Since 1901, the official name of the White House is the "White House." It's official name was the "Executive Mansion." It was sometimes referred to as the "President's House." And, believe it or not, some even referred to it as the "President's Palace".
President Theodore Roosevelt officially changed the name in 1901 by Executive Order. In fact, he followed that up with a letter directing that official papers now be addressed "White House" instead of "Executive Mansion". So yes, while that may not seem as big as the other things that have been done to the White House by almost every president that has lived there, it was a big enough deal at the time to make the newspapers.
As reported in The Morning Tribune, Volume XIV, Number 25, June 18, 1901:
Naming the White Home.
Why is the president’s mansion in Washington called the White House? It has been so called for years and years, and now no one thinks of using any other name, although “Executive Mansion” is the official term. The name "White House" is a reminder of the Second War with England.
On August 24, 1814, the British army captured Washington and burned the public buildings, the president’s mansion being among those to suffer. It was damaged to some extent, and to hide the fire stains, it was painted white, and white it has been painted every year or two since.
The home of Washington’s mothér was called the “white house,” and this may have suggested the name, but the fact that the mansion was so assiduously painted white after the War of 1812 doubtless brought the term into popular use.
-- end of news report June 18, 1901.
It’s the White House.
President Roosevelt has made his first social reform. Society folk in Washington have always called the residence of the President, the "Executive Mansion." They thought that sounded better than the “White House."
President Roosevelt has announced that the words "Executive Mansion" must come off all the stationery around the place and the words "White House" be put on. He says that maybe it don’t sound quite so well, but there are some forty-five executive mansions scattered around among state capitals, and there is only one "White House." So "White House" it is going to be, and nothing else.
-- end of news report October 12, 1901.
So, who were the people referred to as the "Society folk" in Washington, D.C., those critics who didn't like President Theodore Roosevelt officially changing the name of the "Executive Mansion" to the "White House"?
Well, in 1901, the "Society folk" in Washington, D.C. referred to the prominent and influential social circles of the time, which included members of Congress, political elites, government officials, and wealthy families. They were the city's high society, including those involved in the diplomatic community, the national government, the press, and the arts. Yes, politicians, government officials, their families, and the diplomatic corps would have formed a core part of this social stratum. No, not much different than the way things are today.
Wealthy and established families who lived in D.C. and had generations of their family in office for longer than they should have been would have also been considered part of D.C.'s high society clique. Add to that the literary and arts crowd and their circles of wannabe intellectuals of the time, today that would be the celebrity crowd who didn't finish high school but will most likely receive honorary doctorates from liberal colleges they donate big dollars to, the same crowd that's still buying into the Climate Change/ Global Warming hoax. Yes indeed, they're the same ilk that's around today.
In 1902, President Roosevelt started renovations that modernized the White House. He made significant changes to the White House, including overseeing the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories to the west of the White House residence. The renovations involved removing those Victorian-era conservatories (greenhouses), which some preservationists valued for their "traditional charm." The glasshouses used for growing plants were removed and replaced with what we now call the "West Wing," which houses the president's office and key staff offices.
Yes, President Theodore Roosevelt caught a lot of flak from Democrats for removing greenhouses and moving the president's offices to the West Wing. Democrats also criticized him for separating the president’s private residence from the presidency's growing administrative functions. The demolition of the conservatories sparked outrage among history preservationists as well as horticultural enthusiasts. And yes, his political opponents seized on the criticism of Roosevelt and his supposed destruction of historical architecture, and ran with it for all it was worth.
The Washington Post said, "Roosevelt's attempt to ‘modernize’ the White House has destroyed its historic value and does not seem to have made it much more desirable as a residence." His critics also argued that Roosevelt’s modernization prioritized utility over history. Does that sound familiar? It should, Democrats in 2025 are using the same old playbook against President Trump for his renovation of the East Wing.
Of course, the way Democrats lost their minds in 1901 was nothing compared to how they attacked and ridiculed Theodore Roosevelt's 1902 White House renovations. They were angry about cost overruns, private funding, a wood carvers strike, the removal of Victorian-era conservatories, and more. They claimed he was making "changes to the building's historical character" of the White House — the same line of garbage that President Trump's critics are using today to attack his renovation of the East Wing.
As for Democrats accusing President Roosevelt of extravagance and imperialism? The $65,000 cost, which is worth $2,448,655.00 today (2025), prompted his Democrat critics to accuse Teddy Roosevelt of lavish spending while questioning whether a new office wing was necessary, given that existing spaces had sufficed for so many years. Democrats scrutinized the $65,000 bill for the West Wing construction as a "significant expenditure."
His Democrat opponents were quick to label the cost of the West Wing as "wasteful." And yes, Democrats said that changes to the White House were on the lines of an aristocratic "palace" rather than a "house fit for a democratic leader"— a common criticism from the media of Presidents who undertook major renovations throughout history, especially Republican Presidents.
Just as Democrats attacked President Roosevelt over what they saw as the loss of historical elements, citing how the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories (greenhouses), which were a traditional feature of the White House grounds since the time of Thomas Jefferson about a hundred years earlier, today Democrats are attacking President Trump for renovations being made on the East Wing of the White House which was built in 1942.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt renovated the White House in many ways, including modernizing the electrical system, remodeling the kitchens, adding an indoor swimming pool in the West Terrace in 1933, and adding the East Wing in 1942. FDR built the East Wing to add more office space for the First Lady's growing staff and so she would be able to hold social functions. As for the social functions in the East Wing, attendance was limited to about 200.
