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Article
Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 5/12/1939
WASHINGTON, Thursday—I was up early this morning and out on the bridle path for a short time, but by 11:00 o'clock the usual busy Washington day was upon me. I began with a press conference, next I saw a lady who makes some rather unique bags, and then and there I began my Christmas shopping. A hasty glance at the mo
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Article
Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 6/10/1939
WASHINGTON, Friday—The long expected arrival of Their Britannic Majesties has at last taken place. We drove down yesterday through an avenue crowded with people. In the course of a long life I have seen many important events in Washington, but never have I seen a crowd such as lined the whole route between the Union Station and the White Ho
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Article
Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 6/7/1944
WASHINGTON, Tuesday—So at last we have come to D-Day, or rather, the news of it reached us over the radio in the early hours of the morning on June the 6th. The first people I saw seemed very much excited. Curiously enough, I have no sense of excitement whatsoever. It seems as though we have been waiting for this da
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Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 6/9/1939
WASHINGTON, Thursday—I have just made the rounds of every room in the White House with Mrs. Nesbitt,1 the housekeeper. We even inspected the third floor, which, this time, instead of housing grandchildren, will have our royal visitors' personal servants. Ordinarily, when the house is going to be filled. I tell Mrs. Nesbitt to get in touch with the nurses to
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Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 8/8/1942
WASHINGTON, Friday—The sun shone yesterday and the weather has certainly been kind, because it has not been oppressively warm either yesterday or today. I went with Queen Wilhelmina1 to the Capitol and sat in the gallery to listen to her as she addressed those members of the Senate and the House who were in session and some of their fr
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Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 8/7/1942
WASHINGTON, Thursday—Yesterday afternoon, with the rain falling intermittently and gray skies, the Queen of the Netherlands1 came to Washington. It was an unpublicized visit, so even had the weather been kind, there would have been no opportunity for crowds to gather in the streets.However, the Queen was cheered several times along the way to the White House and by
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Article
Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day," 7/31/1942
WASHINGTON, D.C., Thursday—The other members of Mr. Hopkins'1 family arrived yesterday, including little Diana,2 who, with the new Mrs. Hopkins' niece3 and nephew,4 is having an interesting time investigating every corner of the White House.My only appointment this morning was with Mr. Edward H. Cooley5 and Mr. William T. Frary.6 Their interest is in the fisheries industry, an
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White House "Contractor's Salvage" Revived
Through its long years, the White House has seen many renovations, including the most recent one that was almost total. During President Harry Truman’s renovation (1948–52), the entire interior of the White House was removed, with the exterior walls left standing. A replacement interior was fashioned entirely new. Wood removed during this renovation was generally reused or put in storage, but
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Article
Artists' Life Studies for White House Portraits
Artists often use studies or sketches to develop their final compositions, and this is especially true of portrait painters. Prominent subjects have busy schedules, and few subjects are more prominent—or busy—than United States presidents. Quick sketches capture the angle of the face, the positioning of the figure, the selection of clothing and accessories, and even ideas for the back
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Article
President Buchanan Greets a Guest of State
By the fall of 1860, the Buchanan administration seemed headed for a tense but dramatic conclusion. Earlier that year, President James Buchanan had pointedly declined the renomination, exhausted by a fractured relationship with Congress and last minute attempts to quash talk of southern states’ secession from the union. He believed that his best efforts at reconciliation between states’ rights activists and abol
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Article
"Proud Housewife": Mamie Eisenhower Collects for the White House
Every presidential family that resides in the White House leaves a mark on the building and its traditions. The extent of a family’s influence on the physical White House depends usually on its length of residence and its inclinations to take the trouble to make changes. History plays a part as well. While major additions to the White House an
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Article
The White House at War
To commemorate the end of the Spanish American War, artist Theobald Chartran painted the signing of the peace protocol between Spain and the United States. French Ambassador Jules Cambon, acting on behalf of Spain, signs the treaty at the table originally purchased by President Grant. U. S. Secretary of State William R. Day sits next to the French Ambassador, and