15 Intriguing Facts You Don’t Know About The White House
POTUS or the President of the United States is usually known as the most powerful person in the world. The White House is the home and office to the POTUS and has been the center of the US government and several major decisions regarding global politics.
It has been subjected to various rumors over the years and for once you might think that you have seen it all in "The West Wing" but there still are some facts and stories that you have probably never heard of. Have a look at them.
1. Teddy Roosevelt officially named it White House in 1901.
Let's start with the most basic information, since 1811 it has been unofficially and periodically called the White House but before 1901 it had different names.
From time to time it was called the President's Palace, the Executive
Mansion, the Presidential Mansion, and the President's House. These
names were often used interchangeably. President Theodore Roosevelt, in
1901, made sure that the name White House stuck and hence made it
official.
2. Presidents adore this lavish place.
The White House is one of the most exclusive and
luxurious homes on Earth and Presidents don't shy away from praising it.
Gerald R. Ford used to call it the "the best public housing I've ever
seen" while according to President Harry S. Truman, it was a "glamorous
prison". As per First Lady Nancy Regan, her husband President Ronald
Regan said it was "an eight-star hotel".
3. The White House has a twin in Ireland.
The Leinster House in Dublin,
Ireland is called as the "mini White House". Irish architect James
Hoban, who designed the White House is said to have taken the idea for
his sketches from the Leinster House. He submitted his drawing plans for
the "design the Presidential residence" contest held by President
George Washington.
Along with this, there also is a private house in McLean, Virginia that's an exact replica of the White House. Although it is the smaller version, it has the Lincoln Bedroom, Blue Room, and other similarities.
Along with this, there also is a private house in McLean, Virginia that's an exact replica of the White House. Although it is the smaller version, it has the Lincoln Bedroom, Blue Room, and other similarities.
4. The West Wing was initially supposed to be temporary.
The West Wing didn't exist until 1902 when Teddy
Roosevelt had it built. Roosevelt's six children proved too distracting
before the West Wing, the president would work from a room of his choice
on the second floor where the first family also lived. It was
originally known as the Executive Office Building but wasn't attached to
the main house until President Taft instructed to do so in 1913 so that
he could be more involved in the daily operations.
5. The theory about secret the tunnels.
The White House does have secret underground tunnels. According to whitehouse.gov1,
there is a bunker underneath the East Wing located approximately six
stories underground. It is believed that the Oval Office has trap doors
inside that lead down to the secure bunker. After the Pearl Harbor,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt did have a bomb shelter built there with
access to the vaulted basement of the Treasury Building of the White
House. This room designed specifically for the president was basically a
concrete box.
Reports said that under Truman administration in early 1950, the work began for White House underground Tunnel System. During that time, to connect the West Wing and the East Wing to the Bomb Shelter, a tunnel was built. In 1987, another secret tunnel was built to protect the president in case of a terrorist attack.
Reports said that under Truman administration in early 1950, the work began for White House underground Tunnel System. During that time, to connect the West Wing and the East Wing to the Bomb Shelter, a tunnel was built. In 1987, another secret tunnel was built to protect the president in case of a terrorist attack.
6. Even the first family doesn't get free food in the White House.
They don't pay rent but at the end of each month, the
president receives a bill for his family's food and grocery expenses, in
addition to things like toiletries, dry cleaning, including toothpaste.
This bill is then deducted out of the annual salary of the president.
7. It didn't have running water until 1833.
Before 1833, the White House was deprived of the
facility of running water until it got its first "bathing house" and
first running water. Not only that but in 1853, the presidential family
members themselves were given the right to running water.
8. Let there be light.
It was during President Benjamin Harrison's presidency
when the White House got electricity for the first time in 1891.
President Harrison and his wife Caroline were so scared of touching the
switches that they refused to turn it on or off themselves. They left
the lights on all night. They had butlers turn the lights on and off for
them.
In 1979, President Carter installed solar panels for the first time over the West Wing. In 2003, President Bush got the first solar electric panel installed over the West Wing and in 2014, President Obama got it installed over the main residence as well.
In 1979, President Carter installed solar panels for the first time over the West Wing. In 2003, President Bush got the first solar electric panel installed over the West Wing and in 2014, President Obama got it installed over the main residence as well.
9. The first movie made in the White House.
The first movie to be screened at the White House was D.
W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation" by President Woodrow Wilson in
1915. The Birth of a Nation was a landmark film at that time adapted
from The Clansmen with alarmingly racist overtones and centred on themes
like the KKK and Reconstruction.
10. White House has been the home to several animals.
It is indeed true that the White House has been the home for several species of animals.
President Hoover had two gators that had free reign of the house.
President Jefferson let his mockingbird fly around the house. President
John Q. Adams had a gator and kept him in an upstairs bathroom. He gave
the unfortunate job of feeding and taking care of his pet to one of his
attendants.
President Calvin Coolidge's posse included a wallaby, a
bobcat, two lion cubs, a bear cub, and a pygmy hippopotamus. At
different times, the White House had been home to snakes, alligators,
cats, bear cubs, bobcats, lion, cubs and much more.
11. It became wheel chair friendly in 1933.
The White House wasn't always a wheelchair friendly
place until FDR took office. It was in 1933 when the layout and design
were refashioned to include ramps and elevators in the house. The
President also included a heated indoor pool for his polio therapy.
12. The Haunted White House.
There have been stories that the White House is haunted.
According to the spooky legend, Abraham Lincoln's spirit still lingers
at the White House and several stories have been built around this. Over
the years, many residents and guests have claimed to witness the late
President's ghost.
One of the most famous stories is that of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill when he encountered Lincoln's spirit emerging from the bathtub beside the fireplace. He refused to stay in Lincoln's Bedroom ever again. Mary Eben, the personal secretary of Eleanor Roosevelt believed to have seen Lincoln sitting on his bed with his boots on, she ran screaming out of the bedroom.
One of the most famous stories is that of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill when he encountered Lincoln's spirit emerging from the bathtub beside the fireplace. He refused to stay in Lincoln's Bedroom ever again. Mary Eben, the personal secretary of Eleanor Roosevelt believed to have seen Lincoln sitting on his bed with his boots on, she ran screaming out of the bedroom.
13. Tom Hanks gifted three coffee makers to the White House.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks swung by the
White House in 2004 and noticed the lack of a coffee maker in the
pressroom which he claimed to be sleep deprived. He bought an Espresso
maker for the press room and visited again in 2010 when he upgraded it
to a new deluxe model. This March in 2017, he again sent a $1700 coffee machine to the pressroom.
14. The basement is like a mini mall.
The basement of the White House
is basically an underground strip mall with a flower shop, a
carpenter's shop a dentist's office and much more. There is a bowling
alley as well which was added by Nixon in 1969.
No comments:
Post a Comment