The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-06
MANSION IDEAL,
ROOSEVELT IS
QUOTED
Architects Send Coolidge
Letter by Late President
Warning Of Change

The prestige and influence of the
late President Theodore Roosevelt
today was summoned to save the
White House from being mar
red" or changed" from its pres
emit architectural style.
The Executive Mansion has been
developed into an architectural
ideal and should never be per-
United to be changed, declared the
former President shortly before
leaving the White House in 1908.
A letter written by President
Roosevelt expressing this idea, with
his characteristic emphasis. has
been sent to President Coolidge for
his information and guidance. It
wac written to Cass Gilbert, presi-
dent Of the American Institute OF
Architects. under date Of Deem
Der 1s, 1908.
Asks Guard For Ideal.
'sThe White House now, within
and without, IL literally the ideal
house for the head Of a great
Democratic republic.
cit should be q matter OF pride.
an honorable obligation to the
whole nation. to prevent its being
in anyway marred.
eff I had it in my power. a.
leave office, / should like to leave
IS q legacy to you and to the
American Institute Of Architects,
the duty Of preserving a perpetual
eye Of guardianship over the White
House, to see that 1t IL kept un-
changed and unmarried from this
time on"
In reply to this letter, Mr.. GIL
bert. speaking for the American
Inrtitute Of Architects. said:
az have no hesitancy in assuring
y0A Mr.. President, that the Ameri.
can Institute of Architects will &C.
cept all Of the honorable obliga.
tiuns which your letter implies and
will lend its influence always I'd
the preservation OF the White
House as II now stands, unchanged
and unmarried for future genera
tons Of the American people.
your letter will be a treasured
document among the archives Of
the institute, and will. as need
arises, be looked upon as our char
ter and our authority for such de-
Tense of this structure, growing
stronger with the years, until the
tradition shall have been firmly es.
tablighed that the building must
remain inViolate from this time on. "
In connection with the sending OF
these letters to President Coolidge,
at Swampscott, it was learned to-
day that the American Institute or
rehitects intends to carry out its
pledge, made to former President
Roosevelt, to fight to preserve the
White House as 1t now stands.
Change to Be Fought.
Tho rlana of a commission to re.
model the interior in the Colonial
style will be opposed In every way
possible, 80 fas as they conflict with
the work done by Charles F. Nc.
Kim during the Roosevelt regime.
The sending of these letters to
President Coolidge by Mr.. Gilbert
by the institute.
Just what action President Cool
idge will take in the controversy
il in doubt, although the President
already has said that he approved
the plans for the redecorating the
interior and saw no reason to
change his attitude.
60 far as any immediate action
- concerned the plans for this
summer in the way of remodeling
do not go farther than the Blue
Room, and the appeal for C9lonia
furniture is largely Tor future use.
Not until the commission headed
by Robert w. DeForest, of New
York, meets in the city next Sep
tember, will any further action b
taken, although 1t Is understood
that the commission already hal
decided to make q sweeping rcmod
cling Of virtually the entire interior