Evening star., 1952-02-07
Truman Pushes Work on w yhife House
By Joseph A. Fox

needle" out for the people in
charge of the White House recon-
struction job and if his hopes are
realized which he doubts-he
and his family will be back in the
done-over mansion early in April.
Unexpectedly assembling re-
porters and photographers on the
White House assignment late yes
terday, the President led the group
on a 45-minute tour of the struc-
ture, which is undergoing a SIS
million plus face lifting. The
proudly pointed out
some of the changes that conform
to his own ideas Of what the
House should be like,
and grinned with satisfaction at
his drive to speed up the work
which now Is in its third year.
In passing, Mr.. Truman dis
closed that he was tempted to
provoke another balcony con-
troversy" by having the broad
north portico cut down to satisfy
his esthetic tastes-but he dropped
the plan.
Effect on Papers Cited.
Good-naturedly he said that
The Star and the Post might have
had a hemorrhage if his project
had gone through reference to
the opposition in which the local
press joined when he had the
celebrated second-story balcony
constructed on the south portico
a few years ago.
The President said that the
portico-added by Andrew jack
son-which fronts on Pennsyl-
vania avenue sticks out too far.
He was thinking of knocking of a
couple of its projecting monu-
pillars. but decided not TO.
The contractors on the job didn't
think much of the proposed move.
The Presidents plan would
have resulted in two Of the front
pillars being moved back so that
from the avenue the facade would
have presented the same appear
ance as at present.
The President was. however
for a major change
right at the entrance of the man
sion, having the imposing state
stairway curved, so that it spirals
down from the upper floors di-
rectly into the lobby In which
visitors are received. In it's orig
inal form, the stairway ended off
to the left of the lobby, in front
of the green room. Mr.. Truman
said he had gotten tired of looking
at the dead-end effect.
Seals Of the Colonies.
Now the stairway ends in a
handsome archway, in whose
marble panels are carved the seals
of the original 13 Colonies.
: The President also disclosed
That he Had forced the builders
to get another chandelier for the
main entrance, characterizing the
old cylindrical glass chandelier
there as a livery stable lantern.
The President said he threatened
b.. use a baseball bat on u y it
wasn't changed. = .~vss
The historic east room also
bears evidence of the Truman
handiwork, and massive copy OF
the seal of the United States done
In red birch now has its place on
the inside wall, just above the
main doorway.
! AS q more honey touch. there
now is q huge closet in the famed
Lincoln room, which for the first
time has such a utilitarian ad-
junct.
AS the President conducted his
guests through the Lincoln Room,
he told of a night when daughter
and two Of her friends
were sleeping in the historic quar-
ters. An old servants tale is that
the ghost of Lincoln still stalks.
The President said this gave him
the idea Of having Lincoln's
ghost" appear before the girls
in an unexplained manner-but
Mrs. Truman thought they might
be frightened.
The dark paneled-oak back
ground of the state dining room
has given way to a light shade
of green. and on the ground floor,
where the reconstruction has
and enlarged the dip
lomatic reception room, there has
been added q radio room for
presidential broadcaSts. .2
Masonic Symbols Explained.
Massive fireplaces at each end Of
this room Immediately attract
attention because Of the symbols
in the stone above the
mantles. The President explained
that these were of Masonic origin,
and were cut in the stones by the
who first laid the slabs
which came from the original
of the White House.
On the same floor are the medical
quarters for staff physician and
dentist.
The Presidents guests saw
everything from the king-size
kitchen to the family's living
quarters on the second floor where
the structural weaknesses first