The renovations President Trump is currently making to the East Wing will increase occupancy of the East Wing to just under 1,000 people. Yes, using the building for the exact same purpose as it was designated for in 1942, just bigger and better able to handle larger gatherings in the future.
As for the East Wing, here's something to think about. A small East Wing structure, which was initially called the "East Terrace" was built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's administration to serve as a formal entrance for visitors and to provide a cloakroom for large social events.
The original 1902 East Terrace was built under President Theodore Roosevelt, as part of a larger renovation of the White House. The expansion and evolution of the Theodore Roosevelt's East Terrance came later when it was made bigger with the building of the East Wing in 1942 by Franklin Roosevelt.
As for the 2025 modernization of the East Wing by President Donald Trump has come under fire, it is merely the evolution of a building in constant transition over its lifetime -- a project to replace the existing structure with a new ballroom and further modernization of the East Wing.
While President Trump's critics attack him for his "modernization" of the White House, which they feel destroys the building's historic value and original character, it should be noted that even President Franklin Roosevelt had his share of critics -- many who were not very kind in their attacks of the president over his building the East Wing in 1942.
People were critical of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's White House renovations, particularly the addition of the East Wing in 1942, for a couple of reasons. First, it was perceived as wasteful spending given that the renovations occurred during World War II, congressional Republicans and other critics labeled the expenditure as extravagant and unnecessary during a time of national crisis and economic recovery efforts.
The controversy surrounding the East Wing construction was centered on the allocation of funds and resources during wartime and political debates over the expansion of presidential power and image, rather than practical considerations.
While other changes during his presidency, such as installing a swimming pool in the West Terrace and modernizing the electrical system, nothing attracted the same level of political scrutiny as the East Wing addition. Part of the reason for that had to do with the East Wing housing the Office of the First Lady primarily for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's political and social events. Eleanor Roosevelt used the East Wing for her activism while also hosting events -- including her weekly press conferences which she reserved for female reporters.
Of course, while the East Wing was built for social functions and to house the offices used by the First Lady, its construction also hid a wartime bunker for the president. It's true, the East Wing was built in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to conceal a new Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) during World War II. It was the underground bombshelter, an emergency bunker, for the president during World War II. And yes, it was built in the strictest of military secrecy. In Congress, the building of a bunker for the president and its secretive nature fueled suspicions about its necessity and the president's motives.
All in all, for the American public, the East Wing's construction was said to be very controversial due to wartime rationing and hardships on the American people. As for Congress, the secretive nature of the construction, tied to military purposes of building the president a bunker, further fueled resentment, especially with cost overruns and Congress allocating funds that many saw as being needed for the war effort.
Let's remember, it was a time when Americans were being asked to sacrifice for the war effort, buy bonds, make do with less, and go without. Americans were asked to make significant sacrifices during World War II, including strict rationing of goods like food, gasoline, and tires. Americans participated in scrap metal and rubber and cooking fat drives. Americans were asked to buy war bonds to help finance the war effort. And yes, Americans also contributed by planting "Victory Gardens" and volunteering, as everyday life was altered to support the national war mobilization.
As for rationing? The U.S. Governments issued ration books to limit the purchase of essential goods such as sugar, meat, butter, coffee, gasoline, and tires. As for the scrap drives? The public was urged to collect and donate a wide variety of scrap materials, including metal, paper, rubber, and cooking fat -- which was used to make glycerin for explosives. As for saving and making things stretch? Americans were asked to conserve energy and fuel, even to the point of reducing non-essential activities like taking long showers. And here's something else, Americans worked longer hours in factories to produce military supplies, with many goods like cars and refrigerators disappearing from the market until after the war.
As for war bonds? Americans bought war bonds and stamps to provide the government with the funds needed for the war. As for Victory Gardens? Millions of Americans planted their own gardens in their backyards and even vacant lots to help with food shortages on the home front.
So yes, indeed, while Americans were being asked to sacrifice, many Americans saw President Franklin D. Rooseveltthe spending needed funds on a building that to expand the office space for the First Lady for her expanding staff and so she's have a place for her social functions, as extrememly selfish. Because of the perception of what was taking place, the public was not happy and saw the FDR and the First Lady as putting their own self interests ahead of the nation's needs.
So yes, it is accurate to say that the construction of the East Wing in 1942 was highly controversial, and the public was not very happy about it. The construction of the two-story East Wing of the White House had a negative public reaction due to the ongoing war. Many saw the construction of the East Wing as wasteful spending during a national crisis.
Was there a perception of vanity on the part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt? Believe it or not, while some today accuse President Donald Trump of vanity, back in 1942 there were those who accused President Franklin D. Roosevelt of using the East Wing project to enhance his image and add a "vanity" project during a time when the public was making sacrifices for the war effort.
Besides accusations of "self-aggrandizement," critics accused Franklin Roosevelt of using the project to bolster his presidency's imperial image. Does that sound familiar? It should, accusing a president of acting like a King has be a go-to piece of hate that newspapers have been using since the begining of our nation.
Don't think so? In 1792, the cornerstone was laid and construction of the White House began. In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson, who was, in fact, an accomplished architect himself, added the east and west colonnades to connect the main residence to service buildings. Jefferson's colonnades faced immediate criticism for their cost to the American taxpayer.
The National Intelligencer newspaper published editorials questioning their "extravagance" and the necessity for a government building. Some newspapers echoed his political opponents and critics by saying he is turning the presidency into a monarchy.
