rooms and entranceways in the White
House
-- possess great human interest and historic significance
-- traditionally have been open to visitors
-- have provided pleasure and patriotic inspiration to millions
of our citizens
-- have come to be regarded as a public museum and the proud
possession of all Americans, and
WHEREAS the Congress by law (Act of September 22, 1961),
(75 Stat. 586) has authorized the care and preservation of the historic
and artistic contents of the White House and has given the President
certain responsibilities with regard thereto:
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as
President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:
Section 1. (a) There shall be in the White House a Curator of the
White House. The Curator shall assist in the preservation and protection
of the articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects used or
displayed in the principal corridor on the ground floor and the principal
public rooms on the first floor of the White House, and in such other
areas in the White House as the President may designate.
(b) The Curator shall report to the President and shall make
recommendations with respect to the articles, fixtures, and objects to
be declared by the President, under section 2 of the Act of September 22,
1961, to be of historic or artistic interest.
more
BLERLA FOND LIBRAUX
2
Sec. 2. There is hereby established the Committee for the
Preservation of the White House, hereinafter referred to as the
"Committee". The Committee shall be composed of the Director of the
National Park Service, the Curator of the White House, the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution, the Chairman of the Commission of Fine
Arts, the Director of the National Gallery of Art, the Chief Usher of
the White House, and seven other members to be appointed by the
President. The Director of the National Park Service shall serve as
Chairman of the Committee and shall designate an employee of that
Service to act as Executive Secretary of the Committee. Members
of the Committee shall serve without compensation.
Sec. 3. (a) The Committee shall report to the President and shall
advise the Director of the National Park Service with respect to the
discharge of his responsibility under the Act of September 22, 1961,
for the preservation and the interpretation of the museum character
of the principal corridor on the ground floor and the principal public
rooms on the first floor of the White House. Among other things, the
Committee shall make recommendations as to the articles of furniture,
fixtures, and decorative objects which shall be used or displayed in the
aforesaid areas of the White House and as to the decor and arrangements
therein best suited to enhance the historic and artistic values of the
White House and of such articles, fixtures, and objects.
(b) The Committee shall cooperate with the White House Historical
Association, a nonprofit organization heretofore formed under the laws
of the District of Columbia.
(c) The Committee is authorized to invite individuals who are
distinguished or interested in the fine arts to attend its meetings or
otherwise to assist in carrying out its functions.
Sec. 4. Consonant with law, each Federal department and agency
represented on the Committee shall furnish necessary assistance to the
Committee in accordance with section 214 of the Act of May 3, 1945,
59 Stat. 134 (31 U.S.C. 691). The Department of the Interior shall
furnish necessary administrative services for the Committee.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 7, 1964.
####
FORD
Benald
Lisnaul
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Report of the Committee
for the
Preservation of the
White House
1964-1969
Executive Order 11145
COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
PROVIDING FOR A CURATOR OF THE WHITE
President, under section 2 of the Act of September 22,
1100 OHIO DRIVE, S. W.
HOUSE AND ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE
1961, to be of historic or artistic interest.
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WHITE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20242
SEC. 2. There is hereby established the Committee
HOUSE
for the Preservation of the White House, hereinafter
WHEREAS the White House, as the home of the
referred to as the "Committee". The Committee shall
highest elective officer of the United States
be composed of the Director of the National Park
-symbolizes the American ideal of responsible self-
Service, the Curator of the White House, the Secretary
government
of the Smithsonian Institution, the Chairman of the
-is emblematic of our democracy and our national
Commission of Fine Arts, the Director of the National
Gallery of Art, the Chief Usher of the White House,
purpose
and seven other members to be appointed by the
-has been intimately associated with the personal
President. The Director of the National Park Service
and social life of the Presidents of the United States
shall serve as Chairman of the Committee and shall
Dear Mr. President:
and many of their official acts
designate an employee of that Service to act as Execu-
-occupies a particular place in the heart of every
tive Secretary of the Committee. Members of the
Transmitted herewith is the "Report of the
American citizen, and
Committee shall serve without compensation.
Committee for the Preservation of the White
WHEREAS certain historic rooms and entrance-
SEC. 3. (a) The Committee shall report to the
House, 1964-1969." This Committee was appointed
ways in the White House
President and shall advise the Director of the National
pursuant to Executive Order 11145, March 7, 1964.
-possess great human interest and historic sig-
Park Service with respect to the discharge of his
nificance
responsibility under the Act of September 22, 1961,
-traditionally have been open to visitors
for the preservation and the interpretation of the
It is the hope of the Committee that it has
-have provided pleasure and patriotic inspiration
museum character of the principal corridor on the
fulfilled the trust that you have placed in it by
to millions of our citizens
ground floor and the principal public rooms on the
making definite contributions to the preservation
first floor of the White House. Among other things,
-have come to be regarded as a public museum
and enhancement of the Executive Mansion and by
the Committee shall make recommendations as to the
and the proud possession of all Americans, and
establishing guidelines that will be of service in
articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects
WHEREAS the Congress by law (Act of September
which shall be used or displayed in the aforesaid areas
the future.
22, 1961), (75 Stat. 586) has authorized the care and
of the White House and as to the decor and arrange-
preservation of the historic and artistic contents of the
ments therein best suited to enhance the historic and
Very respectfully,
White House and has given the President certain
artistic values of the White House and of such articles,
responsibilities with regard thereto:
fixtures, and objects.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority
(b) The Committee shall cooperate with the White
vested in me as President of the United States, it is
House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization
ordered as follows:
heretofore formed under the laws of the District of
SECTION 1. (a) There shall be in the White House
Columbia.
a Curator of the White House. The Curator shall
(c) The Committee is authorized to invite indi-
George B. Hartzog, Jr.
assist in the preservation and protection of the articles
viduals who are distinguished or interested in the fine
Chairman
of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects used or
arts to attend its meetings or otherwise to assist in
displayed in the principal corridor on the ground floor
carrying out its functions.
and the principal public rooms on the first floor of the
SEC. 4. Constant with law, each Federal department
White House, and in such other areas in the White
and agency represented on the Committee shall fur-
House as the President may designate.
nish necessary assistance to the Committee in accord-
(b) The Curator shall report to the President and
ance with section 214 of the Act of May 3, 1945,
shall make recommendations with respect to the
59 Stat. 134 (31 U.S.C. 691). The Department of the
articles, fixtures, and objects to be declared by the
Interior shall furnish necessary administrative services
for the Committee.
The White House,
March 7, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Committee for the Preservation of the White House
procenter
Honorary Chairman, MRS. LYNDON B. JOHNSON
Brience
Members
Member
MRS. ARISTOTLE ONASSIS
Member
WILLIAM BENTON
Member
MRS. GEORGE R. BROWN
Member
BRUCE CATTON, (1964-1968)
Member
HENRY F. du PONT
Member
MRS. CHARLES W. ENGELHARD, JR., (1968-
)
Member
MRS. MARSHALL FIELD
Member
JAMES W. FOSBURGH
Curator of the White House
JAMES R. KETCHUM
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
S. DILLON RIPLEY, II
Director, National Gallery of Art
JOHN WALKER
Chairman, Commission of Fine Arts
WILLIAM WALTON
Chief Usher, The White House
J. BERNARD WEST
Director, National Park Service
GEORGE B. HARTZOG, JR., Chairman
Executive Secretary to the Committee
NASH CASTRO, (1964-1967)
REX SCOUTEN, (1968-
)
(Left) Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, by Douglas Chandor.
Foreword
Congress created the first authority responsible for the President's House on July 16, 1790. This Act
empowered the President to appoint three Federal Commissioners to implement plans for the
District of Columbia and to erect Government buildings.
President Washington appointed Daniel Carroll, David Stuart and Thomas Johnson as Federal
Commissioners on January 22, 1792. These men supervised the construction of the President's
House, designed by James Hoban, the Irish-born architect from South Carolina who had won the
architectural competition.
Although John Adams, the first President to reside in the White House, was to live there only
four months, he was as conscious of his responsibility for its care as though he had lived there four
years. On February 16, 1801, he issued a message relative to the public property in his hands which
resulted in the appointment of a Joint Committee under whose direction an inventory of the White
House furniture was made on February 26, 1801. White House inventories have been made ever since.
Federal Commissioners managed the District of Columbia-and the White House, or its site-
from 1792 to 1802, when Congress abolished the office of Commissioner. The duties of the office
devolved upon a Superintendent of Public Buildings appointed by President Jefferson. In 1816 the
Superintendent was succeeded by a Commissioner of Public Buildings. All of these officials-the
Federal Commissioners, the Superintendent and the Commissioner of Public Buildings-served
directly under the President.
On March 3, 1849, Congress created the Department of the Interior and provided: "That the
supervisory and appellate powers now exercised by the President of the United States over the
Commissioner of Public Buildings shall be exercised by the Secretary of the Interior."
From 1867 to 1925 an Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, Corps of Engineers, United
States Army, was in charge of the District's public buildings and grounds, and, from 1898, of
public parks as well.
While the preceding agencies or individuals have had, at the direction of the President, authority
over structural changes and changes in landscaping at the Executive Mansion, there always have
been various individuals on the White House staff charged by the President with the responsibility
of overseeing the operation of the household and its maintenance. They have been given such titles
as steward or chief usher but, whatever the title, the responsible official in each administration has
always been the individual upon whom the President has conferred fiscal responsibility.
The earliest effort to preserve furnishings of the mansion in a White House collection was that
of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison in 1889. Mrs. Harrison began to assemble significant examples of china
used by earlier Presidential families. Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and Mrs. William Howard Taft
continued and expanded the collection. By President Wilson's second administration, Mrs. Wilson
found it necessary to set aside a special room for the collection. Many of these pieces are still shown
in the same room, now known as the China Room.
(Far left) One of two John Shaw armchairs (circa 1780-90) presented to the White House.
(Left) A Duncan Phyfe side chair in the White House library.
Until the Coolidge Administration, gifts were presented to the White House through the
Also codified was another legislative provision making a designated White House employee
President or First Lady in residence, who left them in the Executive Mansion on their departure.
responsible for plate, furniture and public property under a $10,000 bond approved by the Director
On February 26, 1925, Congress created the independent office of Director of Public Buildings and
of the National Park Service. This document also names the Director to make an annual inventory
Public Parks of the National Capital, responsible directly to the President and replacing the Office
of Executive Mansion public property.
of Public Buildings and Grounds.
Because of the appointment of a Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion in
Two days later Congress passed a joint resolution providing: "That with a view to conserving
1949 by President Truman, the temporary committee which the Director was authorized to appoint
in the White House the best specimens of the early American furniture and furnishings, and for the
was not named. However, Mrs. Dwight F. Davis, successor to Mrs. Pratt as chairman of the former
purpose of maintaining the interior of the White House in keeping with its original design, the officer
subcommittee of the Fine Arts Commission, and David E. Finley were appointed interior decoration
in charge of public buildings and grounds is hereby authorized and directed, with the approval of the
advisors to the Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion. When this commission
President, to accept donations of furniture and furnishings for use in the White House."
was dissolved, Mr. Finley and the Commission of Fine Arts continued, through the Eisenhower
All duties previously performed by the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds had devolved
Administration, a cooperative working relationship with the White House and its program of
on the new Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks authorized two days previously. Now
acquisitions. During this Administration, Mrs. Eisenhower completed the collection of Presidential
this Director also had the responsibility of accepting White House gifts. The Resolution also
china, as of that time, and added several objects of historic interest to the White House.
authorized the Director of Public Buildings to appoint, with approval of the President, a committee
On February 23, 1961, Mrs. John F. Kennedy appointed a Fine Arts Committee for the White
to evaluate gifts offered the White House.
