Lincoln Sitting Room

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 2008, looking southeast (C-SPAN)

The Telegraph Room

 

The Lincoln Bath in 1992 (HABS)

Like the other rooms on the east side of the second floor, the Lincoln Sitting Room was for its first hundred years used as part of the president's offices—specifically as the White House telegraph room between 1865 and 1902. When the West Wing was constructed in 1902 and the executive offices moved there, this room became a sitting room for guests in the bedroom next door.

It is furnished in Victorian style to match the bedroom. The overstuffed sofa and matching chair were formerly furnishings in the Green Room. This room was Florence Harding's busy office. After the Kennedy renovation in 1963 restored it to Victorian style, the room has been maintained in the same style. In 1993, Hillary Clinton redecorated it in vibrant patterns appropriate to the era.

The room became Richard Nixon's favorite spot in the house (he even had it replicated in his presidential library). He liked to work beside its roaring fireplace so much that he sometimes lit a fire even in the summer and had the air-conditioning turned on. He listened to his favorite music, the score of Victory at Sea, as he worked in his favorite brown easy chair.

The Lincoln Bath

Connected to the Lincoln Sitting Room is the Lincoln Bath. About the bath, the Washington Post wrote in 2007:

One space has escaped all the tides of change. Overnighters in the Lincoln rooms have the use of a well-preserved 1950s bathroom -- installed during the Truman presidency -- with pale green opaque glass tiles and a mirrored dome ceiling light. Thick white towels and Aveda hair products are provided. The spacious tub has an elegant sandblasted etching of a presidential eagle.

 

More Images

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 2007 (Joshua Feltman)

The Lincoln Sitting Room around 2006, looking west

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 2000, looking south (White House Historical Association)

The Lincoln Sitting Room, around 1997, looking south (Getty Images)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1992, looking northeast (HABS)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1992, looking west (HABS)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1992, looking west (White House Historical Association)

Lincoln Sitting Room, around 1979

Replica of the Lincoln Sitting Room in the Nixon Library (Ray Summer)

Richard Nixon talking with Henry Kissinger, circa 1973

Richard Nixon working on his remarks before a function in 1971 (NARA)

Lincoln Sitting Room in 1966 (Corbis - Conde Nast)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1962, looking southeast (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1962, looking northeast (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1962, looking northeast (Kennedy Library - Robert Knudsen)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1952, looking northeast (Truman Library)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1952, looking west (Truman Library)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1952, looking south (Truman Library)

The Lincoln Sitting Room as small guest room in 1947, looking northeast (Truman Library)

The Lincoln Sitting Room as small guest room in 1947, looking northwest (Truman Library)

The Lincoln Sitting Room, circa 1898: telegraphers monitoring the Spanish-American War,
looking south (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

The Lincoln Sitting Room in 1898: telegraphers monitoring the Spanish-American War,
looking northwest (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

The room around 1897, looking north (Library of Congress)