It's true. In Congress, Jefferson's opponents accused him of acting like a "King" and said that Jefferson's alterations reflected aristocratic tendencies. At the time, Jefferson's critics said the colonnades' classic architecture clashed with "the democratic simplicity that the White House was supposed to embody."
The South Portico was added by President James Monroe after the original White House was rebuilt following the War of 1812 after the British army burned down the White House on August 24, 1814. It wasn't until 1817 that construction of the new White House began.
President Andrew Jackson had the North Portico added in 1829. The grand entrance addressed the building's lack of a formal entryway on its north side of the building and was meant to match the South Portico added by President Monroe. The North Portico’s construction, which Congress appropriated $24,729 (approximately $850,000 today), was extremely controversial at the time.
The United States Telegraph attacked President Jackson for "prioritizing grandeur over the needs of ordinary citizens." His critics portrayed the portico as a symbol of his lavish presidency. Some critics also felt the portico's classical design was "too ostentatious for a democratic republic."
In Congress, Jackson's Whig opponents questioned the cost, the need for the addition, and argued that the funds could have been better spent on infrastructure or debt reduction.
Indoor plumbing was first installed in the White House in 1833 under President Jackson, with running water initially used for drinking and fire protection. In 1833, an engineer designed a system to pipe water from springs in Franklin Park to the White House. A "bathing room" was added later.
As for indoor plumbing and a "First bathroom"? A "bathing room" was added to the East Wing shortly after the running water system was installed. President Franklin Pierce is credited with installing the first modern bathroom with a tub, toilet, and running water in the 1850s.
During the Civil War, President Lincoln renovated and updated parts of the White House. When the Lincolns moved in, the State Floor and private quarters were in a "miserable condition". Mary Todd Lincoln oversaw the extensive refurnishing and redecorating. The renovation included new carpets, French wallpapers, draperies, and a new gilded Rococo Revival suite for the Blue Room. The project went over budget, leading to the purchase of new items, such as a French porcelain dinner service and the now-famous Lincoln Bed -- though it's likely never actually used by the President.
It's true. President Lincoln never slept there. The Lincoln Bedroom, as it is known today, was actually President Abraham Lincoln's office and cabinet room during his presidency. It was not his actual bedroom. Much later, it was converted into a guest room. In reality, the designation of the "Lincoln Bedroom" did not take place until after World War II to honor Lincoln’s legacy.
The Lincoln renovations initially cost the American taxpayers $20,000 at the time. The initial $20,000 appropriation was exceeded twice, requiring two supplemental appropriations to pay for what was seen as Mrs. Lincoln's "spending spree." Of course, the initial $20,000 in 1861 would be worth $736,309.00 today.
Why did the Lincolns renovate and update the White House? Historians agree that the White House had deteriorated during President James Buchanan's single term. While Mary Todd Lincoln saw the renovations as necessary to restore the mansion, the public viewed her actions differently.
The national press and Lincoln's political opponents used the costly renovations to attack the Lincolns' "imperial presidency." Opponents focused on the spending as a sign of wasteful extravagance, especially during a time of national crisis. However, some historians have noted that Mary Lincoln intended to restore dignity to the "Executive Mansion," which had fallen into disrepair and had lost public esteem. Of course, while Mary Todd was aware of public cynicism, she was determined to make the White House a national showpiece.
Why was there so much criticism? The nation was in the midst of a Civil War. Public perception was that the Lincolns were living in extravagance. President Lincoln's vocal critics in the North, the newspapers owned and ran by Copperhead Democrats who wanted to see the nation split in two and for Democrats in the South to keep their beloved slavery, ridiculed President Lincoln and compared him to a King because -- among other reasons, the expensive redecorations that they saw as extravagant and inappropriate given the wartime hardship.
President Chester Arthur, known for his refined tastes, undertook a lavish redecoration of the White House interior from 1881 to 1883. He hired designers to transform its public rooms with color, ornate furnishings, stained glass, and a Victorian aesthetic. His redecoration was met with mixed reactions.
The New York Times praised the aesthetic improvements but criticized the $110,000 cost (nearly $ 3.5 million today), calling it extravagant for a public building. In fact, it was the largest cost spent on the White House since its reconstruction after the War of 1812.
Critics in the press, including Harper’s Weekly, accused President Arthur of "turning the White House into a 'palace' unfit for a democratic leader." In Congress, Democrats decried the expenditure as wasteful.
Electricity was first installed in the White House in 1891 during President Benjamin Harrison's administration. Electrical wiring was also installed in the State, War, and Navy buildings next door. Was there a fear of electricity at the time? Yes, in fact, electricity was so new that President Harrison and his wife, Caroline, reportedly feared touching the light switches for fear of electric shock. The White House's use of electricity helped to build public acceptance and trust in the new technology.
We talked about how, in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt started renovations that modernized the White House. Theodore Roosevelt made significant changes to the White House. He oversaw the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories to the west of the White House residence. The glasshouses used for growing plants were removed and replaced with what we now call the "West Wing," which houses the president's office and key staff offices. Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for moving the president's offices to the West Wing. He also separated the president’s private residence from the presidency's growing administrative functions.
The demolition of the conservatories sparked outrage among preservationists and horticultural enthusiasts. The Washington Post said, "Roosevelt's attempt to ‘modernize’ the White House has destroyed its historic value and does not seem to have made it much more desirable as a residence."
His critics also argued that Roosevelt’s modernization prioritized utility over history.