House to search for appropriate furniture once used in the Executive Mansion, and for other
Shortly afterward, with the approval of President Coolidge, Mrs. Harold I. Pratt was appointed
appropriate furnishings that would enhance the White House.
chairman of a committee for this purpose. Mrs. Pratt was reappointed under President Hoover.
Mrs. Kennedy, the honorary chairman, appointed Henry F. du Pont, of Winterthur, Delaware,
During this administration Mrs. Hoover directed that a cataloguing of White House furnishings
as chairman. Fourteen other Americans distinguished in the arts and in historic preservation, were
be made and that records regarding their history be assembled. Under President Franklin D.
appointed. At this time, Mrs. Kennedy named a Curator of the White House to work with the
Roosevelt, the committee headed by Mrs. Pratt became a subcommittee of the Commission of Fine
committee. In June 1961 she appointed an advisory group to assist the committee. Many of the
Arts, meeting at the White House with Mrs. Roosevelt.
18 advisory members were directors and curators of leading museums.
Although the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital was an
independent office, the only Directors to serve were Corps of Engineers officers assigned by the
Before the Fine Arts Committee for the White House was formed, the paintings in the Executive
Mansion consisted chiefly of the official portraits of former Presidents and some First Ladies.
President-Clarence O. Sherrill, February 26, 1925-January 1, 1926; Ulysses S. Grant, III,
January 1, 1926-June 16, 1933 and James A. Woodruff, June 16, 1933-August 20, 1933. The
In November 1961 a Special Committee on Paintings, was named, with James W. Fosburgh as
Director was in charge of maintenance, care and repair of the Executive Mansion and Grounds,
chairman. Early in 1962 a special committee, headed by James T. Babb, was appointed to select
books for the White House Library.
and was in charge of all public buildings and parks.
Under the Reorganization Act of March 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an
Congress strengthened Executive Mansion acquisition procedures in an Act of September 22,
Executive Order on June 10, 1933 placing the public buildings and parks of the national capital
1961. Under this law "furniture, fixtures and decorative objects of the White House, when declared
under the Department of the Interior.
by the President to be of historic or artistic interest, together with such articles
acquired by
The Director of Public Buildings office was absorbed by a newly designated National Parks,
the White House in the future
shall thereafter be considered" to be the permanent property of
Buildings and Reservations office, actually the National Park Service, which name it reacquired on
the White House.
March 2, 1934. Thus the National Park Service absorbed Director Woodruff's responsibilities for
The Act emphasizes that attention be given to preserving and interpreting the ground floor
the Executive Mansion. In 1939 the control of most public buildings was shifted to the Public
museum area and the principal public rooms on the first floor. Under this law, the President may
Buildings Administration of the Federal Works Agency but the White House and certain other
loan to the Smithsonian Institution any object of historic interest not needed for display in the
historic public buildings continued under maintenance of the National Park Service.
White House.
On June 25, 1948, Congress codified various legislative acts under Title 3-The President.
During the Kennedy Administration 307 examples of American furniture were acquired for the
Among these was the Resolution of February 28, 1925, reworded to designate the Director of the
White House as well as 266 objects of glassware, ceramics and metalware. These additions were
National Park Service as the responsible official for accepting gifts to the White House. The Director
associated with the heritage of the White House and reflected the history of the decorative arts of
was also authorized to appoint a temporary committee, with approval of the President, to assist
our nation. Seventy-four oil paintings and water colors were added to the Collection in this period,
in evaluating gifts offered to the White House.
along with 113 engravings, etchings and lithographs and 14 pieces of sculpture.
Report of the Committee
President Johnson's Executive Order of March 7, 1964 established a Committee for the Preservation
of the White House and set forth the following as its general responsibilities:
To report to the President and to advise the Director of the National Park Service with respect to
White House preservation and interpretation of the museum character of the principal corridor on the
ground floor and the principal public rooms on the first floor.
To recommend as to the articles of furniture, fixtures and decorative objects used in such areas.
To recommend as to the decoration and arrangement best suited to enhancing the historic and artistic
values of the White House.
To cooperate with the White House Historical Association.
Under the direction of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, and at her invitation, the Committee has held
its meetings at the White House with the First Lady. From its first meeting the Committee has
been guided by Mrs. Johnson's philosophy that: The White House is not simply the home of the
President. Its rooms, its furniture, its paintings, its countless mementoes make it a living story of the
whole experience of the American people.
Mrs. Johnson credited much of this concept to the influence of the Fine Arts Committee for
the White House, appointed in 1961 by Mrs. John F. Kennedy. The philosophy of that Committee
is reflected in many of the policies and decisions of the Committee for the Preservation of the
White House.
This Committee feels that since the White House is the setting which presents the Presidency
to the world, it should exemplify the best in American history and art. The furnishings and paintings
of the Executive Mansion should be a continual and growing source of pride and pleasure to the
American people. This is the philosophy which largely has guided the Committee in carrying out
its. responsibilities.
In acquiring White House furniture, the Committee has stressed that its selection be directly
associated with the White House or its occupants, or that each article reflect the highest traditions
of American craftsmanship.
The Committee's policy in acquiring paintings has emphasized two principal objectives: first,
to assure the collection of Presidential and First Lady portraits; secondly, to provide the White
House with the finest representative collection of American paintings covering the period from the
last quarter of the 18th century through the early 20th century.
The Committee specified that the Presidential portraits should be painted from life, and pre-
ferably while the President was in office. If this is not possible, the portrait should be painted by
an artist of the highest reputation from such portraits and photographs as will help to assure an
authentic likeness and a distinguished work of art. The collection of First Lady paintings would be
expanded as the Committee considered it appropriate.
The acquisitions program since 1964 has been wide in scope and rich in quality. Donations
(Left above) Isaac Hutton silver tea service (c. 1790). (Left below) Eighteenth Century Nativity creche.
reflecting associations with the White House and its families have included a Sheffield silver coffee
urn purchased by John Adams, correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and his White House
architect Benjamin Latrobe, and numerous examples of Presidential china.
Among the artists represented in the White House for the first time are Thomas Sully, Winslow
Homer, Thomas Moran, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Robert Henri and William Glackens.
Additions to the collection of portraits have included oils of President and Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt, President Eisenhower, President Lincoln, Mrs. Harry S. Truman, President and Mrs.
Lyndon B. Johnson and miniatures of President and Mrs. McKinley. To the collection of sculpture
have been added bronzes by Charles Russell and Jacob Epstein.
A complete listing of important donations to the White House from January 1964 to December
1968 is provided in the Appendix to this Report.
The Committee expressly discouraged loans to the White House Collection, and is mindful
that loans are not to be made from the Collection. The Committee specified that it would not
consider the works of living artists, or those painted in the last 25 years. This specification does not
apply to Presidential and First Lady portraits.
To assure the conservation of paintings in the White House, a program was approved under
which the canvases are examined at set times during the year. Recognized conservators make the
examinations and take whatever steps are necessary to protect the paintings.
Letters written by members of Presidential families during their residence in the Executive
Mansion or which convey the impact of the White House on their lives are especially appropriate
for White House custody. The Committee approved a representative collection of such letters,
many of which will be placed on display for visitors from time to time.
The Committee also approved the acquisition of a service of state china consisting of 216 place
settings. The design, selected by Mrs. Johnson, features American flowers.
The Committee noted the following activities of the Curator's office: the program for catalogu-
ing all furniture and furnishings of historic interest in the White House; the cataloguing of the
White House Library and publication of its more than 2700 titles; the compilation of a White House
motion picture film reference library, extending from the McKinley Administration to the present;
the assistance rendered magazines, television, the motion picture industry and other communications
media in presenting the story of the White House to the world; the use of display cases to present
for visitors the history, personalities and vignettes of life in the White House.
The Committee is grateful for the assistance given it by these cooperative agencies and organi-
zations represented in its membership: the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the
Commission of Fine Arts, the National Gallery of Art, and the White House Historical Association.
The interest of the First Lady and the Committee in providing the White House visitor with
a more meaningful experience encouraged the National Park Service to introduce several interpretive
techniques and other innovations including:
A five-minute, taped recording presenting the
history of the Executive Mansion and welcoming the visitor.
Interpretive markers for trees on
(Far left) Bronze sculpture of Sir Winston Churchill by Sir Jacob Epstein. (Left) Sheffield silver
coffee urn once owned by John and Abigail Adams.
the South Lawn.
Interpretive signs in the state rooms.
Uniformed Park Service guides, spe -
cialists in history, to greet visitors, answer questions and provide assistance before and after the White
House tour.
President Johnson's Executive Order of March 7, 1964 directed that the Committee cooperate
with the White House Historical Association. Chartered on November 3, 1961 "to enhance the
understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion," the White House Historical
Association has given this Committee strong support.
With the generous assistance of the National Geographic Society, the Association produced
three publications which widely disseminated educational information on the White House. Income
from these publications enabled the Association to provide major financial assistance to this Com-
mittee in acquiring historic furnishings and paintings for the White House.
In concluding this Report, the Committee expresses its appreciation to the President and the
First Lady for the privilege of participating in an endeavor of such historical significance. The
White House has a strong hold on the affections of the American people. Every successful effort to
enhance and preserve the President's House also enriches future generations.
Appendix
Important Donations to the White House Collection
January 1964-December 1968
Water color, "Surf at Prout's Neck," by Winslow Homer,
Mahogany mirror surmounted by primitive painting of
circa 1893. on Mr. and Mrs. George R. Brown, Houston,
the White House, circa 1845. on Mrs. Leon R. Eldred
Texas
Bennington, Vermont
Sheffield silver classical coffee urn purchased by John and
Porcelain custard cup from the Lincoln "Royal Purple"
Abigail Adams circa 1790 and engraved with their mono-
State Service, circa 1861. on Miss Aimee Lamb and Miss
gram, "JAA". on Mr. and Mrs. Mark Bortman and Jane
Rosamond Lamb, Boston, Massachusetts
Bortman Larus, Boston, Massachusetts
American Empire mahogany bureau surmounted by
Letter written by Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Latrobe,
mahogany framed mirror. on Miss Louise A. Wachter,
Architect of the White House, dated May 1, 1808.
New York, New York
Jefferson discusses the high cost of stone hewing related
Banjo clock made by Aaron Willard of Boston, circa
to the construction of fences around the perimeter of the
1820. in Mr. Chandler Hovey, Boston, Massachusetts
White House grounds. can Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith,
New York, New York and The White House Historical
Balcony clock with gilt wood case made in Boston, circa
Association
1810, by Aaron Willard, Jr. on Mr. Chandler Hovey,
Boston, Massachusetts
Oil portrait of Benjamin Franklin by Gabriel de Saint
Oil painting, "The Mosquito Net" by John Singer
Aubin (1724-1780). as Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Schaeffer,
New York, New York, In Memory of President Kennedy
Sargent, circa 1908. on Mr. Whitney Warren, San Francisco,
California, In Memory of President Kennedy
English Sheraton drop-leaf mahogany table, circa 1795.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Alsop, Washington, D.C.
