How Jacqueline Kennedy Transformed
It is a question of scholarship. “During her time as the first woman, Kennedy restored the White House, turning it into a showcase for the history of the US president. She shared her work with the nation through a television tour in 1962 , Which was so well received that he was awarded an honorary Emmy.
Kennedy did not initially like to live in the White House
Kennedy was not impressed with the president’s residence before she moved to the White House for the presidency of husband John F. Kennedy. She felt that “it seems to have been furnished by the discount store,” and did not appreciate the facilities such as the water fountain on the various walls.
The color reflects the hobby of Mamie Eisenhower predecessor to pink. As all, Kennedy considered the White House “a scare of Maison Blanche”.
Some of the drawbacks to the White House’s presence were understandable, as not every administration treated the executive mansion with care. During the presidency of Harry Truman, the need for repairs had become so much that much of the internal structure had to be quenched and rebuilt with steel, which had reduced the funds to the point that Truman owned the department store on the ground floor.
Was opted for luggage. But instead of assuming the president’s house, Kennedy decided to improve it. However, his plan “to make the White House the first house in the land” was not immediately embraced by the presidential political circle. Since the White House was a temporary residence for each president, JFK and others worried that substantial changes could attract criticism.
Advisor Clark Clifford helped Kennedy find a solution: the Fine Arts Committee for the White House. The committee was formed in February 1961 with the goal of “raising funds to purchase authentic furniture of the date of the construction of the White House and this furniture as a gift to the White House.
” Not only was it looking for “authentic furniture” that was considered acceptable, being able to obtain financing from outside sources, complaints about Miss Taxpayer Resources were avoided (renovation of the Kennedys’ private quarters Already used $ 50,000 allocated by Congress for the White House).
Kennedy assembled a team of professionals to help
Kennedy managed to get his ideal chair for the Fine Arts Committee: Henri Francis du Pont. He was affluent, well-connected and highly respected for his expertise in America, and Kennedy felt it was “Red-letter Day” when Du Pont agreed to move to the chair of the president. His position helped people contribute to the effort.
Lorraine Waxman Pearce began in March 1961 as White House curator. Mrs Henry Parish II, better known as Sister Parish, became the official interior designer for the project. He had valuable social connections and had previously worked with Kennedy (on a $ 50,000 renovation of the private White House quarters).
However, Kennedy preferred to work with French designer Stephen Baudin instead of Parish. Among Boudin’s previous projects was the restoration of Versailles. But Kennedy had to hide his role – using French talent at the home of the US president was not a popular option.
Public interest and support helped restore the White House
Kennedy originally felt that the restoration should focus on the early style of the White House (it was completed in 1802, then rebuilt in 1817 after being burned to the ground by British troops during the War of 1817). Yet his goals were soon expanded to reinstate “the entire history of the presidency.”
Fortunately, Kennedy’s restoration efforts resulted in many people reaching out to donate items with a White House connection. And Kennedy demanded other items of interest when he asked Walter Enberg, the owner of Benjamin Franklin’s valuable portrait, “Do you think a great Philadelphia citizen would give the White House a picture of another great Philadelphia citizen?” In the end, Annberg agreed to donate the portrait, which he bought for $ 250,000.
In September 1961, Congress passed a law making the White House a museum. This meant that any donated antiques and art became property of the White House and put into the care of the Smithsonian when not in use.
Therefore, donors knew that future presidents would not take any part of history with them, when their time in the White House came to a close. The law also reassured Kennedy that his restoration work could not be completely undone by future First Family.
Kennedy did not initially like to live in the White House
Kennedy was not impressed with the president’s residence before she moved to the White House for the presidency of husband John F. Kennedy. She felt that “it seems to have been furnished by the discount store,” and did not appreciate the facilities such as the water fountain on the various walls.
The color reflects the hobby of Mamie Eisenhower predecessor to pink. As all, Kennedy considered the White House “a scare of Maison Blanche”.
Some of the drawbacks to the White House’s presence were understandable, as not every administration treated the executive mansion with care. During the presidency of Harry Truman, the need for repairs had become so much that much of the internal structure had to be quenched and rebuilt with steel, which had reduced the funds to the point that Truman owned the department store on the ground floor.
Was opted for luggage. But instead of assuming the president’s house, Kennedy decided to improve it. However, his plan “to make the White House the first house in the land” was not immediately embraced by the presidential political circle. Since the White House was a temporary residence for each president, JFK and others worried that substantial changes could attract criticism.
Advisor Clark Clifford helped Kennedy find a solution: the Fine Arts Committee for the White House. The committee was formed in February 1961 with the goal of “raising funds to purchase authentic furniture of the date of the construction of the White House and this furniture as a gift to the White House.
” Not only was it looking for “authentic furniture” that was considered acceptable, being able to obtain financing from outside sources, complaints about Miss Taxpayer Resources were avoided (renovation of the Kennedys’ private quarters Already used $ 50,000 allocated by Congress for the White House).
Kennedy assembled a team of professionals to help
Kennedy managed to get his ideal chair for the Fine Arts Committee: Henri Francis du Pont. He was affluent, well-connected and highly respected for his expertise in America, and Kennedy felt it was “Red-letter Day” when Du Pont agreed to move to the chair of the president. His position helped people contribute to the effort.
Lorraine Waxman Pearce began in March 1961 as White House curator. Mrs Henry Parish II, better known as Sister Parish, became the official interior designer for the project. He had valuable social connections and had previously worked with Kennedy (on a $ 50,000 renovation of the private White House quarters).
However, Kennedy preferred to work with French designer Stephen Baudin instead of Parish. Among Boudin’s previous projects was the restoration of Versailles. But Kennedy had to hide his role – using French talent at the home of the US president was not a popular option.
Public interest and support helped restore the White House
Kennedy originally felt that the restoration should focus on the early style of the White House (it was completed in 1802, then rebuilt in 1817 after being burned to the ground by British troops during the War of 1817). Yet his goals were soon expanded to reinstate “the entire history of the presidency.”
Fortunately, Kennedy’s restoration efforts resulted in many people reaching out to donate items with a White House connection. And Kennedy demanded other items of interest when he asked Walter Enberg, the owner of Benjamin Franklin’s valuable portrait, “Do you think a great Philadelphia citizen would give the White House a picture of another great Philadelphia citizen?” In the end, Annberg agreed to donate the portrait, which he bought for $ 250,000.
In September 1961, Congress passed a law making the White House a museum. This meant that any donated antiques and art became property of the White House and put into the care of the Smithsonian when not in use.
Therefore, donors knew that future presidents would not take any part of history with them, when their time in the White House came to a close. The law also reassured Kennedy that his restoration work could not be completely undone by future First Family.
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