The $65,000 cost, which is worth $2,448,655.00 today, prompted his Democrat critics to accuse Teddy Roosevelt of lavish spending while questioning whether a new office wing was necessary, given that existing spaces had sufficed for so many years.
President William Howard Taft renovated the White House by expanding the West Wing and constructing the first Oval Office in 1909. He also had a "Sleeping Porch" built on the roof in 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge renovated the White House, with the major project in 1927 being the rebuilding of the roof and the addition of a third floor to the main house. This was prompted by an engineering report that found the original roof trusses were weakened and the attic was being overloaded, making it a necessary structural repair and expansion.
As part of this project, a third-floor solarium, or "Sky Parlor," was also constructed. 1927 Renovation: An engineering report found the White House roof structure was unsafe due to years of alterations and an overloaded attic. The attic was converted into a full third floor, providing more living space. It was at that time that the original wood trusses were replaced with a steel-frame structure. As for Coolidge's Solarium? A third-floor sunroom, which First Lady Grace Coolidge called her "Sky Parlor," was added over the South Portico. Imagine that.
We talked about how President Franklin D. Roosevelt renovated the White House in many ways, including modernizing the electrical system, remodeling the kitchens, adding an indoor swimming pool in the West Terrace in 1933, and how he added the East Wing in 1942 for more office space for the First Lady's staff as well as to hold more of her social functions. Some say the East Wing was built specifically to hide the construction of the underground bunker that FDR had built during World War II.
The most significant renovation in White House history took place under President Harry Truman. Because engineers believed the White House was in danger of collapse due to weakened wooden beams, outdated plumbing, and electrical systems, the structural deficiencies necessitated a complete gutting of the White House's interior. That took place from 1948 to 1952.
The $5.7 million project, which is approximately $60 million today, involved dismantling the interior, preserving only the outer walls, and rebuilding with modern materials, including steel and concrete.
The scale of the Truman renovation shocked the public and drew intense scrutiny. Preservationists mourned the loss of original interiors, while media outlets questioned the project’s cost during the post-war economic recession.
In addition to the gutting, Truman proposed adding a balcony to the second floor of the South Portico. Now known as the Truman Balcony, it provides the first family with a private outdoor space and enhances the building’s aesthetics. The Truman Balcony was one of the most contentious alterations to the White House. Truman’s opponents in Congress accused Truman of misappropriating the White House for personal indulgence, reminding him that "this building belongs to the American people" and not him.
Public opinion was divided, with some appreciating the balcony’s practicality and others viewing its $16,000 cost as frivolous during the economic recession.
Of course, no conversation about Harry Truman's White House would be complete if we don't talk about Truman's bowling alley. The Truman bowling alley is a two-lane bowling alley in the basement of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, originally installed in the West Wing for President Truman in 1947 as a birthday gift. Truman's administration formed a White House Bowling League in 1950, with teams made up of Secret Service agents, secretaries, groundskeepers, and other staff.
It was originally located on the ground floor of the West Wing, which is now the Situation Room. President Eisenhower closed the alley in 1955, and it was moved to the basement of the adjacent Old Executive Office Building (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). The two-lane bowling alley was moved in 1955 and has been used by various presidents, including Richard Nixon who had a separate one-lane alley built under the North Portico which was later renovated and is still in use today. Access to the Truman bowling alley is currently restricted to White House staff and their invited guests.
The original bowling alley was used by President Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, after it was relocated. President Nixon had a separate, one-lane alley built underground beneath the North Portico, which he used frequently. It was later renovated and remains in use today.
President John Kennedy oversaw the interior restoration to turn the White House into a museum of American history, he also personally constructed the modern Rose Garden on the grounds in 1962. The site was previously a garden created by Ellen Wilson in 1913. It replaced Edith Roosevelt’s 1902 Colonial Garden.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon converted the White House's indoor swimming pool, the pool built in 1933 by Franklin Roosevelt, into the Press Briefing Room to accommodate the press corps. The decision to cover the pool was met with anger from Democrats in The New York Times, who called it an assault on FDR’s legacy.
President Jimmy Carter added solar-paniels to the White House roof.
While President Bill Clinton didn't do anything to the White House itself, he closed Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House, citing security concerns after the Oklahoma City bombing. The Secret Service recommended closure to protect against vehicle-based attacks.
Yes, President Obama added a basketball court to the White House. Obama had the White House tennis court converted into a full-size basketball court to allow for games with more players. Obama scheduled games with staff, aides, and visiting teams. These games were a well-known part of his time in office. It's true. Obama often played pickup basketball games with staff and other guests, which were a notable part of his White House years.
Actually, there's no telling how much time he actually spent doing his job as president between playing basketball, golf, and watching sports on television/ In fact, President Barack Obama stated in a 2014 ESPN Radio interview that he spent most of his mornings watching ESPN's SportsCenter, primarily to stay informed about sports without being "inundated with a bunch of chatter about politics".
So now, as for presidents renovating, updating, and changing the White House, well, according to most historians, the White House has been renovated and reshaped by the visions and priorities of almost every one of its occupants. From adding colonnades, to bathrooms, to indoor toilets, to adding whole buildings in the form of the West Wing in 1902 and the East Wing in 1942, to the monumental gutting of the entire inside of the White House during the 1950s, to adding a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a basketball court, and more, the place that Americans know as the "White House" has evolved and evaolved and evolved ever since it was rebuilt after being burned to the ground in the War of 1812.