Matching mahogany arm and side chairs attributed to
Porcelain dinner plate probably from the Franklin Pierce
Duncan Phyfe, circa 1810. on Small Donations Fund
State Service. on Mrs. Howard W. Taylor, Bryn Mawr,
Mahogany side chair attributed to Duncan Phyfe, circa
Pennsylvania
1810. on Mr. John S. Walton, New York, New York
(Left) Mantel by Benjamin Latrobe, Jefferson's architect, was presented to White House in 1968.
French porcelain compote, part of the service ordered
Reproduction of late 18th century English Axminster
from the firm of E. D. Honorè for the White House by
rug. on The White House Historical Association
President James Polk. on Mrs. Jeanne Delattre-Seguy,
Washington, D.C.
Reproduction of early 19th century Savonnerie rug. on
The White House Historical Association
Twelve-fold Chinese Coromandel screen of the K'ang Hsi
Three-piece silver and ceramic coffee and tea service pre-
period, circa 1686. on Mrs. Boyd Hatch, New York,
sented to President and Mrs. Taft on the occasion of
New York
their 25th Wedding Anniversary celebrated in the White
Pencil drawing by Thomas Nast entitled "Hungry Office
House. on The Honorable Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio
Seekers." Sketch was made by the cartoonist in the lobby
Silver creamer and sugar bowl presented to President and
of the Willard Hotel, March 1861 as he observed the
scores of individuals attempting to seek out President-
Mrs. Taft on the occasion of their 25th Wedding Anni-
elect Lincoln. on Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fillin, Rockville
versary. on The Honorable Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio
Centre, New York
Bronze sculpture "Gardener" by Sylvia Shaw Judson,
Pencil drawing by Edouard Armand-Dumeresq, a pre-
1929. on Mrs. Paul Mellon, Upperville, Virginia
liminary sketch for the oil painting, "The Signing of the
Oil portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt by Madame
Declaration of Independence," acquired for the Collec-
Elizabeth Shoumatoff, 1966. on Madame Elizabeth
tion in 1961. on Small Donations Fund
Shoumatoff, Locust Valley, New York
Water color of flowering dogwood branch painted in the
Oil portrait, "Ruth Harding" by Thomas Eakins, 1903.
White House by Caroline Harrison, wife of Benjamin
on Mr. Joseph Hirshhorn, New York, New York
Harrison. on Arthur Jordan Foundation, Indianapolis,
Collection of nine early-nineteenth century silhouettes,
Indiana
including a study of President George Washington by
Porcelain dinner plate from the Lincoln "Royal Purple"
Charles Willson Peale. on Mrs. Stanley Strauss, Cin-
State Service, circa 1861. an Mr. Nicholas G. Morgan,
cinnati, Ohio
Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah
Three-piece silver tea service made by Isaac Hutton of
Pair of mahogany arm chairs attributed to John Shaw
Albany, New York, circa 1790. on Mrs. Oscar S. Cox,
and believed to have been used in the State House in
Washington, D.C., In Memory of Oscar S. Cox
Annapolis, circa 1780-1790. on Mr. Henry S. Owens,
Early-19th century five-light Waterford chandelier. on
Washington, D.C.
Mrs. William Hobby, Houston, Texas
Water color of the United States Capitol by Colin
Oil landscape, "Crossing the River Platte," by Worthing-
Campbell Cooper, 1902. on Mr. and Mrs. Raymond
ton Whittredge (1820-1910). on The Honorable C. R.
Horowitz, New York, New York
Smith, Washington, D.C.
Mahogany secretary-bookcase owned by John Quincy
Oil portrait, "Gypsy Girl with Flowers," by Robert
Adams. on The White House Historical Association
Henri (1865-1929). on The Honorable and Mrs. William
Oil portrait of Fanny Kemble painted from life by
Benton, Southport, Connecticut
Thomas Sully, dated 1834. on The Daniel W. Dietrich
Late-18th century Chippendale secretary-bookcase. on
Foundation, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Estate of Estelle Hewlitt, Hightstown, New Jersey
French porcelain dinner plate from the Benjamin Harrison
Thirty-two piece Nativity creche of 18th century Italian
State Service, circa 1892. on Mrs. H. D. Ruddiman,
figures. on The Charles W. Engelhard Foundation, Newark,
Bethesda, Maryland
New Jersey
Aubusson oval rug of Bessarabian design, circa 1850. on
Bronze sculpture group, "Meat for Wild Men," by
Mrs. Edward F. Hutton, New York, New York
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926). on Dr. Armand Hammer,
Water color portrait of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson by Feodor
Los Angeles, California
Zakharov. on Mr. and Mrs. Charles Babcock, Winston-
Oil portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower by
Salem, North Carolina
J. Anthony Wills, 1967. on The Honorable Harry Darby,
Pencil drawing of Mrs. Calvin Coolidge by Feodor
Kansas City, Kansas
Zakharov, 1928. on Mr. and Mrs. Charles Babcock,
Oil portrait of Mrs. Harry S Truman by Greta Kempton,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
a replica of a portrait painted by the artist in 1952. an
Oil portrait of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt painted from life
The White House Historical Association.
by Douglas Chandor, 1949. on The White House Historical
Reproduction of a French Empire Savonnerie rug. on
Association
The White House Historical Association
(Top left) "Gypsy Girl with Flowers" by Robert Henri. (Top right) "Ruth Harding," by Thomas
Eakins, 1903. (Bottom left) "Young Mother and Two Children," by Mary Cassatt, 1908. (Bottom right)
The noted actress Fanny Kemble, by Thomas Sully, 1834.
Ormolu bust of George Washington, French, circa 1810.
Interpretation of early 19th century Aubusson rug. on
on Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr., Far Hills, New Jersey
American Institute of Interior Designers
Place setting of glassware from a service given to Presi-
Pair of American Empire card tables attributed to
dent and Mrs. Warren G. Harding in 1921, by the Central
Charles Lannuier, circa 1820. on The White House His-
Glass Works, Wheeling, West Virginia. as Harding
torical Association
Memorial Association, Marion, Ohio
Oil painting, "Young Mother and Two Children" by
Oil portrait of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson by Madame
Mary Cassatt, 1908. on Anonymous gift
Elizabeth Shoumatoff, 1968. on The White House His-
Oil portrait, "Lincoln, The Ever Sympathetic" by Douglas
torical Association
Volk, 1931. an Mrs. Robert B. Jarvis, Morristown, New
Two marble mantelpieces from "Brentwood," the Wash-
Jersey and Mrs. Howard Hebble, Summit, New Jersey
ington, D.C. home of Mayor Robert Brent, designed by
Porcelain dinner plate from the Lincoln "Royal Purple"
Benjamin Latrobe. on Mrs. Laura Bryn Winslow, Chevy
State Service. on Mrs. Mabel L. Gillespie, Pittsburgh,
Chase, Maryland
Pennsylvania
Two silver platters of classical design made by John W.
Oil landscape, "The Three Tetons" by Thomas Moran
Forbes of New York, circa 1810-1820. as Mr. John Kernan
(1837-1926). as The Honorable C. R. Smith, Washing-
Hamden, Connecticut
ton, D.C.
Porcelain State Service of 216 place settings designed by
Contemporary rug of classical design made for the State
Tiffany and Co. and manufactured by Castleton China,
Dining Room. on The White House Historical Association
Inc., 1968. on Anonymous gift
Oil portrait of President Lyndon B. Johnson by Madame
Bust of Sir Winston Churchill sculpted from life by Sir
Elizabeth Shoumatoff, 1968. on The White House His-
Jacob Epstein, 1946. as The Honorable Winthrop W.
torical Association
Aldrich, Major General Frederick Anderson, General Omar
Four oil paintings by William Glackens (1870-1938)-
N. Bradley, The Honorable David K. Bruce, Mr. Everett
"The Pavillion, Gloucester, Mass." 1918. "Carl Schurz
R. Cook, Major General Edward P. Curtis, The Honorable
Park, New York", "Clove Pond", "Bouquet with Ferns".
Lewis W. Douglas, Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker,
on Mr. Ira Glackens, Washington, D.C.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, The Honorable W. Averell
Harriman, Mr. Amory Houghton, In Memory of Alun G.
Oil portrait of George Washington believed to have been
Kirk, The Honorable Robert A. Lovett, The Honorable John
painted in England during the latter part of the 18th
J. McCloy, The Honorable Robert Murphy, In Memory of
century. on Estate of The Honorable David Gray
Edward R. Murrow, General E. R. Quesada, General Carl
Miniature life portrait of William McKinley painted in
A. Spaatz, Admiral Harold R. Stark, The Honorable John
the White House by Emily D. Taylor, 1899. on Small
Hay Whitney
Donations Fund
Pencil sketch of the White House showing the South
Miniature life portrait of Mrs. William McKinley painted
Front and Portico, by Childe Hassam, 1916. on Congress-
in the White House by Emily D. Taylor, 1899. on Small
man Charles Bennett of Florida
Donations Fund
(Right) State china selected by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson.
"The Three Tetons," by Thomas Moran:
Front cover: The White House, from an English engraving of 1831.
Designed by Engeman/Devlin, Washington, D.C.
COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE
August, 1974
Mr. Ronald H. Walker
Honorable Clare Booth Luce
Director
4559 Kahala Avenue
National Park Service
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
U. S. Department of Interior
Tel: 734-4771
Washington, D. C. 20242
Tel: 202-343-4621 (Office)
Mrs. Richard P. Mellon (Trudy)
"Woodlea"
Mr. J. Carter Brown
Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658
Director
Tel: 412-238-5656
National Gallery of Art
Washington, D. C. 20565
Mrs. John Murchison (Lupe)
Tel: 202-RE-74215 (Office)
Post Office Box 55
Addison, Texas 75001
Honorable Wiley T. Buchanan
Tel: 214-741-6031 (husband's office)
4220 Nebraska Avenue, NW.
Washington, D. C. 20016
Mrs. Stewart Hooker
Tel: 202-EM-2-1982 (Office)
One Sutton Place South
202-337-7020
New York, New York 10021
Tel: 212-PL-3-3549
Mrs. Thurmond Clarke (Athalie)
Brynley Farm
Mrs. Hugo Neuhaus, Jr.
P. O. Box 447
2
2910 Lazy Lane
Middleburg, Virginia 22117
Houston, Texas 77019
Tel: 703-253-5168
Tel: 713-524-9332
714-673-5788
Mrs. Aristotle Onassis
Mr. Clement E. Conger
1040 Fifth Avenue
Curator
New York, New York 10028
The White House
Tel: 212-421-9100 (Nancy Tuckerman)
Washington, D. C. 20500
Tel: 202-456-2550 (Office)
Mrs. Charles S. Payson (Joan)
Shelter Rock Road
Mrs. Lammot duPont Copeland
Manhasset, New York 11030
Mt. Cuba
(Pam)
Tel: 212-TR-9-0300
Greenville, Delaware 19807
Tel: 302-CE-9-5236
Mrs. Ogden Phipps (Lillian)
635 Park Avenue
Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr.
New York, New York 10021
"Cragwood"
(Jane)
Tel: 212-831-1884
Far Hills, New Jersey 07931
Dr. S. Dillon Ripley
Tel: 201-753-5100 (Office)
Secretary
Smithsonian Institution 20560
Tel: 202-232-3131
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Mr. Rex Scouten
Chief Usher
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Tel: 202-456-2650 (Office)
Mr. W. Clement Stone
445 Sheridan Road
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
Tel: 312-275-8000 (Office)
Mrs. Frederick K. Weyerhaeuser
294 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
Tel: 612-222-1248
612-224-5452
Mr. Elmer Atkins (Secretary to the Committee)
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW.
