The Washington herald., 1909-11-14
PRESIDENTS NEW OFFICES
Quarters White House Most Spacious Yet Provided for the
Chief Magistrate


President Taft. when he settles down to
work following his long trip, will occupy
the most spacious Offices yet provided for
a Chief Magistrate OF the United states.
since August workmen have been adding
to the old executive Offices, at the ex-
IRENE end Of the western annex Of the
White House proper, new rooms which
Will give the President and his stan
twice the amount OF room they formerly
had. Furthermore, the new addition will
give Mr.. Taft more privacy and at the
same time expedite the business OF call
ers. says the Washington correspondent
OF the New York Evening Post.
AS late as the first Roosevelt admins
tratiOn the Offices OF the President were
located IN the White House proper. Fol-
lowing the Spanish-American war, tht
business OF the government so increased
in volume that it became necessary foI
the convenience and dignity Of the CHIEF
Executive 70 find new Once quarters
The east and west wings of the White
House were then built. and President
Roosevelt. IN his first administration, tool
possession OF the end Of the west wins
for his offices.
From the outset Il was easily discern.
ible that the Office space was not only toe
small, but that the arrangement Of TIT
Offices was poor indeed. The general re-
ception-Voom. Immediately inside tn
main entrance. afforded practically th'
only means OF ingress and egress, Th'
room was small and draughty, poorly fur
nished. and wholly inadequate for its pur
pose. The waiting-room for persons hav
ing appointments with the President wal
Immediately outside the Presidents door
and had a seating capacity or about tel
persons only. The President had 10 usl
! the Cabinet room for the reception o
| large parties, including congressman ant
their friends, and on Cabinet days IN
Cabinet members had 20 find a place a
| best they could until the President ha'
! cleared the room or visitors ANY on
/ sitting In the cabinet room could readll
! overhsar any private conversation goin
| on In the Presidents Office, unless N
/ President and his visitors reduced thei
4 speaking voices to an extremely lo'
pitch. The whole arrangement was III
satisfactory and undgn!hed.
The New Addition.
The new addition to the White Hous
Office Is built over the old Roosevelt ter
mis- court The court lay just outside q
the old Presidential Offices, and II wa
here that President Roosevelt and his 50
called tennis cabinet" composed Of IN
younger members Of the Roosevelt ac
minisuatlon, took their exercise. Pres
dent Taft not being q tennis player. vi
not miss this Presidential playground.
In the new arrangements OF the eXecl
tive Offices the entrance TO the old Office
has been retained II IS not intended tks
callers upon the President shall renal
IN this room for any length OF time. I
the left OF this entrance. what was fol
merly the Office OF the doOrkeeper 70 q
/ Presidents Offices and the Cabinet ROOF
has been transformed into an ANTERIOR
for the Office OF tho chief clerk. The chi
clerk himself is given a large room IN n
northeast corner which occupies abo'
two-thirds Of the space OF the old Cab
net room, Directly south Of II, on u
east side. embracing the remaining DO
ton OF the old Cabinet room and VIII
was formerly the Presidents privat
Office. has been turned into a Congre
sional waiting-room- The space in III
room is fully six times as large as q
p space formerly accorded Congressman al
} others waiting 10 see the President by a
, pointment, This room is furnished
: weathered oak.
immediately 10 The west OF the COngre
5 sional walting-rOom Is the general wa
B ing-room. This room takes in a part
the space formerly occupied 10y the on
OF the Private Secretary 10 the PresideI
i II 81 Il. a. ls-r
/ the only wholly inside room in the ne
4 Offices. Il is well lighted through a lar
] door which opens into the outer receipts
I ! hall. IL Is TO be furnished IN mahogal
E covered with red leather.
Both from the Congressional and I
general waiting-rooms callers upon [
President Will enter through doors in t
south wall. upon a corridor twelve Il
wide which runs from the executive te
graph Office, on the extreme west OF I
executive Offices. 20 a door opening IN
the White House grounds in the caste
70 wall
The Presidents own office.
The Presidents Office stands a llt
west or the center Of the Offices and loo
o out upon the White House grounds a
the washington Monument to the soul
[ It is elliptical In shape. with high ceilir
= and lighted by windows which rea
= nearly from floor 10 ceiling. The W
color scheme Is a light cream, while
. draperies are OF light green 10 match
> ! carpet. The furniture is Of mahoga
= and covered with a green tinged carab
l. skin from the Philippine Islands. T
floor is of oak with a parquetry bore
CHNNY