The White House remains a living symbol of our enduring American republic, it is a constantly evolving national landmark. And like it or not, each change brings out critics who want to attack and ridicule and demean the occupant of the White House at the time.
So, who were the people referred to as the "Society folk" in Washington, D.C., those critics who didn't like President Theodore Roosevelt officially changing the name of the "Executive Mansion" to the "White House"?
Well, in 1901, the "Society folk" in Washington, D.C. referred to the prominent and influential social circles of the time, which included members of Congress, political elites, government officials, and wealthy families. They were the city's high society, including those involved in the diplomatic community, the national government, the press, and the arts. Yes, politicians, government officials, their families, and the diplomatic corps would have formed a core part of this social stratum. No, not much different than the way things are today.
Wealthy and established families who lived in D.C. and had generations of their family in office for longer than they should have been would have also been considered part of D.C.'s high society clique. Add to that the literary and arts crowd and their circles of wannabe intellectuals of the time, today that would be the celebrity crowd who didn't finish high school but will most likely receive honorary doctorates from liberal colleges they donate big dollars to, the same crowd that's still buying into the Climate Change/ Global Warming hoax. Yes indeed, they're the same ilk that's around today.
In 1902, President Roosevelt started renovations that modernized the White House. He made significant changes to the White House, including overseeing the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories to the west of the White House residence. The renovations involved removing those Victorian-era conservatories (greenhouses), which some preservationists valued for their "traditional charm." The glasshouses used for growing plants were removed and replaced with what we now call the "West Wing," which houses the president's office and key staff offices.
Yes, President Theodore Roosevelt caught a lot of flak from Democrats for removing greenhouses and moving the president's offices to the West Wing. Democrats also criticized him for separating the president’s private residence from the presidency's growing administrative functions. The demolition of the conservatories sparked outrage among history preservationists as well as horticultural enthusiasts. And yes, his political opponents seized on the criticism of Roosevelt and his supposed destruction of historical architecture, and ran with it for all it was worth.
The Washington Post said, "Roosevelt's attempt to ‘modernize’ the White House has destroyed its historic value and does not seem to have made it much more desirable as a residence." His critics also argued that Roosevelt’s modernization prioritized utility over history. Does that sound familiar? It should, Democrats in 2025 are using the same old playbook against President Trump for his renovation of the East Wing.
Of course, the way Democrats lost their minds in 1901 was nothing compared to how they attacked and ridiculed Theodore Roosevelt's 1902 White House renovations. They were angry about cost overruns, private funding, a wood carvers strike, the removal of Victorian-era conservatories, and more. They claimed he was making "changes to the building's historical character" of the White House — the same line of garbage that President Trump's critics are using today to attack his renovation of the East Wing.
As for Democrats accusing President Roosevelt of extravagance and imperialism? The $65,000 cost, which is worth $2,448,655.00 today (2025), prompted his Democrat critics to accuse Teddy Roosevelt of lavish spending while questioning whether a new office wing was necessary, given that existing spaces had sufficed for so many years. Democrats scrutinized the $65,000 bill for the West Wing construction as a "significant expenditure."
His Democrat opponents were quick to label the cost of the West Wing as "wasteful." And yes, Democrats said that changes to the White House were on the lines of an aristocratic "palace" rather than a "house fit for a democratic leader"— a common criticism from the media of Presidents who undertook major renovations throughout history, especially Republican Presidents.
Just as Democrats attacked President Roosevelt over what they saw as the loss of historical elements, citing how the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories (greenhouses), which were a traditional feature of the White House grounds since the time of Thomas Jefferson about a hundred years earlier, today Democrats are attacking President Trump for renovations being made on the East Wing of the White House which was built in 1942.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt renovated the White House in many ways, including modernizing the electrical system, remodeling the kitchens, adding an indoor swimming pool in the West Terrace in 1933, and adding the East Wing in 1942. FDR built the East Wing to add more office space for the First Lady's growing staff and so she would be able to hold social functions. As for the social functions in the East Wing, attendance was limited to about 200.
The renovations President Trump is currently making to the East Wing will increase occupancy of the East Wing to just under 1,000 people. Yes, using the building for the exact same purpose as it was designated for in 1942, just bigger and better able to handle larger gatherings in the future.
As for the East Wing, here's something to think about. A small East Wing structure, which was initially called the "East Terrace" was built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's administration to serve as a formal entrance for visitors and to provide a cloakroom for large social events.
The original 1902 East Terrace was built under President Theodore Roosevelt, as part of a larger renovation of the White House. The expansion and evolution of the Theodore Roosevelt's East Terrance came later when it was made bigger with the building of the East Wing in 1942 by Franklin Roosevelt.
As for the 2025 modernization of the East Wing by President Donald Trump has come under fire, it is merely the evolution of a building in constant transition over its lifetime -- a project to replace the existing structure with a new ballroom and further modernization of the East Wing.
While President Trump's critics attack him for his "modernization" of the White House, which they feel destroys the building's historic value and original character, it should be noted that even President Franklin Roosevelt had his share of critics -- many who were not very kind in their attacks of the president over his building the East Wing in 1942.
People were critical of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's White House renovations, particularly the addition of the East Wing in 1942, for a couple of reasons. First, it was perceived as wasteful spending given that the renovations occurred during World War II, congressional Republicans and other critics labeled the expenditure as extravagant and unnecessary during a time of national crisis and economic recovery efforts.
The controversy surrounding the East Wing construction was centered on the allocation of funds and resources during wartime and political debates over the expansion of presidential power and image, rather than practical considerations.
