The White House in Washington
The White House is an architectural landmark and the residence of American presidents, beginning with John Adams in 1801.
General information
The White House has survived both fire (the British set it on fire in 1814 – only a thunderstorm saved it from total destruction) and insults (Jefferson grumbled that it was “big enough for two emperors, the Pope and the Grand Lama”). Although its facade has changed little since 1924, the interior has been frequently remodeled. Franklin Roosevelt added a swimming pool; Truman demolished everything and simply erased many of the historic features – today’s rooms merely replicate the old ones; Jaclyn Kennedy brought back antique furniture and historic details; Nixon added a bowling alley; Carter installed solar panels on the roof, which Reagan had removed; Clinton added a treadmill; and George W. Bush (George Bush Jr.) added a baseball field. Cars can no longer drive past the White House on Pennsylvania Ave, clearing the area for posing school groups and 24/7 peace activists.
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The self-guided tour (Tel: 202-456-7041; 7:30-11:00 a.m. Sat-Sat) goes through the first and second floors, but the third and fourth floors are off-limits. Such tours must be arranged in advance (up to six months in advance). Americans should contact one of their state’s members of Congress, and non-Americans should contact either the U.S. Consulate in their home country or their country’s consulate in Washington, DC. If that’s too much of a hassle, go to the White House visitor center (www.whitehouse.gov; cnr 15th & E Sts NW; 7.30-16.00): you can’t compare it to the White House itself, but presidential personal effects are everywhere.
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