Isabella Carter
The White House is the office and official residence of the President of the United States, the First Lady, and their children. The present-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and Blair House, a guest residence. The number of people living in the White House has varied over the years, with some presidents having larger families than others. In addition to the first family, the White House staff and servants also reside in the complex.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people in the presidential family, staff, and servants in 1790 | 30 |
| Year the White House was selected as the site for the president's residence | 1791 |
| Year the cornerstone of the White House was laid | 1792 |
| Year the first president took residence in the White House | 1800 |
| Year the White House was rebuilt after being set on fire | 1812 |
| Year the South Portico was constructed | 1817 |
| Year the North Portico was added | 1829 |
| Number of stories in the Executive Residence | 6 |
| Number of gallons of paint required to cover the outside surface of the White House | 570 |
| Maximum number of guests the White House kitchen can serve dinner to | 140 |
| Maximum number of guests the White House kitchen can serve hors d'oeuvres to | 1,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The White House is home to the President, First Lady, and their children
- The First Families experience milestones and moments like other families
- The White House kitchen can serve dinner to 140 guests
- The White House was open to the public until the early 20th century
- The building was renovated in 1952, with only the outer walls remaining
The White House is home to the President, First Lady, and their children
The White House is more than just the residence of the President of the United States; it is also home to the First Family, including the First Lady and any children. The First Family experiences milestones and moments similar to those of other families, and children who have lived in the White House have used it for games, adventures, and fun. For instance, President Abraham Lincoln's son, Tad, once rode his goat, Nanko, through the East Room during a reception. President Theodore Roosevelt's six children also enjoyed their time in the White House, sliding down staircases on trays, moving through hallways on stilts, and hiding in planters to scare guests.
The White House has been home to many presidential children over the years, some of whom have even gotten married there. For example, President Lyndon B. Johnson's daughter, Lynda, married Marine Captain Charles Robb in the East Room in 1967. Many presidents have also installed playground equipment on the White House grounds for their children and grandchildren. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a sandbox for his grandchildren, Amy Carter had a treehouse, and the Kennedys had a trampoline for their children.
The White House has served as the home of the President, First Lady, and their children since the time of President John Adams, the first president to take residence in the building in 1800. The White House has also been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." It is currently made up of six stories: the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor, and a two-story basement. The White House kitchen can serve dinner to up to 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000 people.
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The First Families experience milestones and moments like other families
The size and composition of First Families have varied over time, ranging from larger families with many children to childless couples or even single presidents. The average number of children in First Families is 3.5, with many couples having only one child. Some presidents were widowers or bachelors and relied on relatives to fulfil social duties. For example, James Buchanan, a bachelor, had no children and invited relatives to live at the White House and assume social duties.
First Families have also included adopted children or grandchildren. The children of Martha Washington and Dolley Madison, for instance, were from previous marriages, and several first couples had adopted children. Family celebrations, both significant and intimate, have been held at the White House, intertwining public and private life. Weddings, birthdays, and other milestones have been celebrated within the White House walls, with the families providing emotional support and grounding for the president during challenging times.
The experiences of First Families showcase the unique challenges and joys of navigating their roles within the White House. They must strike a delicate balance between their public duties and personal lives, all while living in one of the most recognisable residences in the world. The dynamics of each First Family, coupled with the evolving role of the First Lady, continue to shape the private lives of those who call the White House their home.
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The White House kitchen can serve dinner to 140 guests
The White House has been the residence of the President of the United States since John Adams moved in in 1800. The current White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and Blair House, a guest residence. The Executive Residence is made up of six floors: the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor, and a two-storey basement.
The White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to 140 guests. This impressive feat is due in part to the hard work of the White House kitchen staff, which has traditionally been managed by the First Lady. While some First Ladies are more involved in the day-to-day duties and menu planning, others allow the staff to take the lead. For example, Mamie Eisenhower was very involved in state dinner menu planning, while Eleanor Roosevelt and Melania Trump were less interested in the daily duties.
