the history of the white house

by v. i. andronache

introduction

the white house, located at 1600 pennsylvania avenue, n.w., in washington dc, has been the home of every u.s. president since john adams. the presidential mansion is situated on some 18 acres 7.3 hectares of land amid a parklike setting. the buildings main section measures 170 feet 52 meters long and 85 feet 26 meters deep. its 2 stories are mounted on an english basement, which, because of the slope of land, becomes a ground floor, on the south side. two wings flank the original structure. the west wing was constructed in 1902, following a congressional appropriation of 65,196. it contains the oval presidential office, the roosevelt or staff meeting room, a reception room, and the cabinet room. french doors within the presidents office open onto the rose garden, which continues to follow the plan of an 18th century flower garden. the president regularly receives official visitors...