While other changes during his presidency, such as installing a swimming pool in the West Terrace and modernizing the electrical system, nothing attracted the same level of political scrutiny as the East Wing addition. Part of the reason for that had to do with the East Wing housing the Office of the First Lady primarily for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's political and social events. Eleanor Roosevelt used the East Wing for her activism while also hosting events -- including her weekly press conferences which she reserved for female reporters.
Of course, while the East Wing was built for social functions and to house the offices used by the First Lady, its construction also hid a wartime bunker for the president. It's true, the East Wing was built in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to conceal a new Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) during World War II. It was the underground bombshelter, an emergency bunker, for the president during World War II. And yes, it was built in the strictest of military secrecy. In Congress, the building of a bunker for the president and its secretive nature fueled suspicions about its necessity and the president's motives.
All in all, for the American public, the East Wing's construction was said to be very controversial due to wartime rationing and hardships on the American people. As for Congress, the secretive nature of the construction, tied to military purposes of building the president a bunker, further fueled resentment, especially with cost overruns and Congress allocating funds that many saw as being needed for the war effort.
Let's remember, it was a time when Americans were being asked to sacrifice for the war effort, buy bonds, make do with less, and go without. Americans were asked to make significant sacrifices during World War II, including strict rationing of goods like food, gasoline, and tires. Americans participated in scrap metal and rubber and cooking fat drives. Americans were asked to buy war bonds to help finance the war effort. And yes, Americans also contributed by planting "Victory Gardens" and volunteering, as everyday life was altered to support the national war mobilization.
As for rationing? The U.S. Governments issued ration books to limit the purchase of essential goods such as sugar, meat, butter, coffee, gasoline, and tires. As for the scrap drives? The public was urged to collect and donate a wide variety of scrap materials, including metal, paper, rubber, and cooking fat -- which was used to make glycerin for explosives. As for saving and making things stretch? Americans were asked to conserve energy and fuel, even to the point of reducing non-essential activities like taking long showers. And here's something else, Americans worked longer hours in factories to produce military supplies, with many goods like cars and refrigerators disappearing from the market until after the war.
As for war bonds? Americans bought war bonds and stamps to provide the government with the funds needed for the war. As for Victory Gardens? Millions of Americans planted their own gardens in their backyards and even vacant lots to help with food shortages on the home front.
So yes, indeed, while Americans were being asked to sacrifice, many Americans saw President Franklin D. Rooseveltthe spending needed funds on a building that to expand the office space for the First Lady for her expanding staff and so she's have a place for her social functions, as extrememly selfish. Because of the perception of what was taking place, the public was not happy and saw the FDR and the First Lady as putting their own self interests ahead of the nation's needs.
So yes, it is accurate to say that the construction of the East Wing in 1942 was highly controversial, and the public was not very happy about it. The construction of the two-story East Wing of the White House had a negative public reaction due to the ongoing war. Many saw the construction of the East Wing as wasteful spending during a national crisis.
Was there a perception of vanity on the part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt? Believe it or not, while some today accuse President Donald Trump of vanity, back in 1942 there were those who accused President Franklin D. Roosevelt of using the East Wing project to enhance his image and add a "vanity" project during a time when the public was making sacrifices for the war effort.
Besides accusations of "self-aggrandizement," critics accused Franklin Roosevelt of using the project to bolster his presidency's imperial image. Does that sound familiar? It should, accusing a president of acting like a King has be a go-to piece of hate that newspapers have been using since the begining of our nation.
Don't think so? In 1792, the cornerstone was laid and construction of the White House began. In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson, who was, in fact, an accomplished architect himself, added the east and west colonnades to connect the main residence to service buildings. Jefferson's colonnades faced immediate criticism for their cost to the American taxpayer.
The National Intelligencer newspaper published editorials questioning their "extravagance" and the necessity for a government building. Some newspapers echoed his political opponents and critics by saying he is turning the presidency into a monarchy.
It's true. In Congress, Jefferson's opponents accused him of acting like a "King" and said that Jefferson's alterations reflected aristocratic tendencies. At the time, Jefferson's critics said the colonnades' classic architecture clashed with "the democratic simplicity that the White House was supposed to embody."
The South Portico was added by President James Monroe after the original White House was rebuilt following the War of 1812 after the British army burned down the White House on August 24, 1814. It wasn't until 1817 that construction of the new White House began.
President Andrew Jackson had the North Portico added in 1829. The grand entrance addressed the building's lack of a formal entryway on its north side of the building and was meant to match the South Portico added by President Monroe. The North Portico’s construction, which Congress appropriated $24,729 (approximately $850,000 today), was extremely controversial at the time.
The United States Telegraph attacked President Jackson for "prioritizing grandeur over the needs of ordinary citizens." His critics portrayed the portico as a symbol of his lavish presidency. Some critics also felt the portico's classical design was "too ostentatious for a democratic republic."
In Congress, Jackson's Whig opponents questioned the cost, the need for the addition, and argued that the funds could have been better spent on infrastructure or debt reduction.
Indoor plumbing was first installed in the White House in 1833 under President Jackson, with running water initially used for drinking and fire protection. In 1833, an engineer designed a system to pipe water from springs in Franklin Park to the White House. A "bathing room" was added later.
As for indoor plumbing and a "First bathroom"? A "bathing room" was added to the East Wing shortly after the running water system was installed. President Franklin Pierce is credited with installing the first modern bathroom with a tub, toilet, and running water in the 1850s.