The current executive chef at the White House is Cristeta Comerford, who has held the role for 12 years. She is the first woman and the first Asian person to be the executive chef at the White House. Comerford and her team are responsible for ensuring that the kitchen can cater to a large number of guests and that the president's food is carefully monitored and prepared according to his whims. For example, it is well-known that former President Donald Trump receives extra sauce at dinner and two scoops of ice cream.
In addition to the main kitchen, the White House also has a pastry kitchen and a "family kitchen" in the Executive Residence for more casual meals. The White House kitchen staff are always prepared to serve the president and his guests, whether it's a small gathering of 140 people or a larger affair with hors d'oeuvres for upwards of 1,000 guests.
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The White House was open to the public until the early 20th century
The White House, the official residence of the President of the United States, was open to the public until the early 20th century. The tradition of the White House being open to the public dates back to the English and Irish country houses it was modelled on, with President George Washington setting a precedent by opening his houses in New York and Philadelphia to the public.
John Adams, the second president of the United States, continued this tradition when he became the first president to take residence in the White House in 1800. He began the custom of the White House New Year's Reception, and his wife, Abigail, wrote, "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."
Thomas Jefferson, who succeeded Adams, also permitted public tours of the White House, which have continued to this day, except during wartime. He also started the custom of an annual reception on Independence Day. In 1805, many people followed him home from his swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, and he greeted them in the Blue Room.
The open houses sometimes became rowdy. In 1829, President Andrew Jackson had to leave for a hotel when about 20,000 citizens celebrated his inauguration inside the White House. The large crowd was lured out of the White House by aides with washtubs filled with a potent cocktail of orange juice and whiskey.
In the late 19th century, when Chester A. Arthur took office, he ordered renovations to the White House, including redecorating the Red Room and the main corridor. In the 20th century, the White House underwent further significant changes, including the addition of a second story and a larger basement for staff, and the Oval Office was moved to its present location adjacent to the Rose Garden. By 1948, the house was declared to be in danger of collapse, leading to a reconstruction commissioned by President Truman, who lived across the street at Blair House from 1949 to 1951. In 1961, Congress declared the White House a museum, and in 1988, it was accredited as such.
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The building was renovated in 1952, with only the outer walls remaining
The White House has been home to the US President and their family since 1800. In addition to the first family, the White House is also home to the dedicated staff who work and live there. The number of people living in the White House varies depending on the size of the first family and their unique needs.
In 1948, the White House was declared to be in danger of collapse due to decades of poor maintenance, ill-conceived renovations, and the addition of a fourth-story attic and a second-floor balcony. As a result, President Truman commissioned a major reconstruction project and lived across the street at Blair House from 1949 to 1951. The renovation work was extensive, requiring the complete dismantling of interior spaces, the construction of a new load-bearing internal steel frame, and the reconstruction of the original rooms within the new structure. The total cost of the renovations was approximately $5.7 million, which would be equivalent to about $69 million in 2024.
The renovation was overseen by the Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion, which was created by Congress in 1949. The Commission was composed of six men, including two appointed by the president, two by the Senate, and two by the House of Representatives. The Commission continued its work until October 1952, and the first family returned to the White House on March 27, 1952, even though the work was not yet complete.
The 1952 renovation addressed significant structural issues and installed modern amenities such as air conditioning, allowing the White House to operate year-round without regard for summer heat. The building's outer walls were the only original elements that remained, with everything inside them being torn out and replaced. This included the installation of a new internal steel frame to support the building, as the previous brick walls had lacked proper foundations.
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Frequently asked questions
The White House is home to the President of the United States, the first lady, and their children. The first families experience many of the same milestones and moments as other families.
The first president to take residence in the White House was John Adams, who lived there briefly before Thomas Jefferson moved in in 1801.
When George Washington was president, the presidential family, staff, and servants totalled 30 people.
The White House kitchen can serve dinner to up to 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000.
