In its 225-year history, the White House has seen a lot. If these walls could talk, they’d have plenty to say — an entire arm, the East Wing, has been torn off to make room for President Trump’s ballroom. Change has always been a part of the White House’s story.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy captured this sentiment during her famed televised tour of the mansion in 1962: “The house will always grow, and should,” she said.
### Early History and Design
In 1792, George Washington chose Irish-born James Hoban’s simple yet elegant design in a competition that also included an entry by Thomas Jefferson. Our second president, John Adams, became the first chief executive to live there.
In the mantel of the State Dining Room, Adams’ words are inscribed:
“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.”
But only 14 years later, the British set fire to the White House during the War of 1812.
### The Fire of 1814 and Reconstruction
In 2014, then-curator William Allman showed “Sunday Morning” the remaining burn marks, describing them as “scorching that would have happened when flames were drawn out through open windows and doors, and licked up around the tops of the stone.” Remarkably, the White House was reconstructed in just three years.
### Expansions and Additions
In 1889, First Lady Caroline Harrison complained that “the rats have nearly taken the building.” She also proposed a major expansion, but her grandiose vision never got past the drawing board.
The East and West Wings were added in 1902, and seven years later, the rotund William Howard Taft added the iconic Oval Office.
By 1948, the White House was in danger of collapsing. It would have been cheaper to level the building and rebuild it. However, President Harry Truman decided preserving the exterior walls was crucial for the country’s sense of continuity. Instead, the interior was entirely gutted. Truman also added a balcony, an alteration that provoked an outcry.
### Recent Changes and Controversies
The latest alteration by President Trump is much more significant. The East Wing has been demolished, with critics accusing Mr. Trump of breaking a promise that the new construction would not interfere with the current building. The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom is nearly double the size of the main house.
The president himself has estimated the project will cost $300 million, to be paid for, he says, by private donations.
### The White House: More Than Just a Building
The White House isn’t a private home, nor is it just some government building. It’s the “people’s house.” Unsurprisingly, any major change invites many questions.
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**For more information:**
– White House Historical Association
– Maryland Center for History and Culture
*Story produced by Jay Kernis*
*Editor: Steven Tyler*
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-white-house-a-cherished-american-landmark/