During the Civil War, President Lincoln renovated and updated parts of the White House. When the Lincolns moved in, the State Floor and private quarters were in a "miserable condition". Mary Todd Lincoln oversaw the extensive refurnishing and redecorating. The renovation included new carpets, French wallpapers, draperies, and a new gilded Rococo Revival suite for the Blue Room. The project went over budget, leading to the purchase of new items, such as a French porcelain dinner service and the now-famous Lincoln Bed -- though it's likely never actually used by the President.
It's true. President Lincoln never slept there. The Lincoln Bedroom, as it is known today, was actually President Abraham Lincoln's office and cabinet room during his presidency. It was not his actual bedroom. Much later, it was converted into a guest room. In reality, the designation of the "Lincoln Bedroom" did not take place until after World War II to honor Lincoln’s legacy.
The Lincoln renovations initially cost the American taxpayers $20,000 at the time. The initial $20,000 appropriation was exceeded twice, requiring two supplemental appropriations to pay for what was seen as Mrs. Lincoln's "spending spree." Of course, the initial $20,000 in 1861 would be worth $736,309.00 today.
Why did the Lincolns renovate and update the White House? Historians agree that the White House had deteriorated during President James Buchanan's single term. While Mary Todd Lincoln saw the renovations as necessary to restore the mansion, the public viewed her actions differently.
The national press and Lincoln's political opponents used the costly renovations to attack the Lincolns' "imperial presidency." Opponents focused on the spending as a sign of wasteful extravagance, especially during a time of national crisis. However, some historians have noted that Mary Lincoln intended to restore dignity to the "Executive Mansion," which had fallen into disrepair and had lost public esteem. Of course, while Mary Todd was aware of public cynicism, she was determined to make the White House a national showpiece.
Why was there so much criticism? The nation was in the midst of a Civil War. Public perception was that the Lincolns were living in extravagance. President Lincoln's vocal critics in the North, the newspapers owned and ran by Copperhead Democrats who wanted to see the nation split in two and for Democrats in the South to keep their beloved slavery, ridiculed President Lincoln and compared him to a King because -- among other reasons, the expensive redecorations that they saw as extravagant and inappropriate given the wartime hardship.
President Chester Arthur, known for his refined tastes, undertook a lavish redecoration of the White House interior from 1881 to 1883. He hired designers to transform its public rooms with color, ornate furnishings, stained glass, and a Victorian aesthetic. His redecoration was met with mixed reactions.
The New York Times praised the aesthetic improvements but criticized the $110,000 cost (nearly $ 3.5 million today), calling it extravagant for a public building. In fact, it was the largest cost spent on the White House since its reconstruction after the War of 1812.
Critics in the press, including Harper’s Weekly, accused President Arthur of "turning the White House into a 'palace' unfit for a democratic leader." In Congress, Democrats decried the expenditure as wasteful.
Electricity was first installed in the White House in 1891 during President Benjamin Harrison's administration. Electrical wiring was also installed in the State, War, and Navy buildings next door. Was there a fear of electricity at the time? Yes, in fact, electricity was so new that President Harrison and his wife, Caroline, reportedly feared touching the light switches for fear of electric shock. The White House's use of electricity helped to build public acceptance and trust in the new technology.
We talked about how, in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt started renovations that modernized the White House. Theodore Roosevelt made significant changes to the White House. He oversaw the removal of the Victorian-era conservatories to the west of the White House residence. The glasshouses used for growing plants were removed and replaced with what we now call the "West Wing," which houses the president's office and key staff offices. Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for moving the president's offices to the West Wing. He also separated the president’s private residence from the presidency's growing administrative functions.
The demolition of the conservatories sparked outrage among preservationists and horticultural enthusiasts. The Washington Post said, "Roosevelt's attempt to ‘modernize’ the White House has destroyed its historic value and does not seem to have made it much more desirable as a residence."
His critics also argued that Roosevelt’s modernization prioritized utility over history.
The $65,000 cost, which is worth $2,448,655.00 today, prompted his Democrat critics to accuse Teddy Roosevelt of lavish spending while questioning whether a new office wing was necessary, given that existing spaces had sufficed for so many years.
President William Howard Taft renovated the White House by expanding the West Wing and constructing the first Oval Office in 1909. He also had a "Sleeping Porch" built on the roof in 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge renovated the White House, with the major project in 1927 being the rebuilding of the roof and the addition of a third floor to the main house. This was prompted by an engineering report that found the original roof trusses were weakened and the attic was being overloaded, making it a necessary structural repair and expansion.
As part of this project, a third-floor solarium, or "Sky Parlor," was also constructed. 1927 Renovation: An engineering report found the White House roof structure was unsafe due to years of alterations and an overloaded attic. The attic was converted into a full third floor, providing more living space. It was at that time that the original wood trusses were replaced with a steel-frame structure. As for Coolidge's Solarium? A third-floor sunroom, which First Lady Grace Coolidge called her "Sky Parlor," was added over the South Portico. Imagine that.
We talked about how President Franklin D. Roosevelt renovated the White House in many ways, including modernizing the electrical system, remodeling the kitchens, adding an indoor swimming pool in the West Terrace in 1933, and how he added the East Wing in 1942 for more office space for the First Lady's staff as well as to hold more of her social functions. Some say the East Wing was built specifically to hide the construction of the underground bunker that FDR had built during World War II.