Washington, D. C. 20242
Tel: 202-426-6725
Mr. Edward V. Jones (Architectural Advisor to the Committee)
405 North Monroe Street
Albany, Georgia 31701
Tel: 912-435-5897
912-435-3525 (Office)
Hope 2 or -lunchion-
JD
De Witt Wallace
Mrs Wrighy
& runn
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 13, 1975
Mrs. Ford:
Here is a copy of the letter from
Clare Booth Luce which Mr. Conger
mentioned in his memo to you.
Wilma
Wilma
FUND
LIBRARY
CLARE BOOTHE LUCE
700 New Hampshire Avenue
Apartment 1106
Washington, D. C. 20037
12 March 1975
Dear Clem:
Ambassador Wiley Buchanan and I left the White House by
the East Gate at 4:30 yesterday. I no sooner arrived home
than the phone rang. It was Maxine Cheshire. After the
usual "how are you, how long will you be in town," she got
to it: Had the White House Preservation Committee decided
to release a complete financial report to the public?
"Why yes, of course," I said, "as soon as it's ready,"
and immediately launched into my own enthusiastic appraisal
of the great job the WHPC has done over the past decade
(none of which she will quote). I then took forth on a
"guided tour" through the red, green, blue rooms, describing
my favorite presidential portraits, etc. She interrupted:
Did I know that no financial report had ever been made
before?
"Is that so?" and I kept right on about the extraordinary
upgrading of the White House furnishings in my lifetime,
about the millions of people who have tramped through it,
about the wear and tear on rugs and floors, and the need
for constant refurbishing of rugs and fabrics.
Finally she said impatiently, "What is the condition of your
finances now?" I replied, "Why ask me that, Maxine. Why
don't you call up Mr. Conger?"
She was quick to say that she has the greatest admiration
for Mr. Conger, but did I know that it was owing to the
pressure she had put on in her articles about the White
House that a report was now being made. The pressure began
(she said) with her articles on "The secrets of Jackie's
runu
Mr. Clement Conger
Lionary
White House Preservation Committee
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Mr. Conger - Page 2
12 March 1975
White House." She made some references to mantelpieces
painted over by the Nixons.
I said, "Oh come now, Maxine, you know there are new laws that
require reports to be made. As soon as the report is made
everybody will know everything anybody wants to know about the
White House Preservation Committee, and it will all be open
to the public. But, as far as I can see, their finances are
no big deal as finances go in this city. As you know, almost
all the things and most of the money are donations from
Americans to their White House. It is peanuts compared to
what gets spent by Government committees in Washington. We
members of the WHPC don't even get a per diem or travel
expenses." She knew all that, she said, but why hadn't a
report been made before?
"Look here, Maxine," I said, "what are you digging for?
What do you think is wrong?"
To my surprise she answered, "I've been interested in their
purchases of silks and fabrics." "Well," I said, "I don't
know anything about that, but I think you are barking up the
wrong tree, looking for anything improper in the way Conger
has run that marvelous effort."
"But everything isn't donated," she said, "you do buy things,
don't you? Didn't you spend any money today?"
"I don't know whether it was spent today, but the Committee
approved the purchase of a big, old blue rug." And more
talk by me of wear and tear on rugs.
So, she gave up. After a few remarks about how interested
her readers are in details like what did it cost?
My own view is that Ms. Cheshire must have a contact in the
White House, since her call came so soon after I left. What
she was looking for was some statement that might indicate
that the Committee was getting out a report because of her
pressure on it.
Sincerel
telme
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CLARE BOOTHE LUCE
3/4/75
6/4/73 minutes
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 4, 1975
MEMOR ANDUM FOR MRS. FORD
Cleur
FROM
CLEM CONGER
Attached is a copy of the minutes of the last meeting of
the Committee for the Preservation of the White House on June 4,
1973. There was to have been at least one more meeting in the
Nixon Administration but it never took place because of
national distraction.
Hopefully, you will have time to read this by the time Mr.
Jones, Mr. Scouten and I see you on Friday, March 7 in the
afternoon or at least by our second meeting on Monday afternoon,
March 10.
We have minutes of previous meetings which we will be
glad to send to you if you want to read them but we will need them
back as they are our file copies. This one that I am sending to you
is for your own files.
Also, I am sending to you a copy of legislation passed by
Congress in 1961; a copy of Executive Order 11145 establishing
the Curator's Office and the Committee for the Preservation of
the White House. A copy of the Report of the Committee for the
Preservation of the White House (1964-1969).
FORD
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C.
June 4, 1973
Pages 2 thru 45
HOOVER REPORTING COMPANY, INC.
Official Reborters
Washington, D.C.
546-6666
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D. C.
-
The Map Room
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C.
Monday, June 4, 1973
The meeting of the Committee for the Preservation
of the White House was called to order at 2:45 o'clock p.m.,
by Mr. Ronald H. Walker, Director, National Park Service,
U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. on
Monday, June 4, 1973.
In Attendance:
Mrs. Richard M. Nixon
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Ronald H. Walker
Director, National Park Service
U. S. Department of Interior
Washington, D. C. 20242
Mr. J. Carter Brown
Director, National Gallery of Art
Washington, D. C. 20001
Honorable Wiley T. Buchanan
4220 Nebraska Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20016
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2
In Attendance: (Continued)
Mrs. Thurmond Clarke
Byrnley Farm
P. O. Box 447
Middleburg, Virginia
Mr. Clement E. Conger
Curator, The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Mrs. Lammot duPont Copeland
Mt. Cuba
Greenville, Delaware
Mrs. Charles w. Engelhard, Jr.
"Cragwood"
Far Hills, New Jersey 07931
Mrs. Richard P. Mellon
Box 341
Pine Cabin
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Mrs. John Murchison
P. O. Box 55
Addison, Texas 75001
Mrs. Joseph A. Neff
1 Sutton South
New York, New York
Mrs. Charles S. Payson
Shelter Rock Road
Manhasset, New York
Mrs. Ogden Phipps
635 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Dr. S. Dillon Ripley
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D. C. 20560
3
In Attendance: (Continued)
Mr. Rex Scouten
Chief Usher, The White House
Washington, D. C.
Mr. W. Clement Stone
445 Sheridan Road
Winnetka, Illinois
Mrs. Frederick K. Weyerhaeuser
294 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota
Mr. Elmer Atkins
(Secretary to the Committee)
National Park Service
to
1100 Ohio Drive, S. W.
Washington, D. C. 20242
Mr. Edward V. Jones
(Architectural Adviser to the Committee)
405 North Monroe Street
Albany, Georgia
National
.
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4
PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Walker: I would like to call this meeting
to order. Welcome again to all of you.
I would like to first of all thank Mrs. Nixon
for that very lovely luncheon and to welcome the large
turnout. I understand we are only missing two members
and that is for reasons of their own.
I would like to welcome all of you. For
those of you I have not had a chance to meet, I am Ron
Walker, new Director of the National Park Service, and
I am extremely honored to be co-chairman with Mrs.
Nixon of this group.
As you know, the National Park Service has had
a very close association with The White House for many
years. I am very happy to be able to carry forward,
after seven other directors, in continuing that
association.
For the members, I would like to advise you
that this meeting is confidential, and any matters
that are discussed can only be approved by The
President and Mrs. Nixon for discussion outside of this
room.
It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce
FORD
Mrs. Nixon, the chairman.
Othald
LIBRARY
5
Mrs. Nixon: Thank you, Ron. We are glad to
have you on our Board.
As you know, The White House is a national
monument and the Park Service does take care of it,
but they are awfully stingy with their money so we have
to go out and collect a little extra in order to do
some of the wonderful things we want to do here, but we
do thank you anyway.
Also, the Park Service has worked on our huge
party the other night, the Prisoners of War Party,
where we built a tent on the grounds which was longer
than the White House because we had about 1,300 people
here and it wasn't possible to seat them in the White
House for dinner. They had a complete tour of the
White House, upstairs, downstairs, and then we went out
and had the dinner served formally in the tent and then
the entertainment there, and afterwards they came in
and danced until four o'clock, so it was a great party
and we had a marvelous time. And we thank you for that
too, Ron.
I just do want to tell you about how
appreciative we are of your coming today and of all of
your past contributions for the work that we are all
wannid LIVERST FORD
trying to do here in this House; that is, to make it
6
the most beautiful and meaningful one in our entire
country.
Already you would be proud to know how many
visitors who come here either write or tell us personally
that it has never looked as sparkling and clean. Rex,
I am talking to you and your staff. That the
hospitality is so warm and they are just enchanged with
the changes that have been made in the rooms, the fine
collections, the furniture, the paintings, the art
objects. All of you deserve a great deal of thanks
for that. I am certainly grateful and so are all of
the people here at the White House.
Now, then, this is a White House book. Some-
body said it would be nice for me to inscribe it. I
did inscribe one for each of you. It is the new
edition of our Guidebook. This is the first time that
this has been done, really, as a guidebook, because
the rooms are discussed in the order that the visitors
see them so that they can look at one section for a
room and see the portraits, the furniture, and know
something of the history of the room. So we think this
is a great improvement. It has always been a best
seller since 1962 when it was first started. We think
&
FORD LIBRARY
it is going to sell more this year. By the way, it is
Benald
graduation time, would you like to give this as a
7
graduation gift?
Mr. Conger: Don't forget Christmas is coming.
Mrs. Nixon: Also in your packet will be a book
called THE PRESIDENTS. There has just been a new
edition of that. In June we will have a new edition
of THE LIVING WHITE HOUSE and we will send you one of
those also.
Also another project we have been working on
which we are very thrilled about is finding portraits
of the First Ladies who were not in the permanent
collection when we came. So far we found seven, so we
feel very good about that. We only have seven more to
go. I really feel that the First Ladies of the Mansion
have been a real part of our history and it would be
wonderful to have paintings of all of them.
We have been having another project which
has been fun, and that is collecting the personal
items of The President and First Ladies, so that we
can put them in our special displays along the East
Colonnade. This will bring more meaning to the people
who visit here and they will in that way know history
just a little better and have greater appreciation of
our heritage.
BENGLO FORD LIBRARY
8
So with that I am now going to turn the
meeting over to Clem Conger, who is prepared to tell you
all of the things you have helped to accomplish here
in the House and the projects we have planned for the
future. I am trading places with Clem. My husband
said he is great on furniture but he never picks anything
that is comfortable. (Laughter)
Mr. Conger: Thank you very much, Mrs. Nixon.
Let me say before I go any further, I wouldn't
attempt to do the work that I am trying to do here if
it weren't for the inspiration of Mrs. Nixon. I am not
saying this because she is present, but I can't think
of any other lady in the United States that I would
rather work for, whether she were in the White House or
out, than Mrs. Nixon. She is a most marvelous person
to work with.
Mrs. Weyerhaeuser: When are we going to have
her portrait done?
Mr. Conger: That is what I was talking to one
member about at lunch. I was talking about the portraits
of the President and the First Lady.
Mr. Stone: When will the President sit down?
Mrs. Nixon: He won't sit down. He works all
of the time. But, sometime.
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9
Mr. Conger: We have a fair amount of ground
to cover and it has been a long time since we have had
a real sit-down meeting. We did have the opening of
the Blue Room last May, but our last regular meeting
was September 14, 1971, so I am going to cover a great
deal of ground rather quickly so as to save time for
everybody. But if you wish to stop me for a question or
further explanation, please speak up.
