White House, Oval Office, Bill Clinton

Artist/Designer: Bill Clinton

Project Location: Washington, D.C., United States

Style/Period(s):
Modern

Primary Material(s):
Textile, Paint

Function(s):
Workplace, Residential Structure

Related Website(s):

Significant Date(s):
20th Century, 1996

Additional Information:
The 42nd President Bill Clinton arrived in office in 1993 and served his presidency until 2001. With the assistance of Arkansas interior designer Kaki Hockersmith the Clinton's meticulously redecorated the White House. Designing the White House though is a difficult and arduous, yet rewarding task. In order to decorate the space, one must hire an interior decorator, and work closely with not only the curator and co-curators of the White House but also with a hired art committee. Both the appointed curators and art committee jointly decide which American decorative and art objects should be included within the space. In an article by the Washington Post titled "Designing History," Thomas Savage, an employee of Sotheby's who served on Clinton's art committee, claims "It would be fruitless if everyone were a curator of American furniture of the 18th century." Savage speaks to the multi-varied opinions that come to make up the renowned interior design of the White House. Savage also speaks to the ways in which the Clinton's 18th-century furniture reflects the talent of highly-skilled American craftsmen creating works of art in an America which was codifying it's democratic constitution. The inclusion of every piece of furniture, painting, and object each have their own political or symbolic statement within the context of the White House's interior design.

The redecoration of the Oval Office was completed by the curatorial team, committee, Hockersmith, and First Lady Hilary Clinton. Together the teams chose the color palettes of red, white, and blue emblematic of the American flag and the colors of democracy. The sofas were white with cherry stripes, the rug was a spirited blue, and the walls were a creamy-egg white. Charles Thompson, Secretary of Continental Congress, explains the symbolism behind the Clinton's color choice "White signifies purity and innocence. Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue… signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”

Specific pieces within the Oval Office speak to the image Clinton wanted to maintain. The Appeal to the Great Spirit bronze sculpture by Cyrus Dallin depicting a Native American on horseback and the painting Waiting for the Hour by William Tolman Carlton depicting Slaves waiting for their freedom indicate the ways in which the Clinton administration was aware of including an array of voices within the Oval Office room. In a statement, an White House administrator in 1993 mentioned, "As part of the restoration, President Clinton felt strongly that the Oval Office should reflect the cultural strength and diversity of our nation." From the golden curtains to the 18th century clock by American cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour display the Clinton's redecoration of the Oval Office, like many before him, is emblematic of his presidency.

Overall, the Clinton restoration and redecoration of the White House was well-recieved. Lewis Gould a White House historian at University of Texas Austin claims, "The redecoration of the White House has always been a flashpoint." While the Clinton White House was not highly contested it was written about in numerous newspapers including TNT, The LA Times, The Washington Post, among others.

Significant Objects in Clinton's Oval Office:
Paintings:
-George Washington by Rembrandt Peale
-The Avenue in the Rain by Childe Hassam
-Statue of Liberty by Norman Rockwell
-The City of Washington from Beyond the Navy Yard by George Cooke
-Waiting for the Hour by William Tolman Carlton
-Andrew Jackson by Thomas Sully
-The Three Tetons, Thomas Moran

Sculptures:
-The Thinker by Auguste Rodin
-The Bronco Buster by Frederic Remington
-Appeal to the Great Spirit by Cyrus Dallin
-Bust of Abraham Lincoln by Robert Berks
-Bust of Franklin D. Roosevelt by Jo Davidson
-Bust of Benjamin Franklin by Jean Antoine Houdon

Miscellaneous Ephemera, Objects, and Furniture:
-Yellow Drapes
-Resolute Desk
- Mahogany case clock made by John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. (18th Century, American)

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