Did you know the White House has been the home of successive US Presidents since the 1800s? You can visit the White House to learn about each President's tenure in office. You can also learn about the building's history, including the state of affairs during the Great Depression, the War on Britain, presidential inaugurations, and more. You may also learn about the White House staff and the various on-site shops. But- as many admit- the most fascinating part of the White House history is the people who actually lived in it.
The White House during in the period of the Great Depression: The Great Depression was a scary period of economic decline in the United States. The "New Deal" describes the first attempt to bring about relief during this time; nevertheless, the recession continued for seven more years. To make matters worse, World War II stimulated the economy with increased demand for war materials and commodities. In time, then-President Herbert Hoover was widely congratulated for his efforts to bring about relief, but he still faced multiple challenges. The President's administration was greatly lauded for implementing a number of reforms that benefited the economy and helped avoid a repeat of previous economic stalemates.
Herbert Hoover, who hailed from Iowa, led the administration during the Depression. As a mining engineer, Hoover had worked as a secretary of commerce under Harding and Coolidge. As noted, his administration largely implemented policies that formed the basis for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal ."It funded the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, increased federal subsidies for agriculture, and implemented new labor protections. Hoover was also a key contributor to the Glass-Steagall Act, which limited the activities of commercial banks.
For starters, the President established the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) in January 1932. The RFC introduced emergency loans to businesses at risk of default. The agency lent money to banks, railroads, and certain agricultural groups. Later, the RFC expanded its operations and was effective in stabilizing business. Another beneficial government initiative was the Emergency Relief Construction Act, which was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1932. The act enabled the RFC to provide $300 million to various state relief programs. It also provided $1.5 billion for public works projects. Finally, President Hoover persuaded Congress to establish Federal Home Loan Banks, which gave homeowners a low-interest mortgage.
White House during the War with Britain: The United Kingdom became involved in World War II on 3 September 1939, when it declared war on Nazi Germany in response to their invasion of Poland. However, the Anglo-French alliance was largely ineffective and did little to help Poland, making the war a "Phoney War." The German invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940 graphically illustrated this phoney war. The war pitted the United States against Britain; it had a profound effect on the future of the US. At this time, Britain was already waging war on France and a series of French-American brushes was triggering tensions. The United States had been trying to expand its borders and trade relations with France; thus the British blockade of the American coast threatened to cut off the flow of commerce.
Andrew Jackson's inauguration: During Andrew Jackson's inauguration, the streets of Washington DC were crowded with people cheering the newly elected President. Jackson's supporters were jubilant, but his critics were appalled. They saw the inauguration as an example of the will of the people running wild. Nonetheless, the presidential inauguration has become an iconic moment in the history of the American presidency; this was the case during Andrew Jackson's administration.
The inauguration took place on the east portico of the Capitol building in Washington, DC. This was before presidential inaugurations were moved to the west portico in 1981. The east portico was huge enough to accommodate thousands of people, and Jackson himself faced the throng on horseback. The crowd rushed to the President's side, and his inauguration reception was so chaotic that many pieces of glassware and china were destroyed. The inauguration's raucous atmosphere also led to the spilling of spiked orange punch on the carpets, and tubs of punch were brought outside as people struggled to see him. Undoubtedly, Jackson, a young man with gray hair and a plain black suit, was a gifted natural leader who people liked.