Mr. Stone: I will speak up now.
Two years ago we offered, you know, and it
still stands, to have a Wyeth painting of The President,
and we would certainly be willing to have whatever
artist you would like for Mrs. Nixon.
Mr. Conger: Good.
Mr. Stone: In fact, what I would like to do
is have two, one for the Nixon Foundation and one for
the White House Collection.
Mrs. Nixon: Thank you, Clem. We will just
have to find some time.
Mr. Conger: That is wonderful.
Mrs. Nixon: It is true that the White House
Historical Association does pay for the portraits and
has paid through the years, so this would be great.
They could save the money and give it to the White
BLRALO R FORD LIBRART
10
House acquisition fund.
Mr. Stone: I would be delighted.
Mr. Brown: As Treasurer of the White House
Historical Association, I will accept that offer.
Mr. Conger: Now, I thought it would be
interesting to review very quickly the areas where we
intend to work next and then go over some of the things
that have been done.
On the State Floor we wish to concentrate next
on some improvements in the East Room and the State
Dining Room. You noticed some minor changes today
perhaps. The wonderful new Cropsey landscape over the
mantel in the State Dining Room which lends a certain
air to the room which I think was not true with
portraiture. Mr. Lincoln and John Quincy Adams have
been moved to the East Room. Frequently in the past
there have been portraits in the panels left and right
of George and Martha Washington, but they were never
really scaled properly. These portraits are much
better scaled and add more interest and warmth to the
room.
Also the Lincoln portrait, which is a very
popular one, was sometimes not visible to tourists
because at times the State Dining Room was closed for
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11
setting-up occasions. So now if anybody asks where
Lincoln was promoted from, he was really promoted to
where he can be seen more often.
Also in the East Room the very beautiful
draperies are beginning to shred and are quite frayed.
We will have to design new draperies and valances for
the East Room. Mr. Jones also hopes in time to do
something about improving the design of the mantels in
that room which has caused three administrations some
concern.
Mrs. Weyerhaeuser: How long do the draperies
last?
Mr. Conger: Those have been up about ten
years. But, of course, here not everything lasts that
long, you know, with the wear and tear and the thousands
of visitors who touch them. Sometimes they last five
years if we are lucky. So those have had plenty of
time.
Mrs. Copeland: Will we be submitted a design?
Mr. Conger: You will be consulted when we come
to the design. The Committee will be advised, as we did
in the case of the Green Room draperies.
Also in the State Dining Room we are consider-
ing the possibility of abandoning the Queen Anne
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12
reproduction chairs. The upholstered backs cause a
great many problems. The chairs are a little early
for the woodwork which is really of the Georgian period
and, therefore, more like Chippendale and those
upholstered backs get so dirty. People can't resist
touching them. Frameback chairs would be more
appropriate. Again, when a design is secured for what
the chairs might be, the Committee will be consulted.
We still hope to get a great rug for the room.
It obviously is going to have to be made because it has
to be 44 feet long by at least 32 feet wide, and there
were no looms in the past to make rugs that big so it
is impossible to get an antique rug to fit the room.
We have been looking for two or three years and we
have gotten things worth trying but none have been
satisfactory.
So those are the things Mrs. Nixon and Mr.
Jones and I will be working on, and again you will
hear about them when we are further along.
Mrs. Copeland: Could I ask how many chairs
are needed for the Dining Room?
Mr. Conger: Rex, we need up to about one
hundred twenty-five?
Mr. Scouten: The type we have in there now,
BLRAUG FORD AIBRABA
13
we have sixty-four. We can't use too many more of
that because of their size.
Mr. Conger: We have to have at least four
armchairs.
Mr. Scouten: Four armchairs.
Mr. Conger: The other things needed will be
convenient size side chairs so as not to take up too
much space, but oftentimes when we get to the great
big parties, we have to use very small chairs.
Mr. Scouten: Sixty-four is what we have now.
Mr. Conger: So we need at least that many or
a few more than that, because you have to rotate chairs
if you have accidents. Every now and then something
happens to those chairs and we have to reupholster six
or eight in one month. It is a problem.
Now, on the Second Floor we hope to work next
on the Queens' Bedroom, which some of you went to visit
today, the East and West Sitting Rooms, the Central
Corridor, and Yellow Oval Room.
In the Queens' Bedroom, draperies, bed hangings,
et cetera, all need attention. They are rather too
heavy at the moment and quite worn. Also the furniture
there could be considerably upgraded. There are many
secondary pieces and some reproductions.
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We have been very fortunate and have just
secured by purchase a great collection of furniture
by Seymour, master craftsman, of Salem, Massachusetts,
of the first quarter of the 19th Century. It is
Federal furniture, all formerly the property of Mr.
Vernon Stoneman of Boston, who has written books on the
Seymour furniture. He was about to put this collection
up for auction, but fortunately he made a phone call
to me to see if we had any interest, so we have been
able to select, and I think we have gotten a great
bargain, a great many acquisitions. It is, of course,
the period of the White House and a lot of it is very
feminine-looking furniture and will be very attractive
in the Queens' Bedroom and the companion East Sitting
Room.
The Central Corridor has been adopted by the
Charles E. Merrill Trust who have made a major
contribution already, but I am sure will do more to
upgrade the furniture and paintings in the Central
Corridor. Only a few pieces of furniture there now are
original pieces. Most are reproductions.
The paintings in that area, while quite
wonderful, are principally lent by major institutions
in the country, and I will come to that in a moment.
&
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15
We would like to try while it is still possible
to build a permanent collection of White House paintings,
all of which costs a great deal of money. But the
longer you wait, the more it will cost.
As you are aware, the prices of American
furniture and paintings, chandeliers, rugs, everything
else, ave going up constantly, and if we don't work
fairly rapidly, I just don't think we will ever have
a chance in the lifetime of our Committee here at least
to really make a major contribution to the permanent
White House collection. We must make as much effort in
the next three years as we have in the last three years,
and I think we can leave with the feeling that we have
left a great collection and the White House will have
been greatly enriched and will be something that can
be coped with in the future by future Presidents and
First Ladies without having the First Lady, the Curator,
and the Committee having to go out and beg and borrow
the way we have been doing. It is a lot of fun but it
is also a lot of hard work.
I put in your folders a list of the
institutions which are currently lending objects to
the White House. It is a very impressive list, with
about fifteen major museums and art galleries.
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16
actually listing the items, that gives you a clue as
to the vast extent of the loan collection that is
here, which should in time be replaced by an owned
collection. Every so often loan paintings are recalled
or go out for exhibitions.
Now, from time to time we mailed all of you
our little in-house notices and press releases and so
on, to tell you what is going on here, what has been
added to the collection and what has been moved from
A to B aesthetically. We have put several things in
your folders today. We won't go through every object
but you will find of interest, of course, gifts to the
White House from May 15, 1972, to the present. It is
a rather impressive list, which includes, I might say,
two armchairs and a bergere from the original Monroe
order for the Blue Room. They are in the Blue Room
today, as gifts from Mrs. Engelhard, a valued member
of our Committee. So we are now up to seven pieces
of the Bellanger furniture for the Blue Room of the
original order, but of course the most important is
the bergere. There were only two originally, one
obviously intended for the President and one for the
First Lady, but they both were sold years ago, so I
feel to get one back is an incredible accomplishment.
&
4020
17
Mrs. Engelhard: When I gave the first two
years ago, the White House paid $1,500 a chair, the
second lot -- we found three I think -- we paid $5,600
or around $6,000, and these cost twice as much as those.
They are the same chairs and the same make.
Mr. Conger: It just shows what is happening
in the market.
Then, some very wonderful paintings, including
three landscapes by American artist Jasper Cropsey
(1823-1900) ; one is in the Second Floor Corridor, a
very large one, the one which most of you saw in the
State Dining Room, and the smaller one here, all a gift
of the Newington Foundation. Mrs. Newington is a
great-granddaughter of the artist Cropsey.
There are many fascinating objects in these
lists. We can't go through them all but those are
rather exciting additions.
Now, also, there is a list of the loans to
the White House from May '72 to the present time. The
most extraordinary thing certainly in the history of
the 20th Century in the White House is the retrieval
of the furniture, which I hope you saw in the Entrance
Hall and in the Cross Hall on the State Floor. Here
are ten wonderful pieces of magnificent French furniture
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18
which President Monroe bought in 1803 in Paris and
brought to his home in Virginia. Then he brought them
to the White House with him as President. He realized,
although he bought the Bellange' furniture for the Blue
Room, he didn't have enough and he brought this suite
of furniture to the White House and then later sold it
to the White House. Then after he moved back to Oak
Hill in Loudon County, Virginia, he decided he had made
a great mistake, and he shouldn't have sold the furniture
to the White House, so he bought it back!
You can't do that anymore. But he did. And
he willed it to his daughter Maria Hester, who married
a Gouverneur of New York. Unfortunately, she died
first. Unfortunately, Mr. Gouverneur couldn't wait to
sell the furniture and so it wound up years later
unidentified in the basement of the Philadelphia Museum
of Fine Arts, where it has been sitting unknown as to
what it was for the last forty years.
A Monroe descendant came to me ten years ago
when I started my work in the State Department. We
had a Monroe Room there, and he told me about this
furniture because they have one piece in the Monroe
Library in Fredricksburg, Virginia. This gentleman
swore me to secrecy until such time as I could extract
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19
it. We didn't need French furniture for that room in
the State Department because it is an American room,
not a French room.
When I started my work here, fortunately I
remembered this and consulted this person again. We
made a little expedition to the Philadelphia Museum
and went down to the basement, and sure enough there
were ten pieces of furniture, four great armchairs and
four sidechairs and two settees. We set to work making
the arrangements to borrow it, had it restored and
reupholstered and put it in the White House in time for
the Inauguration on January 20, 1973.
Now forthe first time in an unbelievable
number of years there are original pieces of furniture
in the Entrance Hall instead of the reproductions from
the Theodore Roosevelt era (1900). I think we get
almost more comments on how much better the Entrance
Hall looks than on anything else, because it is a first
impression. It is really magnificent. So Mrs.
Engelhard and I are conniving how we can acquire this
collection permanently.
Mrs. Engelhard: Just don't tell George about
it.
Mr. Conger: Don't tell anybody, just keep
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20
to yourselves. Remember this meeting is confidential.
Mrs. Nixon: I was so excited today because
Mrs. Engelhard loved it, and I thought she was fooling
when she said, "Look, I will buy it for you.' And I
said, "Maybe we can't buy it, but just wait a minute."
I think it is great. Thank you.
Mr. Conger: We must try to buy it from the
Museum.
Mrs. Engelhard: Are they allowed to sell?
Mr. Conger: Yes, they sell. I know they have
sold things at times in the past.
Some institutions are getting a little nervous
about selling things. This is why I think they will go
very quietly and make a long-range deal.
Now, as always, we have our little bargin
list of "Objects Available for Donation," and that makes
good reading when you get home. You will probably think
some things are no longer bargains. Maybe they are
not but again, as Mrs. Copeland, Carter Brown and Mrs.
Neff here know, if you don't grab a great object when
you see it, you never get it later on, so you have to
take things if you think they are going to fit into
your overall collection, regardless of price.
