First Family, regular domestic problems
Ten ways the First Family changed the White House
Since 1800, the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has served as the president’s official residence. In the more than 200 years since, the presidential mansion has seen it all, from being set on fire by British forces to having planes crash on its lawn. Each administration has left its mark on the White House, with many presidents and first ladies expanding, renovating, and reimagining it while creating new traditions and customs. Let’s dive into 10 ways First Families changed the presidential residence.
New Year Reception (John and Abigail Adams)
Image: Ray Hennessy
John Adams was the first U.S. president to live in the White House—then referred to as the President’s Palace or the Presidential Mansion—alongside his wife, Abigail, who played a significant role in furnishing the newly built residence.
On New Year’s Day in 1801, the Adamses held a public reception for anyone who wanted to shake hands with the president and his wife. This tradition continued (with some interruptions) until 1932, when it was ended by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who allegedly wanted to avoid being seen using a wheelchair.
Indoor Toilets (Thomas Jefferson)
When Thomas Jefferson assumed the presidency, he discovered that the White House lacked indoor plumbing, toilets, and had only an outdoor wooden privy. He ordered the construction of two "water closets," one on each side of the residence.
During Jefferson’s tenure, the White House underwent several modernizations, including improvements to the lighting system, the kitchen, and exterior features such as gutters. He also had an outdoor wine cellar built to store his extensive collection.
White House China (James Monroe)
Did you know the White House has a special room dedicated to displaying the porcelain sets designed for each administration? The tradition of commissioning presidential china designs started in 1817, with President James Monroe.
Monroe’s china was designed and crafted in Paris, featuring an eagle carrying a red, white, and blue banner inscribed with "E Pluribus Unum." Following criticism over the presidential mansion’s purchase of foreign-made goods, Congress decided that future presidential china should be manufactured in the United States, though some presidential couples still chose to commission French china.
The Library (Abigail Fillmore)
When Millard and Abigail Fillmore moved into the White House, their approach to decoration and improvement differed from that of previous First Families. None of them came from a wealthy background, so they prioritized expanding the heating system and modernizing the kitchen.
More interested in intellectual pursuits than in socializing, Abigail noticed that the Presidential Mansion lacked a library and set out to create one. She personally organized the room, selected the books, and arranged them to her liking. The library became her main parlor, where she received literary figures of the time and listened to music.
Floral Arrangements (Lucy Webb Hayes)
A passionate abolitionist and the first First Lady to earn a college degree, Lucy Webb Hayes moved into the White House at the end of the Reconstruction era, and after a highly controversial election. With limited funds to renovate the presidential mansion, Mrs. Hayes found ingenious ways to conceal holes in the carpets and worn-down furniture.
Lucy Hayes was the first president’s wife to be referred to as "First Lady." She made several improvements to the White House, but she is most remembered for turning the billiard room into a greenhouse filled with flowers, which she then used for floral arrangements for the residence.
The West Wing (Theodore Roosevelt)
We all know that the West Wing is where the presidential office is located, but not everyone knows that it was not part of the original design of the White House. Before 1902, the president’s offices were located on the second floor.
When Theodore Roosevelt moved into the White House, he discovered there wasn’t enough space for his six children and the growing staff. His wife, Edith, suggested that the second floor be converted entirely into family living quarters and that the offices be moved elsewhere. The West Wing was then built as a temporary structure on the site of the old stables, but in the end, it became a permanent fixture of the residence.
The Oval Office (William Taft)
This office is known as the place where major decisions are made, but it wasn’t part of the White House’s original design. When President William Taft decided to make the temporary West Wing permanent, he also doubled its size and created the first Oval Office.
Its distinctive shape was inspired by the semicircular Blue Room in the main residence, where presidents traditionally received guests. That design, in turn, paid homage to the bow windows from which George Washington once greeted visitors at his presidential homes in New York and Philadelphia.
Interior Reconstruction (Harry S. Truman)
By 1949, the White House had endured a century and a half of wars, fires, political scandals, and modernization. With few renovations made during the Great Depression and World War II, President Truman and his family moved into a mansion that was literally falling apart—it was declared unsafe after a piano leg crashed through the floor of the family quarters.
The Trumans moved across the street during the three years the reconstruction took place. Due to the need for extensive renovations, a total demolition of the building was considered but not enacted. In the end, the decision was to preserve the exterior walls and completely rebuild and expand the interior.
Themed Christmases (Jackie Kennedy)
The White House’s themed Christmas celebrations are now a beloved tradition, complete with a spectacular tree and elaborate decorations. This lovely tradition was started in 1961 by Jackie Kennedy, who then chose The Nutcracker as a theme, and featured decorations crafted by disabled and elderly citizens.
Since then, First Families have carried on the themed Christmas tradition, honoring topics and interests relevant to the nation and highlighting causes dear to the presidential family.
Office of the First Lady (Rosalynn Carter)
First Ladies have always played an important role in supporting the president, managing the Presidential Mansion, and championing various causes. However, this role wasn’t always officially recognized or included in the White House budget.
Although some First Ladies before her had hired official staff, Rosalynn Carter was the first to organize hers into a formal Office of the First Lady , complete with departments dedicated to press, social causes, campaigns, and community outreach.