The most significant renovation in White House history took place under President Harry Truman. Because engineers believed the White House was in danger of collapse due to weakened wooden beams, outdated plumbing, and electrical systems, the structural deficiencies necessitated a complete gutting of the White House's interior. That took place from 1948 to 1952.
The $5.7 million project, which is approximately $60 million today, involved dismantling the interior, preserving only the outer walls, and rebuilding with modern materials, including steel and concrete.
The scale of the Truman renovation shocked the public and drew intense scrutiny. Preservationists mourned the loss of original interiors, while media outlets questioned the project’s cost during the post-war economic recession.
In addition to the gutting, Truman proposed adding a balcony to the second floor of the South Portico. Now known as the Truman Balcony, it provides the first family with a private outdoor space and enhances the building’s aesthetics. The Truman Balcony was one of the most contentious alterations to the White House. Truman’s opponents in Congress accused Truman of misappropriating the White House for personal indulgence, reminding him that "this building belongs to the American people" and not him.
Public opinion was divided, with some appreciating the balcony’s practicality and others viewing its $16,000 cost as frivolous during the economic recession.
Of course, no conversation about Harry Truman's White House would be complete if we don't talk about Truman's bowling alley. The Truman bowling alley is a two-lane bowling alley in the basement of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, originally installed in the West Wing for President Truman in 1947 as a birthday gift. Truman's administration formed a White House Bowling League in 1950, with teams made up of Secret Service agents, secretaries, groundskeepers, and other staff.
It was originally located on the ground floor of the West Wing, which is now the Situation Room. President Eisenhower closed the alley in 1955, and it was moved to the basement of the adjacent Old Executive Office Building (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). The two-lane bowling alley was moved in 1955 and has been used by various presidents, including Richard Nixon who had a separate one-lane alley built under the North Portico which was later renovated and is still in use today. Access to the Truman bowling alley is currently restricted to White House staff and their invited guests.
The original bowling alley was used by President Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, after it was relocated. President Nixon had a separate, one-lane alley built underground beneath the North Portico, which he used frequently. It was later renovated and remains in use today.
President John Kennedy oversaw the interior restoration to turn the White House into a museum of American history, he also personally constructed the modern Rose Garden on the grounds in 1962. The site was previously a garden created by Ellen Wilson in 1913. It replaced Edith Roosevelt’s 1902 Colonial Garden.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon converted the White House's indoor swimming pool, the pool built in 1933 by Franklin Roosevelt, into the Press Briefing Room to accommodate the press corps. The decision to cover the pool was met with anger from Democrats in The New York Times, who called it an assault on FDR’s legacy.
President Jimmy Carter added solar-paniels to the White House roof.
While President Bill Clinton didn't do anything to the White House itself, he closed Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House, citing security concerns after the Oklahoma City bombing. The Secret Service recommended closure to protect against vehicle-based attacks.
Yes, President Obama added a basketball court to the White House. Obama had the White House tennis court converted into a full-size basketball court to allow for games with more players. Obama scheduled games with staff, aides, and visiting teams. These games were a well-known part of his time in office. It's true. Obama often played pickup basketball games with staff and other guests, which were a notable part of his White House years.
Actually, there's no telling how much time he actually spent doing his job as president between playing basketball, golf, and watching sports on television/ In fact, President Barack Obama stated in a 2014 ESPN Radio interview that he spent most of his mornings watching ESPN's SportsCenter, primarily to stay informed about sports without being "inundated with a bunch of chatter about politics".
So now, as for presidents renovating, updating, and changing the White House, well, according to most historians, the White House has been renovated and reshaped by the visions and priorities of almost every one of its occupants. From adding colonnades, to bathrooms, to indoor toilets, to adding whole buildings in the form of the West Wing in 1902 and the East Wing in 1942, to the monumental gutting of the entire inside of the White House during the 1950s, to adding a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a basketball court, and more, the place that Americans know as the "White House" has evolved and evaolved and evolved ever since it was rebuilt after being burned to the ground in the War of 1812.
The White House remains a living symbol of our enduring American republic, it is a constantly evolving national landmark. And like it or not, each change brings out critics who want to attack and ridicule and demean the occupant of the White House at the time.
In the case of President Trump renovating the East Wing and rebuilding it to expand its use, many of President Trump's critics are partisan Leftist propagandists in the Mainstream Media. Most have their own political agenda and they act out with selective indignation over anything he does. Studies have shown that coverage of President Trump's time in office in most major outlets is overwhelmingly negative. In fact, one research study found that 72% of coverage of President Trump in the media is negative by design.
That's why Trump supporters like me ignore the selective indignation of the Leftist propagandists who cannot truly call themselve objective or impartial journalists. They're not. Their intense negative emotional and cognitive reactions to President Trump, his actions, his public presence, are irrational and disconnected from what he is actual doing to better the lives of Americans.
Because of that, and their hyped notion that he is acting like a King, I believe they cannot be trusted. While being accused of acting like a King is something that other presidents have been accused of, when it comes to President Trump, it is a media criticism that stems from an emotional and psychological condition rather than a rational, fact-based assessment of his presidency and policies.
As for the East Wing of the White House, I believe it will most likely be beautiful. Yes, even though Democrats hate it before it's finished -- all because President Trump, a Republican, is building it. And frankly, that's childish and sad.
As for the East Wing of the White House, I believe it will most likely be beautiful. Yes, even though Democrats hate it before it's finished -- all because President Trump, a Republican, is building it. And frankly, that's childish and sad.
Tom Correa
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