Now, we have also been adding to the collection
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21
of Presidential porcelain. The China Room here has the
largest collection of American Presidential porcelain
in the world, but regrettably it is not complete. I
am delighted to tell you by one means or another, by
gifts or loans and purchases, we have come into possession
of several additional services that were not represented
in our permanent collection before, so this is very
gratifying. We will probably do a little rearranging
of the collections in the China Room to show some of
these new acquisitions to better advantage.
Now, Mrs. Nixon has already mentioned the
Presidential and First Lady memorabilia, the small
objects, and there is a list of those things too in
your packet.
Now we have had several special projects
running which have fortunately brought in some rather
sizable amounts of dollars to facilitate the work that
we are doing in addition to the wonderful gifts that
many of you and other citizens have made.
Now, as you are aware, since 1962 we have had
the books that Mrs. Nixon mentioned. They bring in
anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 a year. Well, that
will buy a painting or maybe two pieces of furniture,
R
but that is about all in today's market.
So
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we
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22
discussed at some previous meetings, a few special
projects have been entered into, most notably the
arrangement with the Franklin Mint, by which we sponsored
-- we didn't buy, we didn't sell, we merely sponsored --
First Lady medals, Presidential medals and Presidential
plates. These were all sold and distributed -- everything
was done -- by the Franklin Mint. None of that work is
done here. We don't even take a mail order for them.
It has brought in an incredible amount of money.
Now, the only sad thing is we have about got,
as of now, most of the money we will be getting. It
will be dwindling in the next year but there is a sheet
in here, a copy in your packet, that shows how much
money has come in since we started this work in 1971.
Without this tremendous amount of money, we would not
be where we are today as far as our collecting and as
far as paying bills are concerned. We have a very
enviable record at the moment of being almost current
with our bills.
There is another project called the Family
Circle Project, and this is Julie Nixon Eisenhower's
crewel work designs, which have been circulated through
the Family Circle magazine. That has brought in as of
to date $33,000.
Stuari
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23
Mrs. Nixon: And she is very proud of it.
Mr. Conger: She should be. I think it is
marvelous.
Now, we are always very careful that we don't
commercialize, in other words, we do not let outside
firms come in and copy the furniture and porcelain, but
you must remember a great many of these things have
come and gone and there is nothing in the world to
prevent a firm from copying a piece of porcelain of a
previous Administration if it is out in the public
domain. If they come here and want something exclusive,
we don't let them have it. So you need not worry that
we may be commercializing. We are not.
Mrs. Boehm of Boehm Birds had a great
collection of little American eagles that didn't seem
to be moving in the market. In the winter she offered
these for sale for the benefit of the Inaugural Committee
and the White House. Well, this was a wonderful idea
because we didn't have too many of them, but our share
was $105,000, which was a rather exciting gift.
We hope you will spread the word about what
we are doing and try to find more people who will take
an interest in the White House. Your Curator goes
out every now and then and gives illustrated lectures,
R
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24
and you would be surprised what this turns up. It
may take time but we always have people in the audience
who come up with a piece of Monroe furniture or Adams
porcelain or Madison something. Every now and then we
get some addition to the collection.
The Curator, to save his own skin, because
I can't give all of the lectures I am asked to give,
requires an honorarium for his lectures. I do not
accept the honorarium personally but it is a gift to
the White House. It amounts to a trifling sum compared
to Julie's. It is only about $5,000 so far but we
haven't stopped and it all adds up.
In your packet you will also find the list
of the chandeliers which we have placed in the House
since March, 1970, to the present, and a list of rugs.
It is unbelievable the things that were not in what
you would consider the permanent collection of this
There
house. The chandeliers were just missing and they were
some just dreadful little ones. We have made a great
improvement to the collection.
No future Administration, I think, will ever
have to worry about buying more chandeliers and sconces,
I hope. We have had some very generous gifts in othis
075458
LIBRARY
25
line too, I might add.
In the list of rugs, remember, of course, rugs
will wear out, but we are always looking for alternate
rugs so that if a rug is out (as in this room to be
repaired or cleaned) we have something to put in its
place.
You know in your own home you can get along
without a piece of furniture or a rug for a while, but
a house like this on view every day, you can't, and
this is what was so sad in the rooms on the State Floor.
Before, if a single chair or settee went out to be
reupholstered or a single piece of furniture went out
for repairs, we had nothing to put in its place. Now
we do have a few key replacement pieces so if we have
to have something reupholstered, we can bring the
replacement in from the warehouse.
Mrs. Copeland: Where are these stored?
Mr. Conger: We have a warehouse, Mrs. Copeland,
not far from here where we move a lot of things back
and forth, like the gold chairs and stage for the East
Room. There are also extra pieces kept there while
they are waiting repairs or being reupholstered. There
isn't a great deal in the warehouse yet but I hope we
will build a small alternate collection.
R
FORD
DENALD
26
We do lend to the Smithsonian anything of
value that we have no place to show, and there are a
tremendous number of things on loan there. We are
prepared to lend a few more, and we hope that Dr. Ripley
will then bring some things back here.
Dr. Ripley: Of course.
Mrs. Nixon: He got one of the Boehm birds.
Mr. Conger: He sure did. (Laughter)
Mrs. Nixon: It was too large to be shown here.
Mr. Conger: We didn't know where we were going
to put "that bird. "
Now let me see, also the next list in your
folder is a list of paintings we have acquired from
1970-73. I think it is a fairly impressive list.
There are gifts, loans, and purchases in that group.
We have had only one serious withdrawal, and
that is our dear friend Ambassador William Middendorf,
who has had one of the great private collections of
American paintings, and who is currently our Ambassador
to The Hague. Over there he has been exposed to
Rembrandts and Franz Hals. Apparently he found this
irresistible, but to pay the bills for Rembrandts and
Franz Hals he is selling the majority of his collection
of American paintings. He had ten paintings in hisoro
BERALO
LIUKARY
27
collection scattered on loan between the White House
and the State Department. Eight of those have already
been withdrawn. The ninth is behind us over the mantel
here, the Delaware Water Gap by Inness, which is one
of Inness's greatest works, which I am told the
National Gallery was interested in at the time Mr.
Middendorf bought it. I told him that was the painting
to which we were most attached, it looked right for the
room and so forth. I am hoping that it will become a
gift of Middendorf to the White House.
There is one other painting too large for
this room but we placed it temporarily in the China
Room to be viewed at the conclusion of this meeting by
those who might be interested.
Middendorf has one of the three versions of
Washington Crossing the Delaware by Leutze, although
some people think Eastman Johnson did it for him. The
other two, one is on the walls of the Rotunda of the
Capitol and the other in the Metropolitan Museum.
They are perfectly enormous things. This is the only
one of a manageable size of this great historical
subject.
Mr. Middendorf has already contracted with
Parke-Bernet to put the ten paintings up for sale.
The
Utuai
28
sale is to be held in October. Arrangements can be
made to buy one or more of the paintings before the
sale by negotiation, but the trouble is the title has
already passed to Parke-Bernet and Mr. Middendorf has
collected a certain percentage to pay for his other
acquisitions.
Now, Washington Crossing the Delaware has had
a rather staggering estimate put on its value all the
way from $350,000 to $750,000. What it is worth, nobody
knows. But it is a wonderful historic painting and a
great subject. We are told, off the record, by the
president of Parke-Bernet they are willing to consider
short of the sale any legitimate offer in the neighborhood
of $500,000.
Now, whether anything can be done, I don't
know, but I thought you might all like to take a look
at it, at least before it leaves here. So it will be
in the China Room to be viewed after this meeting.
Now our future financial requirements for
furniture and paintings are to go at about the same
rate that we have in the past. I would like to think
because the costs are going up 10%-25% per year on
some things that anyone who is interested in making a
gift to the White House will do so in the next year or
Benain
Land
29
two. We hope all of you will try to influence your
friends and associates who are in a position to be
helpful also to try within these next two or three
years so that we can build a more complete permanent
collection.
I think we have done a great deal so far, but
I think we must not stop now.
Unless there are some questions about where we
are going in the future, I would now like to go to the
second section of my informal report on the accomplishments
to date. Anybody have any questions at this point?
Mr. Stone: Have there been any public relations
releases to the general public, magazines or otherwise,
as to what the White House could use?
Mr. Conger: We have had some very modest
newspaper and magazine articles, which I will come to in
a minute, but there has been no major concentrated
program in the press relating to the White House
comparable to what I tried to garner for the State
Department, for example, but I think the reason for that
has been we always want to be very careful to maintain
the dignity of the White House and not talk dollars too
much out in public, but it is essential we say something.
Mr. Stone: A good writer could write BENAD a very
alersa
30
thrilling, exciting story without mentioning the
price, I would think.
Mr. Conger: Readers Digest magazine is
threatening to do an article which I think could be
very productive in this field if they come up with it.
Mr. Stone: Especially if they show some of the
pictures that have been acquired and state what is
needed.
Mr. Conger: They are due to come in shortly
to talk about the subject. They want to do an illustrated
story, which is rather unusual for Readers Digest, to
show how far we have gone and then to give the clue,
exactly as you mention, where do we go from here. But
I think some of you may think of other media that we
could appeal to. Helen Smith, Mrs. Nixon's press
secretary, is here, and I am sure she can come up with
a few ideas too.
Now let's review quickly the past. On the
Ground Floor, I think all of you have seen some of these
things but not recently, so I will go over them quickly.
In the East Reception Room in the East Wing,
which is the Franklin D. Roosevelt period wing, there
had been a reception room, and in the last several years
FORD
it has been turned into offices. Mrs. Nixon and others
31
here felt we really were not receiving guests in the
proper dignified surrounding -- just to have them sit
and wait in the corridor which was what they were doing,
so the occupants of the office may have been unhappy
but they were evicted. We now have an East Reception
Room, and we have put some of our good paintings and
reproduction furniture over in that room and it is
working very nicely.
We hope, Mr. Jones, to do a little work on the
architecture in that area after a while.
Then the East Garden Room at the top of the
steps as you come in, that had things that looked like
it had come from Hecht's bargain basement, a local
department store, and Mrs. Nixon and Mr. Jones came
up with some interesting things, period things, that
look rather nice in the East Garden Room. We have just
purchased some beautiful 18th Century Chinese fishbowls
to use as jardinieres, the way Mrs. Neff does in her
beautiful house in Palm Beach, to use them as planters.
Mrs. Neff: How large are they?
Mr. Conger: They are so big and so high
(indicating). They are gorgeous, but we could use a
few more.
HURD
Mrs. Neff: so could I.
Bennan
LIBRARY
32
Mr. Conger: They are sitting in my office
across the hall if you would like to see them.
Mrs. Nixon: Maybe you can trade her something
for them.
Mrs. Neff: Do you have them here now?
Mr. Conger: Yes, they are in my office and I
will show them to you after the meeting. I think they
will help that little garden room tremendously rather
than the bare wooden planters there now.
Then the Vermeil Room on this floor, as you
know, was adopted by our dear friend and member here,
Mrs. Athalie Clarke. That was a room that really wasn't
furnished at all except for the Vermeil cabinets. It
is now a room beautifully furnished and we are very
grateful to Mrs. Clarke for her wonderful interest,
both personally and financially in that accomplishment,
and I think it is now one of our most successful rooms.
Everybody loves it.
Then the China Room, we made just minor
improvements but the major acquisition that set off the
room was a beautiful English Savonnerie rug, a gift
from Wiley Buchanan; everybody raves about that rug.
I am just so afraid it will walk out of here someday.
Everybody wants to borrow it. We put a little furniture
quandity
33
in there and a painting or two, and it looks more
agreeable than before. Also a new antique chandelier
and sconces.
The Diplomatic Reception Room next here has a
new rug on the floor and some additional Federal
furniture, American Sheraton furniture. Maybe some of
you don't know that was the first room in the White
House to get period American furniture for the permanent
collection. That was done by Mrs. Eisenhower but
unfortunately she confined her efforts only to that one
room and didn't go further. There are still a few more
things to be done to it.
Now this room, as you know, is a new creation.
This room, the Map Room, was three offices. It is the
only room with American Chippendale furniture of the
18th Century in the White House. The rest of the House
is quite properly 19th Century. This room has been
adopted by the National Historical Foundation, who have
paid a great many of the bills here, but many of the
fine pieces of furniture are still on loan.
The desk over there, the highboy, and the
block-front chest are all lent from Dietrich Brothers
American Corporation, which is Ludens' Cough Drop and
=
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other confections. We don't own them. We wish we had
LIBRARY
34
either of those pieces or ones like it for the
permanent collection in this room. Mr. Jones is going
to work on the architecture. We promised Mrs. Nixon
we will save the mantel. That is the one thing she
wants to go fast.
Mrs. Nixon: This is the one thing I want to
save. (Laughter)
Mr. Conger: So the architecture, as you see,
of this room is a little strange because that door is
done in one style. This door in another style, and that
in a third style, and the cabinet in a fourth, so it
doesn't really hang together very well, Mr. Jones, you
have your work cut out for you.
Mr. Jones: Thank you.
Mr. Conger: Also this room and the China
Room are to receive wooden floors on top of this marble,
and the Vermeil Room has just had a wooden floor put
down. The Congressional committee running the Truman
Renovation was so intent on making everything fireproof,
air conditioned, etc., with too much marble but most of
it is not very pretty.
Mrs. Neff: You don't have any trouble replacing
the frames because there is just enough space to put them
over all the doors.
R
FORD
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35
Mr. Conger: We have also done some work in
the West Wing. The West Wing comes really under the
administration of the General Services Administration
because it is offices, basically, but the President's
Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, which
is a combination reception room and meeting room and the
President's new Reception Room have all been worked on
by the authorities from Colonial Williamsburg. Their
appearance has been greatly improved, but, of course,
they have only office-type reproduction furniture.
So we have, where possible, sent to that area
what fine pieces of furniture, paintings, and sculpture
that we can spare from here that didn't look right here,
so we are helping with that, but that is not the highest
on our priority list.
Now on the State Floor, you are aware from our
several meetings that the Red Room was done first, and
it has already been hailed as perhaps the finest American
Empire Room in an historic house in the country by
several experts. Mr. and Mrs. Murchison, Mr. and Mrs.
Algur Meadows and the Adler Foundation of New York have
been contributing some of the costs for the improvements
in that room.
R.
Then the Green Room was done next through is the
FORD
AIERARY
36
extreme generosity of the Richard King Mellon Foundation,
and several museum experts in the country have termed
that the finest Federal room in any historic house in
America.
The Blue Room is the one where we held our
breath the most until it was officially opened and
presented, but it has now been hailed by the press, the
public, and the critics. Many people think it is the
most beautiful room in the White House.
And, as you know, we appreciate, Mrs. Neff,
your great generosity in the Blue Room.
Well, you saw the Entrance Hall and the Cross.
Hall and the Monroe furniture and the new rug. A new
rug has been designed by Mr. Jones for the Cross Hall,
and a similar rug is being made at the moment for the
Grand Stairway. The theatre or hotel type rug that has
been in that area for years will no longer be there.
Mrs. Copeland: What about the chandelier in the
Grand Staircase?
Mr. Conger: There was a space for a chandelier
there but there wasn't anything, so we put up one.
Mrs. Copeland: It is the one there now?
Mr. Conger: Yes, we put that up as well as
the rug. The rug hasn't come yet but it is in" manufacture. to
the
37
We also did a little work in the Family Dining
Room on the State Floor and in the Family Dining Room
on the second floor. We gave up Naugahyde chair coverings
and we now have beautiful blue and gold horsehair, which
is quite handsome. It is new livable material. In
the old days everyone had horsehair but it was done in
black and was scratchy. This is much more attractive
and very durable and looks a lot better than Naugahyde!
Any questions on the areas that we have been
covering for the last few years? Otherwise, we will go
on to odds and ends.
Number One is Publicity - Antiques Monthly,
which is a very large circulation magazine published
every month, has reviewed, generally on the front page,
every room we have done in the White House to a rather
large and discriminating circulation and has given us
extraordinarily favorable publicity, oftentimes in
color. They work much faster than Antiques Magazine.
Antiques Magazine, the old standby in the field, has
asked to come in during the Fall and do a major article
on the White House, showing rooms and colors that have
been improved to date.
This is a very high quality magazine that most
of you are familiar with. It is an authority in the
field, and good publicity there should bring us many-
38
dividends.
There have been innumerable magazine articles
in various parts of the country, newspapers, I mean,
relating to specific things that have come from various
parts of the country, and a few overall articles in
magazines.
There is a new magazine which I didn't even
know existed before called Teleflora. It is basically
a classified directory of all the florists in America,
but it has a section at the beginning set up like a
magazine which is distributed, I think, only once a
year and the new issue is just out. I asked for copies
because it is a very creditable job with many beautiful
colored plates, 15 or so.
I have asked for copies, hoping they would
arrive today to put in your packets but they have not,
so they will be mailed. Will you just hold that up,
the cover, because when you get it in the mail it is
the one with July on the cover so you will know what I
am referring to.
Then there was a new book just being put out,
which isn't published yet but will be shortly, on the
history of the White House Gardens. This is designed,
I think, for the garden club member, and it is a very
BEKNLD
39
high quality publication, and I think will be very
creditable. Mrs. Nixon has very kindly agreed to write
a foreward to the book.
Mrs. Nixon: It has been done. The magazine
is coming out in June.
Mr. Conger: I don't know how she does
everything that she gets done, but she has been doing
that, too.
Mrs. Nixon: We get a cut on that too, don't
we?
Mr. Conger: We are supposed to get a
contribution to the White House Historical Association
on the book from the sales. I don't know if there is
an exact agreement on the percentage.
Now, in addition to our guidebooks, there is
only one authoritative book that has been put out on
the White House in recent years, and this is one in a
series of books published by the Book Division of
Newsweek Magazine, it is part of a series entitled
"The Wonders of Man," and in Russia it is the Kremlin
and in France it is Versailles, in the United States
it is the Statue of Liberty and the White House. That
just gives you a clue. They have used principally
illustrations from the White House Historical O
40
It is basically the same thing that appears in
the Guidebook, but there is a very detailed history of
the House. Newsweek gave us a contribution of $5,000
for the material that went into the book and our
assistance on the research. If it goes into a second
edition, then we will get another $5,000. It may or
may not go into a second edition. It is what is called
a "coffee table book," so I put it on an 18th Century
version of a coffee table.
Mrs. Nixon mentioned briefly, but I would like
to highlight the fact, that we have had some very
interesting display cases with all new exhibits put up
in the East Colonnade. The East Colonnade, for those
of you who don't have to stand in line to see the White
House, is the area through which pass at this point
about 10,000 people per day.
Oddly enough, if you go out there today, you
won't find many display cases because the display cases
are so interesting that the tourists stop to study them
so they are left there only from Labor Day to Easter.
From Easter to Labor Day we have to take them down
because they slow down the number of people who could
go through the House in one morning.
B
But we had some especially interesting ones
ORDAIBRARY
41
the inauguration of past Presidents, beginning with
George Washington. We had the Bible on which he took
the oath of office, down to the two Bibles used for
the Nixon Inauguration, plus many fascinating things in
between.
We also did a history of the West Terrace,
which is to the west of our present location.
Now one of the pleasanter chores we have had
lately is the education of our Tour Guides. It seems
to us very important to improve the level of the handling
of the thousands of visitors that come to this House.
Please, if you will remember, if you don't
already know it, this is the most visited house in the
world ---- one and one-half million people per year. Every
morning from eight to ten there are guided tours through
the House. You get a ticket from your Congressman. You
should not write your Congressman, you should let me
know you are coming and so do our donors, but the
average person who wants a guided tour comes in from
eight to ten o'clock. Then at 10:00 a.m., the doors
open to the public and they come through at the rate of
5,000 in the winter and 10,000 to 15,000 or more per
day in the summer. At this time, there are guides
stationed in the rooms and they can answer questions FORD
Bkud
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42
It is not possible to give the guided tour except to
those in the private tours in the mornings.
But these Officer Guides, in case you didn't
know, are policemen basically. They are Secret Service
police, White House guards, and, of course, they have
had no training in these subjects but they all
volunteered to perform the guide service for which they
receive a financial bonus on their pay. So Mr. Farrell,
the head of the Visitors' Office, and I have been
collaborating on training the guides. First, we have
worked with them on tours of the House, room by room,
to describe the furniture and paintings and objects of
art. I have given them a few little lectureson American
furniture and other things so they really know how to
answer questions propounded to them because maybe the
average person that comes through the House doesn't know
or doesn't care but, believe me, one out of every fifty
or one hundred people can ask some very searching
questions, as you know from your own experience. We
thought it very important to broaden the scope of these
fine young men who are interpreting the House to the
public.
We had two or three wonderful, what we call
FORD
in the trade, field trips. First we went to the
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43
Diplomatic Reception Rooms in the State Department,
but then a little over a year ago we had an overnight
trip to Wilmington and Greenville, Delaware, where we
had the distinct pleasure of a wonderful dinner given
by Mrs. Copeland of our Committee in her beautiful
home, Mount Cuba, and we had so many customers for her
that poor Pam had to escort two tour groups to get the
men around the house before dinner.
You really worked for your dinner that night,
Pam. It was a great dinner.
Then we were all seated at once and had a
glorious time. I have only one problem, and that is
everybody wants to come back.
Mrs. Copeland: Anytime you fix a date, let me
know.
Mr. Conger: The trouble is these men at times
rotate to other things so now at this point I would say
maybe about a third or quarter of the people who came
to you are still in the guide service here, so we have
a lot of new people. So we would like to come another
time, not immediately, but --
Mrs. Copeland: Let me know when you want to
come. It worked very well before.
Mr. Conger: Everybody thought it marvelous.
LIBRARY
44
The next day we had all-day tours and lunch at Winterthur,
morning and afternoon, and it was very detailed. It was
a great education for these young men and very much
appreciated.
Then just in the last two or three months we
had a field trip of a full day in the American Wing of
the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which, of
course, has the second greatest collection of Americana
in the country, and that went a little too fast,
unfortunately. Our time was limited. But it was quite
wonderful and maybe we can do that again when the American
Wing reopens.
As most of you know, the American Wing is closing
in September for the extensions to the building, so it
will not be visible after September until perhaps '76.
Incidentally, we have been offered, both to the
State Department and White House, the loan of almost
anything we want out of the American Wing during this
period when the building is closed. But I am not sure
what we would wish to take at this point.
Now, I think that completes the list of
subjects which I had to review with you distinguished
members of our Committee. I want to thank all of you
for your collective and qndividual help, inspiration and
R
FORD
LIQUEDA
45
cooperation during the last two or three years, and I
look forward to at least three more years of this joint
endeavor.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Walker: Let me congratulate you on your
presentation. It was most effectively done and
knowledgeable, and was very informing to me.
Any other information we could impart to the
members of the Committee at this time before we adjourn?
If not, Mrs. Nixon, with your permission, I
will declare the meeting adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 3:35 o'clock, p.m., the meeting
of the Committee was adjourned.)
*****
FORDO w LIBRARY 079728
April 9, 1975
fill
Corrected June 12, 1975
CONTINUING PROJECTS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Most of these projects have been ongoing during the past several years.
GROUND FLOOR
President's Library
This is the only room on the Ground Floor which has not been
refurbished since 1961. The room needs a "facelifting" which
would include painting the walls, new draperies which would be
better designed and brighter in color, new upholsteries and a
new antique Bessarabian rug already purchased for the room.
The furniture would remain the same except to change the very
large center table now in the room and trade it with the smaller
drum table now in the center of the Vermeil Room.
Map Room
The room has undergone a major refurbishing and the room is
now completely furnished. The woodwork in the room needs to
be replaced the woodwork correct to the American Chippendale
furnishings of the late 18th century - woodwork which would have
been in the White House prior to the fire of 1814. It would make
a much better background for the furniture. As the room appears
now each of the three door frames are different. A correct mantel
should replace the ugly stone mantel of the 1948-52 renovation. A
new wooden floor is to be laid over the unattractive incorrect
marble floor as has been done in the Library and Vermeil Room.
Much of the wonderful American Chippendale furniture in the room
is lent. It it should be recalled, "new" items will have to be
purchased or borrowed.
FOND
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LIONARY
- 2 -
Diplomatic Reception Room
The mantel and overmantel panel are to be replaced with a period
mantel of about 1800. (the present mantel was made in the White
House in the 1940's). A new overmantel pånel will permit the
use of a superb American horizontal mantel mirror permanently lent
to the White House by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the mirror
is in the Curator's Office). The mirror has scenes of early America
around the borders which are related to the "Scenic America"
wallpaper in the room. The bronze bust of Jefferson now on the
mantel is inappropriate and a second rate modern copy and would
be removed. The furniture in the room may be slightly rearranged.
China Room
A new wooden floor is to be laid over the unattractive incorrect
marble floor as has been done in the Library and the Vermeil
Room. A rearrangement of Presidential porcelain collection is
needed to take care of numerous additions to the collection as well
as corrected attributions.
West Garden Room
This room is being re-designed with an Oriental character of the
late 18th century. On the walls will be a Chinese floral wallpaper
with a yellow background. On the floor will be a new rush carpet.
Furniture in the room will consist of two wooden garden benches
painted an apricot color with upholstered seats, two tables in front
of the benches, small tables at ends of the room, Chinese porcelain
garden seats already acquired and a pair of large Chinese export
planters already acquired which will have trees in them. The wall-
paper has been especially made, having been ordered last summer.
It is hoped that minor architectural changes and corrections can be
made in the glass areas. The room is scheduled to be set up in
July 1975.
FORD
BERALD
LIBRARY
- 3
STATE FLOOR
East Room
New draperies are needed at all six windows as the present
draperies are beginning to disintegrate from age and exposure.
Material as identical as possible to the material now used would
be ordered from an American firm (the original fabric was ordered
from France in the Kennedy administration and is no longer available).
The present cornices would be removed and replaced with wider
valances. Mr. Jones has redesigned appropriate draperies. It
will cost approximately $60, 000 for fabric and the manufacture
of the draperies.
Blue Room
The beautiful Chinese rug in the French manner which was shown
to and approved by the Committee on March 11, 1975 is to be
paid for at a cost of$52, 000. Hopefully, Mrs. Hooker, a member
of the Committee, will re-imburse the acquisition fund as she
has paid all other expenses in refurbishing the Blue Room ($250,000).
State Dining Room
New draperies will be needed in a year or two due to age and ex-
posure of the present draperies. A second and similar rug has
been ordered for this room which gets the greatest usage of
any room in the White House. The present modern rug which is
a great success was delivered in 1973 and cost only $15,000. An
alternate rug is needed when this one is cleaned and repaired. The
alternate rug will cost about the same as the first one which
was a bargain as similar modern rugs would cost about $30,000.
The present Queen Anne chairs with upholstered seats and backs
need reupholstering frequently as everybody touches them. They
are too early in design for the room. In time, we hope to have
a distinguished American Chippendale frame back set of chairs
copied in quantity. The design would be more correct to the
architectural period of the room. Only the seats would be upholstered.
Therefore, fabrics would last much longer.
- 4 -
SECOND FLOOR
Lincoln Sitting Room
A refurbishing is needed with new draperies to replace the
present worn ones. The wallpaper could possibly be changed
to lighten the room.
Lincoln Bedroom
The draperies are in shreds and new draperies are to be copied
from a design of the Lincoln era (drawings of the Lincoln period
show the design of the draperies). Mr. Jones has these designs
underway. A Victorian rug that was in the room in Lincoln's
time is to be copied and placed in the room.
East Sitting Hall
Some furniture improvements have already been made but there
are others to be made. The furniture is chiefly by John and Thomas
Seymour of Boston, Mass., Circa 1810-1830 and is similar to the
great pieces already in the Queen's Bedroom. This furniture was
acquired in 1972. New draperies should be made and an antique
rug should replace the modern wall to wall carpeting. A suitable
rug may be in White House storage. New upholsteries are also
needed.
Central Corridor
Antique furniture owned by the White House should replace the
Truman era reproductions in this area. The long range acquisition
of fine American paintings for this area should be made to replace
the numerous paintings on loan from major museums and art galleries
which change frequently due to the institutions recalling the paintings
for exhibition. Two large Chippendale looking glasses, a near pair
flanking the doorway at the west end, are on loan and subject to
recall in mid-1975. The finest known exact pair of American
Chippendale looking glasses has been purchased for this location
at $35, 000, half of their appraised value.
FORD
LIBRARY
- 5 -
Queen's Bedroom
The room has been re-designed in mid 1974 as a Boston bedroom
of the early 19th century. All of the furniture for the room was
purchased a long time ago with the majority of the pieces coming
from the Stoneman collection of furniture by John and Thomas
Seymour of Boston, famous cabinetmakers of beautiful furniture.
The Stoneman collection was purchased for the White House in 1972.
Most of the great pieces now in the room will remain there. They are
the Seymour bureaus, the Seymour secretary, the Seymour sewing
table, the Seymour pole screen, the Seymour card tables on either
side of the bed and the inlaid occasional table near the secretary.
Among the items to be placed in the room for Mrs. Ford's considera-
tion are: a magnificent sofa by Samuel McIntire of Boston (this sofa
was in the White House on loan during the Kennedy and Johnson admin-
istrations and purchased during the Nixon administration); it would
replace an unattractive modern overstuffed sofa now in the room;
a Massachusetts wing chair purchased in 1972, a Martha Washington
arm chair purchased in 1972, four painted side chairs made in Boston
and purchased in 1972, a beautiful Hereke rug purchased in 1974 and
a very beautiful four poster bed made in Boston by the Seymour
brothers and purchased in 1970.
It is suggested that the walls of the room should be covered with a
wallpaper based on a hand blocked early 19th century French wallpaper.
The paper has a beige ground with pink and green classical ornaments.
It would contribute more warmth and femininity to the room.
The period draperies are pink and green with the colors chosen from
the colors of the wallpaper. The draperies have been made.
It is hoped that architectural changes can be made in the room.
Among them would be a new cornice correct to a room of the period
and a new wood mantel with classical motifs to replace the 1940 style
wood mantel made in the White House shop. The woodwork of the
Truman restoration in 1950 is totally incorrect. This work would be
done while the President and First Lady are away from the White House.
In any event, some reproduction furniture in the room must go, for
example, the large and ugly coffee table.
FORD
Benaro
LIBUARY
6 -
West Sitting Hall
Improvements underway in the Ford aministration include new
draperies and new upholsteries on the furniture. The settee will
have to have slip covers made in a different pattern. American
antique furniture already owned by the White House could be used
here to replace the French and reproduction furniture.
Two bedrooms, north side
The resources are available to improve the furniture in these
rooms at any time Mrs. Ford Wishes. The rooms have loan
paintings which may be recalled. Antique chandeliers have been
installed recently in the rooms and rugs for these rooms are
available from White House storage.
Third Floor Rooms and corridor
The third floor rooms and corridor can be improved as time and
resources permit. Already ordered are three large chandeliers
for the corridor to replace the small five dreadful ones now there.
The new lighting fixtures could be modern copies of antique chandeliers
and therefore inexpensive.
Room 301 (Blue Toile Bedroom) and Room 329 (Red Toile Bedroom)
need immediate attention. Draperies and upholsteries are worn out
Samples of new materials are ready for Mrs. Ford to approve or
change. Some furniture adjustments are advisable.
FOND
alunary
7
WEST WING
West Wing Reception Area
Improvements in furniture, lamps and paintings will be made
as resources permit.
The President's Oval Office
The new oval rug will be similar to the rug in the Diplomatic
Reception Room; the borders will be similar with the colors
blending with the upholstery fabric now in the Oval Office.
The colors will be soft and attractive. Mr. Jones is working
on the design with the firm of Edward Fields, Inc., at its Long
Island factory. This is the same firm that made the Diplomatic
Reception Room rug. As soon as the design is finished and colors
correlated, a sample will be shown to Mrs. Ford. The walls of
the room need to be painted with the previously selected color
when the President is away. It will make the upholsteries, rug and
draperies all "hang together" in color. New draperies are being
made for this room with fabrics approved by Mrs. Ford.
FORD
LIBRARY
B.7.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Excellent
WASHINGTON
May 5, 1976
Mrs. Ford:
I thought you should see a copy
of Dillon Ripley's letter.
I believe Mr. Ripley was speaking
for all of the other Committee members
present and I so advised Director Everhardt.
The Director indicated in his
response that no changes would be made
in the Lincoln Room without a prior
presentation to the Committee.
P Rex Scouten
ruku
76 INSTITUTION
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20560
WASHINGTON.D.C.
22 April 1976
Mr. Gary E. Everhardt
Director
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Gary:
We were all sorry that you were not present at the
meeting on the Committee for the Preservation of the White
House on March 22nd. It was a delightful meeting and very
well attended. I noted, as well as other members of the
Committee, that considerable concern was expressed about re-
decoration of the bedroom on the third floor known as the Lincoln
Bedroom. The members of the Committee expressed reserve
about restoring the appearance of the room to the days of President
Lincoln's using it as an office. The dark tones and heavy decora-
tive features of the suggested patterns for curtains and floor cover-
ing would not comport with the present use of the room as a bedroom.
A number of the members of the Committee spoke of the charming
and slightly worn appearance of the room as a bedroom, feeling
that this was a welcome relief from the heavy redecoration of the
rest of the rooms, which has been going on so steadily now for
some years. I point this out to you as I am sure you will be
willing to assist Clem Conger in scheduling a review of any sug-
gested patterns of textiles for curtain materials of that room, or
any changes to be adopted, so that the members of the Committee
for the Preservation of the White House may have a chance to re-
view such suggestions before they are carried out. I am sure that
I am speaking for the other members of the Committee in this re-
gard, as there was essentially unanimous sentiment expressed at
the informal meeting in the bedroom.
With best wishes to you and kind regards, I am,
&
runn
Very sincerely yours,
BERALD
Dien
LIBRARY
S. Dillon Ripley
Secretary
LOOK BACKWARD, LEST YOU FAIL TO MARK THE PATH AHEAD