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The Oval Office inside the White House is the US President’s formal workspace. This is where he meets and confers with the heads of the state, diplomats and other dignitaries. When a new president assumes office, it is not uncommon for him to renovate the Oval Office to suit his taste. In fact, nearly all presidents do a mini-makeover when they come in. They change the paint, put in a new rug on the floor, get different drapes and do most of the stuff that an average person does when he moves to a new home. In this post we take a look at the changing face of the Oval Office during different Presidencies and how each president added his own touch to the White House decor.
Oval rooms became popular in eighteenth century neoclassical architecture, and it is likely that the architect of the White House, James Hoban, was influenced by the elliptical chamber of an Irish Mansion called Castle Coole. Here is a hand-tinted photo of the first Oval Office, designed by Nathan C. Wyeth for President William Howard Taft in 1909.
William Howard Taft’s Office in 1909 (White House Historical Association)
Warren G Harding ’s Office in 1923 (Library of Congress)
Calvin Coolidge’s Office in 1925
It can be said that from Howard Taft(1909) to Herbert Hoover(1933) the main decor of green rug, dark green drapes with eagle valances and olive green walls remained pretty much the same. When Franklin D. Roosevelt joined office in 1933, he redecorated it with a blue-green rug and gray green walls.
Replica of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Office in 1933 (Roosevelt Library)
During Franklin Roosevelt’s Presidency, the office was moved to the southeast corner of the West Wing in 1934, and this is what the modern office looked like:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Office in 1936 (Wikipedia)
Harry S Truman in 1945 changed the tint of the room to grayish and his desk was famous for a plaque with a motto that read: “The buck stops here.”
Replica of Harry Truman’s Office in 1945 (Truman’s Library)
Dwight D. Eisenhower assumed office in 1953 and though he did not change the decor much…
Dwight Eisenhower’s Office in 1956 (EisenHower Library)
…he showed his taste in paintings.
The John F Kennedy’s Oval Office was redesigned by Stéphane Boudin in 1963 with a new red rug and pale curtains but it was dismantled after the President’s assassination, before Mrs. Kennedy returned.
John F Kennedy’s Office in 1963 (JFK Library)
Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded Kennedy and used his rug and curtains temporarily but he did not use the Resolute Desk.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Office in 1963 (White House Historical Society)
He later changed the rug to gray.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Office in 1968(Johnson Library)
President Richard Nixon started out with Johnson’s decor…
Richard Nixon’s Office in 1969 (NARA)
but he later changed to a Navy blue rug with gold drapes.
Richard Nixon’s Office in 1973 (NARA)
During Gerald Ford’s presidency which started in 1974 he opted for a pale gold rug with blue florettes and pumpkin drapes with gold curtains.
Replica of Gerald Ford’s Office in 1976 (Ford Library)
Jimmy Carter assumed office in 1977 but he carried through with Ford’s decor.
Jimmy Carter’s Office in 1976 (NARA)
Ronald Reagan too did not change the decor until during his second term when he opted for a pale gold rug with sunbeam design.
Replica of Ronald Reagan’s Office in 1979 (Reagan Library)
George H. W. Bush went back to the blue theme in 1989
George Bush’s Office in 1990 (NARA)
When Clinton came to power he changed to a colour scheme reminiscient of the Nixon era with navy blue rug and gold drapes.
Clinton’s Office in 1996 (Clinton Library)
Oval Office floor was replaced during the administration of George W. Bush. Based on a 1933 design by Eric Gugler, the 2005 installation is arranged in a contrasting cross pattern of quarter-sawn oak and walnut.
George Bush, Jr. revealed he delegated the decision of choosing the rug to Laura Bush, who chose a yellow sunbeam design. Here are a few snaps of Bush’s office:
George W Bush’s Office in 2005(White House)
So how is Obama’s office going to be? Any guesses? Are they discussing it? 
UPDATE: News has come out in early January 2009 that Barack Obama has entrusted Los Angeles based interior designer Michael S. Smith to do a makeover that would suit his style. No images have come out yet but we will update as soon as we know more.
[tags]oval office, pictures of oval office, the oval office, clinton oval office, ford oval office, bush oval office, oval office pictures, oval office rugs, reagan oval office, truman oval office[/tags]
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very good website
Thank you, keep watching.
What desk is President Obaba chosing for the oval office?
Very good site. One factual inaccuracy. You say that President Eisenhower “assumed office in 1956.” Eisenhower was first elected in 1952 and assumed office on 20 January 1953.
@mary kotas: It is likely to be the Resolute Desk, though we will only know for sure once he assumes office.
@ A. Joseph Ross: Thanks for pointing it out. It has been updated.
[...] Obama swears in today as the 44th President of America. We had featured the Oval Office interiors of former presidents some time back at Home-Designing. We thought this would be a nice moment to refresh those memories again. Check this out: http://www.home-designing.com/2008/11/us-presidents-office-interiors [...]
I am a British citizen now living in Canada. For all of my adult life, I enjoy an immense facination with US recent history and the modern American presidency. The Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House is probably the most photographed, re-created, symbolic and important office in the world with regard its occupants and the times that shaped and reflected them and America. Ultimately, however, it is the decisions that are formulated in that room which for me make it such an awe inspiring room. I only wish it were possible to actually stand in it. I have been in the White House, but I only wanted see one room, and it was oval shaped!
So true. Yeah, unfortunately it isn’t the most easy place in the world to get access into.
This is so interesting! I guess they’ve always had the desk in the same place (which might be necessary because there are four doors). But, it makes more sense to have the desk at the other end of the room, near the fireplace. You don’t want the glare of the windows on your computer (which maybe no other President had?). I can imagine a beautiful seating arrangement over by the windows – how revolutionary, right?
Yep, I don’t think the President works too much on a computer, so the glare shouldn’t be an issue. But don’t let that prevent you from giving a suggestion to the President here: Contact the President of the USA
can i design it???? i’ll start now and post it anyway!!!!!
Go right ahead, Rolande! Post it here. We could give it some publicity.
My least favorite president, but his office is the nicest… Shrub Bush has good taste in interior decor, if nothing else.
It was chosen by his wife. Actually we heard Bush asked Laura to choose the decor in such a manner that it portrays him as an optimistic person!
[...] you have been keeping tabs on our post on US Presidents and their (Oval) offices, you might have noticed us sneaking in an update on Barack Obama’s office. Yes, he has hired [...]
I’m making a tribute to President Barack Obama and posting it on my youtube idea girl consulting website..
it will be called.
President Barack Obama Love Courage Committment
thank you for being the BEST president in the history of the world.
Sincerely’
Linda Randall
How can you make the statement “The BEST President in the history of the world”. He has only been in office a little over a year and has made plenty of mistakes. His approval rating has dropped. But I guess if your to the left he would be the best, and he is not putting his hand out to the right. I think Pee Wee Herman would make a better